May 2008
Newsletter
From
the Chair
1. Looking to expand into a new international
market? The Alliance can help
Public
Policy
2. Board endorses Commissioner Adams, Sho Dozono
and PCC Bond
3. Alliance receives Basic Rights of Oregon
award
4. Regional Economic Summit features "creative
class" author
5. Alliance members head to Washington, D.C.
Member
Services
6. Save on your next vehicle through the Alliance
and Dick Hannah
7. Hone your sales management skills with new
seminars
8. Discount on public radio announcements
available to Alliance members
9. Leadership Portland organizes service
day at Oregon Food Bank
Downtown
10. Downtown renaissance continues with several
downtown retail stores reopening
Alliance
Events
11. Annual Meeting, May 14
12. 2008 Chair's Cup
13. Women's 9-Hole Golf Scramble
14. Have a business topic that you would
like to hear about?
15. CLIMATE CHANGE: Positioning Your Business
Member
News
16. OAME hits milestone with 2008 tradeshow
17. Breakfast of Champions to honor business
leaders on May 21
18. Newly launched Regence Foundation
to focus on nationwide health care
19. Need an intern? PCC can help you
20. Alliance members win sustainability
awards
21. Miles Fiberglass adds vacuum thermoforming
capabilities
22. Camera World extends special offer
to Alliance members
23. Portland Classic Gallery celebrates
with grand opening event
24. Join
Art Etc for a First Friday Celebration
25. Upcoming
Meetings
FROM
THE CHAIR
1. Looking
to expand into a new international market? The Alliance can
help
 By
Sam Brooks, Chair, Alliance Board of Directors
This week
during the annual Alliance member trip to meet with federal
lawmakers in Washington, D.C., we will also be meeting with
the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador and
Department of Commerce representatives to discuss international
trade issues.
The Alliance
is seeking out these meetings because of the region's growing
exports and the importance of trade to the health of our region.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Portland/Vancouver
region exported $11.2 billion worth of goods and services
in 2004. Just one year later, that figure jumped by 30 percent
to $14.5 billion. Additionally, the Port of Portland has found
that one and four jobs in our region are tied to international
trade.
So our
discussions in Washington will focus on how to not only keep
this growth going but also how to improve our region's exposure
to new international markets. We will also identify ways we
can work with U.S. and foreign government entities to assist
you, our member companies, to find new ways to market products
and services to countries around the globe.
For the
past several years, the Alliance and its affiliate the Pacific
Northwest International Trade Association (PNITA) have been
strategically reaching out to international markets. In fact,
in just in the past 11 months, the Alliance and PNITA have
been opening doors for member companies. We have hosted events
with representatives from Argentina, China, South Korea, Vietnam,
Colombia, African countries and USTR Ambassador Susan Schwab.
Each event
gave members an opportunity to learn about those countries'
specific markets and how to best enter those markets. We also
held an event with representatives from the 2010 Olympic Games
in Vancouver, B.C. to discuss available contracting opportunities.
So if
your company is looking to expand into a foreign market whether
it be in Asia, Central or South America, Africa, Europe or
even Canada, the Alliance and PNITA can be a resource for
you.
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PUBLIC
POLICY
2.
Board endorses Commissioner Adams, Sho Dozono and PCC Bond
The
Alliance Board of Directors made several endorsements at
the April board meeting including a dual endorsement in
the mayoral race for Commissioner Sam Adams and Sho Dozono
as well as an endorsement of the Portland Community College
bond measure.
The
endorsements were made based on a process that includes
the formation of an endorsement committee, interviews of
the viable candidates for various political offices and
then the development of a set of recommendations, which
are presented to the executive committee and the board.
This year a 15-member Alliance endorsement committee interviewed
29 candidates over a two-day period and then presented their
recommendations to the Board of Directors for discussion
and a vote.
The
Alliance reviewed a number of criteria in its endorsement
process, including each candidate's plans for building a
strong economic base for the city and creating family-wage
jobs, as well as the candidate's commitment to working with
the business community on those objectives.
In
the mayor's race, the Board felt that each candidate understands
the important role that business plays in building a strong
regional economy, providing jobs and supporting community
needs. "The Alliance has a positive working relationship
with each candidate and has found that both candidates have
a number of attributes that would benefit the city," said
Chair Sam Brooks.
The
Board found that the PCC bond measurement was too important
to the region's future economic health and needed business
support. "By investing in our children and students, we
are investing in the future economic health of our region
and ensuring that tomorrow's workers have the opportunities
to succeed," said Brooks.
The
Alliance's full set of endorsements can be found at: http://www.portlandalliance.com/public_policy/endorsements.html
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3.
