AUTUMN 2019
Why Businesses Believe in Salem
Tribute to Jackie Winters The Inspire Foundation Commercial Flight Returns to Salem
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salemchamber.org
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Tom Hoffert
about being a woman of color and the complexities she faced as a young woman. She smiled and laughed and shared her ambitions for the future – she was going to be one fantastic elected official, to be sure. There were many days where Jackie would come to the Chamber office to press this organization into action. Similar to a request from Gerry Frank or Dick Withnell, you simply could not say no to Jackie – she’d never let you. But she would only request your services for a cause she’d link arms with.
Chief Executive Officer
Dear Chamber and Salem Community Members, Our Salem community lost a dear friend in the passing of Senator Jackie Winters. Senator Winters was more than an Oregon pioneer and inspiring civic leader, she was a true friend to business. Resolute in her commitment to make Oregon an attractive place to operate a business, she took up the fight against policies which hampered the entrepreneurial spirit. As a small business owner herself, Jackie was famous for more than just her ribs. I first met Jackie early in 1998 while completing a college internship at the Salem Chamber. Chamber Executive Director Mike McLaran suggested a one-on-one with Jackie would provide me a healthy bit of perspective and motivation. Wow, was he right. I returned to the Chamber office with a bright red Jackie’s Ribs shirt and quite a story to share. Jackie’s story was one of growing up in Portland and knowing what it truly meant to be part of a minority family. She didn’t beat around the bush
more felt than in downtown Salem. It is important we accept all invitations to be at the table when discussing issues of this magnitude. The homeless crisis has a massive effect on our downtown merchants who face challenges with property damage and employees unable to safely navigate daily operation. Certainly, the most important piece is the human side of the homeless discussion. I am encouraged by the resources becoming available for those in need. And I am hopeful that continued thoughtful As a 47-year Salem resident, discussion amongst our Jackie was recognized by citizenry will direct us the Chamber as Salem’s towards a community wide First Citizen in 2018. She movement that pays respect was a doer and commanded to both the needs of our respect on both sides of valued businesses, as well as Jackie Winters. the political aisle. This was those facing the desolation never more evident than of homelessness. Senator at her memorial service. As I sat next Winters would likely have asked we to Sue Bloom (Boys and Girls Club) come together as a community and at Jackie’s memorial service on the get on the same page and mission. Senate floor, we marveled at the I have a picture in my mind of Bryan impact one person could have. Her Johnston, Mike McLaran and Jackie peers in office spoke of her resolve and Winters, all hanging out in heaven, with consistency. Jackie found compromise Jackie still calling the shots. Our hats off when needed, but stood strong in her to you, Senator Winters, you truly left beliefs. She was a leader in business it better than you found it. God bless. and a mentor to our youth. I am inspired each day by the willingness of our membership to step up and focus on community solutions. The homelessness challenge facing our city is profound, and nowhere is it
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27 1110 Commercial St. NE Salem OR 97301 503.581.1466 www.salemchamber.org email: info@salemchamber.org
TOM HOFFERT Chief Executive Officer
@salemchamber
GABBY GARRIDO Communications Manager
salem_chamber
@salemchamber
503. is published quarterly by Mt. Angel Publishing, Inc. proud Chamber member. 401 Oak St., Silverton, OR 97381 503.845.9499 www.mtangelpub.com
Publisher: Paula Mabry • Project Manager: Tavis Bettoli-Lotten Custom Advertising Designer: Elyse McGowan-Kidd
To advertise in the next issue, contact Advertising Executive: Jerry Stevens 541.944.2820 • jerry.s@mtangelpub.com
Meet Our New Communica-. tions Manager................ 5 Board of Directors............ 6 Why Businesses Believe in Salem........................ 8 The Inspire Foundation....20 Board Member Maria Palacio................24 Fly Salem Takes Off..........26 Passing the Gavel............27 Ambassador of the Quarter Leon Chriestenson........28 New Board Members.......30 Catalyst Investors............30 On the Cover: The Wild Pear is one of six businesses profiled in our special feature. Above: Chamber Business Women at their annual Summer Social in July.
achieve. aide, helper.
4
salemchamber.org
CHAMBER WELCOMES NEW COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER The Chamber would like to welcome our newest team member, Gabby Garrido. A graduate from Corban University, Gabby has experience in non-profit work and in the publishing industry. Gabby now serves as the Chamber’s Communications Manager and is prepared to meet with our Chamber member investors. Gabby is passionate about telling the stories of members and member businesses eager to make a difference in the community and beyond. Gabby has always cherished people and stories. From theatre, to journalism, to volunteering at events, she has always made sure to be involved in storytelling and community. She is determined to make Chamber members famous.
Gabby spent a semester abroad in Australia. She studied global cultures and developed critical thinking and discussion skills on how to engage in difficult topics while maintaining a respectful and open discourse. She hopes to use those experiences to bring value to the Chamber community. Gabby has worked in graphic design and created content for web articles as well as a wide variety of printed collateral. She excelled as an Associate Editor at her past employer, where she managed various projects including editing copy for legibility and aesthetic, transcribing audio interviews, and engaging with clients to guide them through their own writing process.
During her last year at Corban,
Gabby Garrido.
which further positions the organization for relevancy and success. – Tom Hoffert, Chamber CEO
Gabby brings an abundance of energy and enthusiasm to the team
503.584.1416 1485 20th St SE Salem, OR 97302
2018 DEMURO AWARD
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autumn 2019
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
BOARD MEMBERS
President
MARIN ARREOLA III
JEFF MILLER
RYAN COLLIER
DR. SHELDON NORD
PAUL DAKOPOLOS
MARIA PALACIO
BRUCE ANDERSON
NW Natural
President-Elect
KATHY GORDON
Aldrich CPAs + Advisors, LLC
Past President T.J. SULLIVAN
Huggins Insurance
Vice President – Events
LORISSA ADDABBO
Hope Orthopedics
Vice President – Membership LAURA DORN
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Vice President – Business Advocacy WENDY VELIZ
Portland General Electric
Treasurer
STEPHEN JOYE
Fischer, Hayes, Joye & Allen, LLC
Secretary
CALEB WILLIAMS
Advanced Economic Solutions Collier Law
Garrett Hemann Robertson, P.C. DAVE DUNN
Willamette Valley Fruit Company JEFF KELLY
First Commercial Real Estate Services, LLC Corban University
SAIF
HEIDI WRIGHT
EO Media Group MARK ZOOK
Maps Credit Union
Olson Florist
ALAN RASMUSSEN
Modern Building Systems
CORY REDDING
Kelly’s Home Store
CD Redding Construction, Inc.
