July
2009 Newsletter
Top
Stories
1. From the chair: Working together to grow
our region's jobs
2. Alliance
begins 2009-2010 year, new board members start terms
3. Help
shape the Alliance's Forum breakfast series - take quick survey!
Public
Policy
4.
Alliance Board of Directors' Executive Committee
comments on Attorney General's Report on Mayor Sam Adams
5.
Alliance supports expansion River District
Urban Renewal Area
Downtown
6.
Judge rules against city's sidewalk obstruction
ordinance
7.
Clean & Safe cleaners and security guards
take on new transit mall
8.
Condo owners to pay Downtown Clean & Safe
District fee
Membership
9.
Market your company to business leaders -
sponsor Forum breakfast series!
10.
Green Hour at Nel Centro on July 15 - Great
food at a green space
11.
Portland Community College team takes first
place in Women's Golf Scramble
12.
Eric Jozwiak joins Alliance membership sales
team
Alliance
Events
13. Business After Hours @ Inn at Northrup
Station
14.
Cornerstones Conversations: Get a piece
of the international action - learn how to export!
15. Maximize Your Membership - FREE Reception
for All Alliance Members and Prospective Members
16. 2009 Golf Scramble, Presented by West
Coast Bank
17. Future Alliance Events
Member
Events
18. Sand in the City: A benefit for Kids
on the Block powerful puppetry
19. Relay For Life of Portland - July 19
20. Internet Strategy Forum Summit - July
23
Member
News
21. Central City Concern helps state
become smarter in water reuse
22. Online Green Worships available
online this summer
23. Get your company's physical and
health programming recognized!
24. ESCO employees donate 2,500 pounds
of food
25. Tiffany & Co. store windows raise
awareness of coral harvesting
26. Carson Ridge Private Cabins recognized
by bedandbreakfast.com
27.
Upcoming meetings
FROM
THE CHAIR
1. Working
together to grow our region's jobs
 By
Charles Wilhoite, Chair,
Alliance Board of Directors
This month,
I begin my yearlong tenure as chair of the Portland Business
Alliance. I hope it is a year that focuses on retaining and
growing our region's employers and recruiting more businesses
to Portland. As a region, state and country, we have been
through a lot recently, but now more than ever, we understand
the importance of our region's employers (and family-wage
jobs they provide) to the long-term health of our region.
We at
the Alliance have built a number of critical partnerships
over the past few years to help our region retain and recruit
businesses. We were one of the early supporters of Greenlight
Greater Portland, which recently released its latest prosperity
report that can be found here,
and we support the efforts of Regional Partners. We also continue
work closely with the Portland Development Commission (PDC),
a commission I also sit on, with Regional Partners, and with
the City of Portland on economic development efforts.
One most
recent example of our coordination and support of the region's
economic develop efforts is the creation of a strategic economic
development plan for the city, a process that was led by Mayor
Sam Adams and the PDC. It has been too long since the city
has created and implemented an economic roadmap that is focused
on specific industries for recruitment. We are particularly
pleased that, while this plan focuses on the city of Portland,
it reflects the strong partnership that exists among all of
the region's economic development entities, including Regional
Partners and Greenlight Greater Portland. We are, finally,
speaking with one voice as a region and working together collaboratively
in a way that will benefit everyone.
Additionally,
we are also working in concert with the Alliance of Portland
Neighborhood Business Associations, the Oregon Association
of Minority Entrepreneurs, the city's Small Business Advisory
Committee, Portland Community College's Small Business Development
Center, Lewis and Clark Law School's Small Business Legal
Clinic and many other groups to support our region's small
business owners. We know that this financial storm has hit
small business owners hard, so we have redoubled our efforts
to educate members about the resources available to them and
to promote the workshops and trainings being put on by our
partner organizations.
Together,
we can help our region recover from this series of setbacks,
support businesses of all sizes and help get our friends,
neighborhoods and fellow Portlanders back to work. I look
forward to working with all of you on this effort.
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2.
Alliance begins 2009-2010 year, new board members start
terms
As
the Alliance begins its 140th year as the Portland region's
chamber of commerce, new leadership took the reigns
on July 1 and seven new business leaders from a variety
of industries and backgrounds took their seats on the
Alliance board of directors.
New
Alliance leadership includes:
Charles
Wilhoite, Director of Willamette Management Associates,
became the new board chair.
