By DANA TIMS/Lincoln Chronicle
DEPOE BAY — Tadd Mick has been sailing, fishing and exploring the Pacific Ocean off the Oregon coast for most of his 61 years.
His dad’s job as an elementary school principal meant the family had summers off which, of course, meant nothing but long hours fishing for salmon near the mouth of the Columbia River.
“We sailed all over the place,” Mick told the Lincoln Chronicle in an interview this week. “I can’t imagine having a better life than that.”
All these years later, the swells just keep coming after recent word that Mick and his two partners at Tradewinds Charters in Depoe Bay are being recognized as Oregon’s Small Business Persons of the year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Mick and one of those partners, marine tourism operator Noelie Achen, will travel to Washington D.C. early next month, where they’ll be in the running for the national Small Business Person of the Year award.
The other partner, Chris Schaffner, will stick around to ensure smooth sailing for the fleet of five independent contractors who, on an annual basis, take upwards of 9,000 people out for day-long fishing expeditions and probably three times that many for seasonal whale-watching ventures.
“All three of us bring areas of expertise that has made the whole big picture very successful,” Achen said. “And for us, personally, we are so thrilled and honored to be recognized in our little town of Depoe Bay, Oregon.”
Profile of a small business
Entrepreneurs can, in theory, nominate themselves to be in the running for the nation’s most prestigious small-business award, said Gregory Price, who directs the small business development centers at both Oregon Coast Community College in Lincoln City and Columbia Gorge Community College in The Dalles.
“But in my experience,” he said, “self-nominations tend to carry a little less weight. In this case, I nominated them myself because I think they have such a great story to tell and because they are making such a big difference in their community.”
Price noted also that the trio had taken small-business classes at OCCC which boosted their proficiency, for instance, in using online platforms to book new business, thereby dramatically expanding their ability to attract customers.
Sam Goldstein, deputy district director in the Small Business Administration’s Portland office, agreed that the company has earned its standing as a coastal business success.
“Tadd, Noelie and Chris are outstanding entrepreneurs who navigated Tradewinds Charters through the pandemic and are now growing the company,” Goldstein said in a statement. “Tradewinds Charters showcases one of the most beautiful areas of our state, creating memorable experiences for Oregon visitors.”
He added, “In addition, this local tourism gem strongly supports the community by giving generously of their time, resources and expertise.”
A long maritime history
Tradewinds Charters traces its history to 1938, when the late Stan Allyn started an ocean fishing charter business he named the Tradewinds. Three years later, he designed and built his flagship, the “Kingfisher.”
Allyn, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran and author of three books about his sea adventures, ran the operation until 1986. He died in 1992 at age 79, and his long run as a seagoing pioneer is memorialized on a plaque in his honor in Depoe Bay.
“We’ve very proud that we carry on with that history,” said Mick, who became majority owner of Tradewinds Charters in 2021 following various delays and snags caused by the pandemic. “The Kingfisher was actually one of the biggest boats on the West Coast back in its day and Stan was a promoter extraordinaire of the Oregon coast.”
Today, Mick, Achen and Schaffner run a business that employs four people. The company offers scenic whale watching cruises, bottom fishing, crabbing, salmon, halibut, deep-water, ling cod and tuna fishing, replete with filleters to filet the day of the catch. The company also owns a private dock and facilities, including a tackle and gift shop.
The company is particularly proud of its partnership with the Oregon Kelp Alliance to help preserve near-shore kelp forests. Biologists consider those forests critical in helping provide habitat for myriad fish and animals needed to maintain the ocean ecosystem.
The business is also a sponsor of Oregon Coast Fishing Poles for Kids, which is aimed at “inspiring the next generation of anglers by providing high-quality fishing poles to the children of our community each year,” according to Tradewinds Charters’ website.
When passengers book a spot on one of the fleets’ five boats, they are offered a chance to chip in one dollar to either of those organizations.
“It’s amazing how few times people ever opt out of making those donations,” Mick said. “But they get it, just like we do, that we are all in this together, and that, together, we can all make a difference.”
- Dana Tims is an Oregon freelance writer who contributes regularly to Lincoln Chronicle, formerly YachatsNews and can be reached at DanaTims24@gmail.com
