open for business magazine - february/march 12 issue

FOR BUSINESS

THE EUGENE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: CElEBRATiNG…PROMOTiNG…iNFORMiNG BUsiNEss

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VOlUME 11, issUE 1 UsA $3.95

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Awinning combination

sports AND the eugeNe-AreA ecoNomy

FeAtures

6 The Eugene Marathon gains national

attention and gives money back to

local charities and youth groups.

9 How local businesses are partnering

with the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials

– Track and Field, scheduled for this June at

Hayward Field.

17 Questions and answers with

three Eugene area

sports businesses.

coLumNs/ DepArtmeNts

5 YOUR CHAMBER WORKiNG

FOR YOU

20 BUsiNEss NEWs

ADVertIser INDeX21 BRING Recycling11 Century Bank11 Chambers Productions/KEZI21 Energy Trust of Oregon27 Eugene Airport18 Eugene Generals

20 Evergreen Roofing25 EWEB4 Hershner Hunter, LLP8 Home Federal Bank25 Imagine Group2 Isler CPA

28 Kernutt Stokes 2 Pacific Continental Bank7 PacificSource Health Plans24 Sandler Sales22 SCORE23 Servicemaster

20 Siuslaw Bank22 Summit Bank23 SYTE Consulting10 TechnaPrint14 Travel Lane County

publisher

David Hauser, CCE

editor

Susan G. Miller, Director of Publications & Information Systems

eugene chamber executive committee

Marvin Re’Voal, Chair Pacific Benefit Planners

Sheryl Balthrop, Chair-Elect Gaydos, Churnside & Balthrop PC

Ann Marie Mehlum, Vice Chair Summit Bank

Eric Forrest, Past Chair Pepsi Cola Bottling of Eugene

Cathy Worthington, Treasurer Worthington Business Services

Advertising

Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce 541.484.1314

Design/Layout

Asbury Design 541.344.1633

printing

TechnaPrint, Inc. 541.344.4062

eugene Area chamber of commerce

1401 Willamette St. Eugene, OR 97401

541.484.1314

www.Facebook.com /EugeneChamber

Open for Business: A publication of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce (USPS-978-480).

Open for Business is published bimonthly by the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce in February, April, June, August, October and December. Circulation: 4,700.

Open For Business © 2012

The subscription price is $25, included in membership. Periodicals Postage Paid at Eugene, OR.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 1107, Eugene, OR 97440-1107

FOR BUSINESS


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Awinning combination

sports AND the eugeNe-AreA ecoNomy

richard maher has seen eugene marathon draw participants from as far away as Australia. page 9.

coVer story >>

12 A look at the impact of sports on

the local economy through the eyes

of Eugene-area businesses.

Pictured: Mike Duncan of the University of

Oregon, Kathy Norman of McKenzie By Sew

On, and Jeff Morton of Inncline Management

Photography by Loveall photo www.loveallphoto.com

Art direction and design by Asbury Design www.asburydesign.net

contentsF E B R U A R Y/ M A R C H 2 0 1 2

EUGENE / SPRINGFIELD PORTLAND / VANCOUVER SEATTLE / BELLEVUE / TACOMA THERIGHTBANK.COM 541-686-8685

Eugene Chamber Newsletter ~ 7.375 X 4.8125 ~ 4C ~ October 2011 Insertion ~ Jamie Louie-Smith

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F E B R U A R Y/ M A R C H 2 0 1 2 | O P E N F O R B U S I N E S S 5

chamber honors outstanding high school student and leaders

The Eugene Chamber has presented a Future

First Citizen Award to a Eugene area high school

senior for more than six decades. Each year, the

Chamber honors the area’s top high school seniors

who have made great contributions to their

school and their community. Each of the area’s

six high schools selects one senior from their

student body to be considered for the award. A

panel of community leaders then selects a winner

after reviewing each candidate’s application

and interviewing each one. With the support of

Past Eugene First Citizens and the Eugene Area

Chamber of Commerce, the Future First Citizen

receives $1,500 for his or her college education,

and each of the other five incredible students will

receive $1,000 for their college educations as

well. Since 1998, Eugene’s Past First Citizens have

contributed $64,000 toward the scholarships

awarded to the Future First Citizen candidates and

winners.

Y O U R C H A M B E R W O R K I N G F O R Y O U

smartups pub talks provide knowledge, connections and inspiration

chairman re’voal outlines chamber priorities for 2012

A sold-out crowd of more than 600 of the area’s

business and community leaders gathered together

for the Chamber’s Celebration of Business sponsored

by siuslaw Bank. At the event Chamber Chair of

the Board Marvin Re’voal, Pacific Benefit Planners,

outlined the organization’s priorities for 2012, including:

n Continuing to advance the Chamber’s economic

development work through the Regional Prosperity

Initiative.

n Moving forward public policy issues that attend

to the fundamentals of business success, including

transportation, industrial land supplies and public

safety.

n Continuing to partner with the City of Eugene,

Downtown Eugene, Inc. and the Arts and Business

Alliance of Eugene to promote a vibrant, diverse

downtown that creates an environment rich in the arts,

culture and entertainment.

n Meeting the needs of our members through quality

business-to-business networking events, effective

promotion and the development of new products,

programs and services to meet their needs.

chair of the Board marvin re’voal outlines the chamber’s 2012 priorities at the celebration of Business.

thomas hiura of North eugene high school, a champion in debate, sports, music; a youth group leader was honored as eugene’s Future First citizen.

People see themselves as handy and self-reliant. Business owners and managers are no different. But when it comes to em-ployment law, the right information and an expert opinion can mean the difference between a smooth fix and a renovation nightmare.

