May 2010
Newsletter
Top
Stories
1. From the Chair: My Thoughts from Our Annual
Meeting
2. Annual
Meeting Attracts More Than 900, Features Top Nissan Executive
3. Columbia
Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle Talks Business at Alliance May Forum
4.
Alliance Board Makes Endorsements in Local
Races
Public
Policy
5.
Government Relations Committee Gets New Name
and Meeting Time
6. Working
Waterfront Coalition Update and New Website
7. Alliance Comments on City of Portland
Budgets
8.
Alliance Supports Boeing Bid for Air Force
Contract
Downtown
9. Alliance Supports Mayor's Sidewalk Management
Plan
Membership
10.
New Event Series "EMERGE Exclusives" Connects
Emerging and Established Leaders
11. Women's Golf Scramble is June 25 - Sign
Up Today
12.
Graduation for Leadership Portland Class
of 2010 Nears
Member
News
13.
PGE and Pacific Power top U.S. in Number
of Renewable Power Customers
14. Alaska Airlines Announces Nonstop
Portland-Honolulu Service
15. OAME Trade Show and Luncheon to Showcase
Minority Owned Companies
16.
Greenlight Greater Portland's Economic
Summit - June 22
17. Starbucks Coffee Company 2009 Global
Responsibility Report
18.
Glumac Provides Services for Future LEEDŽ
Platinum Building
19. U of O Alumni Conversations Event:
Interesting Career Paths
20. Vigilant Counters Proposed EEOC Rule
on Age Discrimination Defense
21.
Upcoming meetings
FROM
THE CHAIR
1. My
Thoughts from Our Annual Meeting
 By
Charles Wilhoite, Chair,
Alliance Board of Directors
Last week,
the Portland Alliance celebrated all of you - the Portland
region's business community - at its Annual Meeting with this
year's theme being "Moving Business Forward." For those of
you unable to attend, I want to share the highlights from
my remarks with you and make sure you are aware of our top
priorities.
Before
I took the stage, however, we showed a video called, "We are
Portland Business" that illustrates what Portland business
really is. The video highlighted the employees from four different
companies and showed how the business community is about investing,
giving back, innovating and creating jobs.
Please
take a moment to watch the video >>
Below
are some highlights from my remarks:
We
participated in one of the most difficult debates our state
has ever seen, as we joined with other business organizations
to challenge the legislature's tax plan. And while the outcome
wasn't what we hoped for, the experience made us more focused
than ever before on the need to show the connection between
private sector vitality and healthy public services.
Now,
we look ahead to how we will work with public leaders to cure
our ailing state and regional economy: zero job growth in
10 years; declining per capita income; one of the highest
unemployment rates in the country, and the longest stretch
of double digit unemployment since the Great Depression.
Our
mission is clear: We need to put Oregonians back to work.
At
the Alliance, we now view every proposal through one prism:
How does it promote high-value, private sector job growth.
Our advocacy work, our educational programming, our communications,
everything down to our mission statement is being refocused
on creating family wage jobs.
Good
private sector jobs are the cornerstone for ensuring healthy
families in our state, and they are also key to maintaining
adequate public services. An income tax-dependent state like
Oregon needs healthy incomes to produce healthy public revenues.
At the
Alliance, we are concentrating on private sector job creation
by supporting our small businesses and helping them grow,
focusing on the needs of our higher education system and advocating
for public policy that supports economic development.
I also
touched on the Alliance's role as the positive voice for business.
All of our Alliance members are doing great things and we
need to do more to tell the story of business. But all of
us in the business community need to spread the word of what
healthy businesses - healthy employers - mean to changing
our region's future into one with funding for education, public
safety and other critical services.
I ended
my remarks by calling on the audience to tell their business'
story, say what it does for the greater good - whether it
is investments in sustainability, giving back or, most importantly,
creating a job - share it with your neighbor, your children,
friends and family members. I encourage all of you reading
this column to do the same and promote what we all do to move
our region forward.
Back
to the top
2.
Annual Meeting Attracts More Than 900, Features Top Nissan
Executive
View more pictures on the Alliance photostream
On
April 27, the Alliance hosted its annual meeting, with more
than 900 business people, government officials and community
members in attendance. The keynote speaker, Brian Carolin,
Senior Vice President for Nissan North America, spoke about
the all-electric Nissan LEAF that will be coming to Portland
in the fall. Portland is going to be one of a few test markets
for the LEAF, and people are already lining up to buy the
only zero-emissions vehicle on the market. Carolin also
spoke about electric vehicles being the wave of the future,
highlighting Oregon's innovation in advancing electric vehicle
and charging station infrastructure regionally and nationally.
