ASCEND Business + Management

PREPARING YOU FOR THE RIGOROUS WORLD OF BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Ever visit your favorite business and wonder how it works? Or has anyone ever told you that you should start your own business? Well, the business pathway at ASCEND will take you through a journey that will show you every aspect of business ownership. These classes will require time, commitment, and dedication. You will work closely with the program to help you be successful. 

Students will learn major elements of business such as marketing, accounting, and management. Students will also have the opportunity to study subjects aligned with starting their own business such as leadership, financing, and market research. 

Whether you want to be a great addition to a company or start your own; the business pathway at ASCEND will get you ready for the hills and valleys that come with a career in business.

YOU MIGHT LOVE A CAREER IN THE BUSINESS + MANAGEMENT FIELD IF:

• You are a great communicator.

• You like working as part of a team.

• You are creative.

• You like to take responsibility.

• At first you don’t succeed, you try and try again. 

• You are a leader in your friend group or team at school.  

EXAMPLES OF DEGREES THAT ASCEND GRADUATES CAN PURSUE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL:

• Bachelors in Business

• Bachelors in Marketing

• Business Law

• International Business   

EXAMPLES OF POSSIBLE CAREERS THAT ASCEND GRADUATES CAN PURSUE:

• Entrepreneur

• Youtuber 

• Advertising Agency 

• Business Consultant

• Author

DID YOU KNOW?   

According to a study at Berkeley by Ross Levine, entrepreneurs are more likely to rebel as a teenager. 

HOW ABOUT THIS? 

Less than 1% of entrepreneurs came from a wealthy family and 51% of all entrepreneurs were the first to start a business in their family, according the Kauffman Foundation Study of Entrepreneurship.

YOUR ASCEND MASTER TEACHER: 

Hi! I'm Mrs. Highfill, the ASCEND CTE Business Pathways Instructor at ORCA. With 23 years of teaching experience, I began my career after graduating from Pacific University with an MAT and spent several years as a professional substitute before finding my "perfect job" at ORCA 7 years ago.

I recently completed my MBA and had the distinct honor of being the first educator to participate in the Oregon Tourism & Leadership Academy (ORLA). This experience allowed me to collaborate with leaders in the Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) industry to better understand and support Oregon's tourism sector and workforce. I also pioneered the first virtual Hospitality & Tourism CTE program in the State of Oregon, which has been mapped to the Oregon Department of Education's CTE Statewide programs and has served as a model for other schools developing HTM pathways. I was recognized as the National Educator of the Year (2024) for the work I’ve done to develop the HTM pathway at ORCA through our partner eDynamics/Knowledge Matters.

Beyond teaching, I own and manage "Industry831," a business that includes a marketing partnership, home refurbishments, rentals, and hosting. My journey in the HTM industry began with my first job at Dairy Queen, and I have since gained extensive experience in various roles, including as an event coordinator, host coordinator for Lane United Futbol Club, and Airbnb owner. In my free time, I enjoy organizing, fly fishing, volunteering, and spending time with my family

I am so excited to be part of the ASCEND team and I am looking forward to seeing you in my classes. Most of my life I have owned my own business. I have experience in hospitality, tourism, managing employees and operations, as well as graphic and website design. I graduated with a BA in Economics from University of Washington and received my MAT Secondary Mathematics from University of Southern California. I completed my Doctorate from Grand Canyon University in Education. I began my teaching career in 2017. This year I will be teaching mathematics and CTE courses.

Interested in joining?

If you have any questions about the program please contact the Career Advisory Teachers, or fill out the Interested in Joining form below.

ASCEND PATHWAYS

Business + Management  |  Computer Science  |  Hospitality & Tourism Management  |  Medical Science  |  Ag/Veterinary Science | ASCEND Team

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