503. Magazine: Spring 2022

the salem chamber’s magazine

Competing with the Big ‘A-to-Z’ SAIF Agri-Business Banquet highlights Shop provides English tutoring, employment for refugees

Spring 2022

Leadership Salem Reconnecting and reconvening business leaders

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

Four Ways to Lead with Compassion

by Tom Hoffert, Chief Executive Officer How do you genuinely inspire and motivate your team?

Managers and business owners who think that they are charismatic and influential leaders may need to take a moment to reflect on their effectiveness. Leading with compassion may be the key to connecting with employees on a deeper level and ensuring a loyal and productive team.

If you want to influence others, you need to earn their trust. Influencing for the sake of influence, power, or other self-centered motivations is not going to get you anywhere, and your team can usually see through a leader who does not have genuine care or concern for their well-being.

Without a personal connection, leaders find it difficult to affect people’s behavior over time — at least without coming across as dictatorial or overbearing. To achieve a personal connection, focus on encouragement and support through empathy for your team.

During this time of uncertainty, from post-COVID protocols to workplace challenges, present yourself as human and vulnerable, rather than infallible and unapproachable. Your team is looking at how you cope and demonstrating that you are human goes a long way towards establishing personal connections.

You cannot reach people if you are only motivated by the bottom line.

Here are four ways that leaders and

business owners can lead with compassion:

teach them everything they need to know about speaking up in the future.

Engage in Active Listening

Create an Environment of Appreciation

Instead of seeking to influence others, focus instead on asking the right questions and listening to what your team is and is not saying. You may not have all the answers but being present goes a long way towards building trust.

Many business owners labor under the impression that they must have all the answers to gain respect. This could not be further from the truth. If you want to make a difference, listen, process, and then act upon what you are hearing from your team. Being consistent with your communication gives your team stability and trust in what you say.

Know Your Team Members

Get to know your employees to understand what truly motivates them.

While money and job security are big motivators for anybody, there are also secondary motivations that you will not understand unless you take the time to create and nurture those interpersonal connections. For example, have genuine conversations about areas your team sees for improvement or things they did not like about past leadership (at the current workplace or other jobs they have had).

If you create an environment of trust and respect, your team will not be afraid to speak up. When they raise concerns, your reaction and how you listen will

A simple word of praise or acknowledgment after a tough week goes a long way towards making people feel valued in their jobs. When you do give praise, make it specific and personal. Note where someone played a critical role in the success of a particular project or when someone went above and beyond in client care.

Your End Goal is Self-Awareness Are you out of touch? Is your approach tone-deaf? Take some time for introspection to determine if you are leading from the heart or still leading from the desire to influence others.

Being self-aware enough to admit that you are constantly growing and improving as a leader sets an example for your team. Plus, taking the time for regular self-assessments can help you determine whether you are on the right path for compassionate leadership.

Servant Leadership

Employees crave transparency and authenticity in their leaders, not simply giving a motivational speech. Leading with compassion and humility is often the key to having a loyal team that trusts your leadership. Intentional, compassionate leadership will raise production and create an inclusive culture which invites a sense of ownership over each individual’s role within your company. 503.

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Spring 2022

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TERTIARY LOGO 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.

14 SAIF Agri-Business Banquet highlights.................................. 14 How Leadership Salem is reconnecting businesses.... 16 the salem chamber’s magazine

President’s Message............... 6 Directors & Staff..........................8 Competing with Amazon.....10 Meet the New Marketing & Communications Manager..................................... 12

Making Your Point with Elected Officials........................ 24 Sparrow Furniture Creates Opportunities for Refugees............................... 26 Ambassador of the Quarter: Ashlee Mecham..................... 30

Above (left to right): Jack Martin, VP & Senior Relationship Manager, KeyBank; Ernesto Toskovic, Senior VP Enterprise Banking, KeyBank; Chip Terhune, President & CEO, SAIF; Christy Witzke, VP of Sales, Marketing & Communications, SAIF. Photo by Kathryn Davidson of Photos By Orion.

Cover: Derek Gilbert, Margaret Gander-Vo and Quandray Robertson are participants in the recently relaunched Leadership Salem. Photo by Jennifer Jean of J Jean Portraits.

@salemchamber

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

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503. is published quarterly

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

Publisher: Paula Mabry 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

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

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CH AMBER PRE S IDE N T’ S ME S S AG E

A LOT HAS

by Laura Dorn,

CHANGED

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

D U R I N G A T W O - Y E A R G L O B A L PA N D E M I C . . .

For all the necessitated pivots to digital meetings, distant learning, and work-from-home formats, there has been a loss of connection, only found while gathering in person. We have now seen a conclusion to some of the COVID-related safety requirements, such as indoor masking mandates, as the pandemic loosens its stranglehold on governments, businesses, and community.

