503. Magazine: Winter 2021

the salem chamber’s magazine

Winter 2021

Getting Ahead of a Labor Shortage

Salem’s New Menswear Shop

Benefits of Blogging Your Business

Forum Speaker Series Highlights

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M E S S A G E F R O M THE CEO

5 Signs You’re a Community Leader

by Tom Hoffert, Chief Executive Officer At the Salem Chamber, we believe in helping businesses prosper so our entire community may thrive.

It is imperative that organizations like the Salem Chamber offer intentional and strategic leadership programming to develop skilled leaders within our local business community, resulting in a more robust and resilient local economic ecosystem.

It is with profound honor and excitement that the Salem Chamber kicks off a new era of Leadership Salem programming. Serving as our community’s premier leadership development cohort, Leadership Salem launches a new class of participants starting in January 2022, and a second cohort of participants in September. Within our businesses and organizations, no one person can be great at their role if everyone is not great in their role.

Do you have an emerging leader within your organization who would benefit from an engaging and dynamic leadership development program?

Let’s not wait as a community, let’s take intentional steps to ensure a stronger community tomorrow than we see today.

Leadership comes in many forms, from those who inspire dedication and support to those who rule through fear and intimidation. A true leader is someone who can command those under them without having to resort to extreme tactics. Many great leaders share some common traits, so work to improve these qualities in yourself to establish yourself as a leader in your community.

A Vision for the Future You won’t get very far as a community leader if you don’t have a destination in mind. In order to get your friends and neighbors to rally around you, they need to have a sense of what your goals are for the community. Take the time to think about what it is that you want for your community and find out whether Winter 2021

others share your vision.

This way, you can all begin to work together towards common goals.

working together, the entire team gains greater recognition, and as the leader, you’ll get the most recognition of all.

You’ll get greater loyalty from your team as well, as they’ll be more inclined to support you when they feel valued and that their skills are being put to good use.

Humility One of the marks of a great leader is the ability to recognize when you don’t know something.

Admitting that you need outside help or advice is not a sign of weakness but rather a show of wisdom.

Just because you ask for help doesn’t make you any less of a leader. Of course, you don’t want to discount your own knowledge, as you have a unique perspective to offer your community.

The key is to recognize when others are more qualified to handle certain tasks.

True leaders know when to do the work themselves and when to delegate.

Charisma Some people seem to have a quality about them that just draws people to them, even if you can’t pinpoint what it is exactly. You’ll need charisma to succeed as a community leader because you need to be able to persuade people to listen to what you have to say. Take every opportunity you can get to refine your public speaking and networking skills. As you continue to rise through the ranks of your community, you’ll need to draw on these skills more and more frequently.

Bringing Out the Best in Others A true leader knows how to maximize other people’s strengths by encouraging and supporting them.

Rather than clawing your way to the top by tearing down those around you, it is far better to build yourself up by building a strong team. With everyone

Patience You won’t become a community leader overnight, so you’ll need to have the patience necessary to gradually build your audience over time. If you take the time to get involved in your community and listen to what your peers are saying, you’ll establish yourself as an active member of society. Over time, your neighbors will start to get to know you and value your opinion. As you continue to grow and expand your influence, you’ll be well on your way to establishing yourself as a community leader.

There is no time like the present to start grooming yourself to become a pillar of your community. Focus on self-development and improving the community around you, and the rest will eventually fall into place.

Tom Hoffert serves as CEO of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, which represents the needs and interests of over 1,000 local Salem businesses and their 40,000 employees in our local community. The Salem Chamber is actively seeking interested applicants to participate in future Leadership Salem cohorts.

For additional program information, go to www.salemchamber.org/ leadershipsalem 503.

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TERTIARY LOGO

26

This stacked logo is the tertiary logo option for the Salem Chamber. Utilize this option for instances where the space available is more fitting for a square orientation.

Future Leaders Speak at Forum Series .......................... 12

1110 Commercial St. NE Salem OR 97301 503.581.1466 www.salemchamber.org

Adapting to a Labor Shortage....................... 16 the salem chamber’s magazine

Outpacing the Great Resignation ...............................24

President’s Message............... 6

Captitol Menswear Finds Its Fashion.................................... 26

Directors & Staff..........................8

Blogs Don’t Go Dark.................. 28

401 Oak St., Silverton, OR 97381 P.O. Box 927, Mount Angel, OR 97362 503.845.9499 www.mtangelpub.com

Eight Steps to Start a Business.....................................10

Ambassador of the Quarter: Terri Axell................................. 30

503. is published quarterly

by Mt. Angel Publishing, Inc., proud Chamber member.

Publisher: Paula Mabry

Cover: Melissa Mason serving up drinks at her downtown Salem restaurant, Masonry Grill.

@salemchamber

Above: Aaron Nadan’s Capitol Menswear offers a variety of specialty items at its location in the Reed Opera House.

