February/March 2016

FOR BUSINESS
VOLUME 15, ISSUE 1
USA $3.95
CANADA $6.95

Path to
economic
success
Chamber programs
and initiatives show
the way forward

The Eugene Area Chamber Of Commerce: CelebratingPromotingInforming Business

$PAC-089_EugeneChamber_OpenBiz_7.375x4.8126_AprMay2015.indd 1

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975 Oak Street, Suite 500 | Eugene, OR 97401

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Publisher
David Hauser, CCE

THIS ISSUE

Director Of
Communications
Katherine Movalson
Eugene Chamber
Executive Committee

Cover story

Columns/Departments

Eugene Area of Chamber

of Commerce has set key
objectives across three primary
areas economic development,
organizational advancement,
and community infrastructure and public policy
that work toward promoting a flourishing local
economy.

Chamber @ Work
What the Eugene Chamber is doing to
support and promote businesses in the
Eugene area.

10

Cover illustration by Asbury Design

20
26

Business News
Promotions, new hires, and new
members

Last Call
Membership in the Eugene
Chamber gives strength to
our work in economic development,
business advocacy and community
development.

Four Questions

We asked Chad Barczak of IDX

and Amanda Walkup of Hershner
Hunter to respond to questions
that give insight into their companies
and the value of their Eugene Chamber
membership.

Nigel Francisco
Chair
CFO, Ninkasi Brewing
Company LLC
Mandy Jones
Chair-elect
CEO, Oregon Community
Credit Union
Cathy Worthington
Treasurer
Licensed Tax
Consultant,
Worthington Business
Services
Craig Wanichek
Past Chair
President & CEO,
Summit Bank
Advertising
Eugene Area
Chamber of Commerce
541.484.1314
Design/Layout
Asbury Design
541.344.1633
www.asburydesign.net
Printing
TechnaPrint
541.344.4062

Harriet Cherry talks

about the evolving
nature of Chamber
membership. Page 10

CHAMBER CONTACTS
David Hauser, CCE

Cedric Rudd

President
(541) 242-2350
daveh@eugenechamber.com

Director of Membership Development

(541) 242-2352
cedricr@eugenechamber.com

Beth Tassan

Jeannine Erving

Administrative Assistant
(541) 242-2356
betht@eugenechamber.com

Membership Services Manager

(541) 242-2355
jeanninee@eugenechamber.com

Barb Brunton

Katherine Movalson

Business Manager
(541) 242-2358
barbb@eugenechamber.com

Director of Communications
(541) 242-2360
katherinem@eugenechamber.com

Ashley Barrington
Administrative Support
(541) 242-2351
ashleyb@eugenechamber.com

Brittany Quick-Warner
Director of Business Advocacy
(541) 242-2354
brittanyw@eugenechamber.com

Megan Richter
Community Coordinator
for DEI & USBA
(541) 242-2357
meganr@eugenechamber.com

Mary O'Neil
Events Manager
(541) 242-2353
maryo@eugenechamber.com

Leigh Anne Hogue

Director of Economic Development
(541) 242-2359
leighanneh@eugenechamber.com

Eugene Area Chamber

of Commerce
1401 Willamette St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541.484.1314
Open for Business:
A publication of the
Eugene Area Chamber of
Commerce
(USPS-978-480).
Open for Business is
published bimonthly
by the Eugene Area
Chamber of Commerce
in February, April, June,
August, October and
December. Circulation:
3,800.
Open For Business
2015
The subscription price
is $25, included in
membership. Periodicals
Postage Paid at Eugene,
OR.
POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to
Eugene Area Chamber of
Commerce, P.O. Box 1107,
Eugene, OR 97440-1107

CHAMBER@WORK
Ginevra Ralph honored
with First Citizen Award

Churchill student named

2016 Future First Citizen
Congratulations to Megan Groves, recipient of this
years Future First Citizen Award, presented by the
Chamber, to a high school senior. Megan is Student
Body Vice President at Churchill High School and sits
on the 4j School Board. She is also a member of the
National Honor Society and a varsity cross country
and track runner. She has demonstrated leadership
and vision in her work creating a gender inclusive
climate at Churchill and in planning a science and
engineering symposium for young women. She is
an active community volunteer including work at
RiverBend and Volunteers in Medicine. Megan plans
to become a physician.

Ginevra Ralph
The First Citizen Award honors one outstanding individual
who has made notable contributions to the Eugene/
Springfield community through business and community
service efforts. This year the Chamber honored Ginevra Ralph,
co-founder of the John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts and the
institutes director of education and development.Ginevras
extensive civic involvement includes serving as vice chair on
the University of Oregon board of trustees and as a member
of Eugenes Cultural Services Advisory Council. She has
served on many other civic and nonprofit boards, including
Eugenes Saturday Market, Downtown Eugene Inc., UO
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and the University of Oregon
Foundation.

Megan Groves

Accelerator program celebrates startup graduates

Regional Accelerator & Innovation Network
(RAIN) celebrated its most recent graduates on
January 13th at its inaugural RAIN Eugene State
of the Startup Ecosystem event. Presenting at
the event were Green Gear Cycling, (aka Bike
Friday www.bikefriday.com), KlubHub (www.
klubhub.com), Lolas Fruit Shrubs (www.
lolasfruitshrubs.com), LumiDax Electronics
(www.lumidax.com), Miracle Query, Swallowtail
Spirits (www.swallowtailspirits.com), Waitrainer
(www.waitrainer.com), BASE Security (www.
campussafetyfoundation.com), and Bull & Stash
(www.bullandstash.com).
RAIN is operates a 12-week training and
mentoring program for early growth stage
companies.

