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2011 Annual Meeting: Focuses on jobs and education

View more photos on the Alliance photostream

The Alliance's Annual Meeting brought nearly 1,000 business and civic leaders together on April 19, 2011, to celebrate the Alliance's work to make private-sector job creation the region's top priority.

Attendees heard from Alliance board chair Roger Hinshaw and Intel executive Renee James, who both spoke about the challenges and opportunities our region and state face.

Speaking about the Alliance's recent economic studies and other jobs-focused initiatives, Hinshaw stated: "We've done a lot this year. We've changed the conversation; we've been proactive; and we've worked together with our many partners. But we are only just beginning. There is still a lot of work ahead."

Hinshaw introduced a video that illustrates the Alliance's vision about the importance of private-sector job creation. Check out the video below!

James spoke about Intel's investment in Oregon, describing the new factory Intel is building and the subsequent jobs that will create. However, James also outlined the challenges Intel faces when hiring employees, saying that Oregon needs to invest more in education. James stated that Intel is unable to fill its high-level jobs with Oregonians, and that "Any of the other growth companies that Oregon wants to attract are also fueled by education." James is confident that Portland has the ability to build on its strengths while developing an innovation economy. But, James said, "We need a clear agenda to retain talent and attract new companies to this region."

The Alliance also recognized business leaders who make significant contributions to the Alliance's work and to the community with these volunteer awards:

• President's Award: Steve Holwerda, Ferguson Wellman
• Marketing and Communications Award: Milo Curtis, Yorke and Curtis
• Working Waterfront Coalition Award: Phil Grillo, Miller Nash
• Sustainability Award: Layman Harang of The Karmann Group
• Land Use Award: Dana Krawczuk, Ball Janik
• President's Council Award: Larry Margolis, Support Marketing Services
• Downtown Award: Mark Schlesinger, The Schlesinger Company
• Transportation Award: Bill Scott, recently retired from Zipcar
• Event Moderator Award: Kerry Tymchuk, Oregon Historical Society

Thank you to our Annual Meeting 2011 sponsors: U.S. Bank, Alaska Airlines, Google, NW Natural, Pacific Power, Providence Health & Services, Qwest/CenturyLink. As well as our media and event production sponsors: Spirit Media, Really Big Video, GuildWorks and Morel Ink.

Why private-sector jobs are important to our region and state