Portia Heller

Instructor, Social Sciences

Portia hails from Indianapolis, IN, and is currently the president of Engineering Products Associates, Inc./Bortech Sales, Inc., a manufacturer’s representative and distributor in electronic test equipment and power supplies. She started as a regional representative for EPA in 1981, became Sales Manager in 1987, and eventually assumed the helm of the company in 1994.

She began her teaching career ten years ago when a friend in her industry convinced her to try teaching. She was instantly smitten, and has been teaching and guiding ever since.

Portia has a diverse background that includes intense classical study in violin, piano, and voice, work with experimental theater, training and showing horses, as well as trapshooting. She has four state trapshooting titles from Indiana, numerous titles from many other states, and was the eighth woman in the nation to attain the honor of maximum yardage. She was the Runner-up in the National Championships in Ladies Handicap, a consistent member of the All American Team, and as she jokingly tells her students, “Don’t tangle with me!”

Her business experience includes being regional sales engineer for Indiana and the four contiguous states for Engineering Products Associates, Inc. She moved to Minnesota, to take on the position of sales manager, and eventually president of the company.

Her inspirations draw from nature and chamber music. She is passionate about teaching, inspirational speaking, music and gardening. She is also an accomplished pianist, violinist, and vocalist. She has recently started a new venture, SWII.

She resides just out of Shakopee, “in the woods, by the waterfall”, with her beloved feline advisor, Wenceslas, and his newly acquired young friend, Scaramouch.