DAN McDOWELL
ERIC TEMPLETON
RIAN RASUBALA
Pioneer Trust Bank
CHRISTY WITZKE
AmeriTitle
Saalfeld Griggs, P.C.
STAFF TOM HOFFERT
KRISTI PIPPERT
KATIE HAWKINS
KATHY MOORE
GABBY GARRIDO
VALERIE FRY-RAMIREZ
Chief Executive Officer Chief Development Officer, CEO of Inspire Foundation
Director of Operations Communications Manager
HEIDI COWDEN
Programs Coordinator
Business Liaison
Workforce Development
Business Liaison CHRIS PHIPPS
Workforce Development Specialist PHOTOS BY ORION, LLC
MEMBER SERVICES
JPI Insurance Solutions.
Marion County Fairgrounds.
Ribbon Cutting Request Form
Greeters Application
Be sure to fill out a request form at salemchamber.org/ribboncuttingform to book your date now!
salemchamber.org/host-greeters-application
Let’s celebrate! Ribbon Cuttings are a complimentary service the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce provides to members who have just started a new business, have moved to a new location, or who have recently undergone a remodel. As the business owner, you have the option of making this event as simple or as elaborate as you wish.
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Greeters is the largest and most active business networking opportunity in the Salem area. Greeters is available to all Salem Area Chamber of Commerce members (and their employees). Applications are due a week from booking your date. Requests are taken on a first come basis. Members will be put on a wait list once the calendar year is full. Members can host Greeters once in a calendar year.
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R E A D P O W E R F U L O C F I M PA C T S T O R I E S AT O R E G O N C F.O R G /A R 2 0 1 8 SALEM OFFICE: 1313 MILL ST. SE SUITE 203 SALEM, OR 97301
(503) 779-1927
Why Businesses Believe in Salem
The stories of six businesses who invest in our community... their histories, passions, concerns, and plans for the future.
Salem, Oregon. Not to be confused with Salem, Massachusetts, or Salem, North Carolina. The capitol of the Beaver State and founded in 1842, it’s been a growing and changing hub of politics, people, and commerce. It’s also a dynamic mix of businesses who have been a part of the community for decades, rich in history and engagement, as JESSICA RITTER
Businesses are the backbone of community. Customers and clients buy products and services, and that money goes to filling employees’ pockets, who then go and spend it at another business, and the cycle begins again. Without businesses, there is no structure for community to flourish in.
THE WILD PEAR 372 State St. • RITTER’S 102 Liberty St. NE, Suite 100
The Ritter/James family has the entrepreneurial spirit coded in their DNA. Following in the footsteps of their father and grandfather, sisters Jessica Ritter and Cecilia James (formerly Ritter) opened the Wild Pear in 2000. “So many people come through our doors from all walks of life, and it seemed right to start off in our 8
well as new businesses fresh with ideas and passion for driving Salem to a bright future.
hometown. Salem has proven loyal, been a part of our growth, and so many friendships have been due to the local restaurants,” said Jessica Ritter. “We started with the simple idea that we loved entertaining people, cooking, and bringing people together with food.” They also wanted Wild Pear to serve and support the local community.
If you ask Jessica Ritter what makes Salem special, she’ll tell you it’s the people. “Family was never just the shared DNA. It’s the wider community who consistently comes together to support us.” The strong roots Jessica has with her customers, family and connections creates a support system that supports a flourishing business. Wild Pear is salemchamber.org
a brick-and-mortar restaurant, and also offers catering. The ability to participate in all manner of life’s milestones, birthdays, weddings, retiring parties, and funerals, has taken the catering portion of Wild Pear to its brightest levels. “The community is bigger than the paycheck – we make an impact! People who have just finished treatments [for illnesses], and [many other] people come to fill their cup, figuratively and literally. It’s the power of connecting with someone. Breaking bread brings people together – celebration, making amends, mourning over something.” Even though Wild Pear only spent four years on Portland Road before moving to the downtown location, customers still come in with stories they have from when the sisters first opened shop. Jessica and Cecilia were – and still are – supported by
CECILIA JAMES
friends and coworkers in the local restaurant industry. They were well connected with vendors from previous experience working in local restaurants and carried forward those relationships. By continuing to build on those strong foundations, they got off the ground and quickly made themselves a lunch spot staple. Ritter’s Housemade Foods was a result of seeking to grow the business based off the success of Wild Pear. Jessica brought in brother Mike Ritter, who had experience in the wood products industry. While scouting for locations, Gayle Caldarazzo-Doty let them know she was closing her business Gayle’s Italian Market and Restaurant. Initially hesitant because of its close proximity to the original Wild Pear, eventually they agreed on the downtown space, but decided they would pursue another name and identity to keep the new restaurant from competing with The Wild Pear.
Jessica appreciates the staff and board members from the Chamber who have not only been there for ribbon cuttings, but for gathering together and advocating for businesses while being the listening ear that hears the needs of the community. The Chamber also provides a platform for business leaders to come together and to tackle issues that face Salem citizens. Jessica is also grateful for the camaraderie Salem businesses share. “The reality is, there’s politics and the ins and outs of running a business, but Mike, Cecilia, and I are linked to our strong business community and we’re able to talk shop with all the business owners. We visit them, they meet with us, and we have an environment as supporters instead of competitors.”
THE WILD PEAR 372 State St. • ACME CAFÉ 110 Hansen Ave. S.
