Lifeflight Network #1 Large Non-Profit Page 5
OEN 2016 Tom Hulse Entrepreneurship Awards Page 6
Joe Wiegand as Teddy Roosevelt Page 16
THE GORGE BUSINESS NEWS Business, Ar t, Culture, Outdoors, Travel & Enter tainment
Connecting Communities Throughout the Columbia River Gorge Volume 2 - Issue 6 free
Serving Oregon and Washington
free
NOV/DEC 2016
Tree Houses Now Available at Skamania Lodge By Lori Kimbel
The Columbia River
Gorge never lacks for things to see and do and a favorite to locals and visitors alike is Skamania Lodge, which has recently gone through a bit of a renaissance. Luckily for those who like things a little on the wild side, this renaissance includes luxury tree houses set within the folds of the forest. According to Director of Sales and Marketing, Todd Gillespie, this first set of tree houses, designed by tree house expert Dave Nelson, will be the first of several tree house villagPhoto courtesy of Michael Peterson of Peterson Pro Media es at Skamania Lodge. Each tree house sits
about 15 -20 feet above the forest floor. The stark contrast of the knotty pine exterior with the canopy of the surrounding trees calms the senses the moment it is experienced and you can feel relaxation overtaking stress. Each tree house has a large deck with big red rocking chairs and a fire pit. Once inside you will find the tree house to have a refined rustic feel. With hardwood floors, a 50” smart TV and a king sized bed; you will find all the luxuries Skamania Lodge is known for with the added touch of being closer to nature. Lots of windows let in natural light throughout the day. A black slate floor full bath will Skamania Continued on Page 12
Second Annual Robins Skamania County Economic Equity Research Roundup Development Council T
he second annual Robins Equity Research Roundup, presented by Catalyst Research Management Group, was held in Hood River and brought small and microcap equities together with portfolio managers, hedge fund managers, retail brokers, mutual fund managers, and individual investors. According to Marc Robins, creator of the Robins Equity Group Roundup, there is a cluster of people who like to follow small cap stocks. New science, new technology and job growth are all part of small-cap companies. Robins, who published The Red Chip Review for nearly 10 years, has been following small cap stocks for nearly 40 and is considered an icon in the industry. Robins is currently putting the finishing touches on his upcoming book, Confessions of a Ten Bagger Junkie. A ten bagger is an investment that appreciates to 10 times its initial purchase price. “Marc and this event gave me access to many people that I would not have otherwise had access to and the format of this conference was unique in that it allowed for opportunities to talk with people outside of the walls of a conference room or office; I played a round of golf with two money
Robins Continued on Page 16
Hires Kari Fagerness as ED T
he Skamania County EDC Board of Directors voted unanimously to appoint Kari Fagerness as Executive Director filling the position recently vacated by Pat Albaugh when he was hired to manage the Port of Skamania. Kari officially started her new duties on November 1, 2016. Kari has been at the EDC as Office Administrator since December 2010. Prior to that she worked for six years at Schwabe Williamson and Wyatt, P.C. as a Real Estate Paralegal and Planner and has five additional years of urban and natural resource planning experience in both the public and private sectors. Kari holds a BA in Planning and Environmental Policy from Western Washington University. She has been a Stevenson resident since 1997. “I look forward to the challenges this position will bring and am excited to take this next step in my career.” Fagerness said. “I have en-
joyed working with the local business community since I started at the EDC in 2010 as the Office Administrator and will continue to strengthen those relationships to help the community grow in a healthy and sustainable manner.” The SCEDC is a non-profit corporation located in Stevenson, Washington, in the Columbia River Gorge. It is designed to assist in the retention and expansion of existing businesses and industries, to encourage capital investment for new business development and to promote public policies to facilitate orderly economic development in Skamania County. The Skamania County EDC manages the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area’s Washington Investment Fund (WIF), providing business development and public infrastructure loans. They are also stewards of other micro-loan programs. The EDC is now seeking to fill the Office Administrator role vacated by Kari.
My View
The Gorge Business News
T
here is never a lack of stories when it comes to writing about Northeast Oregon and the Gorge, but there is the lack of time to write them all. With 2016 quickly coming to a close I guess it is time to think about the future and what it may hold. The amount of support I continue to receive has been very inspiring. I’d like to thank both Trish Yerges and Marc Robins for writing great articles for me to included within the pages of both Northeast Oregon Business News and The Gorge Business News on a regular basis. I appreciate their view of the world and I always look forward to what
stories they capture. Life is about change. I will soon be having one of those big birthdays...you know the kind, one of them with a zero in the number. I am looking forward to the new year and will actually be glad to put this last year of my youth behind me. Change isn’t always easy, but I think for the most part it is always necessary. Thank you all for taking the time to read my publications. As always, please feel free to write, or call with questions, suggestions, opinions and story ideas. Here’s to tucking 2016 into our memory banks and moving forward toward 2017. Happy Fall. Sincerly, Lori
Volume 2 - Issue 6 November/December 2016 Publisher Lori Kimbel lorikimbel@neobn.com PO Box 295 Elgin, Oregon 97827 541-910-7482
Serving Arlington, Biggs Junction Bingen, Cascade Locks Hood River Lyle, Maryhill Mosier, North Bonneville Rowena,Rufus Skamani, Stevenson The Dalles, Underwood White Salmon www.facebook.com/thegorgebusinessnews www.linkedin.com/in/lorikimbel www.instagram.com/lorikimbel Twitter - neobnlori www.studio6designworks.com www.thegorgebusinessnews.com www.lorikimbelphotography.com The Gorge Business News is owned and published by Studio 6 Designworks A Creative Publishing, Marketing, and Consulting Company
POSTMASTER: send address changes to Studio 6 Designworks PO Box 295, Elgin, Oregon 97827 Subscription Rates: To subscribe to The Gorge Business News Mail $18 to PO Box 295, Elgin, Oregon 97827
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Agriculture
The Gorge Business News
Things Are Hopping for Oregon Dept of Ag. Inspectors W
hile you quietly sip a beer this month, it’s more than likely that Judy Parent and Erin Harding are painstakingly picking out leaves and stems from the Oregon hops that might be an ingredient of that brew. The two women aren’t necessarily cleaning up the hops but, in fact, inspecting samples of this year’s harvest for seeds, leaves, and stems– the undesirable elements of hops. It’s an annual six-week ritual performed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Inspection Program. The state’s $34.5 million hop industry depends on grading done by ODA. “ODA provides an invaluable service,” says Michelle Palacios, administrator of the Oregon Hops Commission. “Hops are sold on contract. In order to market the product, growers need an accurate
analysis of their crop. The greater the accuracy, the greater the confidence brewers have in Oregon hops.” Each “lot” of hops grown in Oregon is sampled and inspected for seed, leaf, and stem content. That’s the job of a close-knit team of inspectors– some of whom are retirees who have already given years of full-time service to ODA in other jobs. Now they work hard and fast, but only in August and September after hops are harvested. Once inspected, the grower receives a certificate for that lot. The sale to the brewer is based on that certificate. The lower the percentage of seed, leaf, and stem, the better the price of the hops. ODA inspectors are considered third-party participants. They don’t take sides in the process, but merely determine the percentage.
