Well represented in Central Oregon: Portland Business Journal highlights most admired companies
The Central Oregon region was represented in the 2008 Oregon’s Most Admired Companies awards as published by the Portland Business Journal (PBJ) last month. To generate the rankings, PBJ asked 2,000 CEOs and top-level managers in Oregon and southwest Washington to select three companies they regarded the highest in eight industries: technology, health care, nonprofits, financial services, professional services, commercial real estate, manufacturing, agriculture and wood products.
Among those in operating the tri-county area on the list were: Precision Castparts Corp., which operates a significant titanium casting plant in Redmond; Jeld Wen, with a large window plant in Bend among other business units in the banking, title, and resort development sectors. Others included in manufacturing were Triquint Semiconductor, which has a small manufacturing operation in Bend and Bend-based Deschutes Brewery, which ranked high among the ag sector.
A number of professional services companies operating in Central Oregon were also recognized including developer and commercial construction firm Gerding Edlen (office in Bend); attorneys Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt (rapidly growing practice, office in Bend) and Miller Nash (offices in Prineville); ODS Companies, which is just about to occupy a new five story office in the Old Mill District (built incidentally by Gerding Eden), and a host of banks operating in the region including Bend-headquartered Bank of the Cascades, Umpqua Bank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, and West Coast Bank. Integra Telecom, which purchased Eschelon (formerly Unicom) was also recognized in the technology category. Central Oregon has admired companies operating in all of the eight industries surveyed – a testament to the increasing recognition of local top local companies as well as the increasing importance the region is playing in the statewide economy.
US on the move…well, not as much, but Oregon continues to gain
The Pew Research Center, the US Census, and United Van Lines provide context for who is moving, where, and why. First up, the US Census Bureau shows us that geographic mobility has been steadily declining from a high in 1951 of 21.2% of the population moving to a new community, down to 13.2% in 2007. Second, the Pew Research Center confirms that people move for economic opportunity and stay put for family ties. Pew paints the picture that we’re really pretty settled as Americans: not counting for college or military service, more than half (56%) of all Americans haven’t lived outside their native state, 27% have lived in two or three states, and only 15% have lived in four or more states.
Now enter the United Van Lines with their 32nd annual migration study, which tracks where consumers moved in 2008 and categorizes states as high inbound, high outbound, or balanced. Oregon (56% inbound) continued its high migration status for the past 21 years, surpassed in the West by Nevada (59%, 23 years growth), Wyoming (58%) and South Dakota (57%). Across the county, Mid Atlantic states came out ahead in 2008, with net gainers in the District of Columbia (62%), North Carolina (58%), South Carolina (56%), and Delaware (54%). High outbound states were North Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Maine, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. Note that the company’s data is interstate and, as such, doesn’t include in-state moves or do-it-yourself moves.
HiDEC news
HiDEC is welcoming Dent Instruments as its newest member. Dent manufactures portable energy and power measurement instruments and data loggers. Dent products provide meaningful energy data that is used to accurately allocate energy costs, identify energy cost-savings opportunities and lower utility bills. These cost-effective instruments are used by energy professionals worldwide for measurement and verification studies, electrical load profiling, and energy audits. Located on the outskirts of downtown Bend, the company has 15 employees and just celebrated its 20th year.
Upcoming HiDEC Events
Contact Eric Strobel if you wish to register for one these following events.
- January 19 – Problem Solving Training at American Licorice
- January 21 – 5s/Visual Management Class
- January 22 – Standard Work Class
- February 19 – Executive Forum with Mike Hoseus – Toyota Problem Solving
Blue Reference launches product development consortium
A developer of process analytics software, Blue Reference Inc. is a new local startup from the entrepreneurial father/son team, Paul and Josh van Eikeren, who created and sold IntelliChem (now Symyx). In December, Blue Reference launched a consortium, in cooperation with global pharmaceutical companies, to identify superior methods for delivering Quality by Design via a comprehensive software solution. Blue Reference will work in cooperation with participating global pharmaceutical companies to identify and develop methods for planning, execution, and management of Quality by Design (QbD) principles in pharmaceutical R&D. "By postponing implementation of Quality by Design practices the pharmaceutical industry is, in effect, wasting more than $50 billion a year in manufacturing costs," says Paul van Eikeren, founder, President, and CEO of Blue Reference. “Through collaboration with several global pharmaceutical companies, Blue Reference is creating an umbrella software solution for Quality by Design that enables companies to substantially improve drug development productivity and timelines while reducing drug manufacturing costs and risks." Visit www.InferenceForQbD.com or www.bluereference.com for more information.
