503. Magazine: Spring 2023

RECESSIONS

by Tom Hoffert, Chief Executive Officer

What You Need to Know

The global economy currently faces many difficulties. For example, the COVID pandemic has disrupted various ways of working, leading to labor shortages in critical industries, and the ongoing war in Ukraine has disrupted already shaky supply chains.

This has led to uncertainty at a local level, and many of our members have concerns about the future of their businesses.

We’ve all been hearing in the news that a recession is becoming more likely in the US — it is officially here. But what is a recession, and how will it affect your business over the coming months and years?

What is a Recession?

Growth is the fuel driving the engine of our economy, but sometimes that fuel runs short, and the overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) begins to shrink. When this happens for a period of months, this is called a recession (the official marker for a recession is when GDP contracts for two consecutive quarters).

According to Federal Reserve History, the last time this happened in the US was from December 2007 until June 2009. This was the most prolonged recession since World War II, and like all recessions, it caused economic hardship for millions. When the economy contracts, less money is spent and fewer workers are needed, leading to high unemployment rates.

Causes of Recession

Recessions are started by one or more of a list of conditions, including:

Economic Shocks. Examples include the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cutting off oil supply to the US in the 1970s, or the recent COVID pandemic.

Excess Debt. When businesses and individuals take on too much debt or the banks are lending indiscriminately, there can come the point where they can no longer pay those debts. Defaults and bankruptcies then disrupt the economy.

Asset Bubbles. The 2007-2009 recession was caused, at least in part, by real estate prices becoming overinflated. Once it became apparent that property was overvalued, individuals and businesses began to dump their stock, leading to a price crash. This had a knock-on effect on the economy as many investment portfolios relied heavily on real estate.

Technological Advances. In the past, new technologies have led to whole professions becoming obsolete and mass unemployment, causing recessions. Some economists worry that this may happen again with robots and artificial intelligence taking away entire sections of jobs.

How Do Recessions Affect Local Businesses?

Local businesses can be among the hardest hit by a recession. During the last downturn, 170,000 small businesses closed for good. Unlike larger organizations, they don’t generally retain large capital reserves, can’t maintain large profit margins, and can’t simply lay off

large numbers of workers to protect profitability.

Typically, our Chamber member companies employ people with strong connections to the business whose knowledge and skills are not easily replaced. During a recession, income is bound to go down as higher unemployment rates mean less cash to spend in the local economy. Considering the aforementioned vulnerabilities, this is tough news for local businesses.

Planning for the Long Term

Although there’s not much we can do about a nationwide recession, it doesn’t have to be “doom and gloom” for your business. Local communities are good at banding together to support each other during a crisis, and small businesses can be adaptable.

For example, layoffs can be avoided by asking staff to work fewer hours. That way, you still have those skilled, loyal employees available once a crisis ends. Look at other ways to save costs or consider investing capital when times are good, so there’s a buffer for the hard times. A modern local business is flexible and agile, and we’re confident that, with sufficient planning, your business can endure a recession and emerge stronger than ever.

At the Salem Chamber, we believe in helping businesses prosper so our entire community may thrive. As you face this recession head-on, please rely on the Salem Chamber’s resources and network of local companies and leaders who are committed to ensuring a healthy local economic ecosystem in times of challenge and prosperity. 503.

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Powell Banz Valuation is a dedicated group of local valuation experts with over 100 years of Commercial Real Estate Appraisal Experience. Serving the Willamette Valley since 1973 has given us specialized and indepth knowledge of local Willamette Valley markets Strong relationships within our community and dedication to our clients make Powell Banz the best choice when it comes to commercial real estate valuation.

Above: Katie Costic (right) – the Chamber’s new McLaran Leadership Foundation Program Director – with Valley Credit Service’s Jen Self at a recent Chamber Greeters meeting.

Cover: Advocacy Committee Chair Jonathan Castro Monroy, Nicole Palmateer Hazelbaker, and Chamber Director of Business Advocacy Lena Prine at the State Capitol.

The Benefits of

Volunteering for Your Businesss

Salem is a vibrant, diverse, and special community. There are many reasons why Salem is flourishing, but I’d to highlight a key factor: our local non-profits and the many dedicated and generous volunteers throughout the community. There are many benefits to volunteering, including the positive impact it has on our community, but also the positive impact it can have for your employees.

