Depoe Bay Business Owner Named Oregon’s Small Businessperson of the Year

Tradewinds Charters and owner Tadd Mick nab national honor

DEPOE BAY, OR — The Oregon Coast Community College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is proud to announce that Tadd Mick, owner of Tradewinds Charters in Depoe Bay, has been named the 2025 Oregon Small Businessperson of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Selected from a competitive field of nominees across the state, Mick will travel to Washington, D.C. this spring to be recognized alongside winners from all 50 states and U.S. territories as part of National Small Business Week. The award honors outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate exceptional staying power, innovation, and a commitment to their communities.

“Tradewinds is a fixture of the Central Oregon Coast, and this recognition is a well-deserved reflection of Tadd’s leadership, vision, and service to both his customers and his community,” said Gregory Price, Director of the Oregon Coast SBDC, who nominated Mick for the award. “We’re thrilled to see one of our most engaged and generous small business clients honored at the national level. Oregon is home to more than 400,000 small businesses, and this is an amazing honor.”

Under Mick’s leadership since 2021, Tradewinds Charters has grown significantly in both services and scale. The company books fishing and whale watching excursions for six independent vessels operating out of Depoe Bay, and since the pandemic, the business has experienced nearly 50% growth, thanks to the introduction of online booking, targeted digital marketing, and the launch of a retail tackle and gift shop.

Mick credits much of his success to building relationships—both with customers and with the community he calls home. “My dad always said, ‘Treat people the way you want to be treated and life will be much easier.’ That’s how I try to live and run the business,” he said. Mick is deeply involved in civic and nonprofit work, donating trips and resources to local schools, veterans’ organizations, and environmental initiatives. He serves on numerous boards and advisory groups, including the Depoe Bay Chamber of Commerce, Oregon Kelp Alliance, and the Oregon Coast Visitors Association.

A graduate of Central Washington University with a background in public relations and small manufacturing, Mick joined the SBDC’s Small Business Management Program in 2022 and returned in 2023, citing the value of the peer learning environment and one-on-one advising. Through the program, he navigated a business acquisition and explored new financing opportunities—laying the foundation for his company’s sustained growth.

Tradewinds Charters continues to evolve while maintaining its core mission of providing safe, memorable marine excursions on the Central Oregon Coast. With this SBA honor, Mick joins a prestigious group of entrepreneurs recognized not just for business success, but for leadership that uplifts communities.

To learn more about Tradewinds Charters, visit tradewindscharters.com. To learn more about how the Oregon Coast SBDC supports small businesses from Lincoln City to Yachats, visit oregoncoast.edu/sbdc. There you can connect with the SBDC team to learn more about the Small Business Management Program that Tradewinds participated in. The SBDC now offers a variety of SBMs, tailored to specific business types, including Retail, Restaurant, and Traditional, which are accepting applications throughout the Spring and Summer, with new programs for each launching in the Fall.