The Regional Accelerator & Innovation Networks (RAIN) most recent

graduates innovate across a broad range of industries and fields.

4 OP EN FO R BUSI N ESS | EUGEN E AREA CH AMB ER O F COM M ERC E

EUGENE
SUMMIT
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

2016

ARE YOU IN?

www.eugeneypsummit.com

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Four questions
We asked local businesses to respond to questions that give insight into
their companies and the value of their Eugene Chamber membership.

Chad Barczak
CEO/Co-founder, IDX
Chad Barczak and Jeff Kast started IDX
in a converted apartment above Bergs Ski
Shop in December 2003 with a vision to
bring Real Estate MLS listings to the masses.
They now have more than 50 employees (and
four open positions!) in their downtown office on the corner of Oak and Broadway.
What trends are shaping your
industry/business?

Mobile, mobile, mobile! Our trends

are closely aligned with general economic
trends. Our clients demand software that
works well on all mobile devices used by
their home buyers and sellers. In fact,
this is one of the main reasons we acquired Agent Evolution last year. Agent
Evolution is a market leading WordPress
platform that was built from a mobile-first
mindset, which has helped us stay ahead of
the mobile development curve in.

I wish more people knew how talented

each and every one of the individuals we
hire really is. Because of this team and the
culture we enjoy at IDX, we have earned a
spot on the Oregons Best Places to work
list for the last two years.
We have also been named as one of the
Best Places to Work by Outside Magazine,
which we are really proud of because we
are the only Oregon technology company
on the list.
We are just finishing a 4000 sq. ft.
basement renovation for the exclusive
use of our employees as a break room. It
is essentially a private arcade, game room,
entertainment, work and play area where
we will also provide free catered meals
three days a week.

What would you tell someone who is

thinking about opening a business in
Eugene?

What element of the Chamber

has been most beneficial to your
company?

Eugene is a great place to open and

even move an existing business. The
access to qualified employees as well as
experienced mentors and capital resources
is getting better and better every day. The
creation of larger tech/business hubs,
like the downtown core, will continue to
increase and become more vibrant for both
work and play. With our recent move to
our downtown location we are betting on
this prediction!

The start-up events that the Chamber

promotes and sponsors have been most
beneficial to our company and to me. I
really enjoy learning about new businesses
that join the Chamber and participate in
these types of events. Now that IDX is no
longer a start-up, these events are a good
way for me to stay fresh with new ideas
and industry trends. Its also a great way to
recruit new and talented employees with
passion for what they do!

F E B R U A R Y/ M A R C H 2 0 1 6

PHOTO BY DAVID LOVEALL

What do you wish other people knew

about your company?

Eugene Area
Chamber of
Commerce

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Four questions
Amanda
Walkup
Partner, Hershner Hunter
Hershner Hunter Law Firm has served
the legal needs of local and regional businesses
since its establishment in 1944. Amanda
Walkup joined the firm in 2004 and the focus
of her practice is employment law.
What trends are shaping your
industry/business?

We see three trends. First, businesses

are becoming increasingly regulated, particularly in the areas of employment,
employee benefits and health care. It is
difficult for businesses to follow all of those
requirements, which is where we step in.
Second, our business community is
in the middle of widespread leadership
succession as the baby boom generation
retires and the next generation of leaders
takes their place. We invest a lot of time
and energy growing this next generation.
Third, businesses are becoming more
dependent on technology, and the issues
they face in a world dominated by the
online marketplace are more complex. As
Eugenes technology sector has grown, we
have developed expertise in cybersecurity,
internet and social media advertising law
and the impact social media can have on
business decisions.

PHOTO BY DAVID LOVEALL

What might someone be surprised to

know about your company?

Despite the fact that we are in a smaller

legal market we have been able to recruit
some of the best legal talent coming out
of the University of Oregon. We believe
that our culture of collegiality and the
efforts we make to train new lawyers to
become owners of our business are strong
selling points. Our lawyers are involved in
a variety of civic activities, both past and
present, including United Way of Lane
County, Junior Achievement Board, Parenting Now Board, Eugene School Board,
Eugene Celebration, Lane County Legal
Aid, Rotary Board, Lane County Planning

Commission, and CASA, to name a few.

(Its a lengthy list!)
What would you tell someone who is
thinking about opening a business in
Eugene?

Get a good accountant and a good attorney, and take advantage of their expertise before you act, not after. For example,
when dealing with employees, business
owners often rely on common sense and
draw on their own experiences when they
were employees. Unfortunately, because
federal, state and local laws regulating the
workplace routinely contradict a persons
common sense approach, well-meaning
business owners could end up inadvertently
violating the law when they just wanted to
help their employees. And, because the laws
are frequently changing, it is ill-advised to
expect that what worked 10 years ago or
even 5 years ago would still be legal now.
If you were going to give public tours
of this company, what stops would the
guide make?

Our basement. We purchased our

building from a local bank back in the

8 OP EN FO R BUSI N ESS | EUGEN E AREA CH AMB ER O F COM M ERC E

1980s, and the drive-through tellers were

located across the street. Drive-through
transactions were funneled underneath
Pearl Street through pneumatic tubes that
spit out into a vault in the basement of our
building. That vault, which looks more like
a bomb shelter, still exists.
How does the Chamber deliver value
to a firm like yours?