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Building A Connected Salem

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Project Manager: Tavis Bettoli-Lotten Advertising Graphics: Steve Beckner To advertise in the next issue, contact Advertising Executive: Jerry Stevens 541.944.2820 • jerry.s@mtangelpub.com

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S a l e m C h a m b e r. o r g

Welcome Newest Chamber Members Aug. 15 – Nov. 15, 2021 Oasis Senior Advisors Home2 Suites by Hilton Percipient Architecture International, Inc. Gateway Property Management Quantum Light Annex ProLift Garage Doors of Salem Lyfe fit management Government Portfolio Advisors, LLC Mill Creek Dental Freres Lumber Co., Inc. Mayra Rocha – Tu Casa Real Estate Growth Bridge, LLC Fly Salem Foundation Reese Landscapes Salem, Inc.

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Interested in joining the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce?

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Make sure your business is part of the largest, most comprehensive program that finds the Best of the Willamette Valley. In 2021, we received over 147,000 votes from over 52,400 voters. Each year we start with a fresh ballot, and this year, we have some special opportunities for our Salem Area Chamber member colleagues.

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CH AMBER PRE S IDE N T’ S ME S S AG E

A LEADER’S

ROLE

by Laura Dorn, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

On Oct. 18, 2021, our nation lost a prolific and

four observations

glass-ceiling-shattering influential leader. While being treated for blood cancer that affected his

to understanding a leader’s role:

immune system, General Colin Powell died from

1. Command is lonely

complications of COVID-19.

2. Lead by example

Powell served as our country’s first African

3. Know when to exit

American Secretary of State. Nearly 20 years

4. Leadership is, ultimately, responsibility. And it’s the ultimate responsibility.

ago, I was quite fortunate to watch Secretary Powell present at a leadership conference.

There was a phrase he stated which I reflect on often, “Leadership is not a rank, privilege, titles, or money. Leadership is a responsibility.” This statement left a profound impression on me.

Secretary Powell was a man of deep principles, and often spoke about the role of a leader within their unit, company, or organization. Secretary Powell served 35 years in the United States Army, and ultimately as our Nation’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

While serving as a key White House leader, Powell was a diplomat who oversaw world crises, strategic military engagements, and global humanitarian efforts. He humbly led men and women with great honor and integrity and was proud to be an American. Secretary Powell noted 6

But I’d like to reflect on a couple of other noted gems from Secretary Powell’s memoirs: 1. Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off.

2. Don’t be afraid to challenge the professionals, even in their own backyard.

3. Organizational charts and fancy titles count for next to nothing.

4. Perpetual optimism is a forced multiplier.

(Admittedly, this is MY favorite) 5. Great Leaders are almost always great simplifiers who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand.

The Salem Chamber Forum Speaker Series Luncheons have been back in-person since September. Please take note of the monthly Forum Luncheons, as they are a terrific gathering place for business owners and employees.

S a l e m C h a m b e r. o r g

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 SALEM CONVENTION CENTER FEATURING

Top: Katie Costic of AC + Co Architecture | Community, Jonathan Castro Monroy of Castro Monroy Group, Troy Campbell of Uncle Troy’s BBQ; Bottom: Shannon Standish of The Yard and Joshua Kay of First Commercial Real Estate – at the November Forum Speaker Series.

The programming is relevant, the speakers are best-in-class, and the atmosphere is equally engaging for our seasoned Chamber veterans as it is for our newest members and fresh entrepreneurs.

Secretary Colin Powell tackled life head-on, with simplicity and tact. As I ponder on our future Forum Speaker Series Luncheon topics and speakers, I can’t help but reflect on the sage lessons in leadership which Secretary Powell shared during his time on earth.

The Salem Chamber appreciates the thoughtful work our members deploy across our community.

I am proud to be serving as President of this organization and invite you to join me for lunch at a future Forum event soon! 503.

Winter 2021

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Your Chamber EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President LAURA DORN

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President-Elect WENDY VELIZ Portland General Electric

Past President KATHY GORDON Aldrich CPA’s & Advisors, LLP

Vice President – Membership JENNIFER MARTIN First Commercial Real Estate

STAFF TOM HOFFERT

Chief Executive Officer

KRISTI PIPPERT

Director of Operations

Vice President – Advocacy JEFF MILLER Coldwell Banker Commercial

Vice President – Events & Programming JONATHAN CASTRO MONROY Castro Monroy Group

ICONS Treasurer

BOARD MEMBERS MARIN ARREOLA III

BRANDON BLAIR

State Farm Insurance

Summit Wealth Management

RYAN COLLIER

Collier Law

KATIE COSTIC

AC + Co Architecture | Community

Construction

TED FERRY

MIKE HERRON

JACOB ESPINOZA

Leadership Foundation Program Director

JIM VU

The Kitchen on Court Street

CHRISTY WITZKE

VIPs Industries

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Geppetto’s Italian Restaurant

T-Mobile

JEFF KELLY

Kelly’s Home Center

DAN McDOWELL

Pioneer Trust Bank

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Saalfeld Griggs, P.C.