ACME Café is the accumulation of Cecilia and her husband Jeff James’ dream. When the couple first knew each other, they were restaurant competitors; Cecilia with Jessica at Wild Pear, and Jeff with J. James. They opened within three months of each other in the same year. Back then, there were few new restaurants in the style both were specializing in. While Wild Pear focused more on bistro and J. James in the realm of fine dining, each competed for the same clientele. Ironically, they wound up sponsoring similar non-profit organizations in the area, and wound up working in conjunction with each other on certain events. Collaborating to prevent cooking the same or similar dishes due to their similarity in menus, Jeff and Cecilia established a friendly 503 •
Ritter’s local impact has brought in patrons from abroad, too. “We had a Spanish couple come from Spain a couple months ago. It was awesome! Through broken English and Spanish, I learned they were in town visiting friends. I made sure to take extra care of them because they were visitors, and then they sent a postcard once they got back to Spain! That’s the people connection. Somehow, we as the collective team at Ritter’s, made an impression upon her, enough to where she would want to write us to tell us what a good time she had here.”
autumn 2019
working relationship because of shared values, as revealed by their non-profit work. Five or six years after the restaurants had been in business, Jeff and Cecilia began to develop their industry relationship into something more. They would dream together about what kind of restaurant they would open that would allow each of their areas of expertise (Jeff in the back of the house, Cecilia in front). Their relationship blossomed into a marriage, with that dream of starting a restaurant together. They spent the next few years taking extended weekend trips exploring different regions of the United States, dining on local cuisine. They researched the hippest and hottest restaurant in each town they visited, and would ask the servers, bartenders, 9
and staff, “Where do you like to eat? Where do you go for breakfast and lunch?” Ultimately, they were referred to neighborhood local restaurants, each a pillar of that community. The surrounding community flocked to the location for good food made from scratch, with a lively environment and friendly atmosphere. Along their journey, the James’ began to see a common theme – and there was an opportunity in Salem to fill in a gap that hadn’t been addressed. J. James and Wild Pear both focused on regionally specific food of the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, Wild Pear featured items that honored Cecilia and her sister Jessica’s Vietnamese roots. A new restaurant had to have its own niche; they wanted to create a casual, comfortable and welcoming neighborhood restaurant for Salem. Location was an integral piece of the James’ vision. They didn’t want a mall location that felt too new. Instead, they wanted a building that had its own history that would provide a friendly feel to those coming to dine. “It was important for us to find a location in a neighborhood, and the building had to have some history to it. We didn’t want to go into a brand-new strip mall that really didn’t have history. We felt people would be more comfortable coming into a location in a neighborhood, in an older building that felt more like home,” said Cecilia.
The Wild Pear kitchen preparing on buttercream and a test recipe.
your business did.” The name ACME also lent to their Americana feel; of the gathering place where everyone is welcome and the atmosphere is engaging. “We don’t have any airs to us. We put all of our experience in… finer dining with the amount of attention to the food, service, and atmosphere, but in a family friendly way that appealed to all people. We didn’t want to make anyone feel that they weren’t welcome here by ambiance.” That means no table linens or table napkins. “We bought Keizer Lanes’ old bowling alley lanes and turned them into table tops, and then used [Jeff’s] grandmother’s vintage canning jars were transformed into lighting.”
“[The Chamber serves] an invaluable service to businesses in the community... it tries to promote growth as a whole community.”
The location they found really was their neighborhood, considering they live minutes away from the old gas-station– Cecilia turned-restaurant. The James’ waited until their children were older and had more independence, as they knew the time and effort it took to open a restaurant. By the time they felt they were ready, the ACME Café’s location was for sale.
The 1950s service station had become several businesses in its history. Dropped ceilings, false walls and sheetrock covered most of its original features, including the industrial beams. The James’ stripped it down to its foundation. “We let the space speak to us in how we were going to decorate it.” ACME has a dual meaning. “The literal meaning of it is to reach the summit, the peak, the highest point, and we definitely felt like we had reached that point in our lives – an eight year journey of marriage – that we were finally ready, that we could finally realize this dream of building this restaurant together. And it also has the connotation of throwback American brand ACME. Back in the ‘50s and ‘60s, ACME represented the best of whatever it was that 10
Despite its location, patrons come from all over Salem, and some even come from Silverton and Dallas. For the neighbors who live James in walking distance of ACME, the loyalty is fierce. Some locals can come two to three times a week for a dinner after work or a relaxing weekend meal. Some stop by for a pint of ice cream. Cecilia has never lived anywhere else. After two years at Chemeketa, Cecilia and Jessica had the opportunity to open Wild Pear, and Cecilia never looked back. They chose Salem for the location of the restaurant because it’s their hometown – if they couldn’t make it here, they felt they wouldn’t make it anywhere. Because of the great support and community connections, the sisters never left. There are two ways Cecilia feels the Salem community can improve. One, more businesses engaging on solutions for homeless situation. She thinks if the city can establish a taskforce which can work as a liaison between local businesses and the nonprofits supporting the homeless population, that would be beneficial. salemchamber.org
Jeff and Cecilia James at ACME Café.
Secondly, Cecilia would also appreciate a return of Summer in the City, or events like it – closed streets, vendors lining the sidewalks to offer their wares, and residents of Salem heading downtown to celebrate commerce. She would also like to see a more cohesive pipeline between city government and businesses, and more collaboration for community events. The Chamber has supported ACME and Wild Pear by being customers, providing networking opportunities and representing these businesses in local and statewide politics. By being a liaison and sharing relevant information with Salem businesses, the Chamber stands as a strong community advocate. Small businesses run the risk of backlash if directly confronting a political party or bill. By uniting with the Chamber of Commerce, they can combine voices with other businesses and present a unified front instead of risking alienation. This is a strong motivation for the James’ family. “Another function the Chamber does is all of the community outreach and connection. The First Citizen’s banquet promotes service to the community, and various other outlets of the Chamber [support] CTEC and offer mentoring.” “They serve an invaluable service to businesses in the community… because they’re not just trying to present a thriving community that thrives when its businesses thrive, but it tries to promote growth as a whole community.” In terms of what’s new, Wild Pear is now available for online ordering, and ACME Café is coming online soon. Jeff and Cecilia started a supper club around the time he sold J. James. Originally at Wild Pear, it took a break when ACME Café opened. They started the supper club up again a year and a half ago. It’s been a while since the latest dinner, but Cecilia says to keep an eye out for three or four dinners in the near future. Interested individuals my sign up for their newsletter on their website. 503 •
autumn 2019
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JOHN & SUSAN GALLAGHER
GALLAGHER FITNESS 135 Commercial St. N.E.