The Chamber provides a convenient

way to interface with our clients and the
community as a whole. Its various forums
and written communications help keep us
in touch with the business owners that we
serve and the issues of interest to them as
Chamber members.
The Chamber helps identify issues that
are most important to our business community, which in turns helps us target our
own outreach.
The Chamber provides leadership and
participation on public and community issues as a reasonable voice from the business
community.
It also provides valuable networking
opportunities.
Eugene Area
Chamber of
Commerce

F E B R U A R Y/ M A R C H 2 0 1 6

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

COVER STORY

Charting
a course
Key Chamber initiatives offer
economic opportunity to members
By Matt Hollander

To know where youre going, you need to know how youre going
to get there. For the Eugene Area of Chamber of Commerce this
means setting key objectives across three primary areas economic development, organizational advancement, and community
infrastructure and public policy that work toward promoting a
flourishing local economy.
Helping Businesses Launch and Grow

While each facet of the Eugene Chamber supports its mission,

the most direct correlation to that goal is its economic development
arm. Those programs include sector-building strategy, entrepreneurship and business retention and expansion. Achieving balance
between those areas has historically been a moving target, but over
the past few years the Chamber has found a sustainable model that
will help local businesses thrive for years to come.
Present day economic development for the Chamber, and the
region as a whole, doesnt look much like the scene Dana Siebert
remembers from when he moved to Eugene 23 years ago.
The economy was still very much natural resource based, and
the county government and the university were primary drivers, as
well. The economic development activities were smaller and more
disjointed, said Siebert, a member of the Chambers board of directors.
A crucial step for any organization is deciding where to align
its energy. The Chamber provides a host of services that benefit its
entire membership, but it cannot be all things to all businesses. By
implementing a sector-building strategy, the Chamber became more

F E B R U A R Y/ M A R C H 2 0 1 6

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

11

effective with its own resources and advancing

the regions economic strengths, which include
food and beverage, and technology.
The sector strategy has brought a much
more balanced approach to economic development, said Siebert, an executive vice president
at Green Energy Corp. Its easer to develop a
range of strategies for companies of all sizes
within a single industry. Theres value in the
startup community, but theres also value in
larger scale companies from a standpoint of
manufacturing capacity and workforce development.
In recent years, the Chamber has also
played a critical role in promoting better collaboration and coordination between regional
stakeholders. Not only have these efforts
produced more impactful initiatives, but
it also has allowed the Chamber to take on
more flexible roles. A great example is its work
with the Regional Accelerator and Innovation
Network (RAIN), the state sponsored program to develop an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The Chamber initially played a pivotal role in
helping RAIN establish local operations. But
as the program gained more traction, and the
private sector took on a larger role, the Chamber took a step back into more of a supporting
position.
There isnt enough money going into
economic development in this region to be
all things to all people, so to be successful we
need to be well coordinated across its economic development groups, and I feel for the
first time in the 20-plus years Ive been here
that we are getting to a level of coordination
thats efficient, said Siebert, who also serves
on the RAIN board of directors.
Through its Focus On: Manufacturing
program, the Chamber also facilitates a forum
where local manufacturing companies and
human resource organizations can collaborate on workforce issues. To help retain and
grow these local businesses, the Chamber is
planning to lead several initiatives aimed to
improve the future workforce pipeline.
Sticking to the Issues

The impact of public policy is easy to miss

in a place you experience on a regular basis.
Chris Boone did not move very far away
from Eugene. Nor was he gone for very
long. But after four years of business school
at Oregon State University, and another two
working for U.S. Bank in Portland, the 1998
graduate of Marist Catholic High School re-

PHOTO BY DAVID LOVEALL

COVER STORY

Eugene Chamber board of directors member Chris Boone wants to reduce some of
the barriers to retaining young professionals in our community.

We also want to create a community thats

livable and sustainable through ways that
make the Northwest unique.
Chris Boone
President of Boone Insurance Associates and Eugene Chamber board member.

turned to a place that he could see was moving

in the right direction.
There were certain areas, like downtown,
where it just felt good to be out, and I didnt
feel as connected to that when I was younger,
said Boone, the President of Boone Insurance
Associates and a member of the Chambers
board of directors.
For many years the Chamber has prioritized redevelopment in downtown, and
it will continue advocate, lead and drive
initiatives that advance the next generation

1 2 OP E N FO R BUSI N ESS | EUGEN E AREA CH AMB ER O F COM M ERC E

of revitalization. Why? Because its working.

Recent outcomes of this commitment to
promote urban renewal include the Broadway
Commerce Center, The Woolworth Building
and Lane Community Colleges Downtown
Campus. These anchor projects have spurred
new interest in downtown living and attracted
businesses that are changing more than just
local commerce.
Our economy is moving toward a variety
of industries that are producing local goods
and services that are being purchased globally,

COVER STORY
Chamber Programs

Bring a constructive voice to

state and local governments
Non-partisan, pro-business
and pro-community

Ad

vo

Issues from business

incentives and regulation
to land use and
transportation.

c Ac

Economic
dEvElopmEnt

Eugene Area of Chamber of Commerce works toward

promoting a flourishing local economy by
focusing member services
in five main areas.

Support creation
of higher-paying jobs
Grow and retaining
local companies
Lead sector strategy projects
to support key industries
Partner with education to
ensure a strong employment
pool

RES

Events like Business

After Hours and Young
Professionals Network

Seminars that address

key business topics

Ec

ti

ER

tn

Leader and partner in

developing a vibrant and
diverse economy

ip
S

culture and feeling, said Boone.