“We have a very good relationship with the growers,” says Randy Black, who manages the seasonal inspection program. “They know we are unbiased, honest, very precise, and accurate.” Each sample is identified by a number corresponding to the appropriate grower. Most of the
hops come from nearby fields as a majority of the crop in Oregon is grown in the area between St. Paul, Woodburn, and Mt. Angel. The Salem-based “inspection facility” is not some kind of high-tech clean room with white
Hops Continued on Page 15
The Colors of the 2016 Hood River Harvest Fest
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The Gorge Business News
Farming
Passing Down The Farm Receives New Emphasis
I
t’s becoming increasingly difficult for older farmers to hand over their operations or keep them in the family. It’s as challenging as ever for younger would-be farm operators to gain access to the land. The graying of Oregon’s farmers and ranchers is an issue receiving a closer look this fall following a new report examining the future of the state’s farmland, who will own it, and what will be done with it. The report will be followed up later this month by a farm succession workshop and other events designed to help promote a transition to the next generation. African CVO Tour“I can’t think of any other industry sector that is so focused on the graying element than agriculture,” says Jim Johnson, land use specialist with the Oregon Department of Agriculture. “No other industry has an average age of principal business owner higher than agriculture.” Oregon State University, Portland State University, and the non-profit organization Rogue Farm Corps combined to produce the report, The Future of Oregon’s Agricultural Land. Among its findings– an estimated 64 percent of Oregon’s farmland, more than 10 million acres, will have new owners over the next two decades. That figure is based on an average age of Oregon farm operator that sits at 60 years old, which has steadily increased the past few decades. “When you consider the management of Oregon farms is predominantly family operated, a change in ownership is a real issue in terms of what will happen to that land base,” says Johnson. Whenever there is a change of farm ownership, there is likely to be some consideration of what to do with that land. Massive ownership change could potentially mean big changes in agriculture. “In Oregon’s land use system, agricultural land is primarily designed for farm use, but that doesn’t preclude converting that land to non-farm uses or somebody acquiring the land and deciding not to farm it at all,” says Johnson. The report warns against “the conversion of farmland to non-farm
use, development, or fragmentation into parcels that are too small to support most profitable farm businesses; the sale of farmland to investors who may hold the land for future development, consolidate farmland, or make less of a positive contribution to rural communities in which they do not live or work; and rapidly rising farmland prices, which make it increasingly difficult for beginning farmers, or any person who makes their living primarily from farming, to afford land.” Access to land and its affordability create a huge hurdle, especially for beginning farmers. “Many farmers are leasing land as soon as it becomes available,” says Johnson. “There isn’t much land available for young and newer farmers to buy. Add the capital needed to develop the infrastructure associated with that land– farm implements, irrigation equipment, etc.– it’s a major investment up front.” Among stakeholders identified in the report as being concerned about the large-scale transfer of farmland in the next two decades are family farmers hoping to create a financially secure retirement while making sure they can pass along the operation to someone who will keep the farm in agricultural production. “The strength of Oregon’s agriculture is its diversity and family farms that have made strong connections with consumers,” says Klamath County farmer Tracey Liskey, a member of the State Board of Agriculture. “When we see changing ownership, it’s more likely that the farm will be purchased by bigger, corporate farms. The young farmer or rancher doesn’t have the equity to buy an operation. As the seller, you don’t have the ability to split up the land into smaller farms, and you can make more money selling to a bigger operator.” Liskey is among many who see the ultimate solution is better economic health of Oregon agriculture. “We need agriculture to be economically viable to make sure the next generation of farmers and ranchers can get involved. Right now, that’s a challenge. I know a lot of existing farmers are just barely hanging on. It’s hard for many to make it today with expenses four to five times higher than
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income. It’s a tough ballgame.” Absent an economic rebound in agriculture, farmers and would-be farm operators need to take advantage of available measures. Succession planning– a legal process of passing the family farm down to the next generation– is a critically important tool that is underutilized by aging farmers and ranchers. It’s also a major recommendation in the report. “Planning well in advance for succession is critical if a farmer or rancher wants to pass on a viable business, preserve their family’s legacy of land, and minimize family disputes after they pass,” says Nellie McAdams, Farm Preservation Program Director for Rogue Farm Corps. “It’s never too late to start planning, but the earlier you begin, the more prepared your family will be to minimize estate taxes and divide your estate.” A free succession workshop will be held in Forest Grove October 30 with presentations from OSU’s Austin Family Business Program, an attorney, and a farmer panel. There will also be a day-long workshop next month in Tigard largely aimed at
attorneys, and several other upcoming trainings. Other approaches to help transition farms from older operators to the next generation include better training and more opportunities for beginning farmers to gain experience, and promoting working lands easements that help retiring farmers generate liquidity from the land, making it more affordable to beginning farmers while permanently protecting it from development. It appears there is no shortage of young or beginning farmers who want to get a farm of their own. “There is a much stronger interest, either by those who have never had any connection to farming whatsoever and are starting from scratch, or those who left the farm to go to school or work in another job but now realize agriculture is the occupation and lifestyle for them,” says ODA’s Johnson. Either way, taking steps to make farms and ranches more affordable and accessible to a new generation is key to Oregon’s agricultural future.
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The Gorge Business News
Oregon Business Recognizes Life Flight
Life Flight Network Named the #1 Large Nonprofit to Work for in Oregon L
ife Flight Network was recognized last week by Oregon Business as the best large nonprofit to work for in Oregon. For the seventh year in a row, Life Flight Network has been ranked in the top 15 best large nonprofit employers to work for in Oregon. This is the second time Life Flight Network has been ranked #1. More than 22,000 Oregon-based nonprofit organizations were eligible to compete. More than 5,000 employees from competing organizations completed an anonymous survey about their employer, accounting for 83% of the each organization’s score. The survey analyzed several aspects of each organization. Results were combined with an employer survey of benefits and workplace practices to calculate the overall ranking. Results of the employee survey show employees of nonprofits have high rates of pride and belief in the mission of their organization. Employees also appreciate the fun, energized, and creative culture of nonprofits.
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“We are proud and humbled to be recognized as the #1 large nonprofit employer in Oregon,” states Michael Griffiths, RN and CEO. He adds, “Making Life Flight Network an exceptional place to work requires a team effort. The culture within Life Flight Network is something our employees are proud of. We come to work every day and give our best effort, and it shows in our employees and the service we provide to our patients and customers.” ABOUT LIFE FLIGHT NETWORK: Life Flight Network, a nonprofit air medical service, has 22 helicopters bases, six fixed-wing bases, and several ground ambulances throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Life Flight Network has administrative offices in Aurora, Oregon and employs approximately 600 people. The orga-
nization is owned by a consortium of Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, and Providence Health & Services. Aviation services are provided by Life Flight Network, Metro Aviation, and Jackson Jet Center. For more information about Life Flight Network or to become a member, visit www.lifeflight.org.