Volunteering provides a great opportunity to connect and become part of the fabric of the Salem community. Acts of service can be as large as organizing the local food bank fundraiser, or as simple as giving an hour of time to read a book to a child. These connections made during volunteering create an incredible opportunity to expand business ties outside of the organization. Another benefit of volunteering for the employee is it can increase self-confidence, providing them with a sense of purpose, thus increasing employee empowerment and morale.

Teaming employees up outside of the work environment to participate in a worthwhile activity fosters a sense of teamwork. Pulling together to join in a common goal, especially a community project or charity, helps employees build bonds that last long, thus, making for a

renewed sense of commitment to the job and one another. Research substantiates that organizations which integrate social impact into their daily processes can increase sales and productivity. Such organizations also drastically reduce employee turnover while increasing the company’s share price.

Increasingly, we’ve seen a customer trend that is loyal to products and services that contribute back to the community in meaningful ways. Organizations which integrate volunteerism as part of the company culture earn a positive reputation with customers and communities.

by Wendy Veliz, Portland General Electric

We recently celebrated our local volunteers at the First Citizen Awards Banquet (held at the Salem Convention Center on April 8, 2023). These are local individuals who have inspired and motivated us by their dedication to volunteer service. I hope that each of us, as we think about Salem and our neighbors in the community, will take an opportunity to reach out and get involved with one of our many local non-profits, service groups, city boards, or commissions. Together, we can help this community continue to thrive for all of its residents.

503.

Your Chamber

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President

WENDY VELIZ

Portland General Electric

President-Elect

ALAN RASMUSSEN Modern Building Systems

Past President

LAURA DORN

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Vice President –Membership

JENNIFER MARTIN

First Commercial Real Estate

STAFF

TOM HOFFERT

Chief Executive Officer

JACKIE ELLERBROCK

Operations Director

Vice President – Advocacy

JEFF MILLER

Coldwell Banker Commercial

Vice President – Events & Programming

CHRISTY WITZKE SAIF

Treasurer

STEPHEN JOYE Fischer, Hayes, Joye & Allen, LLC

Secretary

MIKE HERRON VIP’s Industries

BOARD MEMBERS

BRANDON BLAIR

Summit Wealth Management

JONATHAN

CASTRO MONROY

Castro Monroy Group

RYAN COLLIER Collier Law

RYAN DEMPSTER Willamette Valley Bank

RICH DUNCAN Rich Duncan Construction

JEFF DUNN Lineage Logistics

DAN JOHNSON Marketing & Communications Manager

EVA PORRAS Administrative Professional

Member Services

LENA PRINE Director of Business Advocacy

KATIE COSTIC McLaranLeadership Foundation Program Director

TED FERRY State Farm Insurance

KATHY GORDON Aldrich CPAs & Advisors, LLP

JULIE HOY

Geppetto’s Italian Restaurant

DAN M c DOWELL Pioneer Trust Bank

KATYA MENDEZ Mountain West Investment Corporation

CONNOR REITEN

PNGC Power

QUANDRAY ROBERTSON

Q’s Corner Barbershop

RANDALL SUTTON Saalfeld Griggs, P.C.

ERIC TEMPLETON AmeriTitle

JIM VU Core Solutions Consulting

ANGELA WILLIAMS Huggins Insurance Services, Inc.

MICHELLE TERZENBACH Membership Manager

CHRIS SEELY Workforce Development Specialist

CHELSEA LYNCH JUDY FISHER

SARAH RAMBECK CTEC Business Liaisons

Maps Credit Union.

RIBBON CUTTING REQUEST FORM

Let’s celebrate! Ribbon Cuttings are a complimentary service the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce provides to members at the Connector level and above that have just started a new business, have moved to a new location, or recently undergone a remodel. As the business owner, you have the option of making this event as simple or as elaborate as you wish.

Be sure to fill out a request form at salemchamber.org/ ribboncuttingform to book your date now!

HOSTING A GREETERS

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. salemchamber.org/host-greeters-application

WorkSource Oregon / Chemeketa’s Center for Business & Industry.

Oregonians are generators of abundance. For 50 years, we’ve helped each other thrive. From safe shelter to art supplies, we’ve stepped up when someone needed support. Leaned in when they needed help. Dug deep when they needed food. Gave back, when given the chance. And we’re getting better at doing it all more equitably. The past few years have been some of our most challenging. And what did we do? We helped each other. We marched, fought fires, dropped off groceries — and gave. We gave more than ever before. Which tells us that in our next 50 years, Oregonians helping Oregonians, through thick and thin, will continue to lift us all. Cheers to you, Oregon. As your statewide community foundation, we celebrate our 50th anniversary in honor of you.

