| November PubTalk is next week |
Nov 19: Join EDCO for one of the best ever PubTalk programs
For November, we've assembled one of the richest programs in recent PubTalk history. Join us Thursday evening, 5:00 - 7:30 at McMenamins in Bend for an engaging lineup of speakers and networking:
- Patrick Burns is a highly seasoned CEO with over 30 years experience directing and integrating operations in both large and small multinational corporations. Known as a troubleshooter, Burns will share some of his experiences in correcting under performing high growth potential or broken companies. Especially pertinent in today’s economy, Burns will also offer lessons learned in managing crisis situations. Read more about Burns’ consulting company here.
- Bill Chiaravalle, principal and creative director of Sisters-based Brand Navigation, a highly respected branding company with clients worldwide, will discuss why branding matters. Looking at a local case study, Chiaravalle will discuss the dangers of brand lookalikes that cause confusion in the marketplace. Trademark attorney Susan Daly Stearns will augment Chiarvalle’s branding presentation with practical legal advice on how to research brands and what pre-launch due diligence is required to own and protect your brand without costly backtracking.
- Early stage presenter is Linda Naerheim, owner of Bend-based Elements Naturals, a startup company that has created compostable baby wipes free of petroleum and chemical additives. Since April this year, Naerheim has sold nearly 5,000 units and has secured distribution into Whole Foods. She is seeking capital to expand her distribution and sales force. Learn more about Elements Naturals.
Please RSVP in advance to Dayna so we may plan food and beverage accordingly.
| Congratulations to Winners of EDCO's 2009 Annual Awards |
Everyone partied, networked, and in general, had a great time. Over 200 EDCO friends gathered on October 28 to celebrate our Annual Awards at Seventh Mountain Resort. We were pleased to present the honor these outstanding individuals and companies:
- Public Person of the Year: Andrew Spreadborough, COIC
- Private Person(s) of the Year: Steve Caldwell (Caldwell & Caldwell) and Anne McDonald (The McDonald Group)
- Entrepreneur of the Year: Agere Pharmaceuticals
- Economic Development Partnership of the Year: Cities of Redmond & Sisters
- Central Oregon Product of the Year: VocalBooth.com
- Excellence in Manufacturing: Keith Manufacturing Company
We’d like to extend thanks again to our fantastic sponsors, Lumbermen’s Insurance & Financial Services, Pacific Power and the Seventh Mountain Resort, as well as Darren Powderly of Compass Commercial for graciously agreeing to emcee the event.
Be sure to think of companies that will be deserving of recognition in 2010! Nominations are welcome throughout the year; send to Dayna Dudkowski.
| Central Oregon Business News |
WorkSource Redmond launches company skill profiling as part of the CRC Pilot Program
In August we shared the creation of the Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) pilot program in Redmond, which evaluates the foundational skills of Oregon’s workforce and aids Oregon businesses in hiring, training and promoting the best qualified workers using the WorkKeys assessment program. In early November, WorkSource began working directly with seven Central Oregon companies to develop individual skill profiles for existing employees to aid in matching qualified applicants for job openings. Profilers from Syracuse University were in Central Oregon last week working with a handful of these companies which represent the plumbing, electrical, green technology, tourism, manufacturing, and medical industries.
As of November 6th, one hundred dislocated workers and close to eighty seniors at Redmond High School have completed the assessments. COCC students involved in adult basic education programs and career and technical programs will also have an opportunity to take the assessments before the end of the year. Redmond Economic Development Manager Jon Stark shared his hope for this valuable pilot program to become an ongoing resource and service, provided by WorkSource, for businesses around the region. Nationally, there are 23 other states using the WorkKeys assessment to evaluate workforce skills.
Redmond City Council considers new “Employment” Zone
In a City Council Workshop held November 3rd, Senior Planner Wayne Sorenson presented a recommendation from the Planning Commission for a city code amendment to create a new Mixed Use Employment zone or MUE. The proposed zone is intended for the development of employment centers as campus-type or light industrial with limited commercial and residential development. Stand alone residential projects would not be permitted and commercial uses must be of a type and scale that is designed to support surrounding industrial and employment uses.
The MUE would allow many light industrial companies to locate, helping to balance Redmond’s work live sectors and reducing east-west congestion in the city. Although the zone does not have a designated area yet, it may be used to develop Redmond’s westside near Helmholtz and Highway 126. In the workshop, City Council had numerous questions about the various uses and requested further staff research regarding a commercial printer/publication use, in terms of the noise it might create for residents in the zone. Next steps for Council consideration is a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, November 17th, at the regularly scheduled City Council Meeting. Read more about Redmond's MUE development code amendment.
Madras to construct new city hall and police building
The City Council of Madras voted to proceed with plans to construct a new city hall/police department building on the site just north of Westside Elementary School, land they acquired from the 509-J School District in 2006. The site will incorporate the area known as Friendship Park and the new Tucker War Memorial. The project will cost an estimated $5.8 million dollars and will enhance the appearance of the core area of the city. The city is pursuing grants and loans from the USDA’s Rural Development.