NAOMI TILLERY

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Member Services

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JULIE HOY

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Let’s celebrate! Ribbon Cuttings are a complimentary service the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce provides to members at the Connector level and above 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.

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.

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

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The First 8 Steps

to Start Your Business

by Michelle Warner, Membership Specialist Most successful entrepreneurs agree that getting a business off the ground is often the most demanding period in the business’s life cycle. You find yourself immersed in a completely new world of marketing, leasing, strategic development, and several legal requirements that can feel overwhelming. Without putting in the required effort, you will struggle to create a successful business.

To guide you through the early stages of your business, we have come up with a checklist of the essential things to consider. Here are the steps you need to follow when starting your business.

Come Up With a Viable Idea Every successful business starts with a great idea. A good idea should be a solution that seeks to solve a real-world problem. Do some market research on the industry, potential customers, and undertake competitor analysis. This helps to determine your business idea’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Write a Business Plan A well-prepared business plan describes your intention and the formula by which your business will grow. Although it may seem like a trivial procedure, a business plan will help you secure funding and major contracts in the long run. A recent study found that entrepreneurs with a formal plan had 16% more chances of reaching viability than those who didn’t.

Assess Your Finances Finances are vital in running any business. You must determine whether you have the right amount 10

to start your business and how you will access the money to cater for your future plans. In case you have to obtain any extra amounts, make sure you complete some financial forecasts beforehand and avail them to your investors or financial institutions.

Choose Your Business Structure You need a legal structure for your business. Depending on the business entity you choose, it will significantly impact tax requirements, the ability to raise funds, annual filing documents, and more. Most business structures revolve around partnerships, sole proprietorship, limited liability company and corporations.

The vital considerations in choosing a business structure relate to the amount of personal liability you are willing to accept on behalf of the business and how you want the business earnings taxed.

Set Up Your Business Location The type of business you intend to launch determines your location. For instance, if it’s an online business, you may decide to have an office or simply have your employees working remotely. When dealing with a business that relies on in-store purchases, you will need a physical location with ample parking space and relevant foot traffic. These are some essential considerations to keep in mind when looking for a perfect location for your business.

Build Your Team Make sure you surround yourself with a reliable and trustworthy team of advisers who can help solve any start-up issues you may have. They will also help you to develop and grow your business. Your support team can

include lawyers, industry associations, and accountants.

Create Your Brand At this point, you are ready for your first customer, but no one knows about your business. This is where branding comes in. As a new business, you should build and maintain a positive brand, which clients are happy to be associated with.

Start by picking your brand name and logo that help people to identify your business. Build a business website and ensure that it has precise details about your company. Customers turn to the internet to learn about a business, so a website proves that your company exists and helps you interact with current and potential clients. Don’t forget to use social media platforms to capture more audiences.

Prepare for Growth You are now set to launch your business and make the first sales.

However, you will need to continue putting in more effort and time into growing your business so that you can make a profit and stay afloat. In the first few months, take time to get as much feedback as possible from your customers. The reviews you receive should help you make your future plans.

If you are passionate about venturing into the business world but weren’t sure where to start, this piece should give you a head start. Although it may not be as simple as you first thought, this is a lifelong project, so hard work and dedication will get you there.

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Forum Speaker Series

Investing in Emerging Leaders

By Jacob Espinoza, Leadership Foundation Program Director Your Chamber of Commerce is making considerable investments in the emerging leaders of this community.

We understand the importance of investing in the future of this community.

Investing means looking for ways to help our community’s future leaders develop the skills, network, and gain the experiences needed to build on the incredible work already being done.

Salem is filled with young people stepping up in a big way. They ensure our businesses and non-profits have the leadership necessary to adapt and thrive in a world that changes faster every day.

We were so blessed to be in person at the Salem Convention Center for November’s Chamber Forum Speaker Series. We spoke with six of our community’s next-generation leaders:

• Katie Costic, AC + Co Architecture | Community • Troy Campbell, Uncle Troy’s BBQ • Shannon Standish, The Yard • Jonathan Castro Monroy, Castro Monroy Group • Katya Mendez, Mountain West Investment Corporation • Joshua Kay, First Commercial Real Estate AmeriTitle sponsored the Emerging Leader speaker series lunch for the second year in a row. Huge thanks for all you do in our community.

Before the forum began, Richard Schultz was honored with this month’s Spirit of Salem award.

Chamber President Laura Dorn said, “At a young age, Rich was instilled with two qualities which are foundational in any leader. A distinct admiration for working hard, and a passion for putting others’ needs before themselves.”

Schultz developed his work ethic working as a janitor for his family business, Cherry City Metals, at age 12. “Perks of the family business,” Schultz announced on stage.