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The Gorge Business News
Entrepreneurship
OEN and the Tom Holce 2016 Entrepreneurship Awards walking into a conversation at the local post office lobby. The main event would not t’s no secret that I come start for another hour, which left from a small town in Northeast me time to visit with newfound Oregon, Elgin, Oregon to be friends and learn about some exact. Elgin is like many of the of the entrepreneurs that were small towns in America, more showcasing their business and/ often than not it is peaceful, safe or product. Bull Run Whiskey and friendly, so when this small was my first stop. I always enjoy town lady decided to spend a hearing about the process taken night on the town in the big city to create a product and the gentleof Portland, it was, to be honest, man behind the counter was more pretty exciting and at the end of than happy to explain the subtle the night I realized that Portland, difference between the different believe it or not, is a lot like Elbottles of whiskey, one of my fagin. vorite spirits. I decided on a sip of My adventure started the Oregon Single Malt Whiskey; when I climbed onto the Max in it was smooth and left me wanting Beaverton. Now to people who more, but I wandered away after ride the Max every single day, I thanking him, making my way to am sure this sounds like no big the complimentary drink station deal, but to me….this was a big next to the whiskey station. deal. I’ve been on cattle drives After ordering a sangria, and gone to more rodeos than I the unmistakable smell of fire can count. I’ve seen four cougars, roasted s’mores filled my senses. three bears and one wolf, but I’d James, from Nineteen 27 S’monever ridden the Max by myself, res, gave me a quick rundown of especially knowing I would be go- the business that he and his wife, ing back…at night (insert dun dun Kelly, started late in the summer of 2015. The unmistakable fire that burns within the heart of every entrepreneur was evident in James. The S’mores experience reminded me of sitting around the fire at my brother’s ‘white tail camp’…..well, maybe that was the whiskey I’d just shot, either way, once again, I was reminded of home. I made my way through the crowd, stopping in at each table to learn a little bit about each business owner and why they had decided to become entrepreneurs. I sampled delicious bar-b-que sauces of Felton and Mary’s Artisan Foods, tasted some wonderful peanut butter at Eliot’s Adult Nut Butters, had a bite of some spicy beef from Don Felipe Products and drank James of Nineteen27 S’mores some of the best hot cocoa I’ve ever had from Treehouse Chocodunnn music here). I kept track of late. the stops on my phone and loaned I knew I had to save room a pen to a young man who had for dinner, so networking was next misplaced his. All in all the people on my agenda. I met some great seemed….like people. people throughout the evening and Stop after stop, and a darthoroughly enjoyed learning about ing race through a tunnel 260 feet what their passions were and what below the surface, I finally arrived made them want to be a part of at my destination. As luck would the evening dedicated to Oregon have it the Max stopped within 50 entrepreneurs. Throughout my or 60 yards of the front door to the career and the many networking Oregon Convention Center, where events I have attended, I find that the Oregon Entrepreneurs Netjust being from Oregon and havwork Tom Holce Entrepreneurship ing that commonality is enough Awards were taking place. of a connection to start lasting Shaking off the raindrops friendships. Oregonians are proud that had gathered on my jacket, of their state. Who wouldn’t be? I stepped inside and it was as if We have Mt. Hood, Wallowa they knew I was coming. “What is Lake, Multnomah Falls, the Coyour name,” the young lady asked lumbia River Gorge, the Oregon me. “Kimbel,” I said. “Lori KimCoast, Portland…..and Elgin. We bel.” As it so happened a gentleare also proud of the people who man, also with the name Kimball call Oregon home and who have was right in front of my, so he and dedicated their lives to making the the young lady had already been world a better place. discussing me, it made me feel Once the ceremony started like I was back in my hometown I was swept up into the emotions
I
By Lori Kimbel
www.thegorgebusinessnews.com
Outgoing President and Executive Director of OEN, Linda Weston. of the evening. I have never met footwear, etc, and in bioscience/ Linda Weston, the outgoing presbiotech, clean tech, etc. There ident and executive director of are many more women entrepreOEN, but was sure that when we neurs---evidence was clear last do meet, we are going to have a night with 3 out of 4 of the wingreat visit. ners being women. And, there The annual awards cerare many more entrepreneurs of emony honors the skill and the color.” courage that it takes for entrepre This year’s Awards Cereneurs to create a business out of mony marks the final year of Linan idea. The event is intended to da’s remarkable 17-year tenure as not only celebrate entrepreneurs, President and Executive Director but to highlight their importance of OEN. She will be retiring and to the region’s economy. This launching a consulting company year’s Awards Ceremony, “Create at the end of 2016. Under LinYour Legacy,” also celebrated da’s leadership, OEN has expeOEN’s 25th year and paid tribute rienced significant growth and to Weston, who will be retiring at expanded its impact across the the end of 2016 after 17 years. state, serving more than 52,000 It was a night of inspiparticipants since 1999, generatration and entrepreneurial spirit ing $10,792,545 in donations and from start to finish. Weston set the sponsorship revenue, and securing tone as she highlighted what her more than $1.1 million in grant journey has been like over the past funding to expand access to OEN 17 years at the helm of Oregon’s services in underserved areas. Entrepreneur Network. Her passion for business and the people who create them was evident and it was obvious her presence at OEN will truly be missed by those who know and love her. “Over those 17 years, the entrepreneurial ecosystem supporting entrepreneurs throughout Roxana Campbell of Felton and Mary’s Artisan Foods the state has changed significantly for the better,” said Weston. In 2002 and 2005, Linda was “There is far more education, selected by Portland Business support, access to coaching and Journal as one of 25 outstanding mentoring, and access to a variWomen in Business. In 2005, she ety of kinds of capital then there was one of three national finalists was even 10 years ago. And, the for the “Supporter of Entreprekinds of entrepreneurs we see are neurship” award in conjunction far different---it’s not just tech with Ernst & Young’s Entrepreentrepreneurs. There are so many neur of the Year Awards. In 2007, more entrepreneurs in consumer she was recognized by Northwest products like food, beverages, Women’s Journal as one of “100
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The Gorge Business News
Entrepreneurship Most Powerful Women” in the Northwest. “It feels wonderful handing the baton to my successor, Maggie Finnerty,” said Weston. “We put a very specific process into place for succession. I gave the OEN board two years’ notice that I planned to retire in December of 2016, so we engaged in a very thoughtful process about how we wanted to approach everything from how we would conduct the search to who would handle the search and when we’d launch it, the timing of the announcement that I’d be leaving, and we planned for at least a 90 day transition with the new executive director. We were also very intentional about who served on the search committee---it was diverse in terms of sector represented, age, gender, race, and geography so that we had great input. Maggie has a perfect background and skill set to step into this role---she was a perfect choice, and she’ll do well in leading the organization. In terms of what’s next for me, I won’t fully retire. I plan to launch a consulting practice focused on helping both early-stage companies and non-profits.” The OEN Board ‘passed the hat around’ so to speak, and raised $16,000 for a ‘trip of a lifetime’ for Weston, who is an avid traveler. “The best part of the night for me,” said Molly Lindquist, founder and CEO of Consano, “was watching out-going executive director of OEN, Linda Weston, honored for her incredible contributions to the entrepreneurial community in Oregon. Linda was a key connector and mentor to me as I founded my non-profit Consano, and I know she has served in that role for countless other founders as well. It was wonderful to see the community celebrate her impact!” Weston however was not the only one to receive a gift during the award ceremony. Sam Blackman and Jesse Rosenzweig, co-founders of Elemental Technologies, presented a $150,000 check to OEN to support its services. From 141 nominees for the 2016 OEN Tom Holce Entrepreneurship Awards, the finalists were narrowed down to 20 after a series of interviews and reviews by OEN’s expert judging panels. The categories included Volunteers of the Year, Startup Stage, Development Stage, Growth Stage, Wyatt Starnes, and Entrepreneurial Achievement. The Game Changer Award was decided by the audience during the award ceremony and went to Nadya Okamoto of Camions of Care. Camions of Care is a youth-run global nonprofit that strives to manage and celebrate menstrual hygiene—through the global distribution of feminine
hygiene products, and the engagement of youth leadership through a nationwide network of campus chapters. In the last two years, its network of over 2,200 volunteers has addressed over 24,000 periods through over 40 nonprofit partners. Bright.MD and Radar were the other two finalists in this category.
pay his debt, and evicted from his apartment. He eventually ended up in a homeless shelter. Tyrone founded NoAppFee.com to help combat unnecessary homelessness. NoAppFee.com revolutionizes the way renters find homes by screening potential renters against every vacancy in a market, eliminating the need for multiple, costly applications. The Entrepreneurial “Over those 17 years, the Achievement Award honors an entrepreneur or founding team with entrepreneurial ecosystem a strong record of success over the past 18 months. Monica Enand, supporting entrepreneurs Ceo and Founder of Zapproved was the recipient of this award. throughout the state has Runners up were Oliver Alexanchanged significantly for the der and Orion Falvey co-founders of Orchid Health, as well as Trevbetter.” or Mauch, founder of Carrot. “I believe OEN is import~ Linda Weston ant to Oregon because it lays the foundation for a collaborative and Volunteers of the Year healthy start-up ecosystem,” said where Terry St. Marie, Co-Found- Lindquist. “As someone who has er of Built Oregon, Ernie Bootsdirectly benefitted from the many ma, Parter at Ater Wynne, and connections I’ve made through Ann McQuesten, Corporate Associate at White Summers Caffee & my involvement with OEN, I can say that there is no way I could James LLP. have grown my organization so The Startup Stage Award, quickly without the invaluable which honors a company with collaborations and relationships projected revenue for the current I’ve developed within this dynamyear of less than $0.5 million, ic community.” went to Hubb, which automates the complex workflows and tasks required to collect, manage and market content for your next conference or meeting. Runners up were Crystal Clear Technologies and NemaMetrix. The Development Stage Company Award honors a company with past-year revenue of at least $0.5 million and projected revenue for the current year of $0.5 - $8 million. Customer. io, which is a platform that uses application data and rules to message users, was the winner of this award. Senaptec and Wildfang were runners up. The Growth Stage Company Award honors a company with past-year revenue of at least $8 million and projected revenue for the current year of over $8 million. Ruby Receptionists, which is the only virtual receptionist service dedicated to making personal connections with your callers, was the recipient for 2016. FCR, iovation and Puppet were runners up in this category. The Wyatt Starnes Memorial Award honors the region’s most promising early stage tech entrepreneur. Runners up included Brian Martin of Recentia Health Corp, David Schaefer of eWind Solutions, and Dylan Vance of Jupiter Devices. The Wyatt Starnes Memorial Award winner was Tyrone Poole of NoAppFee.com. In 2005, Tyrone was training to become a firefighter at Portland Community College. He suffered an injury that badly damaged his left leg, leaving him unemployed, unable to
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Then, just like that the, evening was over. I said goodbye to the people I’d bonded with over a chicken and mashed potato dinner and a bottle or two of wine, knowing we would be connected forever if only on LinkedIn. I slipped on my coat and walked out into the night air. I was downtown Portland and I felt safe after spending an evening with 500 of my newest friends. A few walked my direction toward the Max. I marveled at the glass towers of the Convention Center as I waited for the ‘Blue Line’ to arrive. Once on board I texted a friend explaining how I was on the Max leaving downtown Portland, but there was no need for her to worry about me, because Superman himself was seated within ten feet of me. Grant it he was about 20 years younger than most Supermen, and not quite as buff, but Superman just the same. Then Trudy arrived, she asked to sit beside me and told me about her evening experience at the Tony Bennett concert. “He is 90 years old and his voice is just as strong as ever,” she exclaimed. Yes, tonight, my wonderful night out on the town in Portland felt like home, Portland felt like Elgin...peaceful, safe and friendly.