Alliance receives Basic Rights of Oregon award
Basic
Rights of Oregon honored the Portland Business Alliance
along with the Oregon Business Association and Alliance
member, Portland printer Bill Dickey of Witham and Dickey,
at its Annual Oregonians Against Discrimination Business
Leaders Luncheon.
In
accepting the Alliance's award, Sam Brooks, Chair of the
Alliance, told the filled ballroom that, "discrimination
in any form, at any time and in any situation is unacceptable."
The
awards recognized those who played a critical role in the
2007 passage of Oregon's domestic partnership law and a
law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and
gender identity in housing, employment and public accommodation.
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4.
Regional Economic Summit features "creative class"
author
June
4, 2008
10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Portland Art Museum - 1219 SW Park Avenue
The
Alliance is partnering with Greenlight Greater Portland
and Regional Partners, the region's premier economic development
organizations, to host a unique and powerful regional economic
summit. Richard Florida, author of the Rise of
the Creative Class and Who's Your City? will
provide the keynote address. In addition, Greenlight will
be presenting the Greater Portland Prosperity Index, an
analysis of the growth potential of the region's business
clusters.
Prior
to the luncheon, the Regional Business Plan 2008 update
will be presented. This is the third edition of the plan
and will highlight regional policy priorities in the areas
of education and workforce, economic development, land use
and transportation. Past plans can be found at www.regionalbusinessplan.com.
To
register go to www.regonline.com/greaterportland.
Contact
BJ Bachmeier at 503.552.6748 or email bbachmeier@portlandalliance.com
if you have questions.
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5.
Alliance members head to Washington, D.C.
This week
nearly 37 members and several Alliance staff members are in
Washington, D.C. to discuss business issues with federal lawmakers.
Alliance members will discuss the Columbia River Crossing
project as well as trade issues. Alliance members will also
be meeting with representatives from the U.S. Department of
Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department
of the Treasury.
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MEMBER
SERVICES
6.
Save on your next vehicle through the Alliance and Dick Hannah
 The
Alliance and Dick Hannah Autos are teaming up to give Alliance
members another way to save money. This exclusive deal allows
members to purchase vehicles from Dick Hannah Auto Mall in
Vancouver at the corporate price, a significant discount on
sticker price.
Dick Hannah
offers Acura, Chrysler, Honda, Jeep, Kia, Lincoln, Mercury,
Scion, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen vehicles, both new and
used, ranging in size from Hummers to Minis.
Each vehicle
comes with Dick Hannah's exclusive Customers for Life rewards
program (tires, car washes, rental cars, anti-theft deterrent,
interior/exterior protection packages, roadside assistance,
10 percent rebate on parts/service/accessories, 20 percent
discount in the collision center and more).
By calling
a special toll free number, Alliance members are connected
to a corporate sales representative. Because members will
be working by appointment, there is no hassle, making their
vehicle-buying experience simple and efficient.
To take
advantage of this great offer or to find out more about the
options Dick Hannah offers, call 800.407.4835.
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7. Hone
your sales management skills with new seminars
Sales
are important to the vitality of any business, that's why
the Alliance has embarked on a new partnership with Sandler
Training. Through this partnership the Alliance will be offering
two workshops led by Jeff Schneider and Mark Russell each
quarter that will help members and their sales staff with
business development. These workshops will be led by seasoned
sales professionals from Sandler Training and held in the
building conference room at 200 SW Market Street. The workshops
are geared towards individual sellers, business owners and
sales teams providing effective, practical direction and tools
that can be put to use immediately.
Alliance
members will receive a significant discount for these workshops,
as well as other training opportunities Sandler provides,
such as their Boot Camps and President's Club. Here are two
of the upcoming Sandler workshops:
Negotiating
with the Savvy Buyer, May 12: Sales sometimes involves
a little compromising in order to get the deal done. But how
do you make sure you aren't giving away the farm to make the
sale? This seminar will teach you to know the tricks buyers
use against you and how to counter them.
Hiring
High-Performance Sellers, June 3: Where do you find good
salespeople? This is the most pressing issue that most owners
and sales managers face. This seminar will teach you how to
determine what type of salesperson is best for your company.
To view
more about these seminars, click
here.
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8.
Discount on public radio announcements available to Alliance
members
Reach
a highly educated, affluent, sophisticated public radio target
market with your business message through an exclusive deal
for Alliance members. KMHD 89.1fm (Public Jazz Radio and NPR
affiliate) has partnered with the Alliance to bring an incredible
offer to Alliance members. Underwriting on kmhd 89.1fm public
jazz radio is extremely cost effective when compared to other
local, regional, national and international media sources
for radio, print, digital promotions and other advertising.
