Posted 8/4/2005
Issue 8, Volume IV
HORIZON BROADCASTING LEADS ANTI-METH CAMPAIGN
On July 14 representatives of Horizon Broadcasting Group (HBG) illustrated a frightening image of the breadth and depth of the methamphetamine problem in the tri-county area to EDCO’s Board of Directors. 
While the drug and its use have been present in the region for years, the problem is beginning to have significant impacts for law enforcement, schools, and employers. HBC is leading an effort in the tri-county area to tackle the drug and its impacts through a coordinated radio campaign that will air seven days a week, every day of the year for the next two years. Horizon is donating considerable air time on each of the company’s stations (KQAK, KWPK, KLTW, KWLZ, and KRCO) to partner with sponsored ads that illuminate the dangers of meth use and effects the drug is having in our community. The purpose of the campaign is both to build awareness of the issue and to drive home messages that the drug is socially unacceptable in Central Oregon. To learn more about this multi-media campaign or to become a partner, please contact Horizon Broadcasting Group at 383-3825.
INDUSTRY WEEK
EDCO staff and volunteers are currently busy working on planning the 2005 Industry Week, a celebration, recognition and week of useful resources and information for entrepreneurs and primary employers in the manufacturing and technology sectors. Industry week will run the week of October 10-14, and will consist of 8-10 coordinated events including:
Business Roundtables – held at City Halls Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, time TBA
Gathering of trade sector leaders with city councilors in Bend, Redmond and Prineville to discuss critical issues in both private and public sectors.
Export/Import Assistance Workshop – location TBA, October 11, 9am-4pm
Produced by the US Export Assistance Center in Portland, this seminar is designed both for the first time exporter as well as those companies that have business experience with international markets.
LaunchPad Innovation & Technology Expo - Bend Airport, October 11, 4pm-8pm
A new event sponsored and organized by Cascade Business News, UNICOM, and EDCO that will showcase innovative and technology-based companies in the tri-county area. To participate in this event and to help provide business leaders with the right tools to meet the challenges of tomorrow, please click here for more information.
Baldrige Excellence Seminar - Inn of the 7th Mountain, October 12, 7:30am-1pm
This new event is the first of its kind in Oregon. The Malcom Baldrige Excellence Program is a national, private-sector initiated, federally funded program designed as a dagnostic tool to help good companies become great. This half-day event will feature a keynote speaker, past national winner of the Baldrige Award, and potentially Governor Kulongoski.
EDCO Annual Awards – Bend Tarp & Liner, October 13, 6pm-9pm
Annual invitation-only party and recognition for new and expanding primary employers in the tri-county area and awards for top private and public sector people of the year.
Bend Venture Conference – Tower Theatre, October 14, 7:30am–6pm
See article below or go to www.bendvc.com for more information.
2005 BEND VENTURE CONFERENCE LINKS EARLY STAGE COMPANIES, INVESTORS
The Bend Venture Conference is now accepting applications for seed and early stage companies to present at the 2005 event scheduled for October 14, 2005. The conference is also calling all interested investors and service providers to attend and to alert their clients of this potential funding opportunity. BVC 2005 will feature six highly qualified seed and early stage companies that are seeking capital. Selected companies will present their business plans to a wide audience of angel investors and venture firms from throughout the entire United States that focus on seed and early stage investments.
When: Friday, October 14, 7:30am to 6pm
Where: The historic Tower Theatre, Bend OR
Cost: $149 early registration through September 15th
(Includes continental breakfast, lunch, a post conference cocktail party and all conference proceedings)
Companies interested in presenting at BVC 2005 are encouraged to apply, please click here for more information. Application deadline is September 8, 2005.
Please click here to register to attend BVC 2005.
EDCO ELECTION RESULTS
The results are in for the 2005 EDCO Board of Directors elections held in June. We welcome two new members to the board representing:
| Katherine Tank |
Partner, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt |
Representing Silver Members |
| John Sorlie |
Partner, Bryant, Lovlien Jarvis |
Representing Bronze Members |
In addition to Ms. Tank and Mr. Sorlie, three incumbents were re-elected by the membership:
| Brian Bowler |
CEO, The Mandala Agency |
Representing Gold Members |
| Drew Child |
President, Alpine Internet Solutions |
Representing Silver Members |
| Wes Price |
Partner, Harrigan, Price Fronk, CPAs |
Representing Bronze Members |
Other new EDCO Board Members include Paul Stednitz, VP and Area Manager for Liberty Bank who was elected by his peers to represent the banking and credit union sector. Catherine Morrow, Deschutes County Planning Director, was appointed by the Deschutes County Commission as one of its three representatives on the board. The 2005-2006 Board of Directors, now comprised of 30 private and public leaders, is led this year by President Parrish Van Wert, Executive Director of the Madras/Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about EDCO’s outstanding board visit: /about_edco/board/
PUB TALK TAKES SUMMER BREAK, RESUMES SEPTEMBER 8th
To let entrepreneurs and investors take in the beautiful summer weather, no Pub Talks are scheduled for July and August. Starting September, we have another year of outstanding speakers, exciting early stage companies and valuable legal advice. Mark your calendars for:
Where: McMenamin's Old St. Francis School - Downtown Bend
When: Thursday, September 8, 5:30pm – 7:30 pm
Cost: $15 for EDCO and OEF members; $25 for non-members
WELCOME NEW EDCO MEMBERS!