Two things brought Susan Gallagher out to Oregon: the natural beauty of Oregon – having only seen pictures of it while living in Nebraska – and the running scene. Susan originally landed a job in occupational therapy at Salem Hospital. John Gallagher graduated from Notre Dame University, lived in Cleveland and ran with a group out of a local running store. It was small, but it was the place to buy shoes and run with other enthusiasts. When he moved to Portland in 1986 and was getting his teaching license, he worked at Pace Setter Athletic (now closed), an athletic apparel store, and fell in love with the job. Susan and John met through running, and as they say, “the rest is history.” When the opportunity to open a running store in Salem in 1996 presented itself, John was ready. “When we first opened in 1997,
Riverfront Park was less than a year old. We were aware of the intentions to build a bridge to connect the parks – the railroad bridge was abandoned and beat up at the time. Coming into Downtown Salem, we knew the potential for the parks being connected. For a walking store, it
made total sense, [and] it’s exactly where we wanted to be.” The pace of Salem delayed the building of the bridge. The Gallaghers hoped the bridges would be complete and they would be able to take advantage on the new market opportunities in 2000 or 2002.
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503 •
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Instead, it took over twenty years for the bridges to be completed and connected. In those years, John sat on the Salem Parks & Rec boards, urban development committees, MicroEnterprise Resources Initiatives and Training (MERIT) and the Downtown Salem Association. “We jumped into things just to see how things worked, and how we could urge them and push them along,” said John. “We knew what the payoff would be, if it would happen. Susan worked with Salem’s Friends of Two Bridges.” Additionally, they spent a lot of time during On Your Feet Friday sponsoring and encouraging bridge development. They were most concerned with how to extend their business beyond the four walls of their store. By remaining inside four walls, a small retail business may not last. Even before cellphones, internet, and social networking, the Gallaghers knew they needed to build a business that would never close, because people would always walk and run. They wanted to be there to provide shoes, great apparel, a pair of socks, or an awesome sports bra. They believe their experiences in competitions like track and road races, relays, and various other events help them bridge the gap between the athletes and those who want to be fit enough to walk with their
Susan Gallagher.
John Gallagher.
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we possibly can is critical.
Susan is still passionate about what they do. “It’s so gratifying after 45 years in competing to teach people how to get started on their fitness path – and to do it right so it’s a fun and lifelong practice. We do that through our Monday Runday [after the run, they stop at rotating brews for a bite and more time to socialize], Women’s Clinic, and other networks.”
“Salem has provided support through the customers for 22+ years,” Susan said. “When we work that hard all the time, sometimes it’s a nice little break to go to a local brewpub, a local winery, and have great food from local places. That in and of itself makes [owning and running a business] so much fun. Not only that, the walkers and runners we meet who are customers and attend and participate in our group walks and runs and events come with us so we can introduce those places to our customers and helps continue to build the community.”
A large part of the Gallagher’s drive to set up shop in Salem was also the people. Susan said, “when you own a small business, you’re practically on it every day… every minute of every day… we wear multiple hats. If the computers go awry or need upgrading, [John’s] on that. The customers walking in the door are so important. Having that great customer service and treating our employees as best as
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friends, and the wider community. We need to maintain relevancy for our business in Salem to keep current customers and to get new customers. As a small retail business, you need customers to keep going. For us to be able to keep it going, and to keep that enthusiasm and energy, we have to stay relevant,” said John.
Salem Association, and downtown businesses like Venti’s, Salem Summit, and 1859 have taken over the event to continue to bring life to Salem. High Street Hustle was the result of collaboration with the city, state, community, and residents of High Street. The event got over a thousand people into downtown for four years in a row, then was passed on to Sherri and Jason Jacobson. It has since merged with Spirit of Oregon and takes place Oct. 6. The entrepreneurial spirit that drove them to start and then subsequently pass on the community events they’ve engineered is now taking a backseat to the ever-pressing need every retail business understands: customers. “We have to nurture our own customer base. We have great relationships with customers, their
The Gallaghers find themselves competing with online stores and larger retailers to continue to maintain visibility in their market. They need the support of the Salem community. “We sunk hours and hours of our time [into community events] but we haven’t gotten paid for our time. It’s always been out of goodwill and extending ourselves into the community to help [it] be a better place,” Susan said. John used a baseball analogy to describe the changing environment. “Business used to run like a batter vs. pitcher. The pitcher can throw any kind of pitch – fastball, curveball, spitball, anything he likes. But he’s still throwing from the mound. There’s that one rule, and no one’s throwing a pitch from second base, or from left field. Now it’s no longer about the pitcher on the mound – the balls come from every direction, and as a business, you need to be able to hit them. The store has to be able to
SINCE
hit all those pitches before being able to extend beyond the walls.” What the internet can’t offer is the expertise the Gallaghers possess, and the ability to physically try on shoes. They do their best to meet the need of the customer, and don’t sacrifice function for aesthetics, and always provide excellence. The Chamber of Commerce is one way for the Gallaghers to get a heads up on those wild pitches. “A lot of the challenges of running a business are knowing what’s going on within government and policy decisions that are being made. It’s a full-time job, plus doing what we’re doing. I need to have a filter for what’s out there that I need to factor in the future and how we’re going to run our business… it’s business first and things I need to be able to predict and factor in to profitability,” said John. Despite the challenges of running a business, they still love what they do. “I just feel grateful…we still have our health and are able to put in the long hours and still have that passion to do what we’re doing. And we do, we do have that passion and Salem and the Chamber are parts of creating opportunities and working with business to make things happen,” Susan said.
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Every month from 5 - 7 pm with live music, games & prizes. Honeywood Winery offers Wine Tasting 7 days a week. Enjoy our beautiful gift shop full of fabulous wine accessories and wonderful Oregon food products.