If downtown redevelopment is creating
jobs and homes that are attracting the next
generation of business talent, other factors
could eventually determine whether or not
they stay. The Chamber has invested in several

Sh

Collaborate with organizations

on regional business recruitment,
downtown revitalization, workforce
development, transit, infrastructure
and the arts.

and supporting jobs and wages. If you look at

technology, its a good industry because you
dont need rail or water to get to market. Food
and beverage is another good example. These
industries have a big impact on the livability
of downtown Eugene; they create a really cool

Discounts including
office supplies
and workers
compensation

R
pA

Smaller groups and

committees for specific
types of businesses and
projects

Small business
counseling,
consultants and
mentoring

Groups including
Women Business
Leaders and Greeters

co

E
URc

key infrastructure projects and initiatives that

will further enhance the long-term livability
of Eugene, including improved transportation
services, K-12 education and economic development incentives.
We want to reduce some of the barriers to

F E B R U A R Y/ M A R C H 2 0 1 6

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

13

COVER STORY
retaining young professionals in our community, said Boone. It reinforces better wages,
which has a positive impact on the entire
system. We also want to create a community
thats livable and sustainable through ways
that make the Northwest unique.
Boone said that the Chamber has also
prioritized opening more opportunities for
these young people to participate in Young
Professionals Network and programs like
Leadership Eugene Springfield, which gives
young leaders the opportunity to learn about
the community and how it operates from different perspectives and industries.
When Harriet Cherry and her husband
moved to Eugene from Atlanta in 1990 by
way of a five-month cross-country bike trip,
they called ahead to the Chamber of Commerce to find out what the city had to offer.
We were looking for a community that
had outdoor activities, cultural events, was a
college town and a place where I could practice architecture, said Cherry, now a principal
at PIVOT Architecture and a member of
the Chambers board of directors. Way back
then you couldnt go online to find out what
communities were like, you started with the
Chamber of Commerce.
As the traditional roles of a chamber
community information center, business education, networking, etc. face competition
from other sources, these association groups
are asking deep questions about their futures.
A study on this subject published last
spring by the Association of Chamber of

PHOTO BY DAVID LOVEALL

Organizing for Success

Harriet Cherry has seen the nature of Chamber membership evolve with the times.

Chamber Initiatives

Annual Chamber Programs

A snap shot of some of the initiatives the Chamber is working on in 2016:

n Young Professionals Summit

(new)

n Expanding industrial
land available for future
development
n Revitalizing downtown

through incentives and

initiatives
n Promoting the

redevelopment of EWEB
Riverfront property and
Riverfront Master Plan

n Advocating for K-12

education to support
workforce development
and quality education
n Representing

business interests in
transportation system
planning

n Leading Sector
Strategy Projects
(Food and Beverage,
Manufacturing)
n Rebuilding efforts to
attract new businesses to
the region

n Generating future

n Advancing the

leaders through
programs including
Leadership EugeneSpringfield

entrepreneurial
ecosystem

1 4 OP E N FO R BUSI N ESS | EUGEN E AREA CH AMB ER O F COM M ERC E

n Young Professionals Network

(monthly)
n Business After Hours (monthly)
n Women Business Leaders
(monthly)
n Celebration of Business
n Business Expo
n Economic Forecast
n Chamber Golf Tournament

COVER STORY
Commerce Executives (ACCE) noted that
chambers will always be conveners, but
that the nature of belonging and gathering is
changing. Many people will want to participate in chambers for specific issues or causes,
but they wont become members just for the
sake of joining.
The Chamber has worked toward adding
value to members by offering more missionrelated programming. During 2015, the
Chamber provided 52 extended learning
workshops for members on a host of topics
ranging from selling to leadership. It expects
to continue to provide a host of opportunities
for members to learn and grow.
Another conclusion from the ACCEs
study was that the value of a chamber
membership isnt corollary to events and
attendance. In 2015, the Eugene Chamber
staged more than 130 events. Regardless of
whether or not the Chamber will offer more
or less events in the future, Cherry said that a
key objective is to improve connectivity with
members and successfully convey the value of
the Chamber through more personal outreach
and enhancing its communication efforts.

There isnt enough

money going into
economic development
in this region to be all
things to all people, so
to be successful we need
to be well coordinated
across its economic
development groups.
Dana Siebert
Green Energy Corp executive vice president
and RAIN Board of Directors member

The Chambers role as a convener also

includes building consensus around common issues, like economic growth, workforce
development, K-12 education and more. This
function has become ever more important at a

time when, according to the ACCE study, the

political and social fabric of communities has
become increasingly fragmented. The Chamber is effective in this position because it is
composed of such a diverse membership, and
with the primary goal of driving economic
opportunity and well bing it is the rare entity
that can connect businesses, citizens and government.
Goal Setting

The Chambers objectives individually

arent overly complicated, but with so many
across its three areas economic development, organization and public policy finding the right balance of focus and resources
is essential to realize any long-term vision.
However, there is a common thread; a cause
and effect that keeps it all moving forward.
All of our objectives are connected back to
the Chambers mission. If you can create more,
higher-wage jobs, youll have the opportunity
to retain more young professionals. And if
you talk about growth and retention, a vibrant
downtown is going to help you accomplish
many of those goals, said Boone.
Eugene Area
Chamber of
Commerce

YOUR SUCCESS
IS OUR BUSINESS
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Because when it comes to
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F E B R U A R Y/ M A R C H 2 0 1 6

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

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THANK YOU
THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING CHAMBER MEMBERS
WHO SUPPORTED THE EUGENE CHAMBERS ANNUAL
MEMBERSHIP DINNER, CELEBRATE BUSINESS 2016