The Five Levels of Entrepreneurship

By Michelle Terzenbach, Membership Manager

Embarking on the road of entrepreneurship can be frightening, uncertain, and turbulent — especially at the start. In beginning your journey, it’s helpful to have a mental roadmap and to know what to expect from yourself along the way. Nobody is 100% clear and consistent from the onset and you’ll naturally have fluctuating states of mind about the whole process. Author and entrepreneur, Farshad Asl, provides such a roadmap called the “Five Levels of Entrepreneurship,” which we’ll summarize for you here.

Level One: Encouragement

At this stage of your entrepreneurial journey, you’re just slightly over the fence and have convinced yourself to leave regular job safety behind. You’re feeling a combination of fear and anticipation for what lies ahead and sometimes worry about financial security and whether your plans will work out. During this stage, it’s important to find clarity of why you have chosen this path.

Develop a clear business plan, start researching, and develop marketing strategies as you put the first pieces of the puzzle together. Ask yourself, “Why should consumers be interested in my product? What value can I bring to them?”

Level Two: Engagement

During the engagement stage, you’re off the fence and are fully invested in your new entrepreneurial life. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t have moments of compromised confidence, but it’s equally as exhilarating as it is terrifying! You’re fully immersed in your future vision and are beginning to foster a growth-positive mindset. You’re making developments every day and are gaining a clearer vision of the adventure ahead.

Level Three: Established

This is the middle stage of your entrepreneurial journey and you’re about to cross the bridge between conceptual and practical. You’re experiencing a lot of mental clarity and you’re focusing on expanding your network and vision. The more time you spend with a

mentor at this stage to soak up valuable insight, the better. Remember that there are many peers in your Salem Chamber network who can help! Be sure to utilize networking opportunities within the Chamber to meet other successful entrepreneurs. You can learn from other business owners what has worked in our local market.

The next stage awaits you, but passing from level three to four is the biggest transition of the entire journey. You’re already making money at this stage, which is why many entrepreneurs get too comfortable at this level. The key is not to get complacent with your progress.

Level Four: Expert

This is a hard-earned level to achieve and it’s also the most transformative. At this stage, you’re realizing the value of delegating authority to others to free up your own time. You’re helping others step into leadership roles and have developed a zest for bringing out the best in the people you work with. You’re focused on creating new opportunities and can easily catch the attention of investors.

Fully settled into your new life as an entrepreneur, you’re helping and encouraging others to do the same. It took a great deal of maturity and flexibility to reach this stage and you’re enjoying the fruits of your labor.

Level Five: Entrepreneur

At level five, you’ve broken free from an array of limitations. You’re no longer bound by financial difficulties, and you’ll never doubt your own abilities again. The years of hard work, late nights, and the stress of uncertainty have paid off and your life is everything you dreamt it could be.

The road to entrepreneurial actualization is long and arduous. With enough confidence, sound decision making, and perseverance, you can continue to grow your business from here. 503.

Katie Costic

Meet Your New McLaran Leadership Foundation Program Director

After spending the last decade as Marketing Director with AC + Co Architecture | Community, I am thrilled to join the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce as its new Program Director of the McLaran Leadership Foundation

Having moved to Salem as a toddler and being raised within the architectural industry, I have personally witnessed the physical and leadership-driven growth and development of the Salem community over the last three decades. Community building is in my blood, and I am honored for the opportunity to dedicate my professional life even more to building up leaders, both young and seasoned, through our McLaran Leadership Foundation.

With the mission to develop the leadership potential of Salem-area students and young professionals through educational programs and events which help them thrive and become contributing community members, this foundation holds selflessness at its core and the success of the foundation is measured through the success of others. What better job could there be in this world, but to lift others to success?

The ripple effect that strong leadership brings to an organization is categorically contagious. I am honored to be given the trust every single day to listen, learn, and work strategically to create and expand this positive ripple effect through individuals and teams in our business and

non-profit organizations, as well as through our Salem-Keizer Public Schools students — all to benefit the Salem community, today and in the future.

Just as others have encouraged me to believe in myself and live to lead, I thrive on this opportunity to impress in the minds of young professionals and students that no matter where you are in your career or what your goals are, self-confidence and a deeper understanding of leadership are the invaluable tools that can empower you to strengthen and uplift your community.