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Collaboration
The Gorge Business News
Oregon to Convert Messages into Video Instructions for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Residents Oregon state government is launching a new effort to support deaf and hard of hearing Oregonians. Held quarterly, New American Sign Language (ASL) video workshops tap native-speaking ASL interpreters to convert agency messages into video instructions that improve access to online services for these traditionally underserved residents. In recent years Oregon has increased accessibility to Oregon.gov websites for blind and disabled residents. This new effort illustrates a continued desire to expand access, this time for Oregon’s deaf and hard of hearing population. “It is so important that government services are accessible to all citizens. For too long, deaf and hard of hearing Oregonians have struggled to access programming and services that many of us take for granted. This new development is a first step
towards righting that injustice and ensuring that every Oregonian is treated equally. This is great news!” said State Senator Sara Gelser. The Department of Human Services Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Program, the State Chief Information Officer’s E-Government Program and Salem CCTV partnered to deliver the two-day workshops at no cost to state agencies. The centralized approach allows agencies to better support the deaf community without worrying about the video tools, training, skills, or budget for ASL interpreters. “Agencies arrive with their script and leave with an ASL video that will support our deaf and hard of hearing residents.” said Ashley Carson Cottingham, Director of Aging and People with Disabilities for the Department of Human Services, “By making this as easy as possible for agencies, we will begin to see needed im-
provements as the year progresses.” “Senator Gelser challenged us to find a better way to support this community. The former President of the Oregon Association for the Deaf, Chad Ludwig, taught us the importance of an educated native ASL signer. Salem CCTV enthusiastically offered their free services to our programs and will also air the videos on their local Comcast channel. It’s a truly collaborative effort that’s unique to Oregon.” said Wally Rogers, Oregon E-Government and Transparency Manager. About the Oregon E-Government Program The Oregon E-Government Program was established through Governor’s Office Executive Order in 2001 and is administered by the Department of Administrative Services. The Oregon Legislature further supported the program by enacting legislation in 2011 that established
an Electronic Portal Advisory Board to advance the effectiveness and delivery of new online services to the public. The program works with Oregon government organizations, helping them to conduct state business online and improve public access to government information. About the DHS Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program The Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (ODHHS) program provides interpreters for clients that are members of the deaf, deafblind, or hard-of-hearing communities. The Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Advisory Committee (ODHHAC) assists the Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Program (ODHHSP) by providing information and expertise on issues affecting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
LET THE SAVINGS SOAK IN Energy upgrades to irrigation systems and equipment can yield more than energy savings. They can earn rebates and cash incentives from Energy Trust of Oregon, too.
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Talk to your irrigation vendor, or visit www.energytrust.org/ag for more information. Serving customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas.
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The Gorge Business News
Gov. Jay Inslee and the
Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) announced today a new state-federal partnership that will bolster state efforts to improve the physical and mental health of Washington families and transform the state’s Apple Health (Medicaid) program to control costs. After months of detailed negotiations, the HCA—in partnership with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)—and the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reached an agreement in-principle, on a five-year Medicaid demonstration waiver to continue implementing the governor’s Healthier Washington plan. “This project is the result of months of discussion with President Obama’s administration and is a significant boost to our state’s health care reform efforts,” Inslee said. “I commend the teams at HCA and DSHS for designing this community-led and broadly supported plan to improve health and reduce costs for families and our state.” The project is part of Washington state’s effort to focus on prevention and proactive management for conditions like diabetes and mental illness. It funds supported employment and housing services and long term care services and supports for unpaid family caregivers so they are able to keep caring for their loved ones. The result will be less use of high-cost services and better health outcomes. The five-year demonstration provides up to $1.1 billion of incentives for delivery system reform and $375 million to support critical services for Apple Health clients over five years. Significant stakeholder and community input, including multiple public comment periods and public meetings around the state, led to this
demonstration plan that has four goals: Reduce avoidable use of high-cost services such as acute care hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and nursing home facilities. Improve population health, with a focus on prevention and proactive management of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, pediatric obesity, smoking, mental illness, and substance abuse for Apple Health clients. Accelerate Medicaid payment reform to pay providers for better health outcomes. Bend the Medicaid cost curve below national trend. Key initiatives under the demonstration are funded through reinvestment of past and future federal savings from Washington’s Medicaid reform efforts. Locally-led efforts will engage and support clients, providers, and communities through: Delivery system transformation strategies led by regional Accountable Communities of Health A broader array of service options to enable older adults and individuals with disabilities to stay at home and delay or avoid need for more intensive care. Supportive housing and supported employment services for Medicaid clients with the most critical needs. “This decision will allow Washington state to build on a tradition of leadership in health care with important reforms to improve the quality and efficiency of care in Medicaid,” Senator Patty Murray said. “The Medicaid waiver has been a crucial tool for many states— and I’m confident that with the right changes and improvements under the leadership of Governor Inslee and others, we’ll be able to continue to make important strides toward providing quality, affordable health care for all Washingtonians.” “This agreement is one of
the most powerful tools we have as we continue the work of improving health, improving the quality of care, and lowering costs,” said HCA Director Dorothy Frost Teeter. “We have anchored our approach to local communities where real health transformation can occur,” said State Medicaid Director MaryAnne Lindeblad. “Our new targeted services will help keep individuals stably housed and employed and get them the care they need.” “Every medical group and provider who serves Medicaid patients faces the same difficult choice between wanting to help all people of all income levels and maintaining the ability to provide care for patients long-term through a financially stable organization. We have advocated for these changes to allow for better
outcomes for patients and sustainable health care in our community,” said Rick Cooper, northwest regional market president for HealthCare Partners, a DaVita Medical Group (recently CEO of The Everett Clinic) and co-chair of the Health Innovation Leadership Network. “The rapid growth in the aging population means we either find a new innovative way of delivering services or come up with significant new Medicaid resources for the long-term care system,” said DSHS Assistant Secretary for Aging and Long-Term Support Bill Moss. “Washington will lead the nation to demonstrate how we can support unpaid family caregivers and offer targeted services that will actually avoid much more expensive utilization down the road.”