Sign up today for this special offer, and get a savings of
up to $5,000. To find out how to get your message out there,
visit the
Alliance Web site and click on the KMHD ad.
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9.
Leadership Portland organizes service day for Oregon Food
Bank
A
hundred young people participated in a youth leadership day
on Saturday, April 26, organized by a team from the Portland
Business Alliance's Leadership Portland program. As part of
the Leadership Portland's emphasis on community involvement,
a team of participants organized the service day at Oregon
Food Bank.
A
grant from the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest
helped support the service day, part of National Youth Service
Day. The goal was to provide young people with skill building,
chances to meet peers and an opportunity to volunteer with
Oregon Food Bank.
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DOWNTOWN
10. Downtown
renaissance continues with several downtown retail stores
reopening
On April
11, the Columbia Sportswear flagship store in downtown Portland
celebrated its grand re-opening. The newly redesigned Columbia
flagship store has more than 12,000 square feet of retail
space. Mountain Hardwear, part of the Columbia Sportswear
family, opened its first flagship store (722 SW Taylor Street)
also on April 11.
Additionally,
Nordstrom celebrated its remodeled store the weekend of April
11-12. The store, which features a new designer focus, added
new luxury lines with build-outs of several in-store boutiques.
Mercantile
also opened its new store location at 729 SW Alder on
March 11.
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EVENTS
11.
2008 Annual Meeting
May
14, Oregon Convention Center, 7:30 - 9 a.m.
The Alliance's
Annual Meeting is one of the state's largest gatherings of
business professionals and civic leaders. It's a chance to
meet new people and catch up with old friends.
This year's
meeting, A Celebration of Business, will recognize
area business leaders who have made Portland's business community
what it is today. Also hear from ESCO Corporation Chairman
and CEO Steve Pratt and get a look at the global vision
of some Portland companies impacting business trends and practices
internationally.
At the
event, the Alliance will present this year's volunteer awards
to several members in recognition of their hard work on behalf
of the Portland business community. Register
Now >>
Presenting
Sponsor:
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12.
2008 Chair's Cup
May
18-19, 2008
Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course
The Chair's
Cup is a unique golfing experience providing a quality venue
for the region's top chief executive officers and business
leaders. The playing field is limited to 72. The event begins
with a dinner for players and guests followed the next day
by golf, a luncheon, and an awards reception. Register
today!
Presenting
Sponsor:
Sponsors:
Wells
Fargo Bank, PGE,
Regence,
Pacific
Power, Qwest
- Oregon,
Emerson
Hardwood Co., US
Bank, KeyBank,
Melvin
Mark Companies
and Ashforth
Pacific, Inc.
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13.
Women's 9-Hole Golf Scramble
June
11, 2008
Colwood National Golf Club - 7313 NE Columbia Blvd.
Individual: $125; Foursome: $400
Whether
you hook your drives or nail it straight down the fairway,
bring your clubs and welcome in the summer golf season at
the Portland Business Alliance's 1st Annual Women's Golf Scramble.
Includes beverages, lunch and prizes for the top finishers,
KP and long drive. Register
Now >>
Sponsorship
opportunities are still available for this event! For more
information contact Christine Gatlin at 503.552.6742.
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14.
Have a business topic that you would like to hear about?
The Alliance
is currently developing its 2008-2009 Forum program and needs
your ideas. Which business issues do you want to know more
about? What trends do you see in the local business climate?
Send your ideas to Megan Doern at mdoern@portlandalliance.com.
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15.
CLIMATE CHANGE: Positioning Your Business
Understanding
and Acting On the Next Business Imperative
Featured Speaker: Governor Ted Kulongoski
June 17, 2008
DoubleTree Hotel, Lloyd Center
The Alliance
is a supporting sponsor of this conference, which will help
business decision makers and service professionals understand
the direction of greenhouse gas management policy. Northwest
business managers, service professionals and policy-makers
will be coming together to address the impacts - and opportunities
- of carbon policy on businesses and other organizations,
strategy options and the practical steps that can be taken
in the near-term.
Presented
by:
Northwest Environmental Business Council, Lovinger Kaufmann
LLP, Oregon Business Association
For more
information about this program, visit the Northeast
Environmental Business Council Web site.
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MEMBER
NEWS
16.
OAME hits milestone with 2008 tradeshow
On May
8, the Oregon Association for Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME)
will hold its 20th annual Entrepreneurship Luncheon and Trade
Show at the Oregon Convention Center. The event titled, "Oregonians
United for Business Success," will bring together public,
private, non-profit, education, majority and minority communities
to promote and develop entrepreneurship and economic development
for ethnic minorities in Oregon and SW Washington. The event
will also celebrate OAME's past, present and future during
a luncheon featuring OAME's members and supporters. To learn
more about this event, go to www.oame.org.
