When Jim Ormsbee, owner of the Elkridge Copy Center, visited the Ogden Valley and camped at the Monte Cristo campground, he fell in love with the area thirteen years ago. “Beautiful,” he thought, and he moved in with his family.
Having been licensed as a Professional Engineer for over 30 years, Jim established himself as a civil engineer, forming Elkridge Engineering in the Ogden Valley. He has participated in the coordination of various engineering projects.
Jim has known success and has done well over the years, for the most part. Two years ago, however, he was feeling the effects of the economic situation; business was somewhat slow in the engineering department. That is when Lisa Karam Fuller, then executive director of the OVBA (Ogden Valley Business Association), approached Jim needing some copies done using his personal copy machine. Lisa then proceeded to say something which, and little did Jim realize at the time, would result in a somewhat significant change in the lives of the Ormsbees. She suggested that Jim and his wife start a copy and print business using the equipment they had at the time: two copiers, a wide format color poster printer, and a few other little odds and ends.
Having been a stay-at-home mother of nine, and determined to maintain her place “at home,” Betty, Jim’s wife, agreed with the idea and has since worked as the manager alongside Jim for the up-keep and success of the “close-enough-to-home” business. Jim says the best thing about operating the business is being able to meet and associate with customers, although he admits that it is his wife who really makes the place blossom. Betty has ability to befriend others and make them feel welcome and that is a pleasant complement to Jim’s rigorous duties as an engineer.
Jim said that if it weren’t for the OVBA and their support, input, and business his Copy Center wouldn’t be here today. For that, he is grateful. His own involvement with the OVBA has been extensive. In 2008, he served as the association’s chair, and today he remains a happy and productive member. He keeps himself busy and works double duty, on the one hand supervising engineering projects and, on the other, maintaining with his wife the Copy Center. They often receive help in running the business from their two youngest children, a son, Stephen, and a daughter, Alicia.
Jim’s business continues to expand, and services and equipment are being added to better serve customers and keep residents from having to make an extra trip to Ogden for their printing needs. The following is a list of some of the services that are offered: black and white and color printing, faxing, and laminating, the production of posters, menus, flyers, booklets, directories, bindings, and more. They sell various products ranging from ballpoint pens and paper clips to batteries, stamps, and hand sanitizer, as well.
The Elkridge Copy Center is located just as you come into Eden, right at the crossroads and across from Carlos and Harley’s and The Shop Around the Corner. Jim says the Valley needs the gradual addition of businesses to accommodate for the gradual growth in the Valley, and he is grateful that his business has been a contributor to that endeavor.
To learn more about the Elkridge Copy Center, go online to
www.elkridge-engineering.com/copy-center.html . To learn more about other OVBA Member Businesses, visit www.ovba.org.