Sherwin Williams Salem, Oregon

I am deeply humbled to have served on the Salem Chamber Board of Directors team for the past year and a half. This experience, along with a decade of regularly attending Chamber events, has helped me understand the magnitude and scope of this organization. As I transition to the professional staff team at the Salem Chamber, it will not be without tremendous perspective gained during my time as a volunteer Director, in service on

the Board team. I cannot imagine a more committed and heavily involved group of volunteer Directors. So, it is with great honor that I go from a volunteer leadership position to my new duties in service to this same body of leaders, along with the McLaran Leadership Foundation Board.

My work will be dynamic, as I am tasked with providing leadership and support to a variety of our programs, including Salem

Emerging Leaders; Leadership Salem cohorts (past, present, and future); our Salem-Keizer School District partnership with Career Technical Education Center (CTEC) Business Liaisons; the Ready-to-Learn, Ready-toWork program; and the general growth of the McLaran Leadership Foundation. I am excited to partner with the countless volunteers who share their time and talents with the Salem Chamber. 503.

Building resiliency with renewable resources

Creating bike and walk friendly neighborhoods near shopping and transit

Supporting local food growers

Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Lena Prine

Meet the Chamber’s new Director of Business Advocacy

The Salem Chamber is thrilled to welcome experienced political campaign strategist, native Oregonian, and engaged community member, Lena Prine to the staff team as our new Director of Business Advocacy. Born and raised in Portland and with a background that spans the urban perspective and the rural aspects of the Willamette Valley, Lena is as well versed with the culture and diversity of our region as she is with its complex political landscape. Over the last three years, she’s worked alongside former Oregon State Representative Raquel Moore-Green as her Campaign Manager and Legislative Assistant. In those roles, she gained the type of hands-on experience in researching and analyzing local political issues that will be invaluable to her work with the Chamber as she strives to inform and engage businesses in the public policy realm.

“It is an honor to be joining the Chamber team,” she said. “The business community here in Salem is dynamic, innovative, and so very important to the fabric of our local economy. I look forward to working with business owners and policy makers for the health of our local businesses.”

Lena also has a business background, adding another feather in her cap and valuable arrow to her quiver as she makes new connections with Salem businesses while further strengthening existing relationships she has developed over the years. After graduating with a degree in business/ marketing from Oregon State University, Lena worked for national operator General Growth Properties, where she helped develop and implement an Oregon-based shopping center marketing plan.

In between, Lena also served the non-profit sector of our community while working in development for local childrelief nursery Family Building Blocks and as the Gala of Trees coordinator for Boys & Girls Aid. It was in doing this work where Lena honed her craft and focus on community service, engagement, and commitment to the meaning and purpose behind service.

Whether working for nonprofits, as a personal assistant, as a consultant on marketing projects, or in serving a sitting Oregon legislator, Lena’s wealth and breadth of experience working in various areas of our community make her a valuable asset to the Salem Chamber.

At the same time, the collection of experiences she has carefully procured over her career have also illuminated just how vital businesses of all sizes are to our community as a whole.

“Our small businesses are the backbone to our community,” she said. “They provide the livelihood, opportunity and vibrancy that enhances the quality of life in the Salem area.”

A self-described “open mind with an intense curiosity for different perspectives,” Lena joins the Chamber at a perfect time as the 2023 Oregon Legislative Session continues to unfold, opening up new opportunities and challenges alike for members and business owners to engage with and learn about.

We hope you join us in welcoming Lena Prine to the Salem Chamber staff team! 503.

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Advocating at the State Capitol

by Dan Johnson, Marketing & Communications Manager

As the 2023 Oregon Legislative Session began back in January, an already complex environment inside the Capitol was poised to become even more challenging.

There were 22 new members of the Oregon House of Representatives sitting down to draft legislation for the first time, a new governor with a potentially expensive list of priorities to attempt to budget for, and a legislative forecast that was calling for thousands of new bills to be introduced. True policy wonks may have been excited, but the atmosphere seemed more overwhelming than usual to those of us not embedded in state politics on a regular basis.

As Chamber members know, business advocacy has long been a focus area for the Salem Chamber, as representing business interests and protecting the economic health of our community are always at the forefront of what we do. That’s why we employ a full-time Director of Business Advocacy, convene an Advocacy Committee within the Board of Directors, and hold monthly Business Advocacy Committee Meetings to inform, engage, and get honest input from membership on important local issues.