As COVID cases continue to decline, I’ve been encouraged by the number of Salem Chamber members who have returned to our in-person programming – each gathering intentionally designed to be safe environments for business owners and employees to come together as a peer community.

I wish to acknowledge the thoughtful (and intentional) leadership of the Salem Chamber’s Board of Directors and our staff team, under the leadership of Tom Hoffert. How the Salem Chamber operated during the pandemic was deliberate — while business and community reeled under the immense daily health mandates and changes coming from the Governor’s office and the Oregon Health Authority,

our organization positioned itself as the premier resource for timely, key information affecting your company’s internal operations and customer-facing responsibilities as an employer.

The Salem Chamber freely shared resources with chambers of commerce across the state — high tides raise all boats. Most importantly, we were engaged daily with the decision-makers and decision-making bodies in an attempt to minimize impact on local small businesses. There were times of success and many times of head-shaking frustration, as we witnessed significant government overreach and unchecked executive office mandates. We lost many Oregonian lives and small businesses to the pandemic. And now we rebuild as a community.

Lastly, a healthy reminder that WE determine who represents us as elected officials. The Salem Chamber will provide members with dynamic and extensive coverage of the various candidates seeking public office, starting with our coverage of the May 2022 Primary election. Come May, we ask you to take a simple, yet vital step towards participation — VOTE! 503.

On Saturday, April 16, we celebrated a special group of distinguished servant leaders from the Salem community at the 71st First Citizen Awards Banquet.

We will include a full recap of the evening in the summer edition of 503.

Now, please join us in congratulating our deserving recipients: Salem First Citizen: GARY EPPING & SHAWN EPPING ENGELBERG Outstanding Young Professional: RICH SCHULTZ Distinguished Service: JERRY MOORE, MARY JEAN SANDALL, and MYRON JONES

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors for helping make this event possible:

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

Welcome Newest Chamber Members Dec. 1 – March 15, 2022 HealthNet Health Plan of Oregon Timber Town Harley-Davidson Creative Credit & Auto Sales NPJ Sports Complex Logo, LLC University Station Executive Suites Ames Research Laboratories, Inc. Mountain Coast Electric Amy McLeod – Keller Williams US Storage Centers – Northeast, South & West Barre3 Salem Chubby Bao House The Independence, A Trace Hotel David Harrison Consulting Huff Construction Harper Houf Peterson Righellis, Inc. The Physical Therapy Project Guitar Castle Perseverance Strategies, Inc. KBZY 1490 AM Radio Q’s Corner Barbershop The Gray Lab Geneva Financial, LLC DPI Staffing Petersen Auto Appraisals Surfaces NW, LLC The Gillott Home Team, Keller Williams Realty Mid-Willamette Chang’n Lanes Becka Makes Buttons AT&T Hoss Soss Western Oregon University, Salem Campus 45th Parallel Heartland Payment Systems Ooma, Inc. PacWest Wealth Partners Nectar Cannabis – Commercial & Liberty Jaeger Lopez Insurance Nails West, LLC Forget Me Knot John Dorn & Rich, Inc. Mann Mortgage BST Realty, LLC Reitan & Co. Interested in joining the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce?

For more information, contact Membership Manager Michelle Terzenbach at michelle@salemchamber.org

Spring 2022

CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING VOTED

2022 BEST RESULTS PUBLISH

JUNE 23 BOWV2022.com

This year plan on joining us June 23 at the Oregon Garden for an afternoon set aside to celebrate Best of the Willamette Valley presented by Rick’s Custom Fencing & Decking. Learn more at BOWV2022.com.

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Your Chamber EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President LAURA DORN

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Advisors, LLC

President-Elect WENDY VELIZ Portland General Electric

Past President KATHY GORDON Aldrich CPAs & 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

ERIC TEMPLETON

Lineage Logistics

BRANDON BLAIR

State Farm Insurance

Summit Wealth Management

RYAN COLLIER

Collier Law

AmeriTitle

TED FERRY

MIKE HERRON

KATIE COSTIC

AC + Co Architecture | Community

Construction

These icans may be utilized in any Systems brand color. Navy blue on white or white navy blue are the JACOB ESPINOZA DAN on JOHNSON preferred/primary options. Leadership Foundation Marketing

SAIF

TOM YANG

Geppetto’s Italian Restaurant

T-Mobile

DAN McDOWELL

Pioneer Trust Bank

CONNOR REITEN

NW Natural

RANDALL SUTTON

Saalfeld Griggs, P.C.