Our newest partner, Amanda Walkup, understands the drive to do it yourself. She and her husband have spent several years steadily turning their house into the home of their dreams. And while they enjoy learning new skills and seeing the results, they know certain jobs are better left to the experts. The same can be said about an effective human resources program — it takes more than just elbow grease and enthusiasm to do it right. Getting solid legal advice is an essential step in achieving the end result you want and expect.

With more than a decade of experience as a practicing attorney under her toolbelt, plus three years in the HR Department of one of Lane County’s largest employers, Amanda brings the kind of hands-on, practical experience in employment law that managers can depend on when they need professional advice.

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The Eugene Chamber is committed

to advancing and building local

efforts to support new ventures with

through education, networking and

capital formation and the promotion

of this region as great place for

entrepreneurs and new ideas.

One component of the Chamber’s

entrepreneurial development

efforts are the successful smartUps

Pub Talks. The program brings

entrepreneurs from throughout

the region together for education,

connections and inspiration. The

January event, which drew a crowd of

nearly 100, featured founders of local

successful gaming businesses who

shared how they have found success

through building the right business

relationships and strategies.

6 O P E N F O R B U S I N E S S | E U G E N E A R E A C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E

off and runningEugene Marathon races

ahead as an area attraction

and gains national attention

S M A L L B U S I N E S S S P O T L I G H T

By Stephanie Brathwaite

Richard Maher and his nephew, Andy Heily, are

no strangers to Eugene or the world of running.

But it struck them as odd that Eugene, Oregon, aka

TrackTown USA, didn’t have a nationally recognized

marathon program to speak of.

“My nephew called me in 2005 and asked me

‘Why doesn’t Eugene have a marathon?’” Maher

recalls. “According to my nephew, I immediately

rattled off at least 20 items for him to do so we could

get the ball rolling that same day.”

Heily and Maher met with city officials, the city

police department, Travel Lane County and other

partners to discuss the logistics and determine

whether hosting a marathon would be viable option.

“We saw the impact the Portland Marathon had

in their community over the past several years,”

says Maher. “We knew Eugene could have a signifi-

cant impact as well.”

The Eugene Marathon inaugural race in 2007

caught the attention of Runner’s World, which

placed the race in the Top 10 New Marathon list.

The event also landed in the Runner’s World Top 10

Greenest Marathon list and won the “Destination

Award” from Travel Lane County for being one of

the region’s top attractions and for contributing

an estimated $3.5 million to the community. At-

tendance spiked when the Eugene Marathon was

granted permission to use Hayward Field as the

finish line.

“The mission of the Eugene Marathon is to

host the premier running event in the Northwest,”

Maher says. “We’ve managed to do very well in that

respect. Attendance has increased, the Eugene Mar-

athon supports 50 local charities and youth groups,

and 55% of the participants are from outside Lane

County. Participants come from as far away as Ger-

many, Japan and even Australia.”

The Eugene Marathon is not just for distance

runners. In addition to the full marathon at 26.2

miles, the program supports a half marathon of

13.1 miles, a 5,000 meter run, and even a kids run.

Walkers are encouraged to participate in all events.

“The Eugene Marathon supports all levels of ath-

leticism,” Maher says. “From the elite to the novice

runner, and even dedicated walkers, we just want

people to participate and enjoy the energy. There are

few things as exhilarating as crossing the finish line

at Hayward Field in front of 2,000 fans.”

“We saw the impact the portland marathon had in their community ... We knew eugene could have a significant impact as well.”– richard maher

Eugene AreaChamber ofCommerce

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richard maher has seen eugene marathon draw participants from as far away as Australia and support dozens of local charities.

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F E B R U A R Y/ M A R C H 2 0 1 2 | O P E N F O R B U S I N E S S 9

you are tracktown usALocal businesses partner with the 2012 Olympic Trials

T R A C K T O W N 2 0 1 2

the hosting of tracktown12 at hayward Field will bring an estimated $31 million in direct spending to the local economy.

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it comes to commercial banking, HomeFed does the same for us. Their attention to the details of

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By Becky Radliff

TrackTown USA Project Management Team

A “Best-Ever” slogan has been adopted by

the TrackTown12 Local Organizing Committee

(LOC) as it prepares for the 2012 U.S. Olympic

Team Trials – Track & Field to return to Eugene

this summer.

The idea behind the slogan is three-fold:

The event is taking place in TrackTown USA:

the “Best Town Ever.”

It is being organized by an LOC that includes

high-ranking officials and representatives from

the city of Eugene, the University of Oregon, and

businesses throughout the region: the “Best Team

Ever.”

The ultimate event goal is to create the “Best

Time Ever” for athletes and spectators.

“The U.S. Olympic Trials is the premier track

and field meet in the United States and Track-

Town USA is the quintessential location for this

outstanding event,” said Vin Lananna, TT12 LOC

Co-Chair and University of Oregon Associate

Athletic Director. “We are focusing our efforts to

Continued on next page

oNLINeFor more information

on the Olympic Trials

in Eugene, go to

www.TrackTown12.com.

F E B R U A R Y/ M A R C H 2 0 1 2 | O P E N F O R B U S I N E S S 1 11 0 O P E N F O R B U S I N E S S | E U G E N E A R E A C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E

enhance the TrackTown USA brand and highlight the city of Eugene

as we prepare to host the ‘Best Meet Ever.’”

The impact and evidence of the Trials will continue to crescendo

from now until June, at which time historic Hayward Field and the

city will be at the height of the event promotion and publicity. Every-

one associated with welcoming these world-class athletes and specta-

tors/tourists to our community will benefit and reap the short- and

long-term rewards of being aligned with TrackTown USA.

There are many opportunities for Eugene and Springfield busi-

nesses to be part of the Best Team Ever.