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17.
Breakfast of Champions to honor business leaders on May 21
On May
21, Northwest Business for Culture & the Arts (NW/BCA) will
present the Business Volunteers in the Arts Awards at its
Arts Breakfast of Champions. Alliance Board member Clayton
Hering of Norris Beggs & Simpson will be presented with The
John Hampton Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Arts.
In addition
to recognizing their distinguished honorees, the breakfast
will be the official launch of NW/BCA's Business Volunteers
for the Arts program that will connect the valuable time and
resources of business members with arts and cultural organizations.
Go to nwbca.eventbrite.com
to find out more about this event.
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18.
Newly launched Regence Foundation to focus on nationwide health
care
The
Regence Group announced last month the launch of its corporate
foundation dedicated to transforming health care in the United
States. The Regence Foundation estimates it will contribute
$2.5 million in its first year and $4 million per year thereafter
to organizations addressing its three funding priorities:
health care access and quality, the use of technology to engage
and educate health care consumers, and improvements to the
way the health care system supports individuals and families
during the end-of-life process. The Foundation will also support
nonprofit organizations that address health care access and
priorities in a four-state region. For more information, visit
www.regencefoundation.org.
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19.
Need an intern? PCC can help you
Interested
in having an enthusiastic and motivated student intern working
with you? Cooperative Education at Portland Community College
is a partnership among employers, who get a source of energetic
workers for part-time or short-term needs; students, who get
academic credit to practice their classroom knowledge and
skills in a professional setting; and PCC, which can offer
students a richer learning experience directly related to
their career goals. Students are from a variety of career
technical programs, including graphic design, architectural
drafting, interior design, industrial drafting, and computer
information systems. To learn more, contact Kathleen Kuba,
Student Employment Specialist, at 503.977.4559.
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20.
Alliance members win sustainability awards
The
first annual "Sustainable Tourism Award" was presented to
the Portland
Spirit and Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler in April, as part
of the 2008 Oregon Governor's Conference on Tourism. The award
recognizes those that have demonstrated a strong commitment
to conserving Oregon's natural and cultural resources by leading
in environmental stewardship and socially responsible practices
in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Also
last month, Portland's Office of Sustainable Development announced
that Alliance member YOLO
Colorhouse was the winner of a Businesses for an Environmentally
Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Award, for best sustainable service
or product. YOLO Colorhouse is the creator of premium, zero-VOC,
Green SealTM certified interior and exterior paint. Congratulations
to both members!
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21.
Miles Fiberglass adds vacuum thermoforming capabilities
Miles
Fiberglass and Composites of Oregon announced the recent installation
a thermoforming machine capable of processing molds as large
as 110" x 110" - making it the largest thermoforming machine
of its type in the Pacific Northwest. This process is faster
and more cost effective than injection molding, allowing Miles
Fiberglass to turn parts from start to finish in as little
as three weeks. To view some of the custom work Miles Fiberglass
has done in the past, visit www.milesfiberglass.com.
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22. Camera
World extends special offer to Alliance members
Best know
for its large selection of digital cameras and video selection,
Camera World also offers imaging services including prints,
film/VHS transfers to DVD, and personalized calendars, photo
books, greeting cards and other photo gifts. Bring this article
to Camera World at 400 SW 6th Avenue, Portland, and receive
20 percent off your first imaging purchase. Make sure you
stop by and say hello to Store Manager John Wilson.
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23.
Portland Classic Gallery celebrates with grand opening event
Grand
Opening - Artist Reception
May 9, 5 to 8 p.m.
7363 SW Bridgeport Road, Tigard
Classic
Gallery is proud to present a grand opening event featuring
the best contemporary work of national and international artists.
Many of the artists, such as Simon Balyon, Andres Morillo
and Laura Eklund will be present to showcase their work. The
show will consist of a variety of original oils on canvas
from still life to landscape.
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24. Join
Art Etc for a First Friday Celebration
Featuring
the Paintings of Christa Grimm
June 6, 2008, 5-8 p.m.
Food
and wine, original photography, framed prints, local artists
Art, Etc. is the leading art vendor in the Portland area.
They provide artwork to more than 300 top Portland businesses,
and have been doing so for past 24 years! For more information
and a map of the art walk go to www.firstfridayart.com
or call 503.232.5857.
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25.
Upcoming Meetings
May
7, Central City Standing Committee, noon
May 9, President's Council, noon
May 13, Communications Committee, 9:30 am
May 13, Transportation Committee, noon
May 22, Membership Committee, 7:30 am
May 27, Public Safety Sub-Committee, 8 am
May 28, Government Relations Committee, 7:30 am
May 28, Small Business Council, 3 pm
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