Cheesy Stuffed Burger credits SBDC for Success
Cheesy Stuffed Burger co-owners Mark Enke, left, and Devan Elkins.
Mark Enke had the dream, but the LBCC Small Business Development Center (SBDC) had the blueprint. From its conception, SBDC worked alongside Cheesy Stuffed
Burgers every step of the way.
Owned by husband and wife, Mark and Janice Encke, and long-time friend Devan Elkins,
the Cheesy Stuffed trio has put lots of love into the creation of the food and friendships
that nurtured its beginnings.
Early iterations of Cheesy Stuffed offerings were in fact inspired by Janice’s cooking.
“I don’t like big, bland burgers,” Mark Enke said. “My wife started marinating burgers
and stuffing them with cheese. It was flavorful and delicious and I thought ‘this
is it!’”
Together the trio has built what’s grown from one food truck in Corvallis to a downtown
Corvallis storefront opened in May 2018. They are also an exclusive vendor at Reser
Stadium, home of the Beavers.
The Cheesy Stuffed team has built everything in the span of six years. And Mark admits,
to this day he still calls the SBDC before making big decisions.
“I’m an opportunist, an entrepreneur, a nice guy - but I’m not that sophisticated,”
Enke said. “That’s where the folks at the SBDC come in.”
The SBDC is now helping Cheesy Stuffed in their next phase of business - consulting
with franchise specialists. The trio feels their hands are full with the current locations
they manage, but wic brand is a natural next step.
“My 10-year plan is to be an SBDC advisor,” Enke said. “I feel like I was given a
gift and I want to give it back in return. Cheesy Stuffed Burgers would never exist
if it wasn’t for the LBCC Small Business Development Center.”
Find out more about LBCC Small Business Development Center
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About LBCC Small Business Development Center (SBDC): The Small Business Development Center at LBCC, part of LBCC Extended Learning, advises nearly 200 small businesses and entrepreneurs each year and offers more than 40 small business courses throughout Linn and Benton Counties. Our 13 business advisors on staff are all experienced past or present business owners.
About Linn-Benton Community College: More than 18,000 students rely on Linn-Benton Community College each year for higher education including career technical education, transfer degree programs, professional development, corporate training, small business development, community education classes and more. Serving the mid-Willamette Valley with six locations including its main campus in Albany, LBCC partners with multiple business and industries to enrich the community and support economic growth. LBCC students choose from more than 80 programs and go on to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders, skilled workers and community builders.