PLATINUM MEMBERS
- Horizon Broadcasting - Keith Shipman
Horizon Broadcasting Group (HBG), LLC was founded in 1999 to acquire and operate radio stations in small and mid-sized markets. HBC presently owns five radio stations in Central Oregon, which is one of the fast growing markets in the western U.S. The company is focused on serving the communities in which it does business by providing quality, local programming for listeners and developing meaningful marketing campaigns that assist advertising customers in growing their business. As noted above in this newsletter Horizon Broadcasting Group is also committed to taking a leadership role in addressing the region’s meth problem. To learn more or join in the campaign, contact HBG at 383-3825 or visit their web site at: www.horizonbroadcasting.com.
SILVER MEMBERS
- Unicel - Cynthia DeGeorge
Unicel is a service of Rural Cellular Corp. (RCC) and currently serves a population over 800,000 in rural Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Since its inception in 1990, RCC has recognized the opportunities that existed in rural areas where tourism, agriculture and small businesses are prevalent. Unicel is committed to bringing the latest advances in wireless technology, products and services to its rural markets in the 15 states the company serves. Earlier in 2005, Unicel launched its new GSM network in the Northwest, the outcome of $21 million investment. Fully equipped with EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM) technology, the new network delivers high-speed data and e-mail anywhere a phone can be used -- a first for any carrier in the area. For more information, visit www.unicel.com.
BRONZE MEMBERS
- Kathleen Leppert & Associates Realty - Kathleen Leppert
A resident of Bend since 1992, Kathleen Leppert opened Kathleen Leppert Realty in Sept. 2004, and recently changed the name to Leppert & Associates Realty. Building on her past experience in legal and lending fields, Kathleen and her team specialize in residential real estate and land use development. She is also an active civic volunteer working on projects dealing with affordable housing, commerce and health care. For more information visit www.kathleenleppert.com or call her at 541-389-6867.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
- Coldwell Banker Morris Real Estate - Al Eastwood
Al is a Commercial Real Estate Broker with Coldwell Banker Morris Real Estate in Bend, which has served the area since 1969. Coldwell Banker Morris Real Estate is the number one office in both sales and listings sold in Bend. Al moved to Bend in 1996 after spending 32 years with The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. He has been a Broker with Coldwell Banker Morris Real Estate for 8 years and works with commercial property investors, small business owners and clients considering business relocation. You can reach Al at 541-383-4329.
Thank you to these new investors, renewing members and to all longstanding members for your support! For more information on how to become an EDCO member, membership levels and benefits, please contact us at 388-3236 or visit /about_edco/whyjoin/
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
An EDCO member since 1996, Express Personnel Services in Central Oregon was one of 20 original franchisees. Today, Express boasts over 455 franchises in the United States, Canada, South Africa and Australia. Express reached $1.33 billion in revenues in 2005, and projects $2 billion by the year 2008. Express Personnel is the largest personnel agency in Central Oregon with offices in Bend and Redmond.
Owner Connie Druliner was named the Franchisee of the Year for 2003, and in June 2005 was selected to serve as a Director for Express International. She is also an active and engaged member of the community serving over 30 organizations over the past thirty years, including Past President of EDCO’s Board of Directors. In 2005, for her contributions to the community, Ms. Druliner was honored by the Bend Chamber of Commerce as Citizen of the Year.
Ms. Druliner says of Express’ Services, “Our Company reflects the personal and business ethics of its founders and franchisees. Our mission is to help people find jobs and our client companies to find good employees, and to help our clients make those jobs and employees even better." For more information visit: www.expresspersonnel.com/office.asp?id=636&cc=1
PENDING RECRUITMENT PROJECTSWithout breaching constraints of confidentiality, we want to make you aware of a few of our pending projects for the region. They include but are not limited to:
- August 12-14, EDCO will be attending the Outdoor Retailer trade show in Salt Lake City with other area manufacturers such as Ruff Wear, Of the Earth, Metolius Mountain Products, Entre Prises, and other successful Central Oregon companies. This sector, which represents a growing and diverse mix of companies, is slated to be one of the fastest growing in the decade ahead. We will be scouting for good companies that have an interest in being in an area that matches more closely with the image of their products!