Never Give Up on Something You Cannot Go a Day Without Thinking About
~Unknown
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Investing into the Future
Investing More Than $50 Million through Apprenticeship USA to Expand Proven Pathways into the Middle Class
Since the beginning of his Administration, President Obama has focused on creating an economy that works for every American. Under his leadership, our businesses have added 15.3 million jobs since early 2010, and the economy has seen the longest streak of job creation on record. However, more work needs to be done to make sure the benefits of the recovery are broadly shared. We must continue to adapt to forces of globalization and technology that deliver tremendous benefits but also pose challenges, including through increasing investment in effective job training. The jobs available today, and the jobs of the future, are higher-skill jobs that require more education and advanced skills. Today, the Department of Labor (DOL) is announcing the Administration’s latest step to increase access to apprenticeship – using Fiscal Year 2016 funding for a new $50.5 million investment in State Expansion Grants to expand apprenticeships across the country in a diverse array of industry sectors. This initiative, called ApprenticeshipUSA, is part of the Administration’s strategy to grow and diversify apprenticeship. Over the next 18 months, this effort will result in thousands of new apprenticeships in diverse industries, including health care, advanced manufacturing, and information technology, that offer workers not just jobs, but careers. These grants provide funding to 36 States and one territory to undertake new apprenticeship efforts, which will include efforts in both urban and rural communities. Projects will focus on helping a diverse set of workers – including women and minorities who have too often been left out of apprenticeship efforts in the past – enter into these in-demand fields. Job-driven apprenticeships are among the surest pathways to provide American workers from all backgrounds with the skills and knowledge they need to acquire good-paying jobs and grow the economy. In fact, 91 percent of apprentices are employed after completing their programs, with an average starting wage above $60,000. The return on investment for employers is also impressive — international studies suggest that for every dollar spent on apprenticeship, employers may get an average of $1.47 back in increased productivity and greater front-line innovation. As a result, the President has made expanding apprenticeship a priority for his Administration. The U.S. has added more than 125,000 new apprenticeships, the largest increase in nearly a decade. And last year, the President signed into law the first-ever annual funding for apprenticeship programs in the Fiscal Year 2016 spending bill, following a bipartisan agreement based on the President’s budget request. But, we cannot carry on this work without continued funding, which the House Appropriations
Committee’s Labor-HHS-Education bill unfortunately fails to provide. In contrast, the Senate Appropriations Committee provides strong support for apprenticeship, which we hope will be reflected in the final Fiscal Year 2017 spending bill. If this funding does not continue going forward, the 36 States and one territory who have received ApprenticeshipUSA State Expansion Grants will have to terminate their efforts in just 18 months. Similarly, the 14 organizations who were awarded $20.4 million in contracts to expand apprenticeship to new industries and reach historically underrepresented populations will see their funding dry up after one year. This would deprive thousands of Americans of the chance to participate in this life-changing training model. The President calls on Congress to continue its past support for apprenticeship in the final Fiscal Year 2017 spending bill. Investing More Than $50 Million to Support Smart State Strategies to Expand Apprenticeship. The grant awards announced today will build on the Administration’s successful investments in state apprenticeship strategies. Recognizing Governors’ unique ability to create smart statewide strategies to expand apprenticeship, DOL is awarding more than $50 million for ApprenticeshipUSA State Expansion Grants to help states integrate apprenticeship into their education and workforce systems; engage industry and other partners at scale to expand apprenticeship to new sectors and new populations; support state capacity to conduct outreach and work with employers to start new programs; provide support to promote greater inclusion and diversity in apprenticeship; and implement state innovations, incentives, and system reforms. By investing in state strategies for growing apprenticeship opportunities, these funds will help strengthen the foundation for the rapid and sustained expansion of quality apprenticeship nationwide. For example: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment – Denver, CO The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment was awarded a $1.8 million grant to fund the Grow the Middle Class project to expand youth and adult apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeships for youth within school districts across the state, using the Swiss Apprenticeship model. Colorado will assist businesses in developing new apprenticeships and industry engagement and initiate a pilot program to recruit representatives from growth industries as champions to identify common competencies and standards for apprenticeships in key occupations. Washington State Department of Labor and Industries – Tumwater, WA The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries was awarded $2.7 million to fund Project RAISE, a
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robust effort to coordinate state agency resources, recruit new employers, and advance Registered Apprenticeship opportunities for underrepresented populations. Project activities will include program modernization to increase the state’s capacity to support apprenticeship expansion and engage new industry stakeholders. The project will register 600 apprentices in the industries of health care, education, construction, advanced manufacturing and the public sector, among others. Target populations include women, veterans, youth, low-income individuals, people with disabilities and people of color. Connecticut Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship Training - Wethersfield, CT The Connecticut Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship Training (OAT) was awarded a $1.6 million grant to fund the Connecticut Apprenticeship Expansion Rx project, which targets the aerospace manufacturing and maintenance sector. The project will engage employers to increase new sponsors; and provide underrepresented populations, including women and dislocated and under employed individuals an opportunity to acquire industry required credentials. The project will serve 1,672 apprentices. Target industries include aerospace, aviation, energy, and the building trades. OAT and its partners will also develop multi-media resources as additional tools for sector outreach, a focus on stakeholder engagement, securing apprenticeship sponsors, fostering labor-management collaboration, and planning for increased strategic outreach. The announcement follows a $10.4 million investment DOL made earlier this year for ApprenticeshipUSA State Accelerator Grants, which provided 52 awards to states, territories, and the District of Columbia to develop strategic plans and build partnerships for apprenticeship expansion and diversification. Grantees also received support to develop comprehensive game plans for encouraging businesses to launch apprenticeship programs in a variety of industries including advanced manufacturing, health care, information technology, construction, and transportation. In addition, DOL awarded $20.4 million last month in contracts to 14 national industry intermediaries and national equity partners. As part of the historic investment in apprenticeship, the contracts will support the growth of apprenticeship programs in an increasingly diverse set of industries, including healthcare, construction, transportation and logistics, manufacturing, and information and communications technology; and support efforts to boost the representation of traditionally underrepresented populations in apprenticeship programs. For example, the Washington Technology Industry Association will partner with leading technology companies to create a National Information and Communi-
cations Technology Apprenticeship Council (NICTAC) comprised of industry hiring partners. The NICTAC will provide underserved populations with access to apprenticeship opportunities in well-paying careers within the information and communications technology industry. Building on Success in Expanding Apprenticeship and Increasing Access to Job-Driven Training Today’s announcement builds on the Obama Administration’s previous efforts to increase access to apprenticeship and job-driven training to prepare workers for highskill jobs, including: Investing an unprecedented $175 million in American Apprenticeship Grants. In September 2015, DOL announced $175 million in grants to 46 public-private partnerships between employers, organized labor, non-profits, local governments, and educational institutions that are expanding high-quality apprenticeships. The grantees are well on their way to creating more than 34,000 new apprentices in high-growth and high-tech industries including health care, information technology and advanced manufacturing over the next five years. Highlighting the value of apprenticeships through LEADERS. More than 180 employers, colleges, and labor organizations have signed on to be ApprenticeshipUSA LEADERS (Leaders of Excellence in Apprenticeship Development, Education and Research) by starting or expanding their own work-based learning programs and encouraging their peers to follow. Together, employers in the LEADERS program have pledged to create nearly 20,000 new apprenticeship positions. Expanding opportunities for apprentices to earn credit towards a degree. The Registered Apprenticeship-College Consortium (RACC) was launched to enable graduates of Registered Apprenticeship programs to turn their on-the-job and classroom training into college credits toward an associate or bachelor’s degree. Since 2014, 290 colleges nationwide have joined the RACC. Providing American Workers with Skills Needed to Compete in the Global Economy In addition, in January 2014, President Obama signed the Presidential Memorandum on Job-Driven Training for Workers, calling for an action plan within 180 days to make federal employment and training programs more job-driven. In July 2014, the Administration – with the leadership of Vice President Biden – released a plan to expand the number of pathways for Americans to gain the skills they need to get better, higher-paying jobs, and to increase access to those pathways. In addition, the Administration has taken a number of steps to support the American workforce and prepare it for the 21st century, as described below. Steps have been taken to expand and improve our efforts to
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Investing into the Future re-connect workers who have been displaced by economic change back to the workforce system and into good jobs. Building on the best models of what works, these efforts have helped not only those affected by trade and globalization, but also by the aftermath of the Great Recession, by long-term changes in our energy industry, and in communities that have long suffered from economic isolation and inadequate education opportunities. Securing a six-year extension and expansion of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) in June 2015, which provides vital job training, income support and other benefits to American workers displaced by the forces of globalization. Among other things, this extension improves on prior programs by supporting workers in the service sector and those affected by trade with countries with whom we do not have Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), including China and India. One year after the reauthorization, there have already been dramatic improvements resulting from the new legislation. The number of estimated workers currently eligible for benefits and services is over 100,000, which is almost double the number of workers eligible for TAA benefits and services in all of fiscal year 2015 under the older program. This includes approximately 18,000 workers now covered after their previously denied petitions were reconsidered under the new, more expansive law. In fiscal year 2015, 74 percent of TAA participants found new jobs, and over 92 percent retained their jobs. Helping the long-term unemployed get back to work and stay in the labor force, including through federal investments like the $170 million Ready to Work program, and through collaboration with business leaders to create a set of best practices for recruiting and hiring the long-term unemployed. In addition, DOL is providing robust reemployment services and eligibility assessments through $200 million in grants to all 50 states and territories to help prevent long-term unemployment and connect jobseekers to the labor market, while also ensuring that they continue to be eligible for unemployment benefits. Through Fiscal Year 2016, an estimated 1.3 million unemployed workers will be served. Recent research shows that when both eligibility assessments and reemployment services are provided seamlessly, reemployment outcomes for claimants improve and the duration of benefits is shorter. Launching the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative, an interagency effort to assist communities negatively impacted by changes in the coal industry and power sector with coordinated federal economic and workforce development resources that help communities diversify their economies and provide reemployment services and job training to connect workers to high-quality in-demand jobs. The initiative is led by the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration and involves the coordinated efforts of ten Federal agencies.