"Charles
has been involved in so many important issues in Portland
that he comes to this position with a tremendous understanding
of how our city and region function and how those functions
relate to the business community," said Sandra McDonough,
Alliance president and CEO.
Other
individuals who moved into Alliance leadership positions
include:
-
Steve
Holwerda, Chief Operating Officer of Ferguson Wellman
Capital Management, Inc. and the 2008-2009 Alliance board
chair, became chair emeritus.
-
Roger
Hinshaw,
President, Bank of America, Oregon & SW Washington, became
chair-elect.
-
J.E. Isaac,
Sr. Vice President, Business Affairs, Portland Trail Blazers,
became treasurer.
-
Brad
Hutton, Regional Vice President, Hilton Hotels, remains
as secretary.
-
Dennis
Rawlinson, Partner, Miller Nash LLP, became vice chair
for membership.
-
Steven
D. Stadum, Chief Administrative Officer, Oregon Health
& Science University, became member-at-large on the executive
committee.
-
Michelle
Martin, Property Manager, Ashforth Pacific, joined
the executive committee representing Portland Downtown
Services, Inc.
New
members of the Alliance board of directors are:
-
Mark
Goodman, City Center Parking
-
Erin
Holland, Edelman Portland
-
Mitch
Hornecker, Howard S. Wright Construction
-
Jim
Mark, Melvin Mark Companies
-
Brian
Owendoff, Opus
-
Gary
Reynolds, Perkins & Company
-
DJ
Wilson, KGW
The
Alliance also extended its appreciation to board members
who recently retired from the board. These members include:
-
Ron
Beltz
-
Scott
Andrews
- Greg
Goodman
-
Bart McMullan
-
Michael
Powell
Two
retiring board members, Ron Beltz and Scott Andrews, will
continue to be active on the board, however, as they served
as chair-emeritus.
3.
Help shape the Alliance's Forum breakfast series - take
quick survey!
With
the Alliance's monthly breakfast series currently on hiatus
for the summer, members and staff are reviewing the past
year and planning the 2009-2010 year. So the Alliance wants
to hear from you on what issues the Forum series should
tackle, how the series can be improved and how you can get
more out of it. Take our survey now and give the Alliance
your honest feedback!
Take
the survey >>
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PUBLIC
POLICY
4.
Alliance Board of Directors' Executive Committee comments
on Attorney General's Report on Mayor Sam Adams
Following
the release of the Oregon State Attorney General's report
on its investigation of Portland Mayor Sam Adams, the
Portland Business Alliance's Board of Directors Executive
Committee released the following statement about the report:
"Attorney
General John Kroger today issued a report concluding there
is no basis to file criminal charges against Mayor Adams
as a result of his relationship with Beau Breedlove,"
said Sandra McDonough, President and CEO of the Portland
Business Alliance.
"With
encouragement from Portland City Council members, Chief
Rosie Sizer and District Attorney Michael Schrunk asked
Attorney General Kroger to conduct an independent review
of the facts around the Adams situation. City Council
- and most other leaders in our region - appropriately
withheld from drawing conclusions about the situation
until after the attorney general's report was issued.
The Alliance supported that approach.
"Clearly,
the mayor showed a lack of judgment in having any contact
with Breedlove before he turned 18, and it was wrong for
him to lie about the relationship when it first became
public during his campaign for mayor. However, the attorney
general has determined that there is no basis to find
that there was illegal contact between the mayor and Mr.
Breedlove. For that reason, the attorney general has concluded
that criminal charges will not be filed, and there is
no evidence to support other charges.
"It
is time to move on: Mayor Adams must now demonstrate that
he can move beyond these personal issues and lead the
city at a time when leadership is crucial.
"Oregon
and Portland face one of the highest unemployment rates
in the country. Portland needs and deserves a strong mayor
who will enable us to stand united as a community and
focus on how to create jobs that will put unemployed residents
back to work. We cannot afford further distractions. This
situation surrounding Mayor Adams has been a significant
distraction for six months; the attorney general's report
gives us a basis to move forward and start working on
issues that matter to Oregonians."
Back
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5.
Alliance supports expansion River District Urban Renewal
Area
The
Alliance's President and CEO, Sandra McDonough, testified
before Portland City Council a few weeks ago in support
of the expansion of the River District Urban Renewal Area.