- Last month we reported that EDCO would be attending the Air Venture Show in Oshkosh, WI July 25-27 along with local manufacturers Columbia Aircraft Company, Lancair, Epic Air, Baldhead Cabinets, Precise Flight, Electronics International and other suppliers to the industry. In prospecting those companies attending the show, several good leads for smaller aircraft manufacturers and suppliers surfaced that EDCO will be working in the months ahead.
- An established Oregon-based insurance company has narrowed its focus to Redmond and Grants Pass, Oregon for a new claim processing center and possible two year training center. EDCO worked with Redmond private and public leaders to prepare a proposal in the final run-off for this project. The combined operation would occupy 20,000-30,000 sq. ft. of class A office space and employ approximately 120 people with average starting wages from $12-14 per hour.
- Interestingly, EDCO has been working with several food processing/packaging and warehousing operations in the past month. A food processing and distribution company is moving forward on building a new cold storage warehouse and produce packaging operation in Bend. At nearly 850 employees, the parent company is excited about potential for this new satellite facility, which will employ 10-12 people initially, to better supply produce needs both here in the region and to markets in Eastern Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and Northern California. EDCO is assisting the company with fast track permitting with the City of Bend.
- A new specialty food processing company serving the gourmet market is considering Central Oregon among other locations for an upscale restaurant, R & D center and headquarters operation. We are competing with a handful of areas of the US and Canada.
- A metal fabrication company that produces emissions reduction equipment is seriously considering a move from the Portland area. A size not unlike many EDCO clients, the company employs about 15 people and has customers across the U.S. and Europe.
- A medial device and food company headquartered in Minnesota is looking at relocation to the Central Oregon area. The company employs 12 people currently and is looking to expand its fabrication and warehousing operations. Other areas being considered by this company include areas of Texas, Florida, and southern California.
- A manufacturer supplying the recreational vehicle industry is looking at possible relocation from Texas to somewhere in the tri-county area. The owner’s interest in the area was piqued as a result of attending the recent Great North American Rally in Redmond, which was attended by more than 5912 RV’ers and vendors from all over the US and Canada.
- A southern California-based producer of safety-related products has purchased a site in Redmond and submitted plans for a 12,000 SF building to which they expect to relocate in late 2005 or early 2006.
- An aerospace company that designs and manufactures pressurization systems for general aviation and jet aircraft is considering Bend as well as areas in Texas, Arizona and Colorado for relocation and consolidation of their operations. The company president made a second visit to the area in July.
PENDING RETENTION/EXPANSION PROJECTS
- Epic Air, unveiled its new design for a seven-seat, 100% composite jet at the recent Air Venture Show in Oshkosh, WI. General Manager Dave Hice said the “positive response from those attending the show was overwhelming”. This new aircraft will also be in the experimental category and have a builder-assist program for owners to assemble from a kit. The new jet will have even greater speed than the Epic LT, which debuted at last year’s Air Venture show. For more information about the company or career opportunities visit http://www.epicaircraft.com/news.html.
- At the same Air Venture Show, Columbia Aircraft Company (formerly Lancair) launched their new company name in a big way with one of the most impressive tradeshow booths of the entire show. The new booth, which is actually a semi trailer with sizable bump-outs featured air conditioned meeting rooms, interactive media functioning cockpit and spiral staircase leading to a balcony observation deck for daily air shows. Hats off to The Mandala Agency which was responsible for the design. Columbia is now the nation’s third largest general aviation aircraft manufacturer behind Cirrus and Cessna. For more information check out the company’s new website at: www.flycolumbia.com.
- A local custom cabinet manufacturer supplying the golf, resort and commercial building sectors across the nation is moving forward on a major expansion. The company moved from its current location in Bend and will occupy a new building in East Empire Business Park which will enable the company to expand production and capabilities for larger projects. The project will result in at least 20 new jobs, in addition to its current employment.
- Bend-based US Allegiance moved into their new headquarters and distribution facility in East Empire Business Park in mid-July. With this new expansion, the company will take in house distribution of products to some 8,000 post offices and military exchanges around the world. The expansion will more than double employment to nearly 60 total employees. For more information about the company visit www.ipledge.com.
- Obsidian Dental, a former supplier to Marus Dental has relocated to their new facility in Basalt Business Park. In addition to their own line of products and supplies for the dental industry, the company does custom metal fabrication and machining for a number of local firms in a variety of sectors.
FEEDBACK
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response. Once again, thank you for your support and interest – we are working hard to make the most of your contributions to help strengthen and diversify the regional economy!