Helping low- to middle-skilled parents access training and affordable, quality childcare. As a part of the Administration’s efforts to support working families, DOL awarded $54 million in grants to help low- to middle- skilled parents access the affordable, quality child care they need to earn an education, participate in training programs, and ultimately compete for better-paying jobs in emerging industries. Grants to 14 partnerships across the country were awarded as part of the Strengthening Working Families Initiative to strengthen and support public-private partnerships devoted to helping parents advance in their careers by bridging gaps between local workforce development and child care systems. These grants will facilitate access to training in a variety of industries, such as information technology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, financial services, and educational services. Helping young people obtain skills and education to succeed in a knowledge-based economy through a $22 million investment in innovative employment demonstration programs in seven cities experiencing high levels of youth unemployment, poverty and crime (Baltimore, Camden, Detroit, Houston, Long Beach, North Charleston and North St. Louis). These projects are testing a range of models for working directly with employers to engage young people and prepare them for good jobs in in-demand industries through work-based training and supportive services. A $21 million investment to open doors for young Americans to kickstart their careers through Summer Jobs and Beyond grants. Building on the efforts of the My Brother’s Keeper initiative, these grants help give young people their first meaningful work experience. Investing in job-driven training for Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP) participants, including through the 2016 launch of SNAP to Skills – a first-of-its kind, peer-to-peer effort to help state agencies develop job-driven SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) programs that help participants find good jobs and reduce their need for SNAP. In addition, in March 2015, USDA competitively awarded $200 million to 10 states for 3-year pilot projects, as authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, to test and evaluate a range of job-driven strategies, including intensive sector-based approaches and career pathways that prepare workers for specific occupations; career navigation and job readiness; work-based learning; and comprehensive assessment and intensive case management. Scaling Up What Works Through the course of the Vice President’s review, the Administration identified three core problems: employers can’t find enough skilled workers to grow their businesses; education and training programs need better information on what skills in-demand jobs require; and, hard-working Americans often are not sure what training to pursue and whether jobs will be waiting when they finish. By listening to employers, workers and training institutions utilizing innovative solutions, and
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working with Congress, we are implementing common-sense, evidence-based reforms that are helping people find and train for good jobs and ensuring that employers can find the skilled workers they need. Implementing the job-driven training checklist that reorients competitive job training grants to align with best practices based on elements that matter most to getting Americans into better jobs. To date, agencies have awarded over 15 competitive job-training grant programs that total more than $1.5 billion according to the checklist principles. Signing the bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the first reform of federal job training programs in nearly 20 years that reaches approximately 20 million Americans annually. WIOA improves business engagement, performance accountability, access, and alignment across job training programs. Doubling Down on Proven Strategies An evaluation report promised in the 2014 Presidential Memorandum synthesized the elements of what works in job training, and the Administration is using this evidence base to direct limited federal resources into the most results-driven practices. Through administrative actions and by advancing budget proposals, we are using every tool at our disposal to expand successful models that put workers on the path to a good career with a middle-class wage. Investing in training for dislocated workers that follows employer needs in key sectors. DOL has awarded nearly $300 million in Sector Partnerships and Job-Driven Training grants focusing on training dislocated workers. Sector partnerships are consistently cited as one of the most effective strategies to better align education with employer needs and have been shown through randomized evaluations to lead to higher rates of employment and earnings. Supporting youth that have been involved in the juvenile justice system through $12 million in DOL and Department of Defense “Job ChalleNGe” grants that combine the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program’s evidence-based elements, such as military-based discipline, education, life skills, and mentorship, with job-training and work experience. Helping public housing residents secure higher paying jobs and become self-sufficient through $62.9 million in Jobs Plus Program grants to support work readiness and connect public housing residents with employment, education and financial empowerment services. A research study found that public housing residents who participated in Jobs Plus saw a 14 percent increase in earned income and that these earnings remained higher seven years after exiting the program. Partnering With Employers, Communities, and Training Providers As a complement to these federal efforts, the Administration is taking steps to partner outside of government—with employers, technology innovators, and educators—to develop job-driven workforce strat-
egies. Through these partnerships, the Administration is helping to offer more Americans access to the knowledge and skills they need to pursue their educational and career goals while, at the same time, helping businesses grow by filling in-demand jobs with a skilled workforce. Launching TechHire, a community-based public-private initiative to train tech workers and empower Americans with the skills they need, including through nontraditional approaches like “coding boot camps” and high-quality online courses that can rapidly train workers for a well-paying job. Since March 2015, over 50 cities, counties, states and rural areas in partnership with nearly 1,000 employers have made commitments to this initiative. In support of some of the strategies employed by TechHire communities, DOL has awarded about $150 million in TechHire Partnership Grants to 39 public and private partnerships across 25 states. Addressing workforce shortages in the solar industry through the Department of Energy’s SunShot program, which has invested $20 million in nine regional training hubs over five years and trained more than 1,000 instructors and 35,000 students in rooftop solar electricity and heating installation through partnerships with 533 community colleges, labor union apprenticeship programs, and other institutions. Launching the public-private Upskill initiative to help low-skilled workers build the skills they need to advance into high-paying roles, even if they do not have a higher education. Over 100,000 workers have received training as a result of upskilling efforts since April 2015. Investing $2 billion in the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant program that has created or enhanced 2,500 in-demand education and training programs at community colleges in all 50 states. To date, nearly 300,000 participants have enrolled in these programs, earning 160,000 credentials. Forty-four states received grants that supported state-wide system change by including all or most community colleges in the state. Launching of New Communities that Work Partnership (CTWP). The Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration is supporting seven regional sites across the country to help equip American workers with the skills needed for 21st century jobs and accelerate employer-led workforce development and training efforts. One of the most effective ways to scale up what works is to create a community of practice and a playbook that allows communities to learn from one another. Deepening Relationships with Businesses to Recruit and Hire Veterans. The Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) within DOL established an employer outreach team that encourages employment commitments from national and regional employers seeking to hire veterans. VETS expanded the outreach team to connect over 600 employers ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.