The TrackTown12 fan experience , a festival with entertainment,

athlete appearances, merchandise, food vendors, and a track and field

Kids Zone , will be located adjacent to Hayward Field– giving local and

global businesses an opportunity to be part of the action. Produced

by the Beaverton-based sports marketing agency SportsOne, the fan

experience brought in more than 200,000 attendees in 2008.

“Hosting the largest Olympic qualifying event in the U.S. requires

us to seek sponsors of all sizes,” said SportsOne representative Mike

Higgins. “We received great support from Eugene-area businesses in

2008, and have set our goals to increase that support for 2012.”

One new engagement that locals will see in the marketplace is the

“TrackTown Tuesday” program, which launched on January 31. It fea-

tured Oregon-based partners Deschutes Brewing, Dutch Bros., Dari

Mart and Lochmead Dairy; along with media partners KMTR-TV, The

Register-Guard, and Bi-Coastal Media.

To date, 24 companies with local ties have signed partnerships

with TrackTown12.

“The hosting of TrackTown12 will bring an estimated $31 million

in direct spending to the local economy,” said Kari Westlund, president

of Travel Lane County and TT12 Steering Committee member. “It also

helps us attract other valuable sporting events and conventions that

can fill our hotel rooms and restaurants in the future.”

Speaking of the future, with events such as the NCAA Division I

Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and the IAAF World Junior

Championships on the docket for 2013 and 2014, the prospective

economic impact on local businesses will only continue to grow.

“You go to Europe or Asia and mention Oregon and track and field

and people immediately think of Eugene as TrackTown USA,” said Greg

Erwin, Co-Chair of the TrackTown12 LOC. “The sport of track and field

reaches a global audience and it is our hope that the identity of this

community – as TrackTown USA – would be so far-reaching.”

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“you go to europe or Asia and mention oregon and track and field and people immediately think of eugene as tracktown usA.” – greg erwin, co-chair of the tracktown12 Loc


Kathy Norman of mcKenzie By sew on, mike Duncan of the university of oregon, Jeff morton of Inncline management and ted Norman of mcKenzie By sew on have seen the benefits sports can bring to the local economy.

By Lewis Taylor

Photo by David Loveall

For Jeff Morton, president of Eugene-Springfield’s Inncline

Management, the biggest surprise of the 2011-2012 Oregon Duck

football season wasn’t the team’s victory at the Rose Bowl, but the

Pac 12 Championship game held here in Eugene.

“That one game brought a tremendous benefit to Eugene-

Springfield,” Morton said. “When the Ducks and Chip Kelly have

a great season and they can bring in one more game, it is great for

local businesses, including our company.”

The Pac 12 game was not the pinnacle of the Duck’s outstand-

ing season, but for Morton, whose company owns several area

hotels and properties including the Holiday Inn Express and

the Boulevard Grill and Events Center, and others like him, it

translated to more hotel stays and more dinners served and it

happened during the travel off-season.

Kari Westlund, president and CEO of Travel Lane County, says

it’s difficult to put a total dollar amount on the huge economic

the win-win situation

C O V E R S T O R Y


from the venue, is overflowing on game and

concert nights. In town fans can park for a

few bucks and get a meal discount, and the

Arena has caused a bigger surge than ex-

pected in hotel bookings.

Beyond the big college sporting events,

there are cross-country track meets, high

school basketball games, golf tournaments

and other contests that provide benefits

for the region. The 97,000-square-foot Wil-

lamalane Center for Sports and Recreation

in Springfield brings in athletes and parents

from across the state and beyond, and sport-

ing events like a recent January volleyball

tournament in the Moshofsky Center con-

tribute more quietly but still significantly

to the local economy. Each year the Eugene

Marathon delivers an estimated economic

impact of more than $3.5 million.

Morton credits Mike Duncan, the UO’s

senior associate athletic director/facilities,

events and operations, with opening UO

venues up to events beyond the major col-

lege team sports. In April 2011, for example,

Matthew Knight Arena hosted a memorial

service for slain Eugene police officer Chris-

topher Killcullen – a non-sporting event that

Duncan says the UO was proud to host.

“I’m always looking for anything that

makes sense – any kind of event that is going

to bring a large number of people together,

whatever that may be,” says Duncan, a UO

alum who previously managed the ARCO

Arena in Sacramento, Calif., for nearly 24

years.

On the surface, a concert like the recent

Brad Paisley country show may not appear

to have much in common with the CBI

basketball tournament, but Duncan doesn’t

draw a strong distinction between sports and

entertainment. From his perspective both

generate excitement and the more excite-

ment, the better.

“I think that all of this feeds on itself and

I think the more that people get out and get

used to the experience of watching live events

the more I think that people’s appetites will

grow,” Duncan says.

Norman, the apparel provider, has wit-

nessed the growth of sports fan’s appetites

from a different perspective. His company,

the No. 2 supplier of Oregon Duck apparel

behind Nike, has grown exponentially, going

from seven to 45 employees in the span of six

years. At the company’s 40,000-square-foot

Springfield headquarters, workers churn

out “Are you Duck Enough?” T-shirts and

other green and yellow apparel alongside

high school sports apparel.

Norman sees sports as being highly in-

terconnected. The growth of Oregon football

may stimulate an interest in youth sports

and parents involved in their child’s pee-wee

league may decide to pick up a recreational

REAL ACTION. REAL CLOSE. Eugene, Cascades & Coast | Oregon

TRACK & FIELDBASKETBALLROWING

BASEBALLSWIMMINGCYCLING

Athletics do more than promote healthy bodies and minds. Sports inspire entire communities, foster teamwork and invigorate the local economy. Join us in supporting individual and team athletics throughout Lane County.