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1350 Hines St SE • Salem 503-362-4111 • 1-800-726-4101 HoneywoodWinery.com
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JACKIE HOGLE
REVIVAL CLOTHIERS 156 Liberty St. N.E.
One of the newer businesses in town is the brainchild of Jackie Hogle, a Salem native who returned from time away to realize her dream of opening her own store. When she returned, she noticed a change in the caliber of businesses filling in some of the holes of the retail industry. “I loved shopping at Nordstrom growing up, and I was so sad to see them close,” Jackie said. “I felt that left a gap in the available products here in Salem that I wanted to fill – especially in the juniors department and the under $100 categories [of] those quality good brands.” Some of those brands include Kut from the Kloth, LUSH, KEDS, LAmade, and Bobeau. She was confident she had the solution the shopping district needed. “I’ve been looking for an opportunity that’s both something in my wheelhouse, and a good location that I think is profitable [and a business] Salem hasn’t had for a couple of years now.” Revival Clothiers checks all of those boxes.
special place. While putting her ideas into motion, she kept the knowledge of Salem’s diverse community in mind – from the education to the health communities, as well as two universities and Chemeketa’s trade school. She also has a deep love for the capitol and spent three years working there.
open a store, Jackie knew she wanted to pursue quality basics that could be worn by anyone. “I went to Las Vegas for a trade show before we opened, and I felt every item [for myself] because I wanted to make sure it felt really comfortable and the fabric quality was good. Under the $50 and $100 price point, fabric quality can be an issue. So my goal was really to set us apart and make it worth people’s while to come in to the store in person and be able to feel the items and realize the quality might be superior to what they could find at a big box store or if they order something sight unseen off the internet.” Revival Clothiers also offers an easy return experience.
During her childhood, Jackie dreamt of businesses she would open as an adult. From playing with a toy cash register to drawing up store floor plans in adolescence and taking fashion and business courses through college accompanied by fashion sketching, fashion and business have always been part of her plan.
“Sometimes we get overlooked as a destination. But I think that’s changing. Salem is such a great place because of where it’s located, of course, an hour from the coast and the mountains… but also because we have a really great culture here that appreciates things like music and art and the outdoors simultaneously – and I love those intersections. And also, we have a really big educational and health community and I just appreciate the diversity we have here. I’d love to be able to serve as wide a demographic within Salem as possible.”
In Jackie’s eyes, Salem is an incredibly
When it came time for her plan to
Current efforts include finding brands that meet Jackie’s quality standards and feature plus sizes. Some of the brands they carry don’t make any sizes above large, and Jackie seeks to carry sizes up to 2X, or at least XL. “We’re hoping to expand our gift section also because my background is as a gift buyer. I think that will set us apart – being a one stop shop where people can come in and buy a gift and something for themselves, too.” They’re also aspiring to turn the back wall of their retail store into a selfie wall, hopefully creating a popular go-to space in the shopping district. Jackie’s mind is always thinking about the best ways to use the empty
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spaces in Salem. She is constantly brainstorming on what would be the best new business venture for certain spaces, and the value they could bring to the shopping district. “I’m always thinking about uses for empty spaces in Salem. I’ll drive by and I’ll think, ‘you know, that should be another food truck pod or that should be a concert venue, or we need another crepe restaurant there.’” Some of those venues include “the Pit” or the hole in the ground by Salem Town Center that used to be a bank, and the old Statesman Journal building. “I know there’s plans for it. I think they’re great. I really hope that somebody with more resources than myself can find a way to bring those spaces to life.” One of her ideas for those spaces is to bring a public market to the capitol, in the style of Seattle’s Pike Place Market, or San Francisco’s Ferry Building. “Because we have so many makers here in Salem, and being able to rent out small stalls and have a shopping destination where people can come
TYLER JACKSON
with the intention of looking around and seeing what’s available, would be a great tourist draw for people coming in from out of town.” It would be a great attraction to Salem as a shopping district, and to aid craftsmen who might not be able to afford an entire storefront. “The public market is high on my wish list for Salem,” she said. Since its opening in March, Jackie has experienced support from the local business community, and joined the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. “The chamber has been great. I still have my ribbon from the ribbon cutting tied to the door of my office, because that was a really special moment – kind of a lifelong dream come true. It’s [also] been good press and great networking, and I think it’s provided some visibility and traffic in the store as well. I’m really thankful. “I think the public sometimes thinks, ‘what a risk Salem is, it’s kind of a touch-and-go with businesses,’ and I agree. It has been in the past, but I think I found other business owners to be welcoming and supportive, and
Owner Jackie Hogle and Aspyn Mann at Revival Clothiers.
overall really encouraging. We’re all on the same team as a part of the Salem shopping district. I think we realized that the more shops there are for people to go into, the more people will come down to see us as a district to walk around and see the different shops. It would build more cross traffic for all of us.”
JACKSON JEWELERS 225 Liberty St.
One of those enterprises that has been a solid backbone for commerce is Jackson Jewelers. They recently celebrated their 75th anniversary in the same location it opened in 1944. Holly Jackson took the lay of the Willamette Valley those years ago and determined the best place to set up shop was here in Salem. It was one of the towns with a railway station, and after looking at over-saturated Portland, and coming from St. Paul, Oregon, he decided to settle in Salem
KEIZER
to set up his own shop. He opened his location only four blocks from the original railroad on the riverfront, taking into account the rich farmland he hoped would continue to feed the railway. Holly was also a certified railroad watch servicer. “In the ‘40s and ‘50s, the only way [people] could gauge time from town to town were railroad-approved pocket watches. We have a clock on our street that we’ve had since then that we set the
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time to the railroad approved clocks,” Tyler Jackson said. Ralph Jackson, Holly’s son and the current owner, inherited the business in 1970 and works with his sons Tyler and Brett. Tyler attributes Jackson’s long-lived success to maintaining a few core principles, such as, “serve Salem.” “Realize Salem is big, but it’s also small. If there are great things, positive things, they’ll multiply through town. But if issues show up, fix them, do them fast and clean it up, because it is Salem, it is a small town, and those things will bounce around just as fast.” Earlier in the day of the interview, a client from 60 years ago came back to purchase an anniversary gift for his wife. Jackson Jewelers’ has been able to cultivate a client base that knows they’re going to receive quality products that last. And on the rare occasion they don’t, Jackson Jewelers will be there to fix them. On average, five to six of their clients stop in daily, just to say ‘hello’ if they’re in the area. “I feel like a lot of people still like that feel about Salem. It’s small enough that you’re able to create friendships and visit those friends along the journey of your day – and that’s been the great success of our business. People have expressed concern to employees at the act of closing up shop for the day and mistaking it for permanent closure.”