"The
River District URA includes a number of projects that
are critical to the continued economic health of the downtown,"
said McDonough. "This expansion will address some long-standing
redevelopment issues in the Old Town China Town neighborhood."
The
expansion will also for investments in undervalued areas,
catalyzing private sector investment that increases property
value, and then returns those properties to the tax roles
so they can support the critical general fund services
of all taxing jurisdictions.
In
addition, the Alliance communicated its support of allocating
funds from the amended River District to the construction
of the homeless Resource Access Center (RAC).
"The
RAC is an integral component in our collective efforts
to provide a wide range of services to the city's homeless
and low-income citizens," said McDonough. "The Alliance
is proud to be a partner in working with the SAFE committee
and the city to expand services to the homeless community,
such as day shelters, and provide facilities such as additional
benches, showers and restrooms. The RAC will be an important
addition to these existing efforts."
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DOWNTOWN
SERVICES
6.
Judge rules against city's sidewalk obstruction ordinance
In
late June, Multnomah County Circuit Judge Stephen Bushong
ruled that the City of Portland's sidewalk obstruction
ordinance was in conflict with state law.
"We
at the Alliance are very disappointed in the judge's ruling
on the city's sidewalk obstruction ordinance," said Sandra
McDonough, President & CEO of the Alliance. "The ordinance
is part of a comprehensive approach to making downtown
livable for everyone.
"A
broad based group that includes homeless service providers,
the city and businesses, created and oversees the SAFE
initiative, which includes the ordinance. The ordinance
is an important community policing tool that has helped
improve the approachability and livability of downtown."
7.
Clean & Safe cleaners and security guards take on new transit
mall
The
Alliance recently signed a contract for the Clean & Safe
program to expand its services to the new transit mall.
Starting July 1, there are 10 more security guards and 12
more cleaners keeping the new transit mall secure and looking
shiny and new. The team will also provide cleaning and security
on the mall's cross streets (Yamhill and Morrison streets).
"By
adding these additional resources to the new transit mall,
this significant investment, made by the region's taxpayers,
will be kept in top form," said Mike Kuykendall, Vice President
of Downtown Services for the Alliance.
The
Clean & Safe program operates in the 213-block Downtown
Clean & Safe District, located in the city's urban core.
Downtown property owners fund the Clean & Safe district.
If you have a cleaning or security issue downtown, please
call Downtown Clean & Safe at 503.224.7383. More about these
services can be found by clicking
here.
8.
Condo owners to pay Downtown Clean & Safe District fee
In
June, Portland City Council unanimously voted to eliminate
the exemption condo owners received from paying the Downtown
Clean & Safe District fee. Portland Downtown Services, Inc.,
(PDSI) supported the amendment, which was introduced by Commissioner
Randy Leonard. PDSI is the entity that oversees the central
city's Downtown Clean & Safe District.
The
additional funds, roughly $150,000, raised through this change
in city code, will help ensure the high level of cleaning
and security in downtown Portland will be maintained. Ten
condo buildings will be impacted by this change.
"At
the heart of this change in city code was an equity issue,"
said Phil Kalberer, chair of the Alliance's Central City committee
and a downtown property owner. "Low-income and market-rate
apartment buildings pay the fee, however, condo owners did
not, even though the condo buildings benefited from the cleaning
and security paid for by the rest of downtown's property owners."
Testifying
in favor of the ordinance change were incoming PDSI Board
Chair Michelle Martin, Ed Blackburn, Executive Director of
Central City Concern and Mr. Kalberer.
The
city is currently working with the condo building homeowner
associations to determine the exact fees for each unit. The
condo buildings will begin paying the fee in September.
Back
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MEMBERSHIP
SERVICES
9.
Market your company to business leaders - sponsor Forum breakfast
series!
Are you
looking for a new way to get your business in front of high-level
business leaders? Then consider sponsoring the Portland Business
Alliance's Forum series. Through this sponsorship, you can:
- Reach
more than 200 high-level business professionals each month.
- Increase
your company's exposure to decision makers in the Portland
region.
- Network
every month with leaders in the business community.
The Portland
Business Alliance currently has sponsorship opportunities
for:
- Full
and half-year 2009-2010 series sponsor.