For more information about how you can help bring a sports event here, or to shine a spotlight on your favorite sport, contact us at 541.484.5307 or visit EugeneCascadesCoastSports.org

Eugene 08 by Dave Thomas and Ben Brayfield

impact of sports for the region. Not only are

estimates calculated differently for different

events making them tricky to compare, but

sports also yield so many intangible benefits

for the region as well.

“Sports bring an abundance of activity to

the community and that has economic rami-

fications, but it also has positive quality-of-

life impacts,” Westlund says.

As Westlund points out, sports fans are

often sports participants. And although a

rowing event at Dexter Lake may not be com-

parable to a home football game at Autzen

Stadium, the sum total of the region’s many

tournaments, races, regattas and other sport-

ing events is big and growing bigger.

“A sports-minded community is a healthy

community because it’s active,” says Ted Nor-

man, CEO of the athletic apparel provider

McKenzie By Sew On. “The football team is

not going to be top five in the nation year in

and year out, there might be a down cycle

here and there, but look at, say, the Olympic

trials and all the people that’s attracting.

We’re just very fortunate to be here at this

time and place to take advantage of some of

this stuff.”

A group hoping to do just that is the newly

formed Eugene, Cascades and Coast Sports

commission, which estimates $47 million

in direct spending over the next two years

will be generated from sporting events on

its current calendar. The commission – a

group of 60 to 100 event organizers, sports

venues managers and other government and

business partners – is invigorating people to

think about sports events and how valuable

they are to the community, Executive Direc-

tor Janis Ross says.

The economic benefits of sports are clear

to Morton, a member of the commission who

sees sports as a recession-resistant economic

engine that’s a perfect fit for the local infra-

structure. He says sports have helped fill the

voids left by once-dominant events such as

the Oregon Logging Conference, which have

seen attendance declines.

“Every year sports seems to be a larger

portion of our business,” Morton says. “I

wouldn’t want to think about where we’d be

without the sports component and Travel

Lane County.”

The impact of the 12,541-seat Matthew

Knight Arena, which opened in early 2011,

has been significant for Morton. The Bou-

levard Grill, which is just a few short blocks

Given that Autzen Stadium is now

such a prominent feature of the Eugene

landscape, it’s hard imagine a Univer-

sity of Oregon football stadium located

anywhere else. But the question of where

the Duck football team would play as

the program grew in popularity became

a subject of debate in the early 1960s.

Before the construction of Autzen

Stadium was completed in 1967, UO

home football games were either played

at Hayward Field or relocated to Mult-

nomah Stadium in Portland when higher

attendance was expected.

The Eugene Area Chamber of Com-

merce was an early proponent of the

Autzen site. The Chamber supported

former Oregon Athletic Director Leo

Harris who was one of the first to envi-

sion a stadium in Eugene on the north

bank of the Willamette River. Harris,

along with the Chamber and many Lane

County commissioners, advocated for

the north bank location. Others, such as

UO President Arthur Flemming, felt that

renovating Hayward Field would be the

best and cheapest option.

A Lane County Parks advisory com-

mittee and Alton Baker Jr. advocated

for a location on the edge of the Eugene

metropolitan area or in Portland. Many

opponents felt that a stadium in the

Autzen location would disturb the sur-

rounding park area with the influx of hu-

man and automobile traffic. At one point,

members of the Lane County Parks &

Recreation Advisory Committee likened

building a stadium on the north bank to

putting “a bull in a china shop.”

The architecture and engineering

firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill was

commissioned by the university to

investigate a variety of solutions and

determine the most viable one. Despite

the variety of opinions, the firm came

back with a report strongly favoring

the “north bank park” location. After a

series of community discussions led by

civic leaders and members of the Eugene

Chamber of Commerce, the Autzen plan

was approved and the stadium was con-

structed in its present location next to

what we now know as Alton Baker Park.

“sports bring an abundance of activity to the community and that has economic ramifications, but it also has positive quality-of-life impacts.”

– Kari Westlund, president and ceo of travel Lane county

chamber championed Autzen stadium construction

“I think the more that people get out and get used to the experience of watching live events the more I think that people’s appetites will grow.” – mike Duncan

university of oregon


activity of their own.

“It’s not only the money sports generates,

but what it does for people,”

Norman says. “Sports teaches us how to

work with people and work within a system.

You learn how to get along with people, how

to set goals and achieve them.”

Norman is especially tuned in to the

impact of youth sports. Not only have junior

sports leagues grown in popularity, but high

school sports have changed due to shrinking

budgets. It’s now up to parents to help pay

for uniforms and apparel and Norman’s com-

pany supplies most of the local high schools

and many others throughout the Northwest

region. Parents aren’t just buying gear for

their teens, either. They’re picking up Sheldon

Irish hoodies and South Eugene Axemen caps

for themselves.

Norman says youth sports will likely

continue to be one of the biggest areas of fu-

ture growth for his company. But the sports

economy is constantly shifting, and new

sectors are always emerging and he believes

his biggest client is still yet to come. He says

it’s difficult to overestimate how much sports

will grow and hard to define just how far

sports reaches into our region.

“There are a lot of people that don’t know

they’re affected by sports, but boy are they

ever,” Norman says. “A dishwasher in some

restaurant may not be thinking that sports

means anything to him, but he has a job

because that restaurant is serving dinner (to

sports fans) …. The ripple effect of sports are

absolutely huge.”

1. how does your business positively

impact the regional economy? (this

might include number of attendees,

employees, tourism spending etc.)

Allan Benavides, eugene emer-

alds: There are a handful of ways we

impact the regional economy: we hire ap-

proximately 150 seasonal employees each

summer; we provide affordable fun that

has drawn over 100,000 fans for a Minor

League Baseball record of 27 straight

seasons; and we strongly support local

non-profits.