The
Alliance's board chair, Charles Wilhoite, commended Portland
business for being smart, innovative and sustainable, even
during tough economic times. A video, called "We are Portland
Business," was shown that illustrated the core of business
success - the hundreds of thousands of employees that keep
the region's economy going.
View
the Video >>
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: Philip Kalberer of Kalberer Company
-
Transportation
Award: Jay Graves of The Bike Gallery, Mira
Birk of Alta Planning & Design and David Knowles
of CH2M Hill and chair of the Alliance Transportation
Committee
-
Downtown
Award: Shelley Bailey from Central Drug
-
Membership
Award: Mark Herdering from Send Out Cards
-
Communications
Award: Sara Lee from Kaiser Permanente Northwest
Congratulations
to all of the award winners and thank you to all who attended
the Annual Meeting!
3.
Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle Talks Business
at Alliance May Forum
 In
May 2005, Columbia Sportswear President and CEO
Tim Boyle shook up the audience at the Alliance's
Annual Meeting with a memorable speech about the
region's business climate. Boyle is back to share
his viewpoint and to respond to your questions at
the Alliance's May Forum.
Kerry
Tymchuk, Forum's moderator, is looking forward to
his upcoming discussion with Boyle. Tymchuk wrote
a book called "One Tough Mother" with Boyle's mother,
Gert, and knows both mother and son well.
When
asked about this upcoming Forum breakfast, Kerry
said:
"Like
Gert, Tim is very open and engaging. He says what
he means and he means what he says. Also, you can't
have Gert for a mother and not have a sense of humor.
Tim has some definite opinions on what's working
in Oregon and what isn't, and I suspect his remarks
will be focused on how to make Oregon a better place
in which to live, work, raise a family and buy outerwear."
Come
and hear what Boyle has to say on May 12!
Register
now >>
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4.
Alliance Board Makes Endorsements in
Local Races
The
Alliance Endorsement Committee spent
nearly 10 hours interviewing a series
of candidates over the span of two weeks.
On April 13, the Alliance board voted
to endorse seven candidates. A complete
list is below. Jill Eiland, chair of
the Alliance's Government Relations
Executive Committee, made the following
statement about the Alliance endorsements:
"Given the state of our economy and
the need for a focus on private sector
job creation, we felt that our endorsements
were more important than ever before.
Our endorsement committee, which dedicated
hours to talking to more than 20 candidates,
was focused on how they support economic
development and growing private sector
jobs."
The
Alliance endorsed:
-
Nick
Fish for City of Portland Commissioner. Opponent
interviewed: Walt Nichols.
-
Dan
Saltzman for City of Portland Commissioner. Opponents
interviewed included Jesse Cornett, former PSU government
affairs manager, Mary Volm, former Portland Bureau of
Transportation spokesperson and Ed Garren, psychologist.
-
Jeff
Cogen for Multnomah County Chair. Cogen is unopposed.
-
Tom
Markgraf for Multnomah County Commissioner, seat 2.
Opponents interviewed included former staff to Mayor
Tom Potter, Maria Rubio, former county commissioner and
state legislator, Gary Hansen, aide to Senator Ron Wyden,
Loretta Smith, and aide to Jeff Cogan, Karol Collymore.
-
Dan
Staton for Multnomah County Sheriff. Opponent interviewed:
Muhammad Ra'oof.
-
Andy
Duyck for Washington County Chair. Opponent interviewed:
Dick Schouten.
-
Bob
Terry for Washington County Commission. Opponents
interviewed included Greg Mecklem and Richard Kidd.
Alliance
board endorsements are based on a process that includes
interviewing the viable candidates for the political office
and presenting a recommendation to the board. Two-thirds
of the board members present must agree before an endorsement
is made.
5.
Government
Relations
Committee
Gets New
Name and
Meeting
Time
The
Alliance's
Government
Relations
Committee
is now called
the Public
Policy Committee.
The Public
Policy Committee
will serve
as a forum
for members
to give
input on
public policy
that impacts
business.