Considering the particular and specific complexities around the Legislative Session

this time around, Chamber leadership knew the organization needed to do even more to help inform members of the business community about exactly what was happening at the Capitol while providing more opportunities to participate. And so, the Salem Chamber became one of the first and only chambers in the state to contract its very own lobbyist, adding Bravio Communications owner Nicole Palmateer Hazelbaker as its “boots-on-the-ground” representative at the State Capitol.

The Salem Chamber’s Latest Investment in Advocacy

A strategic communications expert with experience in government affairs, fundraising, campaign management, and public relations, Palmateer Hazelbaker has served a diverse swath of clients, businesses, and industries over nearly 20 years running Bravio Communications. Well-known and respected for forming and holding solid relationships with legislators at every level of government and from both sides of the aisle, Nicole is the powerful, connected, and professional fighter the Salem business community needs in its corner.

“The hiring of a lobbyist by our Chamber is a significant step towards enhancing our organization’s advocacy efforts,” said Salem Chamber Advocacy Committee Member and incoming Advocacy Committee Chair Jonathan Castro Monroy (Castro Monroy Group). “This investment in professional representation will strengthen our voice in the legislative process, foster key relationships, and ultimately help us to better serve the interests of our

Nicole Palmateer Hazelbaker represents the Chamber’s interests at the Capitol.

members and the wider business community in Salem and beyond.”

Since beginning her work with the Chamber in March, Palmateer Hazelbaker has already started providing a weekly Legislative Update, which is distributed by the Chamber via email to its Public Policy list and succinctly and expertly summarized at each monthly Business Advocacy Meeting. More importantly, she has been actively testifying on potentially impactful legislation to Salem-area businesses and is engaging on the issues that matter most to Chamber members each and every day during the Legislative Session.

“My goal is a seat at the table,” Palmateer Hazelbaker said about her new role with the Chamber. “There are many issues being discussed this session which include issues of critical importance to the Chamber — housing, workforce, homelessness, crime. All of these issues need solutions, but they need solutions

that make sense. My goal is to bring the Salem business voice to the legislative discussion to help influence the direction our state takes in tackling these issues.”

Strong Relationships Are Key

The importance of Palmateer Hazelbaker’s connections at the Capitol cannot be overemphasized. Especially as a non-partisan organization, the Chamber’s mission to strengthen and defend business interests depends on these relationships and the productive work that stretches across the political aisle.

While legislators representing different parties often disagree on solutions, they do agree that forming these relationships with their colleagues and other professionals inside the Capitol (such as lobbyists) create a path forward to actual results that benefit the community as a whole.

“I have learned quickly that relationships are a

very important part of getting legislation passed,” said Oregon State Representative Tracy Cramer (HD 22), who was elected to her first term of service last year. “Not only with other legislators, but with stakeholders and advocates so they can rally around issues you are working on.”

“Communication is key,” said Oregon Senator Deb Patterson (SD 10). “I meet regularly with the Vice Chair and Co-Chairs of the committees on which I serve. I am also committed to engaging with all stakeholder voices.”

“It is important to deal with each member of the House and Senate as a colleague, regardless of party, and to seek avenues of agreement in addressing major and minor issues confronting our communities,” said Oregon State Representative Kevin Mannix (HD 21).

Investment ROI

While it can be difficult to measure exactly how much of an impact healthy relationships at the Legislature have for the parties involved, we can be assured that they play a major factor in the legislative outcomes we can actually see.

Even in the short amount of time Palmateer Hazelbaker has been involved with the Chamber, several anti-business bills have been declared dead before advancing to be voted upon.

These include:

HB 2800 – This House bill would have added complexity to Oregon’s existing age discrimination laws by compromising employers’ ability to consider experience and by requiring employers to bear the burden of proof that age discrimination did not take place for adverse employment decisions.

HB 3152 – This bill aimed to phase out the use of natural gas in the residential housing

sector. It sought to prevent line extension allowances for new gas line extensions that support the use of gas in residential buildings. This had the potential to further worsen inflationary cost pressure in the business sector.

SB 925 – This bill would have required employers to disclose pay range and employment benefits within all job postings. Failure to do so would have subjected an employer to a lawsuit or employment claim. Meanwhile, HD 2433, is an example of a pro-business bill that has continued to gain traction during the session and during Palmateer Hazelbaker’s time with the Chamber. This bill is written to increase the

exempt amount and filing threshold for purposes of the Corporate Activity Tax (CAT). Raising the CAT exemption threshold for small businesses from $1 million to $5 million, as this bill proposes, will provide much-needed tax relief to thousands of small businesses throughout Oregon.

