The Oregon Coast Community College Foundation has established a new fund in memory of Ron Spisso, the longtime small business management coordinator who served Lincoln County entrepreneurs for 25 years through OCCC’s Small Business Development Center.
Spisso, who lived in Alsea and Yachats, passed away in 2023, but his impact on the local business community remains deeply felt, the college said in a news release announcing the new effort.
Spisso began working at OCCC in 1991, shortly after relocating to Oregon from New Jersey. He earned his master’s degree in business administration from Oregon State University in 1994 while continuing to guide and support small business owners across the county.
“Whether coaching a startup through its first business plan or helping a seasoned shop owner navigate expansion, Ron brought patience, insight, and humor to every interaction,” said Dave Price, the college’s vice president of engagement.
The newly established Ron Spisso Lighthouse Fund for Small Business Success will continue his legacy by offering small, meaningful financial supports to entrepreneurs working to grow their businesses. These supports might include funding for certification courses, licensing fees, or other modest but essential expenses.
“This fund reflects what Ron did best — helping people take the next step,” said Price. “He met clients with warmth and respect and gave them both the tools and the confidence to move forward.”
Gifts to the fund can be made via the Oregon Coast Community College Foundation. For more information about the fund or to share memories of Ron Spisso, contact the OCCC Foundation at 541-867-8531 or visit www.oregoncoast.edu/lighthousefund. Gifts to the fund can be made directly from that webpage.