Top billing in promotional materials to all members, promotional
advertising, signage and recognition at breakfasts, a head
table seat at all Forums, and a monthly 8-person table for
your company. Half year: $12,500 Full year: $25,000.
- Individual
event sponsors. Exposure in Forum promotional materials
to members, promotional advertising, signage and recognition,
a head table seat and an 8-person table at your company's
sponsored Forum. $3,000.
- Table
sponsors. Name exposure at all Forums, networking and
client relationship building opportunities, support civic
engagement at your company. $1,900 table series sponsor;
$230 for individual ticket series.
To learn
more about this opportunity, contact Christine Gatlin at 503.552.6742
or cgatlin@portlandalliance.com.
Back
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10.
Green Hour at Nel Centro on July 15 - Great food at a green
space
 Looking
to enjoy Portland's summer weather but want to go someplace
that supports your sustainable lifestyle? Then join the Alliance
at its next Green Hour at Nel Centro!
At
this event you will not only enjoy snacking on some of Nel
Centro's delicious food but you can also enjoy the beautiful
patio space while learning about chef/owner David Machado's
influence on Portland's farm-to-table restaurant scene. Kevin
Valk, an architect from Holst Architecture who was the great
mind behind Nel Centro's look, will be on hand to discuss
how they incorporated green materials into the new space.
Don't miss this fun, appetizing and social event!
Details:
Wednesday, July 15, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Nel Centro 1408
SW 6th Avenue, Portland. Register
Now >>
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11.
Portland Community College team takes first place in Women's
Golf Scramble
Four women
from Portland Community College (PCC) lead the pack of players
at the Alliance's second annual women's golf event on June
25. The PCC team included Laurie Bales, Cherie Maas, Jen Piper
and Ester Moet. More than 40 women participated in the nine-hole
scramble at Colwood Golf Course. Nike and Macy's both sponsored
the event.
For more
photos, visit the Alliance's
flickr page.
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12.
Eric Jozwiak joins Alliance membership sales team
 Last
month, Eric Jozwiak was hired as one of the Alliance's Business
Development Managers. A graduate of Oregon State University,
Eric has spent the past seven years in sales, advertising
and fundraising. He was most recently with Varsity Gold Inc.
fundraising for high school athletic teams. When not selling
Alliance memberships, he is spending time with his wife and
son or on the golf courses.
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ALLIANCE
EVENTS
13.
Business After Hours @ Inn at Northrup Station
Conveniently
located on the Portland Streetcar line, The Inn at Northrup
Station is NW Portland 's only all-suites boutique hotel.
Come and see the suites! Wednesday, July 8, from 5:00 p.m.
to 7:00 p.m. at 2025 N.W. Northrup Street. Register
Now >>
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14.
Cornerstones Conversations: Get a piece of the international
action - learn how to export!
Two top
international trade experts from the Export Council of Oregon
will tell you about good opportunities in foreign markets,
common pitfalls in international trade and necessary preparations
you need to make before launching to foreign markets. Thursday,
July 9, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at 200 S.W. Market St.
in the Lobby Conference Room. Advance registration highly
recommended. Register
Now >>
Sponsors:
Regence and West Coast Bank
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15.
Maximize Your Membership - FREE Reception for All Alliance
Members and Prospective Members
Learn
how to maximize your Portland Business Alliance membership!
Great for those new to the Alliance, and also for members
who would like to learn how get even more from their Alliance
membership. Catering Provided by Portland Catering Company.
Thursday, July 30, 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 200 S.W. Market
St. in the Lobby Conference Room. Advance registration highly
recommended. Register
Now >>
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16.
2009 Golf Scramble, Presented by West Coast Bank
 The
Golf Scramble is one of the Alliance's most popular networking
events. Enjoy a box lunch, 18 holes of golf on Pumpkin Ridge's
award- winning Ghost Creek Course, dinner and an awards reception.
Friday, September 11, 10:30 a.m. at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club
- Ghost Creek Course: 12930 N.W. Old Pumpkin Ridge Road, North
Plains, OR 97133. Advance registration required. Register
Now >>
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17.
Future Alliance Events
ShopTalk
Showcase:
- Tuesday,
August 4: Homestreet Bank Business Banking,
1618 SW First Ave., Suite 305
- Tuesday,
August 18: Charlie's Produce, 18332 NE San Rafael
Business
After Hours:
- Wednesday,
August 12: Morton's The Steakhouse,
213 SW Clay Street
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MEMBER
EVENTS
18.