Granted, there are many in the business community who deserve credit for their advocacy, along with the legislators who helped stop these harmful bills while advancing pro-business ones. However, it’s quite clear that the Chamber’s investment in a professional lobbyist is already paying dividends with plenty of time still left in the session.

Incoming Advocacy Committee Chair Jonathan Castro Monroy speaking at a Business Advocacy Meeting last year.

How You Can Get Involved

We all know from experience that it truly takes a community to exact positive change, and a team to move the ball forward. With strategic investments in time, programs, personnel, and resources in place, we are set up to succeed as a business community, but we still need the help of Chamber members to get the job done.

There are several ways in which you can make an impact and have your voice heard. Here are a few:

Be Informed By Digesting Legislative Updates

As mentioned previously, the Salem Chamber sends out a dedicated email update every week during the Legislative Session. This informative communication includes a summary of the bills we are tracking, bills of concern to

businesses, and the ways in which you can activate and engage at that particular time and on those particular issues.

If you are interested in receiving these updates, contact our Director of Business Advocacy Lena Prine (lena@salemchamber.org). You can also regularly visit the Salem Chamber Blog via SalemChamber.org to see the latest updates as they are published online.

Attend Business Advocacy Meetings

On the first Thursday of each month, the Salem Chamber hosts its Business Advocacy Committee Meeting and all Salem Chamber members are invited. You can join us in person at the Chamber offices, or virtually via Zoom, if you prefer.

The meetings offer members a closer, in-depth look at

critical local issues, as well as valuable opportunities to connect directly with elected officials, City of Salem staff, volunteer leaders of city boards, and fellow businesspeople. Attendees also get to vote on actions taken as an organization and help decide on proposals and candidates the Chamber endorses.

Visit the Event Calendar via SalemChamber.org to see and register for upcoming meetings, or reach out to lena@salemchamber.org to learn more.

Submit or Deliver Public Testimony

Don’t underestimate the power and conviction of your own voice. As a local business owner, employee, or community member, your experience and perspective are most often what legislators are looking for, and what they respond to.

During the session, there are often key opportunities for community members to engage. Look for them in the weekly Legislative Update communications, but also don’t hesitate to reach out to Salem Chamber CEO Tom Hoffert (tom@salemchamber.org) and/or Director of Business Advocacy Lena Prine (lena@ salemchamber.org) if you have a particular area of interest you would like to speak to. Activate and engage, and we’ll plug you into the advocacy process.

Nicole Palmateer Hazelbaker with VP of Advocacy Jeff Miller at a Business Advocacy meeting.

Your Voice Matters

As a Chamber representative, Palmateer Hazelbaker encourages member involvement in whichever way suits them best, emphasizing that the most important thing is the “what” instead of the “how.”

“It’s a matter of finding the way you are most comfortable,” she said. “It can be testimony in front of a hearing or remotely, it can be reaching out to your legislators to engage via an email or a

phone call, or participating in a community event where there is conversation on issues and input from constituents. I hope business owners/members will be able to have a pulse on what is being discussed during the session and reach out with questions, concerns or ideas on how solutions can be found.”

“It is a pleasure to work with the Salem Chamber. As I’ve watched not only my husband but other friends struggle with

the climate surrounding small business in Salem, I believe that is a voice that should be heard by our state lawmakers. My work here is to elevate the voice of Chamber members, elevate the issues that are of concern and look for ways to improve the situation through the legislative process. Concurrently increasing the presence of the Chamber and its members and the role in business development is a priority.” 503.

Incoming Advocacy Committee Chair Jonathan Castro Monroy, Nicole Palmateer Hazelbaker, and Chamber Director of Business Advocacy Lena Prine at the State Capitol.

The Marble Center

A Steady and Reliable Salem Business Rock Integrity, quality, options, and detail-oriented service are the bedrock of The Marble Center’s longevity and gradual, yet steady growth in Salem.

Since opening its doors in Salem in 1996, The Marble Center (2085 Front St. NE) has established itself as the go-to name in the marble and granite business in the MidWillamette Valley. However, like most of Salem’s trusted industry leaders, its reputation has taken years, and even generations, to build as its success can be traced back to solid foundational business practices, such as doing the job right the first time.