He set the tone for the rest of the luncheon by challenging the audience to find ways to do more for their community.

“To me, it’s an obligation to give back to this community who has given us so much. Whatever you think you are capable of doing to help Richard Schultz your community, go beyond that. Do even more.

Push yourself, give more of yourself than you think you can. Because I guarantee you can make a huge impact.”

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Topics of the forum included: • Employee engagement.

• Workforce development.

• The value of serving on a non-profit board.

• Things that make Salem awesome.

Consistent themes of the conversation focused on retaining, developing, and recruiting top talent to the Salem community.

“There’s a lot of talk about people leaving Salem,” said Josh Kay. “I’m 31 now, I’ve grown up here my whole life, and all my friends are starting to come back slowly — to raise their family, to start their business… I’m excited about our little town growing up and to be part of this generation, professionally, that is going to usher it in.”

Bringing great talent to Salem and keeping talent here will take a community effort.

“The data tells us that 88% of millennials are moving to bigger cities for a better job,” Jonathan Castro Monroy added. “It’s up to us if we are

going to attract the next generation and if we are going to keep our current youth here.”

we can all work on when things get tough to make us stronger,” said Troy Campbell.

As members of this community, it is up to us to decide where this community goes.

Panelists Troy Campbell and Shannon Standish are both in the food industry and play special roles in bringing people of the community together.

“This is such a different environment than you get in (somewhere like) Portland,” said Katie Costic. “A lot of people leave because they are seeking out jobs and finding opportunities. It’s our job to build these opportunities so they exist for the next generation to stay and be dedicated.”

Katya Mendez moved to the United States as a child. “As a young kid, I didn’t think there was a lot here,” she said. “I really wanted to explore and move out, but I’m 30 years old, and I’m still here. I really love this community.”

The truth is we have a lot of work to do as a community to start reaching our potential.

“Even in hard times, there is a way we can get better. There is something

“Before we even opened The Yard, I came up with the slogan ‘Big Place, Small Feel,’”said Standish. “I wanted a place where all of the food carts could feel welcome and connected to one another — not in competition with one another… I also wanted our employees to feel connected and to create a community within our own little space.”

Thanks to everyone who was able to make the afternoon such a great time. We are currently working on an Emerging Leaders kickoff event, so stay tuned for more.

If you are interested in getting involved with the future leaders of our Salem community, send me an email at Jacob@SalemChamber.org. 503.

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How two Salem businesses are attracting new talent and keeping existing staff satisfied

Doors are shuttered, signs saying “closed” have been erected, lobbies remain dark despite the peaking sunshine. A common theme threads itself through the businesses who have perpetually pivoted during the entirety of the COVID-19 pandemic: adaptability. The current difficultly is a labor shortage, one that differentiates itself from past roadblocks as an avoidable irritation that threatens the livelihood of numerous businesses in the Salem area.

According to Bloomberg Quint, the CEO of Popeyes’ parent company, Restaurant Brands International, said that 40% of the Southern chicken fast-food locations have been forced to scale back operations, at times cutting hours and operating as drive-thru only.

Grocery chain Harris Teeter cut back the hours of operation for its stores nationwide in September to alleviate staffing shortages, and many local stores and restaurants across the U.S. are in similar straits.

While the unemployment rate in October was 4.6% — only 1.1 percentage points higher than it was prior to the pandemic — the supply of workers remains low.

Across the U.S., there is at least one open job for every American 16

seeking work. The U.S. had 10.4 million job openings as of the end of September, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

These statistics are utilized to illustrate the gravity of the current situation on a national scale, however, the effects of the

shortage are being experienced right here in Salem.

Melissa Mason, owner, of the Masonry Grill, understands wholeheartedly the difficulties of navigating the pandemic’s shifting issues. Having opened her restaurant in December 2019, Mason has experienced firsthand S a l e m C h a m b e r. o r g

Mason believes the pandemic has allowed for much reflection, and in these reflections, folks may not always be satisfied with what they see.

“You start to reevaluate where you’re at, what you’re doing, and whether or not you’re living your best life,” shares Mason. “People had time to think about it, had unemployment to help facilitate during that time but I think they felt vulnerable after that, and I think that had an impact.”

Masonry has been operating in downtown Salem since December of 2019.

the ever-changing rules of operation in a pandemic world.

Beginning with nearly 30 staff, she now resides barely over 20, an impact that is felt from the kitchen staff on up to management.

Attempting to bridge this gap, however, is often harder than it seems.

“I’ve tried Indeed, I’ve tried other online types of recruiting, and what I found was I ended up with a big bill and very unqualified candidates,” explained Mason.

“Despite the fact I’ve made it required that you had to have so many years of experience or had a knowledge of the industry, somehow that was bypassed, and people who were just unqualified were still able to send in an application.”

With so many variations of digital recruiting now available, sometimes it’s the most traditional forms of hiring that help ease the coming floods.

