Chamber Graduates 4 in New Business Startup Course

Published November 7, 2025

The Keizer Chamber of Commerce recently launched a business startup program and graduated its first four participants.

CO.STARTERS Core is a 10-week program that was started by the chamber in partnership with Keizer’s WaFd Bank. The first program started in July.

“It is a national program that helps entrepreneurs to gain the foundation that they need to be successful,” Tami Levin, the certified facilitator for the program.

Levin, a business coach, was approached by the chamber to run the program last year. She said Brooke Herbert, a manager of WaFd Bank in Keizer, initiated the program.

Over the 10 weeks, students learn skills, hear from guest speakers, and collaborate with each other on assignments.

Each week covers a different step of building a business. Week one, for example, is focused on initial goal setting. Week five covers logistics and money-making methods. The final week centers on reflection.

Classes were held at the Keizer Cultural Center for three hours each week. At the beginning of every class, the participants would share about their week.

“We would then do highs and lows for every person. What was the high for their week or success or win? And what was their low or struggle that they had for the past week?” Levin said. “And then we had an opportunity for people to share or contribute any suggestions that they may have for a struggle that someone might be having and we would celebrate the wins.”

Guest speakers included entrepreneurs from various stages of running a business, such as those who currently run a large business or those who’ve had to close their business.

The first four graduates were Viki Fort of Synergy Home Care, Mateo Borrego of KeptCar, Mayra Rosales of Mayra’s Consulting Services, and Andrea Louthan of AJL Studio Art Connections 101.

“I had the idea for my business but I didn’t have the structure,” Rosales said. “I needed to know about the guidance and the steps to be able to accomplish my business in the proper way.”

Her consulting service helps businesses and organizations better serve and reach out to the local Latino community.

Rosales enjoyed the methodical nature of the CO.STARTERS program. She felt that the instruction materials were useful and easy to follow.

Through the course, she learned about the value of structure and networking with other business owners.

“I had the opportunity to connect with amazing people and discover ways to grow,” she said.

She would recommend the program to anyone feeling stuck in starting a business, and for people who desire more community.

Borrego’s car detailing business, KeptCar, was already established when he joined the CO.STARTERS program.

“I was thinking it would be good networking and help get a clear path or new ideas to help with the business,” he said.

He also enjoyed the structure of the program. He said the program helped jumpstart new services within his detailing company, which he started seven years ago.

He relished time spent collaborating with his classmates and found it useful to ask the guest speakers questions.

Borrego would recommend the program to people who are confused in their business journey.

“Just if they are overthinking getting started or if it has been an idea for a while and they don’t know how to get it started,” he said.

The program costs $50 for chamber members and $75 for non-chamber members. People can apply for a membership on the chamber’s website at www.keizerchamber.com.

The chamber hasn’t released a launch date for the next CO.STARTERS program, but signups are available on its website.