The business, which crafts, cuts, sells, and installs quality natural

stone and quartz countertops, was founded by experienced Italianborn mason Renato Labate and his sons, Alex and Andrés Labate Owned by Renato, Alex, and Andrés, The Marble Center has benefited from the involvement of several other family members over the years, including Alex’s late mother, Maria; his wife, Krystal Kraig; sisterin-law, Birte; and niece, Paula.

While Alex and Andrés oversee the shop, Krystal acts as the business’ Sales Manager, running its partner business, product showroom

The Quarry, which opened in 2019 right across the street. The Quarry is where customers often come to see the products first-hand, as it carries a vast array of beautiful imported, man-made, and naturally unique stone slabs, providing countertop options to fit nearly every budget, and functional and aesthetic preference.

“I love it when people come in with a couple of pieces and their eyes widen when they see how many choices we have,” Krystal said.

Along with skilled and experienced family members nestled in their respective areas of the business, its prime location in the heart of Oregon’s capital has also certainly played a crucial role in The Marble Center’s growth and success.

Not being originally native to the region, Alex said the Labates selected Salem by looking through a purely objective business lens, determining it was the best spot

to distribute and serve all areas of the state. Today, The Marble Center sends out about six to eight installation projects every day, to the Oregon coast, Eugene, the Portland-metropolitan area, and even Bend.

“It allowed us to pick a place that we weren’t emotionally attached to but that was good for business — which we’ve grown to be

emotionally attached to,” said Alex, who has raised his own family in Salem with Krystal.

Although the business’ roots run deep in Salem, the origins of The Marble Center actually date back to the late 1970s, when Renato was sought out by Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California to help install pristine, new marble and granite columns to its facility.

Alex Labate and Krystal Kraig of The Marble Center.

That job quickly generated other projects, which led to regular marble and granite work for Renato in Palm Springs, where Alex began to learn the trade during his high-school years in the summers and on weekends.

With some well-earned experience, Alex went on to graduate from the University of California (Berkeley) with a degree in architecture and went back to work in the marble and granite business. Like his father, he was recognized for his quality work and quickly became a sought-after tradesman. He was then recruited by a company in Eugene where he spent a year and a half running its business and putting the company back on the industry map, before realizing that he could do the same for himself.

“At that time, I was 25, and I made a decision that if I could do that for somebody else, I could probably do it for myself,” Alex said.

After Renato and Maria also moved up to Oregon, the father and son saw an opportunity to team up again, which led to the birth of The Marble Center. And once again, they relied more on their skillsets and knowledge of the industry than anything to get the business up and running.

“We just rented an industrial spot where the current

BMW [of Salem] is and we just opened the doors one day,” Alex said. “I had some contacts from the old business, and we just put an ad out and we started from the bottom.”

Despite being the only marble and granite business in Salem at the time and one of a small few in the Willamette Valley, it took several years for the Labates to grow the business to a market that was largely unfamiliar with its niche and, at the time, distinct and exotic products. But as they had always done, the

The Marble Center’s Front Street location.

Labates used their industry and product expertise to gradually introduce marble and granite to customers, educating them about the affordability and quality of their products along the way.

“The growth just happened organically from then on,” Alex said about the business continuing to expand as demand steadily increased. “Everything’s [sales] always been word of mouth, relationships, honoring our word, and just doing what we’re supposed to do.”

At The Marble Center, doing things the right way is the only way. At the same time, an increase in demand for its products and services forced the business to make necessary changes to meet that demand in recent years.

Those changes are almost always made specifically with efficiency in mind, which Alex says have made a noticeable difference in productivity. They include added staff and new equipment — including a crane at The Quarry that moves slabs of material from one end of the showroom to the other and an Italian-made saw in the shop that is a one-of-a-kind tool in the United States.

“Every time I put in a new tool, or crane, or machine was just to make life easier and not to add to the workload,” Alex said. “And inherently, it [increased productivity] happened on its own because it became efficient. The number one goal in any business, especially ours, is that you can’t lose efficiency as you grow, because you’re going to fail otherwise.”

Even as the business has grown, added staff, and new equipment, machinery, and technologies, Alex’s approach to building upon The Marble Center’s foundation is one thing that hasn’t changed.

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The Marble Center’s partner showroom, The Quarry.

Today, he is still as hands-on as ever, overseeing operations, finding solutions for problems as they arise, and leading his team by learning every step of the production process so that he can teach and show exactly what is possible.