Presenting Sponsor: Summit Bank

Friends of the Chamber: Arnold Gallagher PC ,Bigfoot
Beverages; Cawood; Cappelli Miles; Coca-Cola Refreshments;
Eugene Area Radio Stations; Evans, Elder & Brown, Inc.; Funk/Levis
& Associates; G Group; Gaydos, Churnside & Balthrop; Gleaves
Swearingen Law; Hershner Hunter; Hilton Eugene; Jones & Roth
CPAs; KEZI 9; KVAL-TV; Lane Electric Cooperative; Ninkasi Brewing
Co.; Northwest Christian University; Northwest Community Credit
Union; Oregon Community Credit Union; PBP Insurance; PIVOT
Architecture; SELCO; Servpro; Shelton Turnbull; Summit Bank;
The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts; Trillium Community Health
Plan; University of Oregon; and Wildish Land Co.
SPECIAL THANKS: Blue Bus Creatives, Hilton Eugene, KEZI 9,
KVAL-TV, Past Eugene First Citizens, Rhythm and Blooms, and
Sweet Cheeks Winery

Economic Forecast
event gets new
venue, new format
The Chamber is getting set for the 22nd Economic
Forecast, and this year its been reinvented and reinvigorated it with a new format and a new venue!
Jeffrey Finkle, President and CEO of the International Econmic Council
will give the keynote
The Economic
address, and a new panel
Forecast will be
featuring five of Oregons
held Monday,
leading economists will
February 29
discuss where the economy
from 2 to 5
is headed in 2016.
p.m. at the Hult
Center for the
As always, this event
Performing Arts.
will provide business and
community leaders with
a comprehensive economic outlook for our country, state and region while
stimulating our collective thinking to strengthen the
economic future in the region.
Plan to leave this event with a context for action!

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BUSINESSNEWS
Promotions/
New Hires

Corin Thompson was promoted to Credit

Services Officer at Pacific Continental
Bank. He works at the banks High Street
office in Eugene.

Photos appear left to right from top. Names in

bold indicate Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce
members. If you are interested in joining the
Chamber, please contact Cedric Rudd. cedricr@
eugenechamber.com

Schirmer Satre Group hired John

Schmidt, Licensed Landscape Architect,
to the firm as a Project Manager. John
has managed, designed and assisted
with a variety of project types within a
diverse range of service areas including
commercial development, housing,
public parks, trail systems, roadways and
streetscapes, and municipal and federal
facilities. Patrick McCrary joined the firm
as a Landscape Designer. Patrick received
his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
from the University of Oregon in 2014.

Pension Planners
Northwest announced
the addition of Tenille
Woodward as Senior
Administrator. She joins
the firm with 13 years
of experience providing administration
and compliance services for companysponsored retirement plans.
Jonathan Gunther
joined Reynolds
Electric Inc. as
Controller. He
previously worked as
a senior accountant
at Moss Adams LLP in the business
assurance department.

Lunar Logic announced the promotion of

Walt Norblad to Chief Operating Officer.
Walt has been with Lunar Logic for 11
years, most recently as Chief Technology
Officer overseeing growth from a single
client software firm to an engineering firm
with over 50 active clients. Lunar Logic
also announced Janice Nyland Little has
been promoted to Director of Engineering.
Janice has been with Lunar Logic for 11
years, most recently as the Local Website
Development Team Manager.
Mark Kannen joined
Hershner Hunter
LLP. His practice will
focus on estate &
business planning and
business organization &
transaction matters. He is a 2011 graduate
from the University of Oregon School of
Law and a 2007 graduate from Purdue.

Less waiting
for emergency care
(and a lot more care, if you need it).

In a medical emergency, every minute matters. So, at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, youll find faster care in the
emergency room. We work diligently to have you initially seen by a medical professional* in 30 minutes or less. And, with
a team of dedicated medical specialists, we can provide a lot more care, if you need it.

The 30-Minutes-Or-Less E.R. Service Pledge

only at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center.
MCKweb.com

*Medical professionals may include physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center is
directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospitals medical staff.

1 8 86518_MWMC_ERpldg_7_735x4_8125c.indd
OP E N FO R BUSI N ESS | EUGEN1E AREA CH AMB ER O F COM M ERC E

9/1/15 10:24 AM

BUSINESSNEWS

Isler CPA has several

new team members
and promotions.
Emily Selander
joined the firm as a
Staff Accountant.
Emily is a graduate of the University of
Oregon where she earned her bachelors
of science degree in accounting. Steve
Griswold also joined the firm as a Staff
Accountant. Steve is a graduate of the
University of Oregon where he earned a
Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree.
Gatlin Hawkins, CPA was hired as
an Audit Accountant. After receiving

his Bachelor of Science in Business

Administration (Accountancy) from
Sacramento State University, Gatlin
audited municipal entities in California for
two years. Eric Bell, CPA joined the firm
as a Senior Tax Manager. Eric received his
Masters in Taxation from the University of
Denver and has over 10 years experience
in public accounting. Mark Guiley, CPA
was promoted to Tax Manager. Mark is a
native of Springfield, OR. He attended the
University of Oregon and Linfield College.
Ann Ross was promoted to Senior Tax
Accountant. She attended both Utah
State University and the University of
Oregon.

Services. She was previously Director of

Surgical and Perioperative Services at
Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in
Portland. Janelle Gilge is the new Director
of Operations, specialty clinics at Sacred
Heart Medical Center. She formerly
worked as Department Administrator of
Specialty Care at Northwest Permanente
Medical Group in Portland. Natalie Almon
joined PeaceHealth as Program Manager
for Patient Experience. Natalie was a
Service Design Consultant at the Carilion
Clinic Center for Innovation in Roanoke,
VA. Alicia Beymer was named Director of
Home Care Services. Alicia has been an
employee of PeaceHealth since 2007.