Ken evans, eugene generals: The

Eugene Generals hockey team attracts

players from all parts of the U.S., Canada

and occasionally Europe. Training camp

brings large numbers of families and

players to the area, providing for 200 to

300 hotel stays, and visiting teams book

lodging, purchase meals and make other

contributions during the 21 home games.

Team travel is with a local bus company,

much merchandise comes from local ven-

dors and the Generals’ economic impact is

estimated at $1,000,000 per year.

William Wyckoff, eclectic edge

racing: Our business positively im-

pacts the regional economy through

the variety of agencies and vendors

that are supported by the products and

services purchased in order to execute

our events. Participants not only support

the entity hosting the event, but also the

event sponsors providing support. With

many of the running/walking events that

we’re associated with, the out-of-town

participants invariably support local

businesses (food, lodging, etc.).

2. What is the biggest oppor-

tunity or challenge facing your

business?

AB: Moving into a new ballpark has

had its challenges, but the move to PK

Park really has opened up a lot of new

opportunities for growth as well as the

ability to shake things up a bit.

Ke: The team and management work

with the Lane Events Center on promo-

tions/cross-promotions, improvements

and exposure. It’s still a challenge to

build hockey in Eugene as it hasn’t been

known to be a center for ice hockey, but

the Ice Center at the Lane Events Center

– the region’s only ice skating facility – is

a great asset that has room to grow and

Q & A

From the sidelineQuestions and

answers with three

Eugene area sports

businesses

Local sports supports the businesses of Ken evans of the eugene generals, William Wyckoff of eclectic edge racing, and Allan Benavides of the eugene emeralds.

A newly formed sports commission

is working to give the Eugene, Cas-

cades and Oregon coast region of Lane

County a competitive edge as it lays out

plans to advance the area’s reputation

as a premier sports event destination.

Under the corporate umbrella of

Travel Lane County, Eugene, Cascades

& Coast Sports will bring together a co-

hesive, countywide sports community

aimed at pursuing and securing new

sporting events for the region, while

leveraging the area’s venues and exper-

tise in hosting major events.

“Building on the region’s strong

legacy, the creation of Eugene, Cascades

& Coast Sports helps position our area

as a serious sports contender to event

planners looking for new destinations,”

said Janis Ross, Executive Director of

Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports and

Travel Lane County’s VP of Convention

& Sports Marketing. “We also envision

the sports commission as a vehicle for

unifying and bridging communication

between all of the sports-related activi-

ties in the county as we work together to

bring in more and larger sports events.”

In addition to initial website, logo

and marketing material development,

preliminary work has focused on

establishing the commission’s sports

advisory council. The group is made

up of sports venue operators, sports

event producers and stakeholders, and

government and school officials, as well

as corporate, media and hospitality rep-

resentatives. The council will oversee

the coordination of local resources in

bidding events, assisting with logistics

and sponsor development. Members

will also provide guidance on facility

upgrades or future construction proj-

ects.

The first orders of business will in-

clude expanding Travel Lane County’s

existing countywide list of sports

venues and master sports calendar,

assembling a file of local volunteers

and officials, and creating a database

of lendable sports event equipment —

from tents and fencing to cell phones

and safety vests. The group also plans

to host an annual sports summit.

In recent years, the region has

hosted a wide range of sporting events

and championships including those

in connection with track and field,

gymnastics, volleyball, rowing, drag

boat racing, triathlons, BMX, bowling,

baseball, cheer and swimming.

sports commission works to bring more events to region

there are a lot of people that don’t know they’re affected by sports, but boy are they ever. A dishwasher in some restaurant may not be thinking that sports means anything to him, but he has a job because that restaurant is serving dinner (to sports fans) …. the ripple effect of sports are absolutely huge.”

– ted Norman

owner of mcKenzie By sew on




contribute to the area in new ways.

WW: The greatest opportunity facing our

business is encouraging more groups and

individuals to become involved with the run-

ning and walking community. A cornerstone

of our mission is to promote wellness and

a holistic lifestyle, welcoming participants of

all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

3. What is a little-known fact about

your business that you want others

to know?

AB: We are a professional sports team

and a San Diego Padres affiliate. Many of the

players that have played for the Ems have

gone on to have great success in the major

leagues, such as recent World Series MVP

David Freese who was with the Emeralds in

2006. This past season, we were awarded a

Golden Bobblehead Award for Best Charity

Promotion for our Levi’s Day: Cutoffs for a

Cause campaign.

Ke: Our players can range from 15 years

to 20 years old with many of the players

staying with billet (host) families during

the hockey season. Players maintain their

amateur status as they strive to improve

their skills and personal and educational

development. Another fact is that the Gener-

als provide a live Internet broadcast of home

games at www.eugenegenerals.com.

WW: A little known fact about our

business is that we’re a close-knit, family

oriented group that genuinely enjoys each

other and the time we spend delivering our

product. We then strive to transfer that

connection to those we interact with at the

events.

4. What makes you really good at

what you do?

AB: We have a very strong group of people

here that is committed to providing great

customer service and affordable entertain-

ment. And, while we take the game and the

experience we provide seriously, we don’t

take ourselves too seriously.

Ke: All members of the Generals staff are

very passionate about the game and the team

and are always looking to build the team, as

well as the relationships with parents, billets,

and the community. The staff works with the

players on life issues and supports their edu-

cational needs. Some of our players are still

in high school so maintaining good school

habits is important.

WW: What makes us great at what we do

is our attention to detail and professional-

ism. We come to an event with the highest

preparation possible. From start to finish, it’s

important to us that event organizers and

participants alike feel as though the event

was conducted in a first-class manner.

5. What makes eugene/

springfield a good place for your

business?

AB: The strong sense of community pride

and a long history of being great sports fans,

whether its track and field, Duck football, or

Ems baseball. Go Ems!