Jefferson County Commissioners direct local funding to help higher education
Jefferson County is in dire need of a local community college campus as a resource to provide enhanced education for its businesses and citizens. Business recruiters have said that having a local college facility is imperative to attract new business to the area. As part of the request for a grant from the EDA (federal – Economic Development Administration), the County Commissioners’ voted to pledge $100,000 in cash and $130,000 for the construction of trails from the city center and high school to the proposed campus – a total of $230,000. This is in addition to the nearly half million dollar value of the land donated by the Bean Foundation. This financial commitment demonstrates the communities’ support for higher education in Jefferson County.
HiDEC wraps up a busy fall
HiDEC members were treated to a diverse assortment of events in the last two months. Members took part in charting the path for HiDEC’s future, attended a full day workshop on human resources with former Toyota executive Mike Hoseus and learned about a new manufacturing initiative called Quick Response Manufacturing.
- On September 22, member company representatives gathered for an executive dinner to give input to the HiDEC steering committee on the 2010 training plan. 18 companies participated in class prioritizing and brainstorming on ways to make HiDEC more effective for its members.
- To kick off EDCO’s Industry Month on October 1, Rajan Suri, Professor of Industrial Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, led a one-day workshop on Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM), a new company wide strategy for lead time reduction throughout the enterprize. Although not separated completely from normal Lean principles, the QRM strategy fits some companies better than others, namely those that produce mostly custom products that require a quick turnaround time. 19 people from 10 companies participated in the workshop. The next week, Rajan Suri spent three days at Bright Wood Corporation in Madras introducing the concept to key employees.
- Mike Hoseus, a HiDEC favorite, returned to Central Oregon on October 7 for a one-day workshop on Toyota’s human resource systems. A former executive at Toyota, Mike now has the blessings of the Toyota Corporation to teach the fundamentals of what makes the company successful. With the subject of HR on hand, HiDEC saw some new faces in the audience including representatives from Bend Broadband, Cascade Healthcare, Mountain View Hospital, Microsemi and G5 Search Marketing.
New Steering Committee Members
HiDEC welcomes two new members to the steering committee: Sue Jones, human resource manager at American Licorice, and Jim Lee, executive director for Central Oregon Resource for Independent Living (CORIL). Sue and Jim bring valuable experience and high level business thinking to the committee.
New Member
Advanced Machining Services is a full-service machining shop excelling in CNC machining and design. AMS started in 2002 and was immediately met with success. The owners, Mark Wolfkeil and Craig Achatz, put almost 70 years of combined precision machining experience to work and created a business that strives to provide quality through excellence. In March 2005, the company expanded to a newly built 10,000 sq foot facility off American Lane in Bend.
| Other Upcoming Events in Central Oregon |
Nov 17: OSU-Cascades presents Science Pub
In collaboration with the OSU Alumni Association, OSU-Cascades takes science out of the stuffy laboratory and into...McMenamins! This new series continues with "Defining a 21st Century Education," presented by Jay Casbon, senior professor at the university's master of arts in teaching (MAT) program. A former elementary and high school teacher, Casbon will explore how middle and high school students’ approach to learning differs from that of previous generations and discuss how our schools can meet the demands to prepare these students for the rigors of an ever-changing competitive world. Open to community members, the program is free and held 5:30 - 7:00 pm in Father Luke's Room at McMenamins, Bend. An RSVP is requested at www.osualum.com
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Nov 20: Employee Handbook Development
In their monthly Breakfast Briefing, Tompkins HR will help with which items should be contained in your company’s handbook, as well as items to avoid. As laws and regulations continuously change, strategies for editing, and methods of informing your staff will be covered. See Tompkins flyer for details.
Starting in January, 2011: Small Business Management program at COCC
Looking for long-term, hands-on business assistance? Is your company in need of an objective eye and a professional, sympathetic ear? Take advantage of our year-long Small Business Management (SBM) course. You’ll receive monthly individual on-site business advising customized to your needs along with a comprehensive selection of monthly classroom topics. SBM is designed to guide you towards achieving your business goals through better organization, management and operation of your business. Confidential advising gives you an ongoing analysis of your business and helps you implement a sound plan for growth and greater profits. The classes cover critical business topics that will enhance your entrepreneurial skills and increase your ability to establish and maintain effective management procedures.
Don’t miss this unique combination of practical instruction in business management techniques with one-on-one counseling at your place of business. The program is open to a limited number of companies with at least one year of operation and one full-time employee. Class starts January 5th. For more information and application call the COCC Business Development Center 383-7290, http://noncredit.cocc.edu/Small+Business/SBM+Program/default.aspx.
We’d like to thank the members - new and renewing alike - who fund EDCO’s efforts to recruit new companies to the region and help local companies grow their operations.
Renewing Members
Bronze Level: Redmond Spokesman (1987)
Silver Level: Express Employment Professionals (1987)
Gold Level: The Bulletin (1987)
Platinum Level: Qwest (1995)
New Members
Vaporcor, LLC - Bronze
Bend-based Vaporcor, LLC was founded in June 2005. The company provides engineering services and is currently developing two new high-efficiency engine technologies. The technologies are applicable to many end uses including automobiles, marine, energy production, and aviation. Currently Vaporcor has 5 employees and a group of 5 owners, with Preston Carter being the majority owner. Carter is also the inventor/chief engineer of the technologies and heads up the work being performed for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Small Business Innovative Research contracts for an external combustion engine for various applications. The other engine technology is a Humphrey Cycle internal combustion engine. For more information, contact Nancy Carter at 541-678-5215.
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