Stephen O’Mara has been helping folks start and grow their businesses since 1995. Mr. O’Mara began teaching business planning, in Sacramento, to Ukrainian and other Slavic speaking refugees, along with Cambodian refugees also fleeing their oppressive government.

The Welfare to Work program tripled the program size to include a larger variety of ethnic groups wanting to improve their life through small business activities.

In 2002 Mr. O’Mara moved to Ukiah to join West Company (WestCenter.org) as a program director and lead consultant. One of his first clients were the founders of OcoTime. Mr. O’Mara continued with West for seventeen years and three CEOs.

In 2007 Mr O’Mara began twelve years as a contracted Work Readiness trainer with Mendocino County coaching job seekers in Ukiah, Willits and Fort Bragg, weekly.

In 2007 Mr. O’Mara began as an adjunct instructor at Mendocino College in Guidance continuing his work readiness instruction. Invited to speak to business classes about West Company led to a short-term business course and eventually to the popular Entrepreneurial classes Mr. O’Mara now teaches online via Canvas.

Mr. O’Mara continues to consult with businesses, and students starting businesses.

Mr. O’Mara writes fiction stories about regular people in unusual situations, loves messing about with the two wooden boats he has built, enjoys the challenge of successful stock investing and believes strongly that walking is a key to long life.