Renae Leadley joined KeyBank as

Business Banking Leader for the Oregon
East/South territory, including Eugene.
During a 22-year career at the Bank of
Montreal, she held positions in retail
management, human resources and
corporate finance.

Logan Haugen joined

Ward Insurance as a
Commercial Property &
Casualty Producer. He
is a Eugene native and a
recent graduate of the
University of Oregon.

Cindy Lilley has joined PeaceHealth

Sacred Heart Medical Center at
RiverBend as Director for Surgical

COBURG CAMPUS
OPENING MARCH 2016
Serenity Lane has been treating
individuals suffering from the
disease of addiction since 1973,
creating tens of thousands of
success stories. We are building
a new campus in Coburg which
will double our current capacity,
allowing us to save more lives.
Look for details about our grand
opening on our website.

www.serenitylane.org

SERENITY LANE

alcohol & drug treatment

If youd like a tour to see our
progress, call Larry Bradley at:

541-284-8609

F E B R U A R Y/ M A R C H 2 0 1 6

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

19

BUSINESSNEWS

Amanda Hansen joined Rowell Brokaw

Architects as a Designer. She holds a
Master of Architecture from the University
of Oregon and a Bachelor of Science
in architectural engineering from the
University of Wyoming. Her skills include
architectural and urban design, graphic
design, architectural illustration, passive
energy analysis, structural analysis and
design. Frank Visconti joined Rowell
Brokaw Architects as a Senior Project
Architect. He has 26 years of experience
in architectural design, interior design,
furniture design, and construction
administration. He has had integral roles
on projects ranging from a new 2.5 million
square foot campus in Singapore to many
unique residential projects in Los Angeles,
Aspen and New York City published in
Architectural Digest.

a Staff Accountant. She has a Bachelor

of Science in Business Administration
(accounting emphasis) and a Master of
Professional Accountancy from Montana
State University. Kevin Walters was
hired as a Staff Accountant. He earned a
Bachelor of Science in Political Science
and Accounting from the University of
Oregon. Additionally, Kevin earned his JD
from Washington and Lee School of Law in
Virginia. Will Fallihee was hired as a Staff
Accountant. He has a Bachelor of Science
in General Agriculture, Agricultural
Business Management and Accountancy.

Moss Adams, LLP,

added to its team
providing tax and
assurance support
for clients in a variety
of industries. Aaron
Lee was hired as a
Staff Accountant. He has a Bachelor
of Science in Business Administration
(accounting emphasis), from Idaho State
University. Cole Bertoch was hired as
a Staff Accountant. He has a Bachelor
of Science in Business Administration
(accounting emphasis), from Idaho State
University. Jodi Jackson was hired as

Kathryn Bruebaker
joined Banner Bank as
the Branch Manager
of our Eugene Country
Club branch. Kathryn is
an experienced banker
with over 15 years of experience in both
commercial and retail banking, including
managing successful branches.

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2 0 OP E N FO R BUSI N ESS | EUGEN E AREA CH AMB ER O F COM M ERC E

harrang.com
800.315.4172

Bill Gary

BUSINESSNEWS
Mary Anne McMurren was named Chief
Administrative Officer at Sacred Heart
Medical Center, University District. She
formerly was Administrator at the center
and Vice President of Post-Acute Services.
Shannon Surber was named chief
operating officer for PeaceHealth Sacred
Heart Medical Center, RiverBend and
University District.
Two physicians joined PeaceHealth
Cottage Grove Community Medical
Center. Julie Ann Galinato, MD, earned
a medical degree at the University of
Santo Thomas Hospital in Manilla, The
Philippines, and completed a residency
at the University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center in Pennsylvania. Ehsan Hazrat,
MD, earned a medical degree at St.
Matthews University School of Medicine
in the Grand Cayman Islands. He
completed a residency in family medicine
at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago.
Rio McWilliams, PA-C, joined
PeaceHealth Medical Group as
a Physician Assistant. He formerly

worked in vascular surgery at McKenzieWillamette Medical Center in Springfield.

He completed a bachelor of clinical health
science and physician assistant studies
at Medex Northwest at the University
of Washington School of Medicine in
Seattle. Kiran Narreddy, MD, joined
PeaceHealth Medical Group Hospital
Medicine team as a Hospitalist. Previously
he was a Hospitalist in internal medicine
at UnityPoint Health in Fort Dodge,
Iowa. He earned a medical degree at
Kurnool Medical College in India and
completed a residency at the University
of Illinois College of Medicine at UrbanaChampaign.

Arjorie Arberry
opened Hair Solutions
by Arjorie at 440 W.
6th Ave. in Eugene.

Dr. David Hackett

joined Dr. Carol
Marusich atLifetime
Eye Care, offering
vision therapy and
comprehensive vision
care for all ages, infants to seniors. Dr.
Hackett will be expanding appointment
times, both early and late for patient
convenience.

Florencia Kantt, a Pediatric Nurse

Practitioner, and Jessica Criser, a Family
Nurse Practitioner, joined Community
Health Centers of Lane County.
Florencia will see patients at Charnelton
Community Clinic in Eugene. Jessica will
see patients at Brookside Clinic in Eugene.
They each earned a graduate degree
in nursing at Vanderbilt University in
Nashville, Tenn.