Winter 2021

“Since then, it’s really been word of mouth,” claims Mason. “We’re trying to put together a quick employee referral program. And we feel like they should be rewarded for bringing in solid candidates – and not just people they know but people that they want to work with.

It’s a big benefit.”

Restaurants, without a doubt, have been among the hardest hit industries during the pandemic.

With various shutdowns, PPE equipment needed, mask mandates, and now a labor shortage, it appears as though restaurateurs are conceived with fitted armor of steel. Nothing deters them from achieving their dreams.

“As a whole, this industry took a major hit,” explains Mason. “People decided that they wanted to go back to school, change careers, or they decided that perhaps the scheduling wasn’t for them anymore.”

Not only is attracting talent a concern of the modern employer, but also the retainment of said talent. And with businesses already suffering, the thought of maintaining your workforce becomes priority one. More often than not, a paycheck may not always be the most attractive element to attracting present and potential employees.

“Paying them well is important and paying them their worth is a focus for us, but sometimes it’s not just about going finding the next employee, it’s about taking care of your current employees and really making sure they feel like they’re involved, they’re engaged, and that there’s something for them,” shares Mason. “Letting them know that they are part of something bigger.”

When attempting to attract new talent, sometimes the biggest selling points aren’t about dollars at all. Rather, it is about allowing your workforce to choose what makes them happy, what desires do they have, and what, in the end, do they wish to spend their life doing.

Continued on next page 17

“We have flexible schedules; we’re willing to accommodate additional life activities,” says Mason. “For instance, some people [are] really involved with school sports, they might be involved in going to school, they could be involved in their children’s sports. So, we’re able to accommodate with the teams that we have here to give people the best schedule, and to be flexible with them.”

Just as the restaurant industry has been hit with the stresses of quarterly change, a different industry has taken the pandemic to evaluate their staff’s needs and desires.

Garmin’s Salem branch is located on the municipal airport site where it is home to the company’s aviation manufacturing and engineering labs. With over 500 local employees, Garmin is proud to tap the greater Salem talent pool to build up its local workforce. With annual sales projected to be over $4.5 billion worldwide and more than 80 offices in 34 different countries, Garmin has set its sights on targeted talent acquisitions where they can focus

on spreading their presence along the west coast.

Among the most opportune aspects of their recruiting strategy is the willingness to engage with local colleges such as Oregon State University to help train the next generation of STEM professionals.

“Part of the strategy is not only building the relationship – going to the career fairs, making connections – but it’s also participating in internship programs like MECOP,” explains Alan Blood, General Manager at the Salem branch of Garmin.

“Particularly for attracting engineering talent, or technically skilled talent, the MECOP [program] has been a pretty big success for us.”

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supervisors, conducting “stay” interviews, and discovering who they should target for full time conversion.

Among the multitude of different initiatives Garmin has implemented to attract young employees is a pilot high school program where they enter local high schools, give presentations, and conduct virtual career fairs.Each of these initiatives works to attract students who don’t often see the value in obtaining a four-year degree.

MECOP is a university-based program focused on providing training and development for the next generation of professionals through paid internships.

Internships are aligned with university coursework to minimize the extension of time to complete degrees while maximizing the time to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to real-world projects in industry.

“Converting interns is a really successful technique that we’ve developed over the years here,” explains Jason Bushnell, Human

Winter 2021

Resources Manager at the Salem branch of Garmin. “We’re really confident that an intern will have a great experience here and that they’ll share that with at least ten friends, if not more.”

Applying a consistent vocabulary, Garmin has implemented a special system that tracks professional development of these candidates from student-worker to passionate employee. Through the efforts of a detailed mentorship program, Garmin welcomes feedback from all areas of their student workers’ employment such as their

Moreover, in a partnership with folks who are active in the United States military, Garmin offers targeted internships for these service men and women. This is another area where Garmin looks to attract a diverse workforce, perhaps from folks who don’t come from a traditional university setting. Furthermore, Garmin supports Goodwill career events designed to help candidates with disabilities to find employment, and also works with organizations such as Chick Tech and Girls Who Code to target females in STEM for employment.

Continued on next page

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In addition to the attraction of working on such innovative products, Garmin’s state-ofthe-art facility includes a sports field, volleyball courts, basketball courts, putting green, and two onsite fitness centers. Another major attraction to the long list of amenities already present, Garmin offers a ground school education on learning how to fly.

In partnership with the local flying club, employees are incentivized to learn how to become pilots.

“This experience not only encourages us to be better than the last product, but it also keeps people here because it’s such a cool, unique perk that a lot of

companies [don’t] offer,” said Blood.

Despite having worldwide resources and industry knowledge, the labor shortage has not skipped over Garmin.