“On any job site or in any shop, there are two kinds of owners,” Alex said. “There are the kind that point fingers and there are the ones that get in the trenches and show by example. And I’m a much more lead-by-example, get dirty kind of guy.”

Being an active owner is something Alex surely learned from his father, as Renato — who is now in his 80s — still works in almost every aspect of the business, including the more labor-intensive areas. While the Labates delegate plenty of the work to their staff, Alex says the involvement of the owners is largely

attributed to their passion.

“I’ve never done what I do for the money,” Alex said. “I love what I do. I love making things. I love running the machines. I love the office. It’s just inherently who I am since I was a little kid. I’ve always worked with my hands and have also enjoyed the brainy side of computers and

so on. If you do something because you love it, you’ll do well and if you do something for money, you’re going to fail.”

Apart from the day-to-day work, Alex and Krystal said their favorite project has been becoming more ingrained and embedded within the Salem community, which they say

has played a significant role in The Marble Center’s longevity.

“We try to be very cognizant about supporting the community that is supporting us,” Krystal said in mentioning just a few of the local causes and organizations they have been involved in, which include the Salem Chamber, Alex’s

board service with the Home Builders Association and the Career Technical Education Center (CTEC), and the Oregon Humane Society (as a sponsor of the annual WillaMutt Strut fundraiser and where Krystal and Alex volunteer by fostering dogs).

Alex also credits the business’ current

and future longevity to its loyal and dedicated staff, some of whom have been with The Marble Center from the very beginning. Alex takes great pride in the fact that many of his employees have stuck with him and others have even brought their children into The Marble Center family. During a time when staffing and retention are major challenges for many businesses, Alex sees and admires the mutual respect that has been developed amongst his team as he looks to continue to build upon The Marble Center’s legacy.

“When your employees bring their kids to come work for you, it’s a big compliment that the company is on the right track,” he said.

Learn more about The Marble Center at themarblecenter.com. 503.

Grant Kendall

Like many Salem businesses, Edward Jones Financial Advisor Grant Kendall built his own practice from the ground up, going from working out of his car without an office or clients to the blossoming book of business that he manages today. While the growth took a lot of hard work and determination on his own part, Grant says joining the Chamber certainly helped him make connections with others who could help show him a path forward.

“In 2018, I was still building my business,” said Grant, who joined Edward Jones as an advisor the year prior. “The Chamber gave me a way to connect with other people who understood the ups and downs of growing a new practice. It’s a wonderful group of unique and inspiring community leaders.”

Grant’s positive experience as a Chamber member only created more opportunities to deepen his involvement with the organization and the community he cares so much about. Last year, he was honored to become a Chamber Ambassador, which has provided valuable and rewarding volunteer exepriences and a more well-rounded understanding and appreciation for the Salem business community.

Edward Jones Investments

volunteering and helping out at Salem-area business openings,” said Grant, who attends virtually every Salem Chamber Greeters meeting and ribboncutting ceremony. “I get a sneak peek into some really cool and interesting businesses.”

“I really enjoy that aspect, but I also think it’s incredibly important how we welcome these businesses and new business members into our community,” Grant added. “We all need to support one another and being an ambassador helps me give back to the same community that welcomed me when I was just first starting out.”

After growing up in West Salem and developing a deep appreciation and respect for what our region and community has to offer, Grant also looks at the role as a way he can help promote Salem’s future growth.

“We have a lot to be grateful of here,” he said. “I moved to Idaho for college, and Utah after that. Both were great experiences, and beautiful states, but there’s nothing quite like living here in the Willamette Valley. My hope is

that we can continue to be a welcoming and supportive force and preserve the best of Salem’s unique character while also keeping an open mind so that future generations have the same opportunities to thrive.”

Much like his ambassador peers, Grant’s volunteerism in the community extends far beyond his work with the Chamber. Grant has served as the board president of Friends of Deepwood for the last three years and he also currently serves on the Polk County Fair Foundation board.

Outside of his profession and volunteering, Grant enjoys spending time with his wife, Sarah, two children, Aubrey and Noah, and the family’s two canine companions. He also loves to spend time outside, whether it be gardening, visiting the Saturday Market, attending local outdoor concerts, or skiing in the winter.

When you see Grant at the next Chamber event, be sure to say hello, thank him for his volunteerism, and congratulate him on being named the Ambassador of the Quarter! 503.

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