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| Publications |
February 2008 eCon Update
| February 2008 eCon Update |
| EDCO_Update |
Last chance to sign up for EDCO’s 2008 Annual Luncheon on February 14th
 Reserve today for EDCO’s 2008 Annual Luncheon on February 14; we’re sold out of corporate tables, but have some seats left, so don’t delay. Alan Beaulieu, economist with New Hampshire-based Institute for Trend Research, is known to be that rarest of creatures – an economist with a sense of humor. Equally important, he synthesizes 40+ market indicators and puts findings into plain English. The Institute boasts an amazing forecasting track record, offering a current perspective as well as several years out. Four years ago, Alan’s twin brother Brian accurately predicted – to a skeptical audience – that Central Oregon would soon face worker shortages. More information about Alan or the Institute.
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EDCO Annual Lunch
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| When |
Thursday, February 14, 11:30 am - 2:00 pm |
| Where |
The Riverhouse Convention Center, Bend |
| Cost |
$45 for EDCO members, $55 for non-members |
| Contact |
Dayna or call 541-388-3236 |
Over 200 attend Toyota workshop
 “I appreciate the opportunity to have a high caliber speaker like Mike Hoseus in Central Oregon. It saves our company time and money to not have to travel to Portland and more employees can participate.” This popular sentiment from Scott Carlson, CFO for Hooker Creek Construction Materials, was repeated by many of the 200 representatives from the manufacturing, private business, education and non-profit sectors. Attendees came from as far away as Seattle. Ian Wendler, from Portland’s WARN INDUSTRIES, INC. said “The seminar was great; it exceeded our expectations. Every team member from WARN was excited, engaged, and impressed.”
Attendees filled the Eagle Crest Conference Center to hear Mike Hoseus, former corporate leader in both human resources and manufacturing for 13 years at Toyota Motor Manufacturing’s Georgetown, KY plant. Hoseus provided an inside look at the company every business emulates and what’s behind its phenomenal success. He covered cultural subjects ranging from Toyota’s rigorous testing/orientation process, to unique problem solving methods, to the company’s no layoff policy – all contributors to an astoundingly low 1.8% employee turnover rate. (For comparison, the manufacturing norm is 12-15% and 18-24% for general business owners.)
Local companies were out in full force, bringing large groups of management and staff to discover the keys to developing a culture of success. Mike LaLonde, COO/CFO of Deschutes Brewery summed it up by saying “Deschutes is in the very early stages of incorporating lean techniques. We had 12 of our people attend the Mike Hoseus ‘The People Value Stream’ presentation and found great value in the content, particularly the integration of techniques, company culture, and human systems. The presentation was definitely a catalyst in our decision to take the next steps and develop a 3 year plan for implementation.” The event was sponsored by the HiDEC (High Desert Enterprise Consortium) and Bank of the Cascades.
City of Bend and EDCO partner to support local companies’ needs
 October 2007 marked a turning point with changes in city management and the Bend Business Roundtable which served as a problem solving catalyst. The roundtable convened local business owners with City and County officials, where they engaged in a candid conversation regarding the lack of employment lands and a complicated permitting process for companies seeking to expand. The session was so valuable participants requested 2008 roundtables be scheduled quarterly. The City and EDCO followed up with a quantitative inventory of industrial land in Bend, published in January’s eCon Update. We believe – and local companies are feeling – that there’s a new environment of cooperation at the City of Bend to be a partner in helping to solve business issues.
Case in point: When Ruff Wear, distributors of high performance gear for dogs, recently had questions regarding code interpretations, City staff scheduled a meeting with the company and answered all questions, which allowed Ruff Wear to proceed with plans. “We found the City of Bend to be very helpful in offering assistance to us with this process,” said Rocco Villano, Operations and Purchasing Manager for Ruff Wear. “It is nice when local companies can get this level of assistance from city officials.”
Contact Industries lays off workers
In January, Prineville woods manufacturer Contact Industries laid off 55 employees, or 11% of the company’s workforce, because of the national slowdown in the housing industry. Contact’s products – door, window and furniture components – are used primarily in new home construction. Fortunately, nearly half of the displaced workers have found work elsewhere, due to efforts by local and regional offices of WorkSource Oregon (formerly Oregon Employment Dept.). EDCO expects the region will continue to see local companies in the secondary wood manufacturing sector respond proactively to weaker demand for their products, so there could be more layoffs before the tide turns for the national housing market. Still, some companies like Structus have growth through the housing downturn by increasing their market share.
