Neil Kelly Company is a general contractor, remodeler, homebuilder, and includes a cabinet making company called Neil Kelly Cabinets. We're proud to say it's our 60th anniversary this year.

I grew up in Portland. My family has its roots here. There just aren't any cities like Portland that have all of the amenities, and all of the culture we have in our city. I just can't imagine living anywhere else.

We have an incredibly vibrant city. I think that Portland's leadership in sustainability and all things green, really springs from who we are and who we have been as a region. The Portland business community has come to the realization that being involved with sustainability is good business.

Sustainability drives innovation in our company. Our company has been involved in sustainable practices before the words "green" and "sustainability" were commonly used. Back in the 70s we were doing the weatherization business, solar hot water systems, and solar additions on people's homes. We actually did a solar demonstration house in 1979.We developed the first green cabinet in the country. We came up with a product that is made with an Agriboard instead of regular wood for the boxes of the cabinets. We use Forest Stewardships Council certified wood as an option for clients who really want to be green.

We've been involved in other ways. We developed the first commercial LEED-certified building in Oregon and the West Coast: our south Portland showroom. In 2006, we built the first LEED-certified home on the West Coast. Our involvement and interest in sustainable practices has helped drive who we are as a company as well as drive our brand.

Consumers want to do business with corporations and businesses that they view as being responsible, not just about sustainability but all aspects of corporate responsibility. The vibrancy of business and the commitments that the business community has to the community are incredibly influential to the livability of a city like Portland. I'm very proud to say that I believe Portland's business community is one of the biggest reasons why Portland is one of the greatest cities to live in in the world.