Ke: Eugene/Springfield and the greater

Lane County area provide a great location

for Hockey. The I-5 corridor provides ease

of access for visiting teams from Medford to

Seattle and there’s great access to surround-

ing communities. The players appreciate the

area for its activities, availability of schools

and proximity to mountains and coast.

WW: Not only is our community, “Track-

town USA,” and hence a natural fit for a race

management company, but more importantly

the people here are active and love to support

events and causes that promote positive

lifestyles in our community. There’s no place

we’d rather be!

“people here are active and love to support events and causes that promote positive lifestyles in our community.”

– William Wyckoff, eclectic edge racing

Call Shalena Jones at 541-242-2352 to place your ad today!

of local

Reachthousands

95% read each issue of Open for Business

71% read the entire issue

97% say it’s appealing to read

94% say it has interesting articles

92% pay attention to the advertising

FOR BUSINESS


AP

Ril

/M

AY

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ISSUE 2

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CANADA $6.95

ARTS

GO-GOON THE

HOW NEW INITIATIVES ARE HELPING

BOTH BUSINESS AND THE ARTS

FOR BUSINESS


JU

NE

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VOLUME 10, ISSUE 3 USA $3.95 CANADA $6.95

HOME GROWNTHE EUGENE AREA ESTABLISHES ITSELF

AS A FOOD-PROCESSING HUB

I N T E R N A T I O N A L T R A D E S H O W S

state program can fund your participationInternational trade shows are a powerful way

to meet buyers, secure licensing agreements

and explore joint venture opportunities.

Participating in international trade shows and trade missions is

among the most effective ways for companies to enter into new inter-

national markets or expand your visibility in existing markets. Trade

shows offer the opportunity to meet potential buyers, test market

interest and evaluate the competition. A trade mission can be a cost

effective way to meet potential distributors and buyers, secure licens-

ing agreements and explore joint venture opportunities.

The state of Oregon offers financial assistance to small businesses

who wish to take advantage of a unique combination of support

services and assistance available through the Oregon STEP Program.

Eligible applicants may attend international trade shows or trade mis-

sions and may receive training for the purpose of beginning to export

products or services overseas, entering new markets or increasing

the volume or value of exports to existing markets. The Oregon STEP

Program will reimburse 50 percent of a company’s eligible expenses

up to $5,000 per pre-approved trade show or mission, as well as up

to $200 for costs associated with pre-approved training provided by

STEP partner organizations.

Please contact Ben Sappington at 541.242.2359 if you are inter-

ested in learning more or applying for this assistance opportunity,

or visit http://www.oregon4biz.com/Grow-Your-Business/Export-

assistance/STEP-Program/


Larry e. reed of JRH,

an engineering and

transportation and land

use planning firm, has

been appointed by the

Lane County Board of

Commissioners to the Lane

County Roads Advisory Committee (RAC). The

RAC reviews the need for road improvements,

including the county’s five- year Capital

Improvement Plan.

www.jrhweb.com

Kevin Kenan has been named director of

information technology for Oregon Community Credit Union. Chris Whittaker has been named

director of lending services. He has been with

the credit union for five years.

www.OregonCommunityCU.org

Edward Gerdes, vice-

president and general

counsel for Café Yumm!, has

been chosen as chair elect

of the Corporate Counsel

Section of the Oregon State

Bar. He has served on the

executive committee of the section since 2008

and will continue to serve as the editor of the

section’s newsletter, a post he has held since

2009.

www.cafeyumm.com

The Women’s Business Network, now in its

20th year of supporting

women in business,

announces the 2012

Board of Directors: Joyen Pendowski (pictured),

president; Amber Wilson, vice president;

Charlene Fauria, secretary; linda Anderson,

treasurer; Megan Miller, membership chair;

Dawn Brandon, special events chair; Beverly Andrews, arrangements chair; Kathi sherrill, greeter co-chair; lynne Campbell, greeter

co-chair; Breyer Barkman, networking chair;

Bristol Kelley, programs chair; Patricia Rollins,

PR/communications chair and Johanna Dahlin,

Donna Freshman Award chair.

www.wbneugene.org

lou Panni has moved her real estate business

to Windermere Real Estate/lane County.

www.loupanni.withwre.com

promotIoNs/NeW hIresPhotos appear left to right from top

Kernutt stokes LLp announced the

appointments of two partners to State

and National leadership positions. Warren Barnes, CPA, is board chair of the North

American division of Accountants Global

Network International. scott Wright, CPA,

was appointed by Governor John Kitzhaber

and confirmed by the Senate to serve on the

State of Oregon Board of Accountancy.

www.kernuttstokes.com

Jennifer Bills, lieutenant

and special operations

commander with

the eugene police Department, recently joined the Laurel hill center Board of Directors.

www.laurel.org

Volunteers In medicine, a nonprofit that

provides free medical services to the low-

income, uninsured of Lane County, has

named Dr. James hylton as medical director.

David meredith is the new development

director.

wwww.vim-clinic.org

Former Marion County

judge pamela Abernethy

has joined the firm of

harrang Long gary rudnick pC and works

in the firm’s Salem

office, serving clients

in Portland, Salem, Eugene and the mid-

Willamette Valley.

www.harrang.com

hutchinson, cox, coons, Dupriest, orr & sherlock pc is pleased to announce

that Janice L. mackey has

become a shareholder in

the firm. Mackey’s practice

focuses on estate planning,

trust administration and probate, business

succession planning and business and real

property transactions.

www.eugenelaw.com

BusINess NeWs

541.342.4000siuslawbank.com

Jeff GusinowSenior Vice President & ManagerMedical & Professional Banking Group

Dr. Steven OfnerOphthalmology

Eugene Oregon Eye Care

Strength. Stability. Service.