EDCO’s recruitment efforts include MD&M West tradeshow
 Last week EDCO representatives from the Bend, Redmond and Prineville offices joined other economic development professionals from Oregon to participate in the Medical Device & Manufacturing show in Anaheim, California. It was the 9th year that EDCO has attended the show (the 6th that Oregon has exhibited), which is now held simultaneously with seven other shows including WestPack (packaging), Pacific Design & Manufacturing, ATX West (Automation Technology Expo), Plastec (plastics), Electronics West, PTX West (Process Technology) and Green Manufacturing Expo. Combined, about 2,300 companies attended. As in the past, this show has continued to yield some of EDCO’s best tradeshow leads, and provides an opportunity to meet with companies in southern California across all industries that are considering relocation or expansion to the tri-county area. In all, EDCO talked with more than 700 companies and secured roughly 50 leads to follow up on in the months ahead.
Relationships developed at the show and through company visits in California over the years have resulted in the relocation of several medical device manufacturing suppliers now operating in Central Oregon including Mini Machine, APCO Swiss, and Altsource Manufacturing.
The future is looking bright for development at the Bend Airport
The Bend Airport received the best news in years last month when the Bend City Council approved $1.5 million in future airport improvements. The move, which comes on the back of completion of the longer, relocated runway, will help keep the airport in the running for FAA and state matching grants – resources that are critical for general aviation airports. Included in upcoming projects will be transportation upgrades for better access to the eastside of the airport, possible new eastside taxiway, and a new compass rose for use by the airport’s manufacturing companies. Among those keenly interested in the improvements are Cessna and Epic, both of which have future expansion plans in the works. With new ownership in play for both aircraft companies, the Bend Airport is now competing on a global basis to retain and grow these operations.
Specifically for Epic, EDCO has been convening state, city and county leaders to address needed steps in order for the company to move forward with its plan for significant growth. Running parallel with these planning meetings have been support meetings aimed at providing qualified workers to staff the expanded facility. A combination of service providers including Worksource Central Oregon, COIC, COCC, and EDCO have pulled together a range of program options that provide funding to train workers. Some of the programs offered are:
- Workforce Training Funds
- Vocational Rehabilitation Employer
- Veterans Workforce Investment Program Grants (VWIP)
- Hire Oregon Veterans Program (HOVP)
- Trade Adjustment Assistance Act
- Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
Following discussions on funding programs, the group will present Epic with options for training facilities, certified trainers and on the job training, including COCC’s successful composites training program which Epic helped to get started. As Laurel Werhane, Regional Manager for Worksource notes, “It’s exciting to see everyone at the table with one goal in mind; to help our Central Oregon businesses succeed and make our communities stronger for future employment.” For more information about how to get connected into these resources, contact Eric Strobel at 388-3236.
$40 million biomass project progresses in Prineville
Prineville could see a $40-million dollar investment in the local economy by this summer. Ochoco Power has announced the building of a biomass plant, which takes timber, agriculture products, and food waste, and turns it into energy. Over 100 jobs could be created once the plant is complete with wages jobs starting at $15 per hour. Resources for the plant, located in Crook County property north of Prineville, will be gathered from within a 60-mile radius of Prineville, including fuel from both public and private lands. Ochoco Power says it needs a 30-year supply to make the project work, and believes the resources are there. “We have done our homework,” said Jim Crocker, owner of Ochoco Power “and believe through discussions with the Forest Service, Stewardship contracts, and private landowners, we should be able to find plenty of materials to run the plant.”
Crocker met with Crook County Judge Scott Cooper, Jason Carr of EDCO’s Prineville office, and other state agencies to hammer out details of the plan. 150,000 gallons of water will be needed every day, but Crocker says the property he’s purchased has sufficient wells, and other water rights available. Judge Cooper supports the project, and believes the investment in the community is well-timed, given the slowing economy. Portland General Electric (PGE) has already expressed interest in buying power once the plant is on-line. And because it will also produce heat and steam, there’s the possibility other companies may be able to utilize the facility in the future. Construction is planned for some time this summer, with completion a year later.
Mini Mitter corporate parent growing, to be acquired by Philips
 One of a dozen U.S. operations owned by Respironics, locally-based Mini Mitter designs and manufactures equipment and medical devices that allow scientists to monitor a wide variety of parameters such as sleep/wake patterns, sleep quality, and circadian rhythms. Respironics, a $1.2B publicly traded company (NASDAQ: RESP), markets its sleep products in 141 countries and employs more than 5,300 worldwide. In December 2007, $128B Royal Philips Electronics (Philips) announced they would make a friendly acquisition of Respironics, which is expected to close shortly. Upon closing, Respironics will become the headquarters for Philips Home Healthcare Solutions group. In January 2008 Respironics was named for the second time to the Forbes Platinum 400 list of Best Big Companies in America. Forbes screens more than 1,000 companies with revenues of $1 billion + for the list of best-managed companies in each of 26 industries.