Recently, they changed their hours to facilitate a later closing time. Tyler’s concern was that customers who were coming from work to purchase or service jewelry simply wouldn’t be able to make it to the store due to after-work traffic or limited downtown parking. What sets Jackson apart, besides its long history? Jackson Jewelers is an official Rolex Jeweler and is allowed to sell and maintain Rolex watches (now certified to offer the same warranty). Many watches and items they sell are made to last, not just two or three years, but a decade or two. Jewelry items are more solid and made with more materials to create a sound piece of jewelry that will last not just
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through time, but the Northwest lifestyle. Everything they sell can also be repaired in the store. “The following for [Rolexes] is phenomenal. We get clients who have dreamed of buying a Rolex since they were 16. They’ve worked a job their entire life, they’ve raised enough money and now they’re retiring and decide they’re finally going to buy it.” Jackson has created the avenue to fulfill that dream. “Every purchase is pretty special here,” Tyler said. For years, the business was very bridal centered. Now it’s shifted away from being solely bridal and has expanded on the annual celebrations of anniversaries and birthdays. Last month during the Make Music Day downtown, Tyler left after closing up shop and stepped into a Salem that had been revitalized, full of artistry and people enjoying the event. While this event has been lively and thriving, he reminisced over the loss of Salem’s Christmas parade that stopped years ago. “Summer is so intense downtown. Things are going on all the time! But in the winter, there’s not as much downtown action.” When the momentum slows, Tyler wishes there was a better balance to keep the spirit alive.
ways to take a stand for businesses on homelessness issues in local and state governments (see the CEO Column on page 3 for more). Some small businesses downtown need a guide and teacher to inform them on the right words and language to use when having discussions with the city and state governments. He hopes that the Chamber might grow into offering opportunities for business owners to learn the best ways to address issues they feel passionately about. “A lot of times small businesses are good at what they do. They’re good at selling jewelry and shoes, and giving legal advice, but maybe not always versed in giving the right terms to express what we really want,” Tyler said. In terms of future growth, customers can look forward to Jackson’s continued presence. They plan to continue offering excellent service and jewelry. “We are going to be here with the finest jewelry for people, and the repairs and service will continue to go on.”
“I feel that the Salem Chamber is right there to guide with downtown, and it’s neighboring parts of downtown to build businesses.” He hopes at some point the Chamber will find
Being a business owner takes determination, tenacity, and a willingness to serve the community at large. With businesses like these, and many more choosing to believe in Salem, our future is bright. Salem will continue to be an excellent place to work, play, eat, and thrive. 503.
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The Inspire Foundation is the Salem Chamber’s charitable arm. It’s mission is to develop the leadership potential of Salem area students and business professionals. We do this by providing businessfocused educational programs in the areas of leadership, education and workforce development. The following is a list of our programs and events.
Leadership Salem The Leadership Salem program is aimed at helping highly motivated professionals further develop their leadership skills and create lasting bonds with other up and STAYTON SUBLIM
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Modeled after Leadership Salem, the Leadership Youth program positively inspires, motivates, and encourages high schoolers to take command of their future and their community. During the first year, youth receive a comprehensive overview of the Salem-Keizer area. 40 students have a unique opportunity to meet face to face with community leaders and decision makers, and they
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coming leaders in the community. Participants meet once a month for ten months (September – June) and receive a comprehensive overview of the Salem area – its realities, opportunities and challenges. Exposure to the community and its issues prepares them to serve in volunteer leadership positions.
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Our roots are right here in Salem. salemchamber.org
receive an introduction to community resources by way of tours, panels, and speakers. During the second year, youth serve on a community board while being paired with a board mentor.
CTE & Industry Summit The CTE and Industry Summit is an annual two-day event and collaborative experience that brings students, educators and industry professionals together to shape the future of Career Technical Education. This is a great opportunity to network, learn, and share best practices. The next summit will occur on March 10-11, 2020. You can learn more at cteindustrysummit.com.
Salem Young Professionals The Salem Young Professionals program (SYP) is all about connecting and developing Salem’s next generation of leaders. SYP was created to help professionals in their 20s and 30s get seen, heard, and connected. We hold monthly events that are aimed at building relationships, learning from current leaders in the community, and building the leaders for Salem’s future!
Executive Leadership Council The Executive Leadership Council exists to work jointly with business, community and government interests to
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ensure balanced decision making in maintaining Salem’s vitality and livability. It is a quarterly forum where private business owners, CEOs and top business decision-makers can learn and share ideas.
Save the Date! Feb. 13, 2020
Career Connections
Sign up to be a mock interviewer for high school students! Career Connections will be on Feb. 13, 2020 at the Salem Convention Center. No hiring experience or open positions required. If you are interested in volunteering or getting your business involved, you can sign up at inspiresalem.org/career-connections
Career Connections is one of our most popular annual events! During this unique event, high school students practice their interviewing skills with local professionals like you. Each year, it takes over 300 employers and volunteers to provide interviews to over 1,000 students.
College and Career Fair In partnership with the Salem-Keizer School District, our College & Career Fair is held in the Fall at Chemeketa Community College. Over 2,500 students and parents attend connecting with over 100 vendors from across the US. Educational scholarships for high school seniors are given away as well as prizes such as a tablet, gift cards, backpacks, and other great items.
professional skills inside and outside of their Career Technical Education program. Students are awarded a certificate and a $50 “bonus.” 503.
To learn how you can get involved, visit inspiresalem.org or follow us on social media!