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The Gorge Business News
Rest, Relaxation and Adventure Skamania Lodge: Continued From Page 1
be a welcome sight at the end of a strenuous day of golf at Skamania’s award winning golf course. The tree house will sleep four, but it was meant for two. The romantic setting is great for couples on their honeymoon or anniversary. Among the tree houses is a fire pit. “It is a perfect hospitality area,” said Gillespie “It is a great place for senior leaders to meet with their leaders. Talking around the campfire, under the stars, surrounded by Douglas Fir, what could be better? It is a great non-traditional meeting space.” In addition to the new tree houses the guests rooms in the lodge have been updated with new mattresses, linens, pillows, large TV’s, artwork, toiletries, draperies and carpeting. New carpeting has also been placed in the corridors. Skamania Lodge was built in 1993 and is reminiscent of the great American lodges of the early 1900’s. The lodge is four stories and within its walls are accents of timber, wood paneling, native stone and wrought iron. The lodge itself has many stories to tell. In the Gorge Room are large timber columns, which are more than 100 years old. All of which came from the Bumble Bee Foods cannery in Astoria, Oregon when it was being torn down. The Gorge Room floor came from Georgia and is Southern Longleaf Pine. It was reclaimed from a 150-200 year old building. The lobby floor is Montana slate. The fireplace stone was excavated from a nearby abandoned quarry. The petroglyph artwork that adorn the walls throughout the lodge are from rubbings of Native American artwork found on stones in the Columbia River Gorge, many of which are now submerged in the depths of the Columbia River. Skamania Lodge is the largest employer of the county with over 300 employees during peak season. With more than 22,000 square feet of meeting space, T-1 and high speed internet access, as well as 23 IACC approved meeting rooms and in-house audio and visual capabilities, the conference center as Skamania Lodge is sure to fill the needs of conference organizers large and small. As if of this were not enough, there is still more to what makes Skamania Lodge a destination resort. Dry saunas, four hot tubs, an indoor swimming pool and the Waterleaf Spa will be sure to fill up any extra time you may have. Skamania Lodge also provides several dining choices during your stay, one of which is The Cascade Dining Room. It offers a
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breathtaking view of the Columbia River Gorge and is open seven days a week and offers a variety of choice to fit everyone’s appetite. From salmon to smoked pork loin, prime rib to their Sunday Champagne Brunch, dining in the Cascade Dining Room will be an experience to be remembered. Of course there is plenty to do outside while at Skamania Lodge. The challenging 18-hole, par-70 golf course features a driving range, a practice bunker, chipping greens and putting greens. There is a full-service golf shop where rental equipment is available as are a staff of PGA Professionals to assist you if needed. In addition to golfing, there are plenty of opportunities to hike on the Skamania Lodge property or the nearby Columbia River Gorge area. The Gorge has more than 50 hiking trails, the most popular being the Pacific Coast Trail which spans from Mexico to Canada. Beacon Rock is also a favorite among hikers. It is the second largest monolith on the northern hemisphere and stands 848 feet tall. A trail winds its way to the top. And for those who need a little more adventure than a quick round of golf there is zip lining at Zip the Gorge zip line tour. With seven zip lines, three sky bridges and a belay station adventure is the name of the game. Take in the beauty of the Columbia River Gorge as you zip through a canopy of fir trees, suspended by a single cable. Zip lines range from 100 feet to over 800 feet in length. Skamania Lodge offers guests an experience of a lifetime, whether you enjoy golfing, hiking, relaxing or a little zip lining, there is something for everyone at Skamania Lodge.
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Entrepreneurship
Youngsters bring smiles to “Grandpas and Grandmas” Columbia Basin Care partners with Head Start
sin’s activity director. She looks for adults. ways to entertain and engage res In turn, research shows Betty Blackwell enjoys a hug from J’Haylee. Columbia Basin Care has partidents, many of whom rarely see children who have early contact nered with the Head Start preschool program to provide socialization among family or friends. “The children with older people are less likely to the generations. Each week the youngsters join the residents for arts, crafts, are adorable, and the residents are have a negative view of the elder“This is a great opportunity for the excited to be around the A sudden burst of gigkids to interact with the compreschoolers and their gles and chatter fills the halls. At munity. It makes the kids happy energy.” Columbia Basin Care, the elderly and the grandpas and grandmas By 2030, one in residents perk up with anticipahappy.” every five people will be tion as youngsters rush in to greet Columbia Basin Care, lo65 or older, according the “grandpas and grandmas.” cated in The Dalles, is the region’s to the U.S. Administra Columbia Basin Care, only community-owned, nottion on Aging. With the a long-term care facility, has for-profit skilled nursing facility. changing demographic, partnered with the Head Start Founded in 1964, Columbia Basin sociologists and psycholpreschool program to encourage Care is home to about 60 residents ogists note that interacsocialization across generations. and employs over 80 people. Head tions between young and Each week the youngsters join the Start is a national program formed old are more important residents for arts, crafts, hugs and in 1965 to provide early childhood than ever. Much is to be As part of a weekly visit with preschoolers, hellos. These visits from children, education, health and nutrition gained from intergen- Laura Ashbrenner spends time with Andrew and Santiago. Research shows intergenerational interages 3 to 5, brighten the day for to low-income children. The erational interaction, action is valuable for all ages. the elderly residents. local program is managed by the they say, most notably a “They love coming to visit,” Mid-Columbia Children’s Council. decrease in loneliness among the ly. Intergenerational interactions Misty Ferres, Head Start teacher, “Everyone loves the kids,” elderly and an increase in empathy also enhance children’s social and says as smiles and hugs are shared. says Alesia O’Brien, Columbia Baamong youngsters. personal development. Boredom and At Columbia Basin Care loneliness is a challenge the weekly visits bring happy noise in any long-term care and activity. “They kids love beadfacility, particularly if ing and coloring,” notes Ferres, residents are frail, have “and looking for Skippy (the house limited physical ability, cat).” and require significant Betty Blackwell, 90, is all assistance. Numerous smiles and awe. “Well, they’re studies have linked cute!” she says of the swarm of social interaction with youngsters, and a moment later decreased loneliness, young J’Haylee leans in for a hug. delayed mental de Columbia Basin Care is the cline, and lower blood region’s only non-profit, commupressure in the elderly. nity-owned, nursing home. The Socializing across gen- facility offers long-term care and Georgann Powell makes bead bracelets with Evelyn and America. Columbia Basin erations has also been short-term rehabilitation. ColumCare has partnered with the Head Start preschool program to provide valuable interacshown to boost mood bia Basin Care is located at 1015 tion among generations. Each week the youngsters join the residents for arts, crafts, hugs and increase converWebber St in The Dalles, 541-296and hellos. sation among older 2156, www.colbasin.com
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Be Prepared
The Gorge Business News
Oregon Office of Emergency Management and Dark Horse Comics Team Up to Teach Tsunami Preparedness O
regon’s Office of Emergency Management and Dark Horse Comics released their newest collaboration just in time to prepare for the Great ShakeOut. This 16-page colorful story sequence teaches tsunami preparedness. SALEM, Ore. -- Oct. 12, 2016 -- Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management and Dark Horse Comics team up to prepare for the Great Oregon ShakeOut on October 20 and introduce Without Warning: Tsunami, a new comic touting tsunami preparedness. The 16-page comic strip sequence chronicles a mother/daughter camping trip on the Oregon coast when an earthquake and resulting tsunami strike. The duo stays safe and helps others in danger. Without Warning: Tsunami is the second time that the partners have come together to collaborate on bringing preparedness messaging to youth. In 2013, OEM’s Geologic Hazards Program Coordinator Althea Rizzo approached Dark Horse with a proposal. An avid comic book fan herself, Rizzo knew that it was a good way to reach a new target audience. In August 2014, Without Warning was released, telling a story of an Oregon teen who reunites with her family after a major Cascadia Earthquake. “The events in Tohoku, Japan in 2011 brought new awareness to the reality of what could happen in Oregon in the aftermath of a Cascadia quake,” said Rizzo. “The first Without Warning comic helped to educate young people about what to do in the aftermath of a high-magnitude earthquake. This second comic about tsunamis is a logical follow up and story continuation.”
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Rizzo came up with both stories. Dark Horse Editor Shantel LaRocque then worked with writer Jeremy Barlow and artist David Hahn to have them scripted and illustrated. Oregon is located in the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 600-hundred mile earthquake fault stretching from offshore Northern California to Southern British Columbia. According to scientists and other experts, a large 9.0 or higher earthquake could strike Oregon at any time. “Dark Horse is proud to support emergency preparedness and Oregon Emergency Management with the Without Warning: Tsunami comic,” said Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics president. “We enjoy partnering with an organization dedicated to making Oregon’s residents safe and prepared for a natural disaster, and are proud to contribute our talent and resources to the cause.” Without Warning: Tsunami was released on October 12 and available online at http://bit.ly/2dWuS0G. Printed copies can be obtained through local county emergency management offices.