Prior to the shortage, Garmin would have nearly 300 applicants in their hiring pools, a daunting feat to anyone who has ever managed an interview process. But now, Garmin’s applicant pool, just like many other local companies, has shrunken to

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Garmin will allow employees to fly these planes at cost of operation and subsidize the cost. This experience also allows Garmin employees to test out the products and equipment they helped build as the panel and other controls are comprised of Garmin products.

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never-before-seen standards.

“We’ve seen the number of applicants drop off significantly, so there’s definitely a war for good talent out there,” said Bushnell.

Moreover, some employers have now coined the term “applicant ghosting” when an offer has been made and the applicant ceases all communication. They simply stop replying to their potential employers’ inquiries.

“[A]pplicants are usually doing everything they can to put their best foot forward to get the job and so forth,” said Bushnell. “It’s definitely the most challenging recruiting environment most of us have ever seen.”

“I’ve been here for over 17 years now and it’s really the people and the culture that keeps me here,” said Blood. “It’s something that as a leadership team we actively try to manage and make sure that we reinforce and enhance and that the culture doesn’t erode.”

While hiring and onboarding has become an increasingly arduous task, maintaining a talented workforce has evolved into an art all itself.

If Alan’s long tenure sounds impressive, it’s not uncommon for employees to remain at Garmin for an extended amount of time.

Continued on next page

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In fact, the average tenure for an employee at Garmin is seven years, well beyond the industry average of 2.5 years.

With an eye toward retention, Garmin is taking concrete steps to ensure good employees stick around. Included on their website is an area where current employees can submit their current resume and job skills and be internally considered for future roles. Garmin also conducts multiple salary surveys to ensure their employees are continually being met with competitive compensation packages.

But above all the glitz and glamor lies an even more attractive element to the future workforce.

“We recruit for highly technical, very skilled engineering talent. But at the same time, we match that

Garmin offers employees the opportunity to learn flying with their onsite planes.

with culture of service,” says Blood.

“Being humble and willing to jump in and help wherever you can.

[W]hen we do... interviews, we look for somebody that would... not only fit well, but enhance the culture here.”

“We’ve proven this because 2020 was our most successful year ever, which is pretty unbelievable considering the circumstances we’re in. We want to be a leader for a long time.”

When given the final word as to why a potential employee would want to work for a company like Garmin, Bushnell had a great response.

At the end of the day, Garmin, like all companies right now, are working to solve the problems of today with grace, and a little bit of humor.

“Garmin is definitely a company that’s built to last,” said Bushnell.

“We’re hiring,” laughs Blood. 503.

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How to Keep Your Employees Amid the Great Resignation

By Zachary Sielicky, Director of Business Advocacy The Great Resignation is sweeping across the United States with no signs of abatement — and as a small business owner, it may be affecting your company in very real ways. The term “Great Resignation” was first coined by Professor Anthony Klotz from Texas A&M to describe the phenomenon of people quitting their jobs as the pandemic fades and life starts to open up again.

The statistics bear out Klotz’s predictions. Four million people quit their jobs in April 2021, with the total rising to 11.5 million by the end of June. Fully 44% of U.S. workers plan to seek a new job by the end of 2021, indicating unprecedented instability in the labor market — and that figure leapfrogs to 54% if you just look at the Gen-Z numbers.

What’s fueling the Great Resignation?

Among the most cited reasons workers are quitting (or thinking about it): • Employees want to continue to work remotely • They don’t feel safe returning to their former jobs in person • They’re re-evaluating their priorities and putting their employers’ needs further down the list • Their current or former job makes employees feel stressed or burnt out • Employees want opportunities for growth that their current jobs don’t provide We take the Great Resignation seriously and want to help our 24

communities find a way to thrive through these unusual times. Take a look at some steps you can take to keep your employees during the Great Resignation.

1. Prioritize Employee Well-Being During the pandemic, many employees in all fields took time to assess their work-life balance – and more than a few came to the conclusion that the balance was tilted too far in the direction of work. One result: Workers who had considered their jobs adequate began to reprioritize in favor of their own well-being.

Employers who adapt to that rebalancing stand a better chance of hanging on to valuable employees.

Create a space where your workers can feel safe and heard. Acknowledge the importance of mental health, and make it a priority, providing resources and time off in the form of mental health days to help employees cope with issues such as anxiety and depression. Empowering employees to determine their own schedules also goes a long way to making a statement that you care about their well-being.

2. Talk to Your Employees — Now By the time you’re conducting an exit interview to find out just why an employee resigned, it’s too late. Start talking to your employees now. Ask them about how the pandemic has affected them so you can understand their current emotional take on your workplace. If your company had to pivot to remote work, learn how they felt about it. Ask what suggestions they would make to keep your business an affirming place to work in a post-pandemic world.

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By talking with employees before they announce their resignations (possibly even while they’re still considering resigning), you can convey the message that you’re willing to make the changes they want to see.

Learning what they see as the pluses (and minuses) of working for your company will help you retain the good employees you don’t want to lose.