CTE Professional of the Month Every month, 52 students from the Salem-Keizer School District are recognized for demonstrating outstanding
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At work, the imaging team uses cutting-edge technology to get an inside view. Away from the hospital, they use old-fashioned elbow grease to volunteer for the Adopt-a-Street program. It’s another way Salem Health employees show that community matters!
Margie R. Imaging Medical Receptionist
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The Power of Being Present
with Chamber Board Member
Maria Palacio
Olson Florist
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to participate in Leadership Salem, a program sponsored by the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. This ninemonth program meets once a month for a full day. To be away from your work for a whole business day seems daunting at first, but the benefits of the experience were life-changing. We met business owners, toured facilities, and saw a comprehensive view of what was happening in Salem, and what the Chamber was doing to support the businesses and community. I had no idea what had been going on behind so many buildings I drove by day after day. I still remember visiting Yamasa, the Waste Management Building on Brooks Street, The Tire Co., and visiting the Governor’s house. I was awestruck when we met Gerry Frank in his beautiful office. Gerry, Dick Withnell, and Mike McLaran gave inspiring speeches of love for Salem and its business community that made a lifelong impression. I wanted to be a Chamber member, and be a part of that team.
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I believe in civil involvement and volunteerism. One cannot succeed or feel completely satisfied, personally or professionally, without being actively involved in the community. Reaching any goal will depend on my commitment to giving, and not just being a passive recipient. I must give pieces of myself to the community and organizations I serve. That’s why serving on the Board of Directors for the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce fits with my personal and professional goals; my goal is to grow my business. I want to provide employment to people in the city of Salem. I want to continue being a member of a thriving economy here. And that can’t happen without hard work, dedication, and persistence. I am on the Board to represent and protect not only my interests, but the interests of the business community, also. Serving with a group of knowledgeable, experienced and dependable businesspeople on the Board is a great opportunity for myself, and for being the voice for small businesses. They may not have the names of large established brand
companies, but they all have similar goals of any good business: to provide excellent quality service to all customers, increase the number of jobs in our community, and increase profits. I draw inspiration from the generation who lived through the Great Depression. They taught me no matter what happens, don’t give up. To keep working, striving, staying strong and faithful, and believing we can make a difference for our individual businesses and the collective good of Salem and our country is a part of my identity as a business owner. Whenever I feel discouraged, I just remember that I don’t give up. Our community faces many obstacles; in my opinion, the top three include workforce development, economic growth, and homelessness. We need to continue working together to ask the hard questions and consider all possible solutions. I have no doubt our collective business community, and the Salem community at large, knows the answers to these problems.
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Years ago, I attended a seminar where I heard the following story: a well-known toothpaste company was struggling and wanted to increase sales. It was late in the evening, offices were closed, and the janitor was cleaning the meeting room and heard the employees were wrapped up in heated arguments over ideas about what to do. After hours of discussion, the group had no viable answer. The janitor felt comfortable enough with the sales team and softly told them, “make the toothpaste opening bigger.” I want the Chamber to continue to be an inclusive organization that advocates for businesses no matter how hard the battle. Businesses are busy delivering products and services and creating jobs for the community. We need a voice to be our advocate when we need help and to cheer us on when the going gets tough. I envision the Chamber increasing membership 10% each year as non-member businesses see and experience the benefits for Chamber members, and they’ll be saying, “I want to be a part of that!” 503.
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THE PUSH FOR TAKEOFF – RETURNING AIR SERVICE TO SALEM Working as a broad community group of volunteers, the Fly Salem Air Service Committee, in conjunction with your Chamber, Travel Salem, and SEDCOR, is seeing the return of scheduled commercial air service on the horizon for Salem’s McNary Field (SLE) and the Mid-Willamette Valley in 2020/21. A decade has passed since the Mid-Willamette Valley has had air service; now the region generates more than 1.1 million airline passengers annually, with 579,000 residents living within a half-hour and 25 mile radius of McNary Field. Another 100,000 people are expected to move to the area within the next 15-20 years!
facilitates increased tourism and drives overall regional business development. With FAA certified commercial passenger facilities and a runway, McNary Field is a central destination for the Mid-Willamette Valley. It is close to the Oregon State Capitol, and a unique gateway to the region’s business, cultural, and tourism opportunities, a viable and more convenient alternative than either Portland’s PDX or Eugene’s EUG.
Stimulating economic growth, scheduled commercial air service to and from major airline hubs such as San Francisco, Seattle, and Denver,
To bring sustainable air service back to the Mid-Willamette Valley, project volunteers have raised over $700,000 community pledge dollars
toward a one million dollar goal for a Minimum Revenue Guarantee (MRG) expected by a chosen airline carrier, in addition to securing a $500,000 Oregon Department of Aviation (ODA) grant to support rural/regional air service for marketing and additional costs, as well as applying for a similar Federal grant. On Nov. 16, 2019, a holiday season dinner and wine auction will be at Zenith Vineyard and Event Center to support air service. To learn more about the expected return of scheduled commercial air service, including how to become involved and the fundraising event, visit Fly Salem at www.FLYSLE.com and follow the project on Facebook. 503.
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CHAMBER BUSINESS WOMEN PASS GAVEL FOR INCOMING CHAIRS The Chamber Business Women (CBW) had their annual Summer Social at The Yard on July 9. It was an opportunity for group members to meet during their Summer Break for a more casual gathering. Among the new attendees were members of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). The Summer Social hosts the passing of the gavel, from the previous year’s chair to the incoming chair. Aimee Belliard with First Federal, passed the gavel to Ashlee Mecham with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Professionals, and her vice chair Katie Woods with Elwood Staffing, who took the opportunity to thank Aimee for her unwavering commitment and volunteer service to this wonderful networking group. Mecham said, “I’m really excited about how this next year of CBW is already coming together. Katie jumped in with
Outgoing Chamber Business Women chair Aimee Belliard, incoming chair Ashlee Mecham, and vice chair Katie Woods.
both feet and in about an hour we mapped out almost an entire year’s worth of topics, and identified women who exemplified those topics to reach out to about speaking... I’m hoping we can focus on topics that women in different roles and industries face.” CBW is a platform for members of the Chamber to build strategic alliances,
create strong relationships, and further professional development. This unique gathering place is for individuals with diverse levels of professional experiences to share ideas and mentor each other. The dedicated hour of your day, once a month, will empower you to strengthen your business and connection to the community. 503.