It’s all about theRelationship atYour CommunityBank for BusinessAs part of our community,we take pride in the personal relationships we’ve developed with local businesses. Our loan decisions are made locally and involve short turnaround time. Stop by one of our 10 Lane County offices to see why at Siuslaw, it’s all about the relationship.

Receive free, practical advice to help your business minimize waste and save money. You may qualify for financial incentives and additional resources.

We provide hands-on assistance for:

•wasteprevention&recycling•energyefficiency&conservation•waterconservation•waterquality•purchasing

ABRINGeducationprogramwww.bringrecycling.org

Waste less, earnmore

Callnow541-746-3023

Energy-efficient heating, insulation and water heating systems can help trim

your overhead costs and increase comfort for your customers and employees. Grow your business and boost your bottom line with energy-efficiency upgrades, cash incentives and technical assistance from Energy Trust of Oregon.

+To learn more, visit www.energytrust.org or call 1.866.368.7878.

Serving customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas.

warm up with savings


Balzhiser & Hubbard Engineers inc. has

hired stephen smith as a senior mechanical

engineer and Jamey Montoya as their

new survey manager. Smith’s primary

focus has been on large-building systems

and healthcare facilities. Montoya is 2012

president of the Willamette Valley chapter of

the Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon

(PLSO).

www.bhengineers.com

BUsiNEss NEWsGoodwill industries of Lane and South

Coast counties is one of five Goodwill

agencies nationwide selected to receive a

2011 Goodwill Family Strengthening Center

of Excellence Award. The agency is being

recognized for a corporate philosophy and

forward-thinking practices that promote

economic self-sufficiency with a family-

inclusive approach.

www.goodwill-oregon.org

Bill Frings, oregon unit resource manager for plum creek, presents the check to Birth to three’s Immediate past president and alumna Donna moore (center) and executive Director minalee saks (right).

A grant from Plum Creek Foundation has

enabled Birth To Three to upgrade its

Eugene facility. The $1,600 grant purchased

new whiteboards for the parenting

classrooms.

www.birthto3.org

Rolf Prima, Eugene-based premium bicycle

wheel manufacturer, will again be the title

sponsor for the “Tri at the Grove,” a sprint

and Olympic distance triathlon for individuals

and relay teams at Cottage Grove Lake on

July 28.

www.dark30sports.com

imagine Group has completed the

installation of a 30 kW solar electric system

on the roof of its building. The panels will

produce more than 33,000 kilowatt-hours

of electricity annually, providing about 30

percent of Imagine Group’s needs.

www.imaginegroup.com

New Chamber member Click Refresh is

a team of people-oriented professionals

focused on cost-benefit Web development

using WordPress.

www.click-refresh.com

KUDOssElCO Community Credit Union awarded

83 educators from within SELCO’s service

area with 2011 SELCO Mini-Grants. Each

educator received up to $250 for a total

grant funding of more than $20,000. These

much-needed dollars will help educators

across Oregon implement creative

educational projects and fill in the gaps left

by school budget shortfalls.

www.selco.org

shelterCare received a $3,395 contribution

from the Women’s Club at shadow Hills Country Club to support its Family Housing

Program. The grant, which is being given to

the nonprofit as part of the Women’s Club’s

yearlong fundraising efforts, is funded by

proceeds from its annual Christmas Charity

Fundraiser Party. It will provide counseling

and short-term emergency housing for

families.

www.sheltercare.org

In 2011, employees of Oregon Community Credit Union organized events to raise

funds for local chapters of charities

and awarded $237,325 in scholarships

and spent $176,500 in donations and

sponsorships for a total of $413,825. The

credit union topped the list in its category

for the Portland Business Journal’s

2011 Corporate Philanthropy Awards,

recognized as the most generous small-

sized company in Oregon for the third

straight year. Oregon Community Credit

Union also received the Dora Maxwell

Social Responsibility Community Service

Award through the Northwest Credit Union

Association for volunteer work during its

first annual Volunteer Day. Two hundred

thirty employees completed community

service projects at nine different nonprofit

organizations, donating more than 600

volunteer hours. www.OregonCommunityCU.org

541.684.7500

SUMMITBANKONLINE.COM

96 EAST BROADWAY

EUGENE, OR 97401

Part of the Summit team (left to right): Mike Mercer,

Ashley Horner, Patti Stahr and Craig Wanichek.

WHEN

IT’S

SHOW

TIME.

B U S I N E S S N E W S


At the Eugene Water & Electric Board, we’re empowering businesses with resources to save money and energy. Doctors Alex Morley and Howard Stein, owners of Eugene Urgent Care, worked with EWEB and BRING Recycling’s RE:think Business program to retrofit their T12 light fixtures with more energy-efficient T8 fluorescent lighting. EWEB incentives covered more than 80% of the installation, and the doctors are saving $40 per month on their electric bill. To find out about EWEB’s energy-saving programs for your business, visit eweb.org/savemoney or call 541.685.7000. Maybe yours will be the next powerful tale we tell.

Hungerford, Creekmore & Co., LLCEugene, Bend & Portland

(541) 686-0993 / [email protected]

34

5276

1T01

Vans. Trucks. Wraps.

fleetgraphics

People. Places. Products.

photographics

ImagineGroup.com 990 Garfield • Eugene, OR 97402 • 541.485.2994

Signs. Banners. Tradeshows.

graphics

NEW MEMBERs

When you join the Eugene Area Chamber

of Commerce, you become part of a vibrant

and prosperous community of creative

entrepreneurs, forward-thinking innovators

and visionary business leaders. We’re pleased

to welcome these new members who have

chosen to take advantage of the Chamber’s

tools, resources and expansive network to

grow their businesses.