3. Invest in Collaborative Tools As much as many employees loved the ability to control their own schedules and work from home during the pandemic, they also missed the opportunity to work with their colleagues. Now is the time to lean into fostering collaboration.

By energizing your employees as a cohesive group, you help them feel like a part of something greater.

Your collaborative initiatives might range from investments in collaboration tech to better incorporate remote work into your ongoing plans to finding ways to celebrate your workers and foster relational strength within your workplace. When employees feel that they’re part of a group that’s having a positive impact on your community, they build bonds of loyalty to your organization and want to stick around, even as the Great Resignation continues around them. 503.

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Trend Setter Capitol Menswear offers styles for all occasions Capitol Menswear owner, Aaron Nadan.

Huddled within the confines of the Reed Opera House is the exquisite Capitol Menswear, a new men’s fashion establishment bound to become the pinnacle destination for casual menswear in the MidWillamette Valley. Capitol Menswear houses everything from attire to idiosyncratic accessories that

26

encompass all the nuances of an Oregon lifestyle. If one were to take a stroll inside the store, you would think that this place has existed since the dawn of time. Yet, the store began five years ago under a different name and had its sights set on a different objective.

Originally launched in July of 2016, Aaron Naden, owner of Capitol Menswear, created his business as an ecommerce site full of locally infused beard and body products called Bearded Oregon. In March of 2020, Aaron moved his business into a brick-and-mortar retail store with a prime window spot at the Reed Opera House. While business had been

S a l e m C h a m b e r. o r g

steady and successful, it wasn’t until Aaron’s wedding that he discovered an opportunity in the clothing industry.

“We had three guys unknowingly show up at our wedding with the same shirt from Target,” laughs Naden. “That just showed us that Salem desperately needs a menswear store – and not necessarily a place for tuxes or suits because we have Men’s Wearhouse – but we needed something for everyday clothing; something you can grab to go to a wedding and be casual or just wear around the house.”

Aaron’s entrepreneurial spirit dates back to when he was in fourth grade, living in McMinnville, and had a love of Pokémon. He created his own version of the beloved card game but with a new twist in the name: Pocket Dogs. Aaron would later sell these cards to his friends with some even ditching the Pokémon brand in preference on Pocket Dogs. Essentially, the games were one in the same, a fact Aaron admittedly finds amusing.

“I totally would have been sued if I was older,” laughs Naden.

“I even made business cards with my school picture on them and put ‘CEO’ next to it.”

Later, Aaron began working for himself by managing multiple social media accounts while also driving an Uber.

These jobs allowed him to remain financially stable while working to build the “Bearded” social media account which would eventually evolve into Bearded Oregon. After a year of creating content for this Instagram page, named Bearded Bros, Aaron decided to make the leap into product creation with soaps and oils. Ironically, Aaron gained the majority of his skills also through the digital landscape.

“YouTube [is] a great resource on starting your own business with all these how-to videos,” said Naden.

Aaron’s experience building his business is a testament

to the way in which commerce continues to pivot to a more online capacity.

“Ten years ago, people would have said I did it backwards,” said Naden.

“But now, with everything that we’ve gone through in the last two years, I really feel that I am thankful I went the route I did.”

While other businesses struggled to adapt to a shift in model, it was Aaron’s established online presence that allowed him to continue his steady flow of business amidst the worst pandemic in 100 years.

“Everything was already running smoothly because that’s what our primary focus was originally,” said Naden. “So that helped me get the Capitol Menswear website live and primed up.”

Currently, Aaron’s products ship to all 50 states and ten countries. A feat he does not take for granted.

“When I got my first international order, I almost thought it was a mistake or something,” said Naden. “It’s cool to see that people are willing to put out their money for something that... to me seems so simple.”

Eager to grow his business and eventually offer products such as footwear and other forms of casual attire, Aaron offers a piece of introspective wisdom to any emerging entrepreneur in the Salem area.

“I’m 32 and I still consider myself young with a whole lot of life ahead of me,” said Naden. “If I were to give up in my 30s on something, then where does that leave me in my 40s, 50s, and beyond if I gave up on something that was most important to me right now?”

Capitol Menswear is located on 189 Liberty St. NE, Suite 104 in downtown Salem. 503.

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Taking Control of Your Voice When social media platforms waver, blogging keeps your message online

by Emmanuel Goicochea, Director of Marketing & Communications Facebook and Instagram disappeared from the internet’s public space in the early afternoon on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, causing a mixture of emotions between creatives and business owners alike.

Should we stand up and cheer or should we be worried about our company’s brand awareness?

The last time the social media giant experienced an outage was in March 2019, but never has an outage occurred where one disruption caused the downfall of its sister apps. Additionally, the outage came at an unprecedented time in Facebook’s history as they faced intense scrutiny from Frances Haugen, the so-called “Facebook Whistleblower.” Haugen publicly revealed Facebook’s hidden knowledge of the social and physical harm it causes its users. These actions and more spurred the inevitable thought among business leaders and community members: If Facebook and Instagram are gone, how do I digitally market my business?