The committee
will meet
every other
month on
the fourth
Wednesday
of the month.
The committee
also has
a new chair,
Brian Owendoff.
All members
are welcome
to participate
in the Public
Policy Committee.
The
next Public
Policy Committee
meeting
will be
on May 26
from 8:00
a.m. to
9:30 a.m.
in the Wells
Fargo Building
on the 30th
floor. If
you are
interested
in getting
involved
in the Public
Policy Committee,
email or
call Carly
Riter at
criter@portlandalliance.com,
or 503.552.6768.
6.
Working
Waterfront Coalition Update and New
Website
Despite
the Working Waterfront Coalition's
efforts to negotiate a better policy
for the continued development of the
working harbor, Portland City Council
passed the River Plan on April 15.
The
WWC opposed the River Plan because
the code in the plan will impede investment
within the Portland Harbor, which
could consequently restrict further
economic development and job growth
in the Portland region. Under the
River Plan, funds necessary for ecosystem
improvement and for real enhancement
projects near the river will come
only from permit fees. If businesses
don't invest due to the stringent
requirements, there won't be any permit
fees and therefore no meaningful improvements
to the harbor.
Recently,
the WWC rolled out a new website,
which thoroughly explains the coalition's
missions, concerns and WWC member's
environmental initiatives.
Visit
the Website >>
Also,
Dave Lister, a regular columnist and
small business owner, wrote a piece
in The Oregonian, explaining
the connection between the viability
of large waterfront businesses to
the prosperity of Portland's small
business community. Read
the article >>
7.
Alliance Comments on City of Portland Budgets
Each
year the Alliance prepares a letter on the City of
Portland budget priorities that supports the Alliance's
policy positions. To further engage in the budget
writing process, the Alliance will send two letters
this year. The first letter was submitted last month
following the release of the proposed bureau budgets.
Another letter responding to the mayor's recommended
budget will be submitted within the next few months.
The focus of the Alliance's budget letters is consistent
with previous years, with the following priorities:
-
Focus
on economic development.
-
Encourage
for efficiencies as outlined in the Alliance 2005 budget
review & recommendations.
-
Move
forward on reform of the business license tax as soon
as revenues allow.
-
Fund
the Downtown Stewardship Plan and keep faith with the
agreement to increase parking rates to fund the program.
-
Support
the Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Associations.
-
Support
programs that assist small business including Portland
Development Commission storefront improvement grants and
the Small Business Legal Clinic.
-
Support
the Services Coordination Team, CHEERS, Sobering Station
and police overtime for targeted missions - all of which
help address livability issues in downtown.
-
Support
district planning that furthers urban renewal projects.
-
Oppose
filling funding gaps through the Bureau of Planning and
Sustainability with increased systems development charges
or additional urban renewal funds.
-
Encourage
the city to find resources other than Portland Development
Commission for some of its low income housing needs.
-
Support
operating funds for the Resource Access Center.
8.
Alliance Supports Boeing Bid for Air Force Contract
The
Alliance recently showed its support for Boeing's
Air Force Refueling Supply Tanker bid with a letter
to Oregon's congressional delegation. The Alliance
supports this bid because of the economic potential
it brings to the region. A 2008 report identified
more than 300 Boeing suppliers or vendors located
in Oregon earning more than $180 million in contracts.
The company employs more than 1,500 people in Oregon.
Additionally, in March the company announced that
it would be investing $100 million in its Gresham
facility, creating up to another 150 jobs at that
facility.
DOWNTOWN
SERVICES
9.
Alliance Supports Mayor's Sidewalk Management
Plan
Sidewalk
usage is an issue in many major cities
across the country, as sidewalks must
accommodate for a range of uses including
transportation, business access, benches,
newspaper stands, trash cans, an other
amenities. Sidewalks are also a place
where people stop, sit, rest, eat, play
music and panhandle. Cities must deal
with these conflicting uses on their own,
as there is no federal law guiding sidewalk
usage. As part of Mayor Adams' Sidewalk
Management Plan that council passed last
year, the mayor drafted an ordinance for
implementing a new legal framework to
help manage Portland's sidewalks.
The
ordinance creates a "pedestrian use zone,"
dedicating six to eight feet of sidewalks
in high traffic zones to unobstructed
passage for people who are moving and
using the sidewalk specifically for transportation.
There are some exceptions that would allow
for other uses in the pedestrian use zone,
as specified in the ordinance
and the attachment.
