When Matt Chapman took over as president and CEO of the Northwest Evaluation Association in December 2006, he had no experience in running an educational nonprofit of any size, much less one growing by 22% per year.

The quiet resurgence of the wood export market from Oregon to Japan is about to get a lot noisier in the wake of the devastating tsunami of March 11.

Oregon ranks 40th among states when it comes to growth in women-owned businesses, according to a recent report by American Express OPEN.

Southern Oregon hasn’t received the same hype as Portland for its leadership in sustainability and technology. But the Medford-based Sustainable Valley Technology Group is hoping to change that. The business incubator, which received nonprofit status and recently moved into their offices, has announced its first companies — each in their own way centered around technology and sustainability.

Wilsonville-based Crimson Trace makes state-of-the-art laser gun sights, employs around 100 people and controls 70% of the national market for laser gun sights.

Tech companies created by and for the young aren’t the only businesses racking up impressive growth numbers as the economy recovers. One of the state’s fastest growing companies has doubled its revenues and employees since 2008 by paying attention to older folks.

Our roundup of the big business deals of the month in Oregon include Greenbrier and McCormick & Schmick’s.

Audiobooks have been around for decades, but what recovering Silicon Valley insider John Lee and his colleagues at Ashland-based Folium Partners have in mind is something altogether different. “We’re turning it into an experience; we’re presenting publishers with the opportunity to add games and other features to support the book,” says Lee.

Hard-money lending can be a hazardous occupation in the best of times. In the worst of times — say, 2008-2010 — it can be a nightmare. Everybody got hurt when property values plummeted and default rates soared during the recession, but few industries took as big a hit as did hard-money lending, the risky act of funneling loans into troubled businesses at high interest rates, using property as collateral.

ON3P Skis builds rocker style skis in Portland.