OECDD launches initiative for small businesses to help fund R&D investment in new technologies
The Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (OECDD) announced a new round of grants and training opportunities to assist Oregon Small Businesses in accessing federal funding opportunities. The grants strive to increase Oregon’s competitiveness in capturing Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants. These two federal grant programs provide funding to small businesses for research and development of new technologies.
The grant program will help offset the costs of SBIR/STTR proposal preparation for Oregon small businesses. SBIR/STTR applicants are encouraged to apply for this program, which provides matching funds on a one-to-one basis for proposal preparation expenses. For more information and to download an application visit: www.oregon4biz.com/sbir.htm. In addition, OECDD is co-sponsoring SBIR/STTR training workshops with the Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition. The workshops will be held March 25-27, 2008, at the Portland State Business Accelerator. For more information about the workshops visit www.sbiroregon.org/.
Not just another business directory - COCC's Business Development Center targets small businesses
Who’s the best bank? CPA? Attorney? These are questions Beth Wickham, Director of COCC’s Business Development Center, says they encounter all the time. Because of their tax-based funding sources, they are unable to provide specific names. Solution? Enter the bizHELP directory. With the support of COCC, the Business Development Center has created an online directory and website for Central Oregon that only lists companies serving small businesses. Wickham says over 75 companies are listed along with how-to articles and other business resources. Check it out yourself.
Upcoming Events
Feb 12 - COCC offers comprehensive nonprofit fundraising class
This five-session class is designed for those with fundraising responsibilities in a nonprofit organization. It covers fundraising strategies, sources of funds, fundraising vs. fund development, segmentation of donors, and major gift integration. The instructor for this class is Bill Kemp, currently the Fund Development Director for the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of the Cascades. Kemp is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) with nearly 25 years of professional experience in all phases of nonprofit fundraising.
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Comprehensive Nonprofit Fund Development
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| When |
Tuesdays, February 12 - March 13, 2008, 6:30 - 8:30 pm |
| Where |
COCC Campus, Bend, Jefferson Building, Room 105 |
| Cost |
$55 |
| Contact |
Call 541-383-7270 or register online
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Feb 14 - Intellectual Property Awareness Workshop
 Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt’s intellectual property attorneys invite you to a complimentary, informational workshop to learn more about the value of intellectual property assets - such as patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets - and how they can be key to the success of your business. There is a light reception afterwards, where you will have the opportunity to discuss any issues with Schwabe’s intellectual property lawyers on a one-to-one basis. You’ll learn how to identify, manage, and protect your intellectual property assets; make sense of legal protection offered by patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets; avoid unnecessary infringements; and leverage your intellectual property assets.
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Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt Intellectual Property Awareness Workshop
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| When |
Thursday, February 14, 2:30 - 4:30 pm, reception to follow |
| Where |
Deschutes Brewery, Mountain Room, 901 Simpson Street, Bend |
| Charge |
None |
| Contact |
RSVP online or call 1-800-777-4200 |
Mar 8 - Central Oregon’s fourth annual Job Expo
 Think you may need additional employees in 2008? Looking for a new career? For the fourth year, The Bulletin, Express Personnel Services and Express Professional Search present the Job Expo at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds. The 2008 Expo will be held on Saturday, March 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Early bird registration for booth space ends on February 1st. For a fee of $250 you’ll receive booth space and an ad published by The Bulletin for participating businesses. Last year over 2,000 individuals looking for employment attended. For information email Stacie Oberson or call 383-0389.
Feb 13 – OK presents Web 2008.0; get the latest on business marketing on the web in two hours
 Find out what’s working for businesses marketing on the internet. You will learn from expert online marketing professionals, who will discuss internet trends, web strategy, search engine optimization (SEO), social media, microsites and other web marketing strategies. Drew Child of Alpine Internet Solutions moderates an outstanding cast of local professionals: Adam Audette, of AudetteMedia, PPC; Andre Jensen of FreelanceSEM.com, and Peter Levitan of Citrus.