City
council heard testimony on the ordinance
on April 29. About 35 people showed up
to testify including many from the homeless
community who objected to the proposed
ordinance. At the end of the hearing,
council decided to adjourn, delay its
vote on the plan and take the issue up
again on May 6.
The
Alliance recently submitted a letter in
support of the Sidewalk Management Plan.
Key issues important to the Alliance are:
-
Sidewalks
are safe for all citizens, and provide access to businesses,
services or other amenities - including benches, newspaper
boxes and trash receptacles;
-
Sidewalks
are accessible and used for the primary purpose of transportation,
guaranteeing sufficient access for our most vulnerable
citizens - those with hearing, mobility and vision impairment;
and
-
Sidewalks
are clean and maintain an attractive streetscape for downtown
visitors, customers, employees and residents;
- Ensure
enforcement of camping ordinance.
MEMBERSHIP
SERVICES
10.
New Event Series "EMERGE Exclusives" Connects
Emerging and Established Leaders
 On
April 29, the Alliance's enhanced event
series, EMERGE, presented the first EMERGE
Exclusive, with Northwest Natural CEO,
Gregg Kantor. Approximately 40 emerging
leaders gathered at Schwabe, Williamson
& Wyatt to hear Kantor talk about what
it takes to be a successful leader. The
event turned out to be an engaging and
intimate look into all aspects of leadership,
including aligning values, encouraging
diversity and communicating effectively.
Kantor's wit and impressive experience
inspired the crowd to ask questions, to
which Kantor answered with helpful and
interesting insight and tips. EMERGE participants
also enjoyed delicious food and refreshments
while networking with other emerging leaders.
Don't
miss the next EMERGE Exclusive event,
which will feature
Russ Danielson, CEO of Providence, on
June 23.
More
information on EMERGE >>
11.
Women's Golf Scramble is June 25 - Sign Up Today!
 Come
welcome in the summer golf season with Portland-area businesswomen!
The Alliance invites all women to come out to the Women's
9-Hole Golf Scramble on June 25. The event starts at 7:30
a.m., with a continental breakfast and shotgun start at 9:00
a.m. Afterward participants will enjoy lunch and prizes for
the top finishers, closest to the pin and the longest drive.
Don't
miss the opportunity to highlight your organization at this
new event with various sponsorship opportunities. Sponsorship
opportunities are limited and include recognition on promotional
materials, Alliance's Web site, e-calendar and newsletters,
company signage and emcee recognition, the opportunity to
distribute company literature and more! Sponsorships range
in price from $500 to $5,000.
For
more information or to sponsor the Women's 9-Hole Golf Scramble,
please contact Christine Gatlin at 503.224.8684 or cgatlin@portlandalliance.com.
Playing
Fees
- Foursome
$400
- Individual
$125
View
pictures from last year's event >>
Back
to the top
12.
Graduation for Leadership Portland Class of 2010 Nears
 The
Leadership Portland Class of 2010 is nearing the end of
its time together as graduation takes place on Thursday,
June 10. The class of 50, the largest class to date, will
complete its last program day next week, focusing on business
and economic development. The highlight of the day will
be a jet boat tour of the working harbor sponsored by the
Port of Portland.
Participants
in this year's class are also wrapping up their community
impact projects. One of the impact teams assisted Start
Making a Reader Today (SMART) celebrate its National Volunteer
Week with its first ever Read Out Loud volunteer recruitment
and childhood literacy awareness event at Pioneer Place
Mall on Saturday, April 24. Local celebrities, parents,
and many others read to kids and supported childhood literacy.
Interviews
for next year's class are well under way with more than
40 applicants vying for a spot in the class of 2011. The
class begins in September. If you are interested in learning
more about Leadership Portland, click
here.
Back
to the top
MEMBER
NEWS
13.
PGE and Pacific Power Top U.S. in Number of Renewable Power
Customers
The
Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory
(NREL) recently released its annual rankings of the nation's
top utility green pricing programs. According to that ranking,
Portland General Electric and Pacific Power are the top two
utilities with more renewable power customers than any other
utilities in the United States. PGE and Pacific Power are
also leaders in selling more renewable power to residential
customers. More
information can be found here >>
Back
to the top
14.