Redmond welcomes Ameritech Machine Manufacturing
Early last month Ameritech Machine Manufacturing began operations in its newly constructed 25,000 sf facility. Previously based in Bend, Ameritech is a fabrication and equipment manufacturing, semi-custom job shop specializing in steel and wood processing equipment and steel fabrication. In other words, they fabricate the equipment that other manufacturers use to then create their products. Ameritech has customers in Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and California. When discussions began in Bend with Redmond Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) back in 2006, Ameritech was out of space in its cramped Old Mill location and had 14 employees. Just two years later, the company brought over 30 full time people to Redmond and plans to venture into additional Western states in the near future.
REDI assisted Ameritech in their Enterprise Zone application process, pre-development review, site selection and helped clear hurdles during the construction phase. Commenting on the warm welcome from the Redmond business community, Ameritech owners Ron Cook and Gordon Woolsey stated that the City really embraced their type of business and did everything they could to get them. “Ameritech is a great fit for Redmond,” added REDI Manager Jon Stark “as this type of business can be an incubator for other specialized machine manufacturing and fabrication companies.”
Jefferson County update
Like every other community in Central Oregon, Jefferson County has been affected by the national slowdown. The business services sector has been hardest hit with lost jobs. Manufacturing companies, especially those with export sales, have been able to keep relatively busy, but even the export markets are showing signs of slowing. January activity will be a key indicator for manufacturing activity in 2009. Agriculture continues to be a bright spot with sales of seeds worldwide.
Countywide, government agencies are collaborating to identify ways to streamline the process for businesses to come to Jefferson County. EDCO and the agencies are currently compiling an inventory of all industrial land available for development in an effort to talk meaningfully with targeted industries about locating in Jefferson County. Similarly, the Jefferson County Economic Development group, along with involved organizations, is working on communicating the positive aspects of quality of life issues -- namely education, health care and housing -- in Jefferson County.
Product innovation is also a key to business growth. Keith Manufacturing has developed a new freight loading technology and has many interested prospective customers. EDCO is working with Keith to offset the costs of building a prototype of their invention so the company can persuasively demonstrate the rapid speed with which freight can be unloaded using the new technology.
Prineville advisory board pushes commercial development with virtual building program
While the City of Prineville boasts some of the most cost effective and largest inventories of industrial land in Central Oregon, the availability of shovel-ready commercial land professional office space is lacking. In order to fulfill its goal of diversifying Crook County’s economy, the Prineville Economic Development Advisory Board is taking on a project to identify commercial properties within the City of Prineville that have the potential for development that would attract family-wage jobs. Those jobs could come from businesses like an insurance company, or a call center like T-Mobile.
“The goal is to build what’s known as a ‘virtual building program,’” said Prineville Economic Development Manager Jason Carr. “This gives the City of Prineville the opportunity to show a business that several pieces of property are basically shovel-ready. All city requirements are already met, and the only thing left for the company to do is get permits and begin construction.”
By working with developers in the region, the virtual building program allows a prospective company to see what a proposed building might look like on a particular piece of property. The goal is to let the business know that their specific building and permit needs can be met in a certain timeframe, such as 180 days. According to Roger Lee, EDCO Executive Director, many call centers and insurance companies are typically interested in an existing building, or one that will accommodate their needs in a short period of time.
With Les Schwab headquarters now in Bend, Greg Lambert with Mid Oregon Personnel believes a qualified administrative workforce exists in Prineville. But the window of opportunity to pull from that group is short-lived. “We need to start looking at this now, so that when the economy does turn around, we’re in a position to respond to potential companies, and compete with other communities for jobs,” explained Lambert. The next step for the group is to identify specific properties, contact property owners, and work with the city to overcome any potential infrastructure issues related to water, sewer, and transportation.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursday, January 15, 2009 – it’s not too late to join PubTalk
We’ve got a lively program lined up with keynote speaker Gregg Patterson, CEO and Chairman of local PV Powered, discussing how to build a stable, growing business in the rapidly changing solar energy market. We’re fortunate to have two early stage presenters. Scott Warner of Wild Red Energy presents a business model based on the intersection of product (energy bar) and social entrepreneurship (support for national rescue organizations). Emmit Nantz of Imperial Stock Ranch Food Company will talk about the power of “transparency” in our food supply; his new company allows restaurateurs and consumers to trace the origin of their meat they purchase while buying locally.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 – “How to Manage Your Business and Protect Revenue / Assets in a Distressed Economy”
Rob Stout, attorney with Ball Janik, and Rill Rich, Bend Equity Associates, PC, will present a two-hour workshop to help companies whose business is faltering. Sometimes through no fault of their own. Stout and Rich will cover such topics as: how to recognize near insolvency, how to effectively operate in the “Zone of Insolvency,” and what to do when your bank does not renew your credit line. Effective legal and financial tools such as workouts, payment plans, receivership, and bankruptcy will be covered. This seminar will also be relevant to companies whose best customer or key customer’s business is faltering. The workshop is 8:00 – 10:00 am, Touchmark at Mount Bachelor. If you are interested please call EDCO at 541-388-3236.