MICHELLE TERZENBACH

& Communications Manager

Program Director

Membership Manager

ZACHARY SIELICKY

Membership Engagement Specialist

NAOMI TILLERY

ASHLEY GONZALEZ

Director of Business Advocacy

Member Support Specialist

RIBBON CUTTING REQUEST FORM

CHELSEA LYNCH JUDY FISHER SARAH RAMBECK

CTEC Business Liaisons

CHRIS SEELY

Workforce Development Specialist

Member Services

Barre3 Salem.

JIM VU

The Kitchen on Court Street

CHRISTY WITZKE

VIPs Industries

JULIE HOY

PAUL DAKOPOLOS STEPHEN JOYE Garrett These the individual icons for Hemann the Fischer,are Hayes, Robertson, Joye & Allen, LLC They are ideal Salem Chamber. for P.C. social media profile images, swagDUNCAN RICH Secretary items, and other similar applications.

Rich Duncan ALAN RASMUSSEN Modern Building

JEFF DUNN

Advanced Economic Solutions

West Salem Ace Hardware.

HOSTING A GREETERS

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.

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!

salemchamber.org/host-greeters-application

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

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Spring 2022

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How Local Businesses Can

Compete with Ama zon

by Michelle Terzenbach, Membership Manager Amazon is the largest online store and hosts products from some of the biggest brands in the world. It is also known for large inventories and discounts, so competing based on price can be a tall order for local startups. Interestingly, about 50% of the products you encounter at Amazon in the United States are listed by small-tomedium businesses (SMBs) and not Amazon itself. So is Amazon a competitor, or is it a marketplace?

In addition to setting up your business on Amazon, there are several ways a local business can compete and establish its market.

Here are five: Offering Personalized Services Local businesses have the advantage of offering one-on-one customized services, something that’s not available for Amazon customers. As a small business, you can focus on customer support to learn more about your clients and customize your services to their needs. There are various ways to create an impression of personalized services, from greeting customers by their names and following up on big sales to analyzing feedback.

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Introduce A Loyalty Plan A loyalty program is designed to reward repeat customers and a perfect way to get repeat business income. If you lack one, you should create a loyalty program that allows regular customers to receive personalized treatment, discounts and better offers. Make sure your customers learn about the loyalty program during their first visit or interaction with your business.

Amazon has deals and redeemable points, shipping discounts and other incentives, so make sure your loyalty program is attractive enough to retain customers.

Increase Brand Awareness and Online Presence To become successful, people need to know about your business, so it is vital to work on the brand. Invest in SEO, set up your website and get on Amazon if your business model can align with the store. Make sure you optimize the business for local customers and take advantage of social media marketing. Increasing brand presence locally will provide the perfect canvas for exploring markets beyond the borders.

Market for Mobile Most people start their searches online through their mobile phones and modern devices. In recent times, mobile games, operating systems and other applications have become a platform for

advertising. Companies like Amazon market for everyone, especially mobile users. However, as a local business, you have the advantage of knowing and understanding your immediate customers. You know the right language to use for marketing and platforms local communities use to access information. Mobile devices also offer a chance to connect offline shopping experiences.

Set Up Your Amazon Business Amazon boasts the inherent advantages of a global brand and is essentially a marketplace where customers can find any product.

As a local business, you can take advantage of the existing logistics frameworks and reputation to list your products on the platform.

Local customers who prefer to shop from Amazon will still be able to find your products and business.

However, this requires meeting all Amazon requirements and optimizing your business to appear at the top of both Amazon and Google search results.

Amazon relies on small and medium businesses (like yours) in all categories and, in 2019, the number of SMB accounts in the US Amazon store increased by 133% to 1.1 million. For local businesses, the challenge is to create more perks and personalized services while leveraging social media, mobile marketing and local SEO. 503.

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Dan Johnson After spending the last eight years working in communications at Willamette University here in Salem, I am thrilled to join the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce as its new Marketing and Communications Manager.

I am a Salem native, and, apart from spending four years studying journalism at the University of Oregon in Eugene, I am also a lifelong resident. So, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible growth of the business community here over the years and am excited by the even greater potential Salem has yet to realize.

Salem has a rich history as Oregon’s capital and an important legacy in the region. But a place is only a plot of land without great people. The

community of ambitious and unique individuals is what makes Salem truly special — which is one reason why I am happy and proud to be staying home to remain a part of it.

Since becoming a professional marketer, communicator, and writer, I’ve found nothing satisfies me more than a strong, compelling story. Fortunately for me, and for all of us within the Salem business community, there is an endless supply of incredible stories to tell. It’s just a matter of devoting time and effort, and finding the right vehicles to share them.

This is my new mission with the Chamber.