F E B R U A R Y/ M A R C H 2 0 1 6

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21

BUSINESSNEWS
Alpine Mortgage Planning welcomed
Mike Ford as the newest addition to their
team of Mortgage Advisors. With over 20
years in residential lending, Mike will be a
tremendous asset in the Eugene branch.
Elena Connelly is now Mortgage Advisor
in the Creswell branch, located at 141 E
Oregon Ave. Joy Stevens is the new Loan
Partner to Mortgage Advisor Debra Basile.
Kathy Speedy joined Alpine Mortgage in
the Junction City office as Loan Assistant to
Mortgage Advisor Jeff Irving.

Tyler Harris was promoted to Tax Manager

with Moss Adams, LLP. Tyler joined Moss
Adams in January 2013 after a year and
a half working for a large national firm in
Portland. He provides tax services to clients
in the forest products and manufacturing
industries and is an integral team member
for recruiting efforts at the University of
Oregon. Emily Gray was promoted to Sales
& Marketing Coordinator. She provides
integral support to the Regional Sales &
Marketing Manager. Emily also acts as the
Recruiting Coordinator for the Eugene office.

ShelterCare announced
changes in their
development staff.
Don Gulbrandsen was
named Development
Director. Previously he
served as ShelterCares Associate Director
of Development and Agency Recruiter.
After four years with the organization,
Kelly Johnson has been promoted to
Senior Development Associate. Kelly is
a UO graduate with a masters in Arts
Administration. Cheryl Breuer joined the
team as Development Associate. Cheryl
previously worked as a freelance writer and
editor and recently moved from Madison, WI.

2 2 OP E N FO R BUSI N ESS | EUGEN E AREA CH AMB ER O F COM M ERC E

BUSINESSNEWS
Chelsea Wagner-Dietmeyer joined RE/
MAX Integrity as a Real Estate Broker
at their Village Plaza Loop office. Chelsea
is known for outstanding client service,
availability, marketing techniques, personal
touches and being a skilled negotiator.
RE/MAX integrity
announced that Marilyn
Johnson joined their
team as Managing
Principle Broker at their
Village Plaza Loop office.
Marilyn has lived in Eugene for 32 years and
became a Realtor in 2001 and earned her
ABR, CNE, CRS and GRI designations over
the years.

Announcements
& Kudos
Essex General Construction was awarded
the 2016 Bold Steps Award by Mayor
Kitty Piercy. The Bold Steps award
recognizes Eugene-based businesses
operating with a triple bottom line,
balancing the needs of people and the
planet with prosperity. The other finalists
for the award were Mountain Rose Herbs
and PIVOT Architecture.
McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center
was named a Top Performer on Key Quality
Measures by The Joint Commission,
a national accreditor of health-care
organizations. The hospital, one of 1,043 in
the nation to achieve the distinction, was
recognized for achievement in measure sets
heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and
surgical care.
The surgical team at PeaceHealth Sacred
Heart Medical Center, RiverBend was
recognized by the American College of
Surgeons for excellence in patient safety
and quality of surgical care. The hospital is
one of 52 hospitals nationally to earn the
recognition for patient care and outcomes.
Robert Baguio was named Community
Outreach Director with Loving Care Senior
Referral Service.
Balzhiser & Hubbard Engineers
announced that the company has changed
its name to BHEGroup to reflect their
evolution into a multi-discipline firm.

F E B R U A R Y/ M A R C H 2 0 1 6

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23

BUSINESSNEWS
The Eugene Opera announced Grace
Widdicombe as President for the 2015
2016 year. Members of the board
include President Elect Troy Hickman;
Secretary, Anne Bogart; Treasurer, Mark
Reynolds; Directors: Mary Breiter,
Rosaria Haugland, Connie Kulick,
Anthony Meyer, Barbara Myrick, John
Tilson, Chorus Representative Chris
Lamb, Ambassadors Representative John
Cummens.
The Science Factory opened Moneyville,
an interactive exhibit to build math
skills and promote economic literacy.
The exhibit runs through June and is
supported locally by Jeff Hill, Future
Planning Systems.
This year Assistance League Thrift
Shop increased sales by 7%. Proceeds
from the shop support the philanthropic
programs of Assistance League of
Eugene, including their signature program
providing new school clothing to over
2,000 studentsin the Eugene and Bethel
School Districts.
Bounce Gymnastics and Circus Arts is
celebrating their 10-year anniversary in
Eugene.
Curtis Restaurant Equipment
stockholders have sold 100% of the stock
to the employees in an employee stock
ownership plan transaction. Dan Curtis
will stay as President and Bill Kottas will
remain as Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer.
Dr. Shane Samy was named one of nine
2015 Honored Fellows by the American
Academy of Implant Dentistry. The
credential is presented to implant dental
health professionals who distinguish
themselves through professional, clinical
and academic endeavors.
Brian Meiering,
an environmental
specialist at Schirmer
Satre Group, earned
a professional
wetland scientist
certification from the Society of Wetland
Scientists, an international professional
organization devoted to fostering sound
wetland science and management. He
helps clients with wetland delineations,
biological assessments and government
compliances.