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Web 2008.0
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| When |
Wednesday, Februrary 13, 8:00 - 10:00 am |
| Where |
Central Oregon Association of Realtors |
2112 NE 4th Street, Bend
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| Cost |
$30 for Opportunity Knocks members, $40 for non-members |
| Contact |
Register online at www.opp-knocks.org |
Mar 18 – Team, Culture, Values Survey
TIGERS Success Series is giving a free demonstration of a collaborative core values game that helps employees discuss behaviors that build great teams and behaviors that predictably cause team problems. Participants will play the game and learn multiple applications for anchoring trust, interdependence, genuineness, empathy, risk and success in their organizations. This is a research-based and independently validated core values process. Space is limited and appropriate for business owners, executive directors, board presidents, founding entrepreneurs and organizational leaders.
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TIGERS Success Series
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| When |
Tuesday, March 18, 4:00 - 5:30 pm |
| Where |
Bend School Administration Building on Bond, Room 314 |
| Charge |
None |
| Contact |
Call 541-385-7465 or info@corevalues.com |
Successful “Healthy Communities Start With Healthy Economies” Membership Meeting
 We’d like to extend a thank you to our speakers at the EDCO membership event on January 10th, which resulted in 10 new EDCO members. Glenn Harris, new president of PV Powered, talked to the crowd of 50+ attendees about the future of the solar industry in Oregon and the role incentives play in encouraging capital investment. Peter Newport, President and CEO of Breedlove Guitars, shared an entertaining account of continually rebuffing EDCO's offers of help with the company’s international business until he realized that EDCO could assist with the local relocation of Breedlove headquarters, an essential move to support sales growth. Newport signed Breedlove as an EDCO member that evening, noting that like many others, he was actually a bit confused as to whether he was already a member!
We’d also like to express our appreciation to our volunteers on the EDCO Membership Development Committee, chaired by Patty Dempsey of Windermere Real Estate, for their commitment to EDCO and successful efforts to invite business associates to the event. Joining Patty are committee members Terri Shephard of Corporate Recruiting Solutions, Diana Haffner of Hire Calling Staffing, Rachelle Gillespie of The Riverhouse Convention Center, Andrea Phelps of, Windermere Real Estate, Sam Lambert of Mid Oregon Personnel, and Noelle Marsh of True North Mortgage. If you have an interest in serving on this dynamic and active committee, contact Dayna at 388-3236 or via email at dayna@edcoinfo.com.
New Members
Silver Level
The Garner Group Realtors and Development, LLC
 The Garner Group Realtors & Development LLC is an independent real estate company formed this year by Jay and Sandy Garner. The Garner Group previously was the leading team within Coldwell Banker Morris Real Estate, Bend. Sandy Garner is president and Chief Executive Officer and Wendy Adkisson is Principal Broker. A native of Central Oregon, Sandy has been an award-winning Realtor in the region for 29 years. Adkisson was Principal Broker at Coldwell Banker Morris Real Estate for the past 17 years.
The Garner Group has a staff of 16, including 12 licensed Brokers. The company is exclusive listing agent for eight new residential neighborhoods in Central Oregon, and has an active portfolio of residential real estate listings. It will now have the flexibility to expand into related fields such as commercial real estate, affordable housing solutions, and residential development. A new web site, www.thegarnergroup.com, illustrates The Garner Group’s focus on Internet marketing, now the dominant source of information for prospective home buyers. The Garner Group shares with EDCO a commitment to Central Oregon’s continued and orderly growth, Sandy noted. “A diversified economy and continued payroll growth are essential ingredients, and that’s why we support EDCO in its endeavors,” she said.
Bronze
Insurance Partners, LLC
 Insurance Partners was formed in 2003 to provide consultative property and casualty insurance services to mid-size businesses and individuals. Principals Brad Wilson and Mark Frinell have broad experience with local, regional and national brokers, which allows them to offer preferred program structures and pricing to local clients, whose lower risk exposure doesn’t generate the hefty premiums larger insurance firms desire. “We get to know our customers and then match them with the financially responsible insurer that best meets their individual needs,” says Brad Wilson. “Although our client base currently includes many businesses and individuals in Central Oregon, our goal is to become a bigger part of the community.” Wilson states that Insurance Partners will formally launch its Bend office in late spring 2008 and encourages EDCO members to learn more about how they might help lower your business costs. Visit Insurance Partners' website or call 1-800-305-9243.