Sand in the City: A benefit for Kids on the Block powerful
puppetry - July 17
Enjoy
this great family-friendly event, which includes live music,
puppet shows, face painting, a gigantic sandbox, wheelchair
accessible sand table and more! Friday night: FREE Michael
Allen Harrison concert! 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday night: Luau
on the square (only $35)! July 17-18, at Pioneer Courthouse
Square in downtown Portland. For more information, call 503-736-3200.
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19.
Relay For Life of Portland - July 19
The
American Cancer Society Relay For Life® is a life-changing
event that brings together more than 3.5 million people across
the country each year to celebrate the lives of those who
have battled cancer. Saturday, July 18 at 4:00 p.m. through
Sunday, July 19 at 10:00 a.m. at Willamette Park on S.W. Macadam
Avenue & Nebraska Street. Register
now >>
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20.
Internet Strategy Forum Summit - July 23
Gain Internet
strategy insights with experts who will share their experiences
and ideas on how to best leverage the Internet and integrate
it into your overall business strategy. Alliance members
receive 15% off by using Discount Code "PBA". Thursday,
July 23, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at The Governor Hotel, 614
S.W. Avenue. Register
Now >>
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MEMBER
NEWS
21.
Central City Concern helps state become smarter in water reuse
A two
year-long process led by Central City Concern (CCC) to achieve
more water conservation in and reduce water pollution of multifamily
buildings has resulted in a new law effectively legalizing
the use of "grey water." Property owners will now be able
to harvest wastewater from bathing and laundry, treat it and
use it for irrigation or other outdoor uses. CCC formed a
"water team" with SERA Architects, Interface Engineering and
Gerding Edlen Development Co. to examine water reuse strategies.
Their work led to the development of this new state law. More
information can be found at www.centralcityconcern.org.
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22.
Online Green Worships available online this summer
Achieve
Green NW is hosting an online workshop series this summer
presenting tips for businesses and organizations interested
in being green and saving "green." Conference attendees will
hear from a variety of industry experts on how to incorporate
the concept of sustainability in areas such as recruiting
and retaining employees, accessing energy efficiency incentives
and tax credits, greening office and operational practices
and marketing their business as a green leader.
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23.
Get your company's physical and health programming recognized!
The deadline
is only a month away for the American Heart Association's
Start! Fit-Friendly Companies Program, which recognizes companies
for promoting physical activity and health in the workplace.
Companies can apply online before July 31, 2009 and will be
recognized at the fall Start! Executive Leadership Breakfast.
Interested? Go to: www.startpdx.org.
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24.
ESCO employees donate 2,500 pounds of food
Employees
of ESCO Corporation recently contributed 2,500 pounds of food
to Northwest Portland Ministries' Emergency Food Box Program
(www.nwpm.org)
to help the working poor and elderly struggling to make ends
meet in Northwest Portland. ESCO also provided a $1500 corporate
gift for the program. Want to know more about ESCO? Go to
www.escocorp.com.
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25.
Tiffany & Co. store windows raise awareness of coral harvesting
In June,
Tiffany & Co. unveiled store windows worldwide with an "Under
the Sea" theme to raise awareness about the damage coral harvesting
inflicts on critically important marine ecosystems. Tiffany
window designers created a fantasy world around this subject.
In addition, Tiffany supports SeaWeb, a nonprofit organization,
and its Too Precious to Wear campaign, designed to educate
consumers and retailers about coral conservation. Go to www.tiffany.com
for more information.
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26.
Carson Ridge Private Cabins recognized by bedandbreakfast.com
The Carson
Ridge Private Cabins were selected by bedandbreakfast.com
editors as one of the best inns in the country for celebrating
love. The property was singled out by the bedandbreakfast.com
editors and associates "as being a romantic destination enhanced
by its pampering amenities, quality décor, hospitality, and
cuisine," stated Sandy Soule, editor of bedandbreakfast.com.
Go to www.carsonridgecabins.com
for more information.
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27.
Upcoming Meetings
July
8, Sustainability Committee, 7:30 am
July 10, Golf Scramble Committee, 8 am
July 10, President's Council, noon
July 14 , Transportation Committee, noon
July 15, Small Business Council, 4 pm
July 22, Government Relations Committee, 4 pm
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