van Herk

Profile

If you are reading  this it is probably because you are looking for someone to help you with your business.

So, who would you be working with and do I understand what you are about to go through or have been going through?

The simple fact about business is … make a profit or die! The complex fact is, the people in control have complex dreams, motivations and skills. Working with you and ensuring you learn as many skills as possible from the process is just as important as developing plans, setting up accounts, marketing and manufacturing

I have been self employed with my own business for the past 20 years spanning the furniture, timber, environmental, building and consultancy industries.

It wasn’t just profit, I was also driven by idealism and to excel. Over these 20 years I have had a great time, most of all being self determinant. However, as anyone in business for themselves knows, it is not all good times. I have been through the unfair dismissal courts over a drunken employee, tax office audits, union intervention, and WorkCover inspections. I have worked the 80-100 hours a week for years on end, missed holidays with my family , worked the long night-time hours after my 15 employees had gone home to make sure everyone had something to do the next day. I have had to humbly ask the bank to honour the pay cheques of employees when a customer’s payment arrives late. I also think I have come across every scam and excuse customers use to avoid paying their bills. I learn’t when to fight, when to walk away, when to use honey and when to use a stick!

Yes!

I know small business. Intimately!

I was consulting before I closed my manufacturing enterprise. People started engaging me to do for them what I was doing for myself: business plans to gain finance, to export, to obtain sales and new markets, to obtain government assistance,

to obtain internet business, and to train clients and their staff. My extensive experience, training and lateral, integrated thinking brings insights and co-ordination to problems where the ‘wood cannot be seen for the trees’.

One thing in common with all my clients is they have a fixity of purpose. I would like

to think I offer a flexibility of method to negotiate the obstacles, often unseen, in between focused people and their goals.

Current Aboriginal Business development work

• Sand Dune Adventures 4WD quad bike sand tours business implementation
• Various Aboriginal business mentoring
• 2008 Community Land and Business Plan Murrin Bridge LALC (Lake Cargelligo) with mentoring continuing in 2009
• 2008 Community Land and Business Plan Worimi LALC (Port Stephens) with mentoring continuing in 2009
• 2008- Continuing: Manager Bush Food Sensations Stepping up and Mentoring Program. A 12 month business development and mentoring program for 10 Aboriginally owned businesses in the food industry to develop a sustainable unique selling point through indigenous Australian foods. Business mentoring (book keeping and accounts, financial management, loans, communications, marketing, events, media, interpersonal skills, business start up and closure, and co-ordination of the Kitchen and Cuisine mentor). Funded by NSW Department of State and Regional Development, DEEWR , Indigenous business Australia. www.bushfoodsensations.com.au

2007-08 Aboriginal Business planning and feasibility

• Contracted as Preferred Provider (now Business Facilitator ) IBA Enterprises
• Wiceedo Restaurant Business Plan
• Jaaning Tree Restaurant Business Plan and loan application and 6 months business mentoring
• Murook Business feasibility Study for Worimi LALC (VET Training centre, conferences, cafe, education, tourism, aquaculture)
• Goodooga Vocational and Education Centre
• Bunawlbu Cafe Business Plan
• Dots on Cudgery Cafe Business Plan

Prior to 2008

• Lightning Ridge CDEP Property Management Plan
• Murrin Bridge Vineyard Property Management Plan
• Pulkurru Building Corporation Strategic Business plan (which required a follow up plan for a building company looking at establishing a portable housing factory in Goodooga)
• Timber importation and furniture making

Non-Aboriginal business planning and development work (Prior and Current)

• Current: Kangaroo Industry Business Development and Business Plan. (commissioned by FATE (Future of Australia’s Threatened Ecosystems,) University of NSW
• 2005 Business development model for the utilisation of Arid Zone timbers. Commissioned by FATE
• 2006-ongoing Project Manager and now CEO Australian Arid Zone Timber Group (www.auswood.com.au) Business implementation, funding contracts and Acquittals with NSW DSRD, West 2000, Department of Forestry and Fisheries and Agriculture). Business implementation, timber processing training, licenses, export market development, processing, strategic alliances. Currently exporting in small quantities. (Chairman Mrs Jenny Crichton 07 46548125)
• 2005 Broombush Industry Strategic Plan (Commissioned by Forests NSW, NSW DSRD and the Broombush Industry Group)
• Business plans undertaken for businesses in the following fields: Metal fabrication, Agricultural equipment manufacture, Honey production, Fencing manufacture, stock food production, pottery, tourist accommodation, timber processing, woodwork industry development

Experience before Consultancy became the major focus (click here for more detail)

• 1988-2001 Furniture manufacture ( 2 innovative design awards and one major NSW Small Business Award for Enterprise) specialising in the design and jointing methodology specific to Australian Hardwoods. This included opening and operating a small art and craft gallery for 3 years, Marketing and export to Japan (1995-99), timber manufacturing consortium development and Export Manager. Maximum Employees 9.

• 1998: Head consultant for the supply of ecologically sustainable timbers for the Olympic Athletes village. Contracts, sub contractors, specifications development, Network development between Green groups, timber processors, designers, floor layers, architects.

• 1995-2002 Timber drying and processing facility development and construction, solar kiln development and sales and installation, timber drying training. Maximum number of employees 15.

• 1984-1988 Ranger NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

• Prior to 1984: University Study (Bachelor of Natural Resources) and various: Youth Worker, Outdoors Education Instructor, Marital Arts instructor, Performance Group Tour Manager