SolAire Homebuilders
 Award winning green builder SolAire Homebuilders is known for quality custom homes and sustainable construction. Founded in 1995, SolAire took a bold step by integrating passive solar design, energy efficient home envelopes, and healthy indoor living principles into the familiar form of the custom family home. “Building a green home means building a lasting, better quality home,” explains SolAire founder Mike O’Neil. “We take pride in the fact that over 250 custom homes built by SolAire in Central Oregon over the past decade will cost less to heat and cool no matter what fuel prices do in the future.”
In 2006 SolAire built their home office in NW Crossing as a commercial showcase for sustainable building design and construction. The building demonstrates many of the principles and technologies the company wishes to bring to mainstream residential construction in Central Oregon. Recently SolAire extended their sustainable expertise into green remodeling and commercial construction. O’Neil says building a growing sustainable economy in Central Oregon and learning from EDCO’s educational programs and events are the key reasons SolAire joined EDCO. For more information about SolAire Homebuilders, visit www.solairehomebuilders.com.
Individual
Ray Thomas, Professor for Concordia University
Ray and his wife Daca, relocated to Sisters about 2 years ago he after retired from Tyco Electronics (formerly Tyco International) as the Director of North American Operations. Since retirement, Ray now enjoys his new job as adjunct professor for Concordia University teaching the MBA program for international business. The program, he says, is "an inch deep and a mile wide” for business professionals, covering a wide range including everything from currency trading, export, the IMF and trade relations.
Renewing Members
EDCO thanks the 60 renewing members below. While the economy may have slowed, we appreciate your recognition that economic development is a long-term process that requires ongoing commitment.
| Level |
Organization |
Member Since |
| Platinum |
BendBroadband |
1997
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| Central Oregon Community College |
1993
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| Gold |
Brooks Resources |
1986
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| Les Schwab Warehouse Center |
2006
|
| Pahlisch Homes, Inc. |
2006
|
| Financial Member |
Community First Bank |
2001
|
| Selco Community Credit Union |
2001
|
| Washington Mutual |
1987
|
| West Coast Bank |
2004
|
| Silver |
Becky Breeze & Company |
1995
|
| Cadcade Natural Gas |
2006
|
| Clear Choice Health Plans |
2005
|
| High Desert Beverage |
1987
|
| Ruff Wear |
2006
|
| Shackelford, Hanson & Parr |
2005
|
| SunWest Builders |
2006
|
| Unicel |
2005
|
| Bronze |
Barrett Business Services, Inc. |
2005
|
| Bend Garbage & Recyling |
1986
|
| Bratton Appraisal Group |
1998
|
| Bryant, Lovlien & Jarvis, PC |
1987
|
| Carlson Sign Company |
1987
|
| Cascade Heating & Specialties, Inc. |
1988
|
| Central Oregon Builders Association |
2005
|
| Centro Information Systems |
1987
|
| Deschutes County Title Company |
2005
|
| DVA Advertising |
1987
|
| Lean Power |
2007
|
| Microsemi Power Products Group |
1995
|
| Midstate Fertilizer Company |
1987
|
| Miller Nash |
2006
|
| Mt. Hood Beverage Company (formerly Haines Distr.) |
1997
|
| Murray & Holt Motors |
1994
|
| Newton Pump |
1987
|
| Oliver Commercial Group |
1988
|
| Opportunity Knocks |
2006
|
| Oregon Business Development Corporation |
2007
|
| Quantum Communications |
2002
|
| RCA Management |
2005
|
| RHT Energy Solutions |
2004
|
| Swift Steel |
1987
|
| Tennant Development |
1996
|
| The Riverhouse |
1996
|
| W&H Pacific |
2005
|
| Individual |
Bend Real Estate - Jessica Dickinson |
1996
|
| Brad Fraley |
2005
|
| Coldwell Banker Morris Real Estate - Norma DuBois |
1995
|
| DuBois Wicklund Group |
2007
|
| Duke Warner Realty - Kitty Warner |
1983
|
| Edward Jones Investments - Brian Stallcop |
2006
|
| Golden Visions Success Coaching |
2006
|
| Merlot Mortgage |
2005
|
| Povey & Associates |
1987
|
| Project Development LLC |
2005
|
| RE/MAX Equity Group - Ron Ross |
2001
|
| Steve Scott Realtors - Louie Hoffman |
1999
|
| Steve Scott Realtors - Brian Meece |
1996
|
| Sunriver Realty - Carolyn Bostwick |
1999
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| The Kozak Company |
1986
|
| Wall Street Storage |
2007
|
| Windermere Real Estate - Diana Barker |
2005
|
Pending Projects
Look for this section in next month's eCon Update.
Feedback
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