Founder & Owner of The Bruised Reed and Starv'n Marvn's

For more than 30 years, Susan Derra has called the Klamath Basin home. A wife, mother of three, and passionate baker, she never imagined she would one day own the restaurant where she spent a decade working. Today, as the owner of Starv’n Marv’n Family Restaurant, she serves the community with homemade food while creating opportunities for individuals seeking a fresh start. 

The path to business ownership was not one she initially planned. After experiencing significant hardship during her childhood and adolescence, Susan worked hard to build a stable life for herself and her family. She developed a love for cooking and baking and even operated a small bakery at one point but eventually closed it. She had come to believe that her future was as an employee rather than a business owner. That changed when the previous owners of the restaurant offered her the opportunity to purchase the business after she had worked there for 10 years. While excited by the opportunity, she faced significant challenges. She was concerned about the restaurant industry's narrow profit margins, the technology requirements of running a modern business, and the pressure that comes with ownership. She also worried about becoming so consumed by day-to-day operations that she might lose sight of her larger purpose.