Thursday, January 22: Illegal People? Globalization, migration and the criminalization of immigrants
David Bacon, award-winning writer and photographer, has spent two decades documenting the connections between labor, migration and the global economy in impoverished communities abroad and immigrant workplaces and neighborhoods in the US. Bacon argues that US trade and economic policy abroad precipitate migration, and mindful of the global human rights perspective, he promotes a new way of thinking about migration and globalization. Attend this provocative presentation, presented by the Nancy R. Chandler Visiting Scholar Program of COCC Foundation, at 6:30 pm, Hitchcock Auditorium, COCC Campus, Bend. A $5 donation is suggested. Book sales and signings will follow the presentation. Get more information.
Tuesday, January 27, First Annual Central Oregon Economic Outlook
Plan to attend the first annual Economic Outlook, a project supported by the local community and presented by the UC Santa Barbara Economic Forecast Project. Keynote speaker is Joel Kotkin, global economist and author of several popular books including “Tribes,” “The New Geography,” and “The City: A Global History.” Joining Kotkin from the UC Santa Barbara Forecast Project will be Dr. Bill Watkins, Executive Director, and Kirk Lesh, Real Estate Economist. The event is 8:00 – 11:30 am at the Tower Theatre in Bend. Those interested in attending should email events@ucsb-efp.com or call 1-805-893-5159 or 541-389-7910.
Wednesday, January 28 EDCO Membership Forum - “In a recession, why is economic development more critical than ever?”
Join EDCO and guest speakers Oran Teater, former Bend Mayor, and Kirk Schueler of Brooks Resources, who will discuss how economic development in previous downturns laid the foundation for the amenities and business diversity Central Oregon has today. EDCO Executive Director Roger Lee will talk about strategic projects in the tri county area that make business recruitment more actionable. We’ll encourage feedback and suggestions - in an open forum format - as to how we can more effectively work together as a business community and in a way that represents the entire region. Members and non members alike are invited to join; the location is St. Charles 3:00 - 4:30 pm. Please contact Dayna Dudkowski or call 541-388-3236 to RSVP.
Wednesday, February 11 – Tompkins Consulting presents “Right-Sizing with Respect”
With the economy being what it is, how do we continue the health of our businesses when it becomes necessary to right-size? Tompkins Consulting will discuss strategies for support of both the business and the employees being right-sized, including that delicate balancing act between the business and the human side of the equation.
Thursday, March 5, 2009 – save the date for EDCO’s Annual Luncheon
Our Annual Luncheon features Ross DeVol, Director of Regional Economics with the renowned Milken Institute.The highly respected Milken Institute is a publicly supported, nonpartisan, independent think tank working to create a more democratic and efficient global economy.
December 2008 Renewing Members
Bronze: Bratton Appraisal Group (1998), Midstate Fertilizer Company (1987), PNW Relo (2007)
Individual: Steve Scott Realtors, Louie Hoffman (1999)
NEW MEMBERS
Broken Top Club- Bronze
Having celebrated their first year as a private member-owned club in October 2008, Broken Top Club is enthusiastic about its new direction for both golf and social club members. Their award-winning golf course, designed by the team of Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, originally opened in 1993. The layout, the greens and meticulous course maintenance are all on par with the most revered clubs in the West. A 27,000 sf building provides everything you would expect in a first-class private club with room for large or intimate events and the best dining experience in Bend, featuring wine-maker dinners and jazz nights. Members enjoy year-round family activities including junior golf, summer camps, swimming in two pools, playing tennis on four courts, movie nights, and holiday celebrations. In addition, Broken Top supports Central Oregon philanthropically through the Sagebrush Classic, Bend Venture Conference, Summit High School golf and the Assistance League. If you’d like to take a look around at the new Broken Top Club, call Sonja Donohue, Membership Director, at 541.383.8200 or visit their web site.
Feedback
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