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Oregon Agriculture Hops Continued From Page 1 tables and antiseptic walls, but it is appropriate for what needs to happen. Up to a half dozen inspectors gather daily during the season to do what they do best– picking through the hops with tweezers in search of leaves and stems. “It’s a fairly easy job to do and just a matter of looking closely at the hops to be sure you pick out all the leaves and stems from the sample,” says Parent, who has come back every summer for 15 years to help out. This is after three decades of service to ODA as the agency’s payroll coordinator. “My only challenge in this job is that I laugh a lot,” says the 20-something Harding, who also does other commodity inspection work for ODA. “If you laugh, cough, or sneeze when your face is close to the hops, those hops blow everywhere.” The inspectors typically pick through between 80 and 110 grams at a time after the hops have been put through an eighth-inch screen to remove the fine debris. Once all the leaves and stems have been removed from the sample, a percentage is determined after the hops are reweighed. A separate process is designed to find seeds. A sample that is between 40 and 60 grams is baked for two hours at 118 degrees. After baking, the sample is threshed until individual seeds remain. They are counted and another percentage is calculated. It all sounds like an old-fashioned recipe for some unique brew. In fact, the only thing cooked up are some numbers and percentages that
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translate into the price of the crop– something important to both grower and buyer. “Buyers could start docking the grower right off the top if there is more leaf, stem, or seed than the contract calls for,” says Black. “If there is too much, the lot can be rejected.” Growers receive premiums if the samples are cleaner than average or deductions if they aren’t. ODA inspection means quite a bit to both parties. Oregon ranks second, only behind Washington, in hop production. Last year, 6,600 acres produced 10.6 million pounds of hops in Oregon. The Pacific Northwest produces nearly all of the nation’s hops and about 30 percent of the world’s supply. This year’s acreage strung for harvest has increased 16 percent compared to 2015. Acreage has gone up 57 percent the past five years while the value has remained relatively steady. The 2016 crop appears to be average quality. Warm spring temperatures led to some early bloom for certain aroma-type hop varieties, but the mild July helped to steady the growth. With the arrival of a booming craft brewing scene in Oregon, the rest of the US, and internationally, the world of hops has changed a bit. “The hop industry has several large dealer/merchants that growers contract with
to purchase their hops,” says Palacios. “Over the course of the past decade, growers have increasingly marketed at least a percentage of their crop directly to craft brewers. The success of the craft industry can be attributed, in part, to success in telling their story to their customer. And when a brewer can directly source hops from a grower, they can continue to tell that story through the hops and the beer they make with those hops. Generally, craft brewers seek the connection to their raw materials. With the Oregon hop growing region in such close proximity to Oregon’s craft brewers, the relationship between the two industries has continued to grow.” Just as ODA’s commodity inspectors are a band of specialized workers, so are those who grow hops in Oregon. There are only about 30 multi-generational family farms producing hops in the entire state. A few new hop growers have emerged in recent years as the strong market attracts farmers who might want to consider getting into the business. However, hop production on a commercial scale requires a significant up-front investment, which is a limiting factor for many would-be growers. It is truly an industry that remains all in the family. And for the inspectors who look at the product? For six weeks each year, it’s like a family reunion.
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The Gorge Business News
History Comes Alive Joe Wiegand Amazes Crowd as the Virtual Teddy Roosevelt
Joe Weigand and Bill Schaub of Robins Equity Roundup. ose gestures, the homilies all from by Betty Jane Holt the 30 books written by Roosevelt and the dozens written about mesmerizing perfor him made me believe that Teddy mance was given by Joe Wiegand himself was superimposed onto at the financial event sponsored Joe Wiegand. This camera obscura by Marc Robins of the Robins made the image complete. Equity Roundup. I was tired and There was an overview of just wanting to go back to the all the National Parks established Hampton Inn and get in the hot by Roosevelt, his sickly begintub until the introductions were nings as an asthmatic and puny made for the 32nd president of the child, the high jinks of the RoosUnited States, Theodore Roosevelt children and even the story evelt. He stepped up and walked of stripping to the buff with the onto the stage and having recently French Prime Minister in order to watched the Ken Burns series on cross the creek on the Roosevelt the Roosevelt family my mouth property. The Frenchman wore fell open for before me was the only his gloves and when asked spitting image of Teddy Rooswhy, his response was that he evelt, pince nez eyeglasses, three wore them in case they were to piece suit, pocket watch in place, meet some ladies. and for over an hour, an hour and He related how Teddy’s twenty minutes, the audience was mother died and his wife died treated to a spectacular account when he was a young man of of President Roosevelt’s life or as 25, all during the same week. He he preferred to be called, Colonel spoke of Roosevelt’s heartache Roosevelt. The accent, the grandi-
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managers and an internal investor relations consultant/executive, and enjoyed dinner and a cocktail each night with fund managers and other investment professionals, where we had a chance to get to know one another to build relationships and trust, which is a key part of my job,” said presenter Peter Seltzberg. During the Robins Equity Research Roundup companies were allotted 40 minutes each to explain what made their company a sound investment choice. A short question and answer session followed each presentation. The afternoons and dinners allowed for more queries. “The conference was valuable in that it allowed me to meet with a group of stock brokers, institutional fund managers, independent money managers, high net worth individuals, entrepreneurs and other financial professionals and corporate executives to network, and present Energy Focus (NASDAQ:EFOI) as an
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and then relates the story to the children in his audience who have some of the same experiences and he sees the light in that child’s face. He knows the child is thinking if this man can do those things and become president then I can too. He relates Roosevelt overcoming his spindly childhood ill health. He spoke about working hard and playing hard and not mixing up the two. Even as I write this it is difficult to accept that the spirit of Theodore Roosevelt did not flow down around and into Joe Wiegand so complete was his presentation. Joe Wiegand, born in Illinois, began as the third son in a family of four boys and a girl. His father, Jim, a former sheet metal worker, moved his whole family to Hollywood. He was successful as a stand up comedian and became a comedy writer for David Letterman, George Carlin, and Robin Williams. This background formed the foundation for Joe’s dramatic skill in story telling. Interested in history, he entered the political arena, organizing campaigns for Illinois politicians and finally running himself and becoming an Illinois State legislator. It was during that time that he honed a speaking skill that was part story, part fact, and all fun, weaving information in such a way that kept his audi-
investment candidate within the sector or LED Lighting/energy tech/clean tech/green tech,” said Seltzberg. “I presented the company’s investment thesis to a group of about 40 people, many were people I had not met before, and the value was in promoting the name of the company, the stock, the business of LED, and building out the audience of investment professionals who will potentially invest in the stock. My business, as an investor relations consultant is to build an audience of qualified prospective investors, and I ended up adding about 10 people to our distribution list, I gave out about 20 business cards, so there are plenty of people who could potentially reach me and follow up with me about Energy Focus.” The conference began by 8 a.m each day; catered lunches made it possible for companies to present during lunch and each day was wrapped up by 2 p.m. giving visitors the chance to enjoy the beauty of the Columbia River Gorge. Some spent the afternoon hiking, others played golf, while others just explored the area. This scheduling platform was well received.
ences awake. He had always had an interest in Theodore Roosevelt and residing in the land of Lincoln with all the political significance of Reagan, Lincoln, Stephen Douglas, Adlai Stephenson it occurred to him that he could make young people understand history from the perspective of the person himself. It became his calling. He performs at schools and historical societies, with the express purpose of exciting people about all the facets of this president’s life. He pops back and forth across the country performing hundreds of shows each year in an amazing act of energy and commitment. He was scheduled to appear the next night in Maine and had to be up at 4 am to catch an early morning flight. He will be returning to Oregon October 9 to perform before the Oregon Historical Society. He was impressive in his dynamism, talking to him later the Boston accent was replaced with the solid dialogue of his mid-western roots. He still expressed the enthusiasm for this vocation that he has created for himself. And for all the rest of us. Watch this space for the date and time of one of the best experiences of your life, Joe Wiegand as President Theodore Roosevelt. “I’ve got the Elgin Opera House in my sites! I would be honored to bring my TR Show there,” said Wiegand.
“The scenery and spirit of the Columbia River Gorge is a big part of what makes this conference one that I will look forward to going to each year. I have attended each of the first two events, and as an avid hiker and outdoorsman, I could not resist stopping for hikes on the way from the airport to the conference venues. I took a hike up the Elowah Falls last year and I did Multnomah Falls this year. I hope to do some fishing or jet-skiing on the Columbia River next year as an excursion next year. I also really liked some of the people that I met at the conference and on the way there, special thanks to the cook over at Ye Olde Pub in Troutsdale, where I stopped on the way out of Portoland for an incredible hamburger-“The Farm Burger” , a hamburger with an egg, bacon, ham, lettuce tomato, pickle onion, and I can’t remember what else, but it was great,” said Seltzberg. “I look forward to helping Marc add to his roster of exciting companies participating and encouraging other investment professionals who pay attention to small and micro cap stocks to attend.”
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