AARPwww.aarp.org/or

Alpha Zeta Chapter of EsA int’l.www.eesaoregon.org

Amanda l smith Photographywww.asmithimages.com

Aquila & Priscilla’swww.aquilaandpriscillas.com

Atlantic Aviationwww.atlanticaviation.com

Beneficial Business services llCwww.beneficialbusiness.com

Broadley Vineyardswww.broadleyvineyards.com

Broadway innwww.eugenebroadwayinn.com

C & C Court Reporting & VideoConferencingwww.ccreporting.com

Camp Harlowwww.campharlow.com

Campus Connection Property Management

Cascade Choruswww.cascadechorus.org

Cone Ballwww.coneball.com

devote 30www.devote30.com

Eagle Home Mortgagewww.eaglehomemortgage.com

EMF PowerPro llCwww.emfpowerpro.com

Energy Trust of Oregonwww.energytrust.org

Eugene Marathonwww.eugenemarathon.com

Eugene Montessori schoolwww.eugenemontessorischool.com

Exceptional Health Carewww.exceptionalmd.com

Farmers Financial services Dist. 15 Officeswww.farmersagent.com/rscholz

Garth Meldrum MD llC Artistic Plastic surgerywww.meldrumplasticsurgery.com

Group six Communicationswww.groupsixcommunications.com

High Pass Winerywww.highpasswinery.com

The Home Depotwww.homedepot.com

Hot Mama’s Wingswww.hotmamaswings.com

kNio Personal Chefswww.kniochef.com

logicwurks llCwww.logicwurks.com

Maxon i.T. Consulting, inc.

Metro Planning, inc.www.metroplanning.com

Metromediawww.chamber2go.com

Organically Grown Companywww.organicgrown.com

sam’s Placewww.samsplacetavern.com

schopp, Tom

schwan’s Home servicewww.schwans.com

skillPoint Professional solutions llCwww.skillpointpro.com

sweet life Patisseriewww.sweetlifedesserts.com

sy’s New York Pizzawww.sysnewyorkpizza.com

Team Woodland Arbonnewww.teamwoodland.myarbonne.com

Women’s Business Networkwww.wbneugene.org

Tom Wright-Haywww.omep.org


2 6 O P E N F O R B U S I N E S S | E U G E N E A R E A C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E

By: Kari Westlund

No discussion of the power of sports on our community can be had without acknowledg-

ing the preeminence of University of Oregon Athletics. If you consider The economic

power of a filled-to-the-brim Autzen Stadium, the national prestige of UO Football

and Track & Field, the recent additions of PK Park, Matthew Knight Arena, and new

lacrosse and soccer fields, it’s hard to deny that UO athletics is an economic engine.

O P I N I O N

the business of sports Fly easy...Several local collegiate athletic programs have teams

coming, fans gathering, spending taking place, and ca-

reers developing in athletic administration and coaching.

Northwest Christian University, Lane Community Col-

lege, and New Hope Christian College all have thriving

programs and teams. Club and league sports fill Lane

County Ice with hockey and skating, and pack area play-

ing fields with a variety of sports, creating a steady flow

to and from area sporting goods retailers and massage

therapists.

High school athletics draw teams and families from

around the state. Many use this area as their primary

center of commerce and stop in to an auto dealership or

home electronics store before or after the game.

Local promoters produce annual events like the Eugene

Marathon, 4th of July Pro Rodeo, sailing regattas, crew

competitions, motorboat races, race car and monster truck

competitions, skeet shooting and golf tournaments, and soc-

cer and swim competitions. Our quality of life is richer for

the variety of activities available.

Added to these annual events are those that are bid

on – events that move or could be held any number of

places but have come here or are created here because of

an organized sales effort that competes against other bid-

ders and wins.

Some pack a powerful punch, like the U.S. Olympic

Team Trials – Track & Field. Others, while not as large,

also draw overnight visitors as participants and specta-

tors who fill hotel rooms, restaurants and local retail

stores. Two such successful smaller events are the Rolf

Prima Triathlon (Cottage Grove) and Triathlon Eugene

(Fern Ridge), both of which were held here for the first

time in 2011.

Site selection is based on a variety of factors – rang-

ing from market size and configuration to venue costs

and hotel rates , with bids often supported by, or pack-

aged and delivered by, sports commissions and tourism

bureaus working to build their local economies. State,

regional, and national events are won through a competi-

tive process that requires salesmanship and coordination

of local resources.

Sporting events bring important tourism dollars,

and can add to a community’s identity, as with Eugene’s

frequent hosting of national track meets and the city’s

moniker of TrackTown, USA. Events also contribute to

a positive identity for business investors – they typi-

cally have a loyal following, and offer fertile ground for

sponsors. Sponsor dollars contribute to the financial

feasibility of an event, and the events make a very real

difference in the lives of participants. It’s no wonder you

see a strong presence of familiar names helping promote

and support sporting events. The spending power repre-

sented by athletes and spectators is worth courting. The

sponsor boards at sporting events, where participants

spend a great deal of time and emotional energy, have a

magical effect of building loyal patrons and cementing

brand awareness.

Incoming sports events that Eugene, Cascades & Coast

Sports is actively working with will generate $47 million

in direct spending over the next two years – and that’s

the tip of the iceberg in terms of total events and related

spending. Sporting events make positive contributions to

our fitness and social calendars, and to our economy and

community image.

Kari Westlund is President and CEO of Travel Lane

County. Eugene, Cascades & Coast. Real Adventures. Real

Close.


PO Box 1107Eugene, OR 97440-1107

kernuttstokes.com1600 Executive Parkway, Suite 110, Eugene, Oregon 97401 – 541.687.1170

Certified Public Accountants & Business Consultants

We don’t just run the numbers.We put you on the fast track.

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