Alaska Airlines Announces Nonstop Portland-Honolulu Service
On April
13, Alaska Airlines announced it would add a second nonstop
flight between Portland and Hawaii, with year-round, daily
service to Honolulu beginning Sept. 20, 2010. The airline
already flies between Portland and Kahului, Maui. Flights
are now available for booking at www.alaskaair.com
or by calling 1-800-ALASKAAIR (1-800-252-7522 or TTY/TDD line
1-800-392-0228).
Back
to the top
15.
OAME Trade Show and Luncheon to Showcase Minority Owned Companies
The Oregon
Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME) presents the
22nd annual luncheon and trade show on May 13 at the convention
center. The trade show, entitled "A Sustainable Future with
Equity," is designed to showcase minority owned companies
and provide a venue for business people to sample their diverse
products and services. This year, over 3,000 business people
and buyers will be at the trade show and luncheon, happening
from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with lunch from 12:00 to 1:30
p.m. A panel of OAME members and supporters will discuss and
give advice on how to achieve a sustainable green environment
with equity for minority, women and small emerging businesses.
Tradeshow admission is free and luncheon tickets are $65 per
person. A silent auction will be held during the conference
and trade show.
More
Information About the OAME Trade Show >>
Back
to the top
16.
Greenlight Greater Portland's Economic Summit - June 22
The third-annual
Greenlight Greater Portland's Regional Economic Summit is
taking place June 22. The annual gathering brings together
more than 500 private- and public-sector leaders from across
greater Portland for a region wide conversation and sharing
of business ideas, initiatives and successes. Noon luncheon
features presentation of the 2010 Greater Portland Prosperity
Index, plus keynote by Nike VP of Manufacturing and Sourcing,
Jerry Karver: "Unlikely bedfellows: Partnering with your competitors."
Back
to the top
17. Starbucks
Coffee Company 2009 Global Responsibility Report
Starbucks
Coffee Company recently released its 2009 Global Responsibility
Report. In FY09 Starbucks achieved two of the company's goals:
to increase purchases of C.A.F.E. (Coffee and Farmer Equity)
verified coffee and to double purchases of Fair Trade Certified
coffee. According to the report, Starbucks is "on track" for
energy, water, green building, youth engagement and farmer
loans and incentives. The report also highlights improvements
needed in four areas: community service hours, development
of a comprehensive recyclable cup solution, front-of-store
recycling, and reusable cups.
View
Starbuck's 2009 Global Responsibility Report >>
Back
to the top
18.
Glumac Provides Services for Future LEEDŽ Platinum Building
Glumac,
a consulting engineering company, provided mechanical, electrical,
plumbing, lighting and telecom engineering services, as well
as commissioning services, for the Twelve West building, a
mixed-use building slated to receive two LEED Platinum certifications.
Glumac worked on the core and shell of this new building as
well as tenant improvement for ZGF Architects' new office
space.
More
on the Twelve-West Building >>
More
on Glumac >>
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to the top
19.
U of O Alumni Conversations Event: Interesting Career Paths
Join the
University of Oregon on May 26 for a panel discussion and
reception featuring University of Oregon graduates. Panelists
will talk about the lessons of their career paths and their
hope for the future of UO alumni.
PANELISTS:
- Jim
Bernau, founder/president, Willamette Valley Vineyards
- Carmen
Caballero Rubio, executive director, Latino Network
- Sandra
McDonough, president/CEO, Portland Business Alliance
- Scott
Reames, Nike Inc.
DETAILS:
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. (5:30 P.M. registration)
White Stag Block 70 NW Couch Street, Portland OR 97209
Registration fee: $15 ($25 after May 21)
Free to current UO students and 2009 and 2010 graduates
Register
>>
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20.
Vigilant Counters Proposed EEOC Rule on Age Discrimination
Defense
Employers
who rate workers on flexibility, willingness to learn, or
technological skills would risk liability for age discrimination,
according to proposed
regulations from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC). Vigilant,
who counsels companies on employment issues, submitted written
comments objecting to this and other provisions in the
EEOC's proposal.
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21.
Upcoming Meetings
May
11, Communications Committee, 9:30 a.m.
May 11, Transportation Committee, noon
May 12, Sustainability Committee, 7:30 a.m.
May 14, President's Council, noon
May
18, Central City Standing Committee, noon
May 19 , Small Business Council, 4 p.m.
May 26, Public Policy Committee, 8 a.m.
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