Columbia Pacific Maritime was started in 2006 out of the basement of my home in NE Portland, Oregon. It is a USCG approved maritime training school. The intention of this business was to replace the income that I lost after quitting my teaching job of fourteen years. Replacement of the lost income was easily accomplished. But to my surprise the second year in business it was doubled, and by the third year I was tripling the lost income.
The business is a USCG approved school for professional mariner’s. We provide Coast Guard approved courses to mariners seeking profession credentials. In short, I provide classes that can be taken to satisfy the Coast Guard exams. This is something that I enjoy doing very much. And, I am pretty good at. The school is currently in its third evolution.
Evolution 1: Basement NE Portland
This evolution lasted for 10-years. From 2006 to 2016. There were two classrooms in the basement. The main classroom was approved for 6-students. And then the radar classroom was approved for 2-students. I worked between the two classrooms.
Evolution 2: Plaza 205 SE Portland
In 2016 the school expanded to leased space in Plaza 205. This space had two primary classrooms. A main classroom approved for 14-students. And a radar classroom approved for 6-students. In addition: the lobby was approved for overflow students. This larger space required two instructors. John worked with me as the second instructor. And Nichole worked the front desk with Patty. In 2019 John and Nichole moved to Alaska. And Pat and I started making plans to move the school to Coos Bay.
Evolution 3: Newmark Center in Coos Bay
In 2020 the school moved from Portland to the Newmark Center of Southwestern Oregon Community College. The school occupies two rooms on the second floor. One classroom approved for 18-students. And an office space.
In Conclusion
It is not for everyone. But my work has always defined who I am. And the school is the focal point of that work. I did not plan my life this way. It happened because of the choices I made.
Dennis A Degner (DAD) 