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LOVING OUR CITY: Leon Chriestenson, Ambassador of the Quarter One of my favorite things I enjoy doing – and figuring out how to do – is pursuing the well-being of Salem. My job is to equip our members to love God and love our neighbors. We do that by listening first, then praying and serving. It’s easy to say, “we love our city,” but until we get involved and serve our neighbors, we are just using words. As a pastor at Salem First Baptist Church, our congregation has spent the last three years serving Salem with over 200 volunteers at 20-25 different locations around our city every Saturday morning. We also have the privilege of working with men and women who are coming out of homelessness or the prison system, and provide them with an opportunity to get back on their feet. With our for-profit businesses First Lube Plus and North Block Coffee,
to hear the stories of our business owners. Learning what inspired them to go into business, how they describe wins for their company, the opportunity I get to pray with them are why I enjoy being an Ambassador. One of my favorite events of the year is the Forum luncheons. Not only do we get an opportunity to network with business and community leaders, but we also have the chance to learn about what’s going on in our community and to be inspired by great people. SFBC offers trade and character training while being an active member in our business community. Having been a Chamber Ambassador for a year now, the best part of the job is having the opportunity
The Crystal Apple Awards ceremony we host for our local educators is a fantastic event, and having the opportunity to escort teachers is a highlight of my time so far as an Ambassador. It’s priceless to listen to the stories of educators,
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administrators and support staff who strive to benefit our children every day in the Salem-Keizer School District, and to give them a night that celebrates their efforts to benefit the future generations. One of the special things about the Salem Chamber is when someone at our church has a need we are not qualified to handle, I contact one of our Chamber members and hire them to help us meet that need. Without networking at Greeters, or our other events, I would lack this valuable resource. I am a strong proponent of buying local. Over the years, I have been involved in four different chambers of commerce in Kansas and Colorado. By far, our Salem Area Chamber of Commerce is the best one I have been involved with. Our Chamber and its staff love our city, and so do I. 503.
WELCOME NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS! May 1 – July 31, 2019
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Interested in joining the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce? For more information, contact Kyle Sexton at kyle@salemchamber.org
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INTRODUCING NEW CHAMBER BOARD MEMBERS, PRESIDENT The Chamber Board of Directors welcomes its six new members and a new Board President who came on this July. Dave Dunn is the General Manager of Willamette Valley Fruit Company, a business that produces an average 20 million pounds of high-quality berries per season. Dan McDowell is the Senior Vice President of Pioneer Trust Bank, which hosts a long and rich history here in Salem. Pioneer Trust Bank also prizes involvement in community
service and volunteering for charitable organizations. Alan Rasmussen is the Vice President of Production from Modern Building Systems, a design-and-build modular manufacturer that constructs everything from offices, medical buildings, and classrooms. Eric Templeton is the Vice President of AmeriTitle. AmeriTitle is a title and escrow service business that provides excellent service ethic. Christy Witzke is the VP of Marketing,
Sales, and Communications at SAIF. As Oregon’s not-for-profit worker’s compensation insurance company, SAIF is dedicated to taking care of injured workers, helping people get back to work, and keeping rates low by focusing on workplace safety. Bruce Anderson, Chamber Board President, is the Regional Community Affairs Manager at NW Natural. The company is the only major locally based utility in this service area, and it feels a strong responsibility to the communities it serves. 503.
CATALYST INVESTORS CAN SPONSOR CHAMBER MEMBERSHIPS In his first six months as Chamber CEO, Tom Hoffert is emphasizing a stronger connection between employers and the causes they care about. The Chamber’s newest initiative is being rolled out now, for fiscal year 2020. Catalyst Investors, as part of their membership in the Salem Chamber, may sponsor a membership for the Oregon-based charity or a veteran-owned start-up of their choice. “Salem is fortunate to have many companies who care deeply about this community,” said Hoffert. “Catalysts are about change, and this is one of the ways our investors are promoting positive change in the state.” Eligible organizations include serving the homeless, promoting LGBTQ+ equality, providing housing to veterans and much more. Catalyst Investors may also choose to sponsor a business start-up owned in part or in full by any active or former military veteran in its first 18 months of operation. “Oregon non-profit organizations rely on business connections in order to maintain their services in the communities they serve,” Hoffert continued. “We’ve been telling stories about how business growth is good for the community since I started with the Chamber in 1998.” 30
New Chamber Communications Manager Gabby Garrido is looking forward to the project, too. “I can’t wait to write about the fantastic things our members are doing for others,” said Garrido. “Our charities are an important part of making Salem a great place to live, and we want to shine a light on the companies that are helping make positive change in our Capital City.” Hoffert expects the initiative will benefit 25-30 veteranowned start-ups and Oregon-based charitable 501(c(3)) organizations in 2020. He and his team will partner with Chamber members at the Catalyst level to gift a membership to the qualified organization or business. Each membership is granted for one year and is renewable at the option of the sponsoring business. While the Chamber will not be involved in choosing sponsored recipients, Chamber staff will verify that the sponsored organization meets the qualifications. “Businesses don’t always get recognized the way they deserve for their significant contributions to schools, neighborhoods and to supporting veterans,” added Hoffert. “We are proud to play a proactive role in telling that story.” 503. salemchamber.org
THANKS BOSS,
YOU’RE AWESOME! Special business membership opportunity for Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Members!
NO JOINING FEE $10 PER MONTH
2 SALEM LOCATIONS CONTACT CHAMBER MEMBER MERRILL RICHMOND FOR DETAILS
merrillrichmond@pfyoubelong.com *Business Membership Is Not Available Online.*
1110 Commercial St. NE Salem OR 97301
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID Portland, OR Permit No. 854
tel 503-581-1466 fax 503-581-0972 www.salemchamber.org
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