The question is valid, and if we’re being quite honest, the impact these social platforms have had on our organization is immense, thus, there is much at stake in their success.

Before the outage, the Salem Chamber held 1,919 Instagram followers and over 5,000 on Facebook, two of the largest audiences known to our organization. Luckily, these two platforms aren’t the only form of communication/digital marketing we rely on. As a matter of fact, they’re second in line to the true Master of Modern Marketing: The Blog.

In 2021, it may seem old hat to upload content to a blog. Yet some legacy traditions are the only foundations which keep the abode of information from breaking. A blog combines the best of the new and the old, the analog and the digital. It bridges the unforeseen gap which Facebook and Instagram have created. And, as recent news dictates, works FOR your business rather than against it.

A blog is a digital space, located in an easily accessible area on your website, where your business uploads any and all content intended for distribution to your audience. This could be upcoming events, press releases, feature articles, interviews, videos, podcasts – basically all the current forms of media, but hosted in one hub. Your blog, which 28

houses ALL your consumer content, is the key to your company’s digital presence.

Google, the one true search engine giant of the modern digital industry, utilizes Web Crawlers (sometimes referred to as Spiders) to search the internet with the intent of indexing information. It is here where the meaning behind your company’s blog comes into full view. These Web Crawlers scan the internet searching for keywords which can be found in the content you created, and the focus keyword target you set in your blog post’s creation. Essentially, the words you use in your blog posts are imperative with current and future customers finding your web/product hosting site. Ensuring that your content is Search Engine Optimized (SEO), becomes paramount in helping your stakeholders find your site. If all this sounds like science fiction or thickly laid gobbledygook, you’re right! But that’s the name of the game in the digital landscape.

Moreover, when you invest in your blog, you partner with the most effective piece of digital marketing today: The email.

When you send out your email blasts to your prospective clients or current customers, make sure that every piece of content is hosted on your blog. This will, in turn, drive more traffic to your site and ultimately lead to more sales for you and your valued team members. This also allows you to employ conversion tracking in your email marketing, a must-have for all businesses hoping to get the most return on their marketing investments.

A combined broadcast strategy like this not only centralizes your content, but it also instills a sense of ownership among the folks working behind the scenes to create your content.

This significant outage event, although momentarily over, does not dispel the question that remains: What do we do when all that we’ve done is no longer viable? Like all great leaders, we improvise. We pivot. We innovate. We create. We use what we have, sharpen what we can, and hope for the best in the end. Because once the dust settles on what we’ve done, the last thing we want to say is that we could have done more. But with your trusty blog, the unsung hero of the digital marketplace, the prospect of a better tomorrow is, for the time being, still a horizon that ceases to be labeled elusive. 503.

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A M B ASSAD O R OF TH E Q UARTE R

Terri Axell

Mary Kay Cosmetics Sales Director

I’m so thrilled and humbled to receive this honor! All of our ambassadors are deserving for what they do.

is something that sets us apart. You can still see me delivering products to front porches or mailing a pile of orders. Now that many of us are vaccinated, I see people in person… with masks on, of course. You may ask, how does this fit into the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce? I can tell you: It puts me smack dab into the middle of people that need my personalized services.

I’ve been involved with the Chamber since 1999 (YIKES... really???) and have loved every minute of it.

I feel the Chamber fills a big need for our business community and believe in all that it does. Over the years, Ambassadors have helped organize food drives during the holidays, events honoring our businesses in the area, the First Citizens Awards Banquet, and even our educators in the Salem area.

We’ve helped to create events like Evening d’Elegance (so much fun) and educational activities focused on providing help to businesses big and small.

I’ve been building my Mary Kay business since 1978 helping anyone with skin look their very best. Maybe you’ve heard my tag line: “How old you are is your business, how old you LOOK is mine.” It’s been my great pleasure to work with people of all ages helping them to look their best, many of them have become consultants as a result. We all know

that if you don’t like what you see in the mirror, it affects how you feel about yourself. I’ve had women cry when we’re done with a consult saying, “I’ve never thought I could look like this.”

During this season of COVID, our entire company has pivoted to working remotely. Instead of sitting across a kitchen table with clients, we’re on FaceTime or Zoom. Yet, we haven’t lost our personal touch entirely which

I love meeting new businesses when they join the Chamber, whether they are at a Greeter’s event, at their Ribbon Cutting, or at Chamber Business Women events. I feel soooo very connected to Salem when I know the businesses here. I love being able to answer questions from my friends and family about “who do you know that can...”

I love what Ambassador Ron Peters said in the last issue of this magazine: “The Chamber “is about people. It is about the ability to achieve and the opportunity to create community through entrepreneurial pursuit.” 503.

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