Guaranty RV Super Centers in Junction

City was named one of the top five
dealers in the United States and Canada
on the 2015 RVBusiness Top 50 Dealers
List. Nominees were evaluated by an
independent panel of industry veterans on
business acumen and professionalism in a
variety of areas.
Eugene-based Roehl & Yi Investment
Advisors was one of six U.S. firms
honored with a 2015 Focus Elite Award in
recognition of consistent, company-wide
achievement and leadership in the asset
management industry, including effective
decision making, core values, the ability to
attract top talent, and employee loyalty.
Eugene Symphony Board of Directors
welcomed Deborah Carver, Arden Olson,
Laura Parrish, and Paul Roth to its
31-member board. Each will serve threeyear terms.
Loving Care Senior Referral Service
launched a new website. www.
seniorlivingeugene.com
Greenhill Humane Society elected
the following officers of its Board of
Directors for 2016: President: Cathy
Worthington, Worthington Business
Services; Vice President:Josh Smith,
Gleaves Swearingen, LLP, Attorneys at
Law; Secretary: Renee Watts, DDS,
Ardent Care General Dentistry; Treasurer:
Amanda Bridges, Ninkasi Brewing; Past
President: Amy Valentine, DVM, Oregon
Veterinary Referral Associates. Other
Directors include: Willy Hart, Amber
Fossen, Robbin Freedman, and Danielle
Livingston.

New Members
When you join the Eugene Area Chamber
of Commerce, you become part of a
vibrant and prosperous community of
creative entrepreneurs, forward-thinking
innovators and visionary business
leaders. Were pleased to welcome
these new members who have chosen to
take advantage of the Chambers tools,
resources and expansive network to grow
their businesses:
Living Concepts Landscape Services
www.livingconceptslandscape.com

Smiles4Oregon
Los Potrillos
www.lospotrillosweb.com

Secure Solutions Allstate Ins.

Group, LLC
The Collegian
www.thecollegian.com

Sunset Hills Funeral Home,

Crematorium and Cemetery
www.sunsethillseugene.com/

Empowerment Counseling Associates

2nd Sun Photography
www.2ndsunphoto.com/

Pacific University, Masters of Social

Work
www.pacificu.edu

Edward Jones - Connie Fehlman,

Financial Advisor

The Eugene Symphony Board of

Directors named Niles and Mary Ann
Hanson their 2016 Advocate for the Arts,
a prestigious award honoring individuals
who have made remarkable contributions
to the arts locally. Mary Anns leadership
continues to inspire the Board, and she
and Niles have worked tirelessly to grow
our endowment.

www.edwardjones.com

Michael Sheehan, former PeaceHealth

Oregon CIO, has launched Crescent
Ridge Consulting, a new Health IT
consulting firm.

www.andersen-const.com

2 4 OP E N FO R BUSI N ESS | EUGEN E AREA CH AMB ER O F COM M ERC E

Edward Jones - Derek Strubel, Financial

Advisor
www.edwardjones.com

Pacific Excavation, Inc.

www.pacificexc.com

Andersen Construction

Hair Solutions by Arjorie

www.solasalonstudios.com/salon-professional/
arjorie_arberry

Crescent Ridge Consulting

Eugene Area
Chamber of
Commerce

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F E B R U A R Y/ M A R C H 2 0 1 6 | O P E N F O R B U S I N E S S 2 5
For more information visit registerguard.com/mediakit or call Director
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LAST CALL BY DAVE HAUSER

Chamber membership is
an investment in opportunities
Chamber membership is voluntary.
Neither you nor your company needs to be
a member, yet partnering with the Eugene
Chamber is beneficial to you on many
levels.
Enlightened self-interest is a philosophy which
states that persons who act to further the interests
of others ultimately serve their own self-interest.
Membership in the Eugene Chamber gives strength
to our work in economic development, business
advocacy and community development. These efforts
strengthen the local economy and enhance the
livability of the region. As the economy strengthens
there are more opportunities for individual businesses.
Consider for a moment, that over the past year
member support has enabled the Chamber to achieve
the following successes:
Work with the City of Eugene, EWEB, and
others to help bring Avago Wireless Technologies to
Eugene.
Partner with the Eugene Airport, Travel Lane
County and others to bring non-stop air service to
San Jose and in the process contributed to the
exciting technology sector strategies work led by Lane
Workforce Partnership.
Continue to provide the regions only ongoing
formal business retention/expansion program an
effort we will expand upon in 2016.
Help secure a seven-year commitment to host the
NCAA Track and Field Championships.
Work with Downtown Eugene Inc. (DEI)
and others to preserve the Multi-unit Property
Tax Exemption (MUPTE) program as part of our
ongoing commitment to downtown revitalization.

2 6 OP E N FO R BUSI N ESS | EUGEN E AREA CH AMB ER O F COM M ERC E

Partner with the City of Corvallis, Corvallis

Chamber and others to produce the 2015 Willamette
Angel Conference. Over the past seven years the
WAC has invested just under $2 million in regional
ventures (four of whom have been Eugene-based) and
we are just getting started.
Provide over 50 educational workshops for
members.
Host over 80 business-to-business networking
events providing members the opportunity to expand
connections that can lead to new business.
I am proud of all the hard work and progress our
staff and volunteers have achieved on behalf of the
business community this past year and I know were
all eager to keep the momentum going in 2016.
Eugene Area
Chamber of
Commerce

AirportConnector is providing public transit service to the

Eugene Airport via LTDs Route 95. This new service is taking
community members to work, class, and flights every weekday.
It is provided through a partnership between Lane Transit
District, Lane Community College, and the Eugene Airport.

LTD.org/Air
541-687-5555

PO Box 1107
Eugene, OR 97440-1107

Strategic
Empowering your business through
knowledge and innovation
At Kernutt Stokes, we dont just look at one aspect of
your business when determining how to reach your goals.
Warren Barnes and the team at Kernutt Stokes conduct a
detailed analysis of the challenges and opportunities your
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advisors who know the right moves to make, even when
the pressure is on.
Contact Kernutt Stokes to see what possibilities we can
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1600 Executive Parkway, Suite 110, Eugene, Oregon 97401

541.687.1170 | kernuttstokes.com
WARREN BARNES, MANAGING PARTNER