What makes this transition even more exciting for me is the opportunity to partner with Chamber

FOR LEASE CLASS A OFFICE SPACE

Meet the Chamber’s new Marketing & Communications Manager colleagues and members in working to amplify and empower the voices of local businesses, leaders, and entrepreneurs. They are certainly worthy and deserving of our attention, but more importantly, our support. My hope is to raise the profile of our Chamber members by continuing to place a spotlight on them and letting them shine in it.

For a long while, the business community here has exuded a palpable optimism and enthusiasm.

Since I joined the Chamber and have begun to meet more of its members, that sense has only intensified.

I can’t wait to see what 2022 has in store for our Salem businesses, and I am beyond thrilled to play a part in bringing their stories to life (and to you). 503.

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SAIF Corporate Agri-Business Banquet A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors: Title Sponsor: SAIF Presenting Sponsor: KeyBank SmartGrid Sponsor: Portland General Electric Major Sponsors: Aldrich CPAs + Advisors AmeriTitle Boldt Carlisle Smith, a Division of SingerLewak, LLP Chemeketa Community College Coastal Farm & Ranch

Chamber CEO Tom Hoffert presenting Oregon FFA’s Jonwyn Ayres with the PGE SmartGrid $1,000 scholarship. Kathryn Davidson, Photos By Orion

Corban University Country Financial – Western Region Office

After missing the evening event for a year due to the pandemic, the annual SAIF Agri-Business Banquet returned in January.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce was thrilled to host one of its signature events once again, welcoming back friends, industry experts and business leaders to the Salem Convention Center.

Fischer, Hayes, Joye & Allen, LLC Harvest Capital Company Kuenzi & Company, LLC Oregon Cattlemen’s Association Pac/West Lobby Group Rich Duncan Construction Ticor Title Wilco Farmers Willamette Valley Vineyards

As is customary each year, Chamber Board President Laura Dorn began the evening by thanking the event’s generous sponsors and introduced Terry Kuenzi of Kuenzi & Company to lead the invocation. Shortly thereafter, Oregon Future Farmers of America State Secretary Jonwyn Ayres performed a soaring rendition of the National Anthem, permeating the room with pride and unity.

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

On Jan. 21, 2022, over 250 Chamber members and guests came together to celebrate the Willamette Valley’s agricultural and business communities. event’s SmartGrid sponsor, PGE. In her acceptance speech, Jonwyn shared her perspective on how the FFA benefits students, as well as her thoughts on the future of the agriculture industry in Oregon.

Keynote speaker Kerry Tymchuk, Oregon Historical Society Executive Director.

John Zielinski, owner of EZ Orchards, served as emcee and did a fantastic job of keeping the energy up throughout the evening and in between speakers.

One of the highlights of the evening came next as Chamber CEO Tom Hoffert presented Jonwyn with a $1,000 college scholarship on behalf of the

Representing the night’s presenting sponsor, KeyBank Vice President Ernesto Toskovic introduced the keynote speaker, Oregon Historical Society Executive Director Kerry Tymchuk, who entertained the audience with a witty look at the history of agriculture in Oregon.

The 2022 SAIF Agri-Business Banquet was an electric night and provided a long-overdue and formal recognition of the contributions of Oregon’s agriculture businesses, family farms and local ranches to the state’s economy and our way of life. Thank you to all of our sponsors, including our title sponsor SAIF, which helped the Chamber put on another extraordinary event for our guests. 503.

SINCE

Thank you to the Ag Banquet advisory team for your dedication in helping put this incredible event together!

Darlene Bryant Marion/Clackamas Oregon Women for AG Karin Daniel Country Financial Tammy Dennee Oregon Dairy Farmers Association Jack Martin Key Bank Mallory Phelan Oregon Aglink Jennifer Reid Country Financial Richard Riggs Oregon State University Extension Service Terry Silbernagel Agri-Business Real Estate Services Nelson Sinn Kuenzi & Company, LLC Nick Wymore Columbia Bank Lyn Zielinski-Mills (Chair) SAIF Corporation

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m e l a S p i h s r e How Lead t c e n n o C g n Is Helpi s e s s e n i s u B Our

In working with the stars of our current Leadership Salem cohort, we’ve seen firsthand the incredible potential within our business community. Here is a glimpse at the leaders who can help Salem rise above its challenges, and the program that unites them.

Left to Right: Quandray Robertson, Derek Gilbert & Margaret Gander-Vo. Photos by Jennifer Jean of J Jean Portraits

16

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

by Jacob Espinoza, Leadership Foundation Program Director

We need to get reconnected.

Our community is fragmented, and many of our Salem residents feel isolated.

Right now, our city needs leaders brave enough to be vulnerable and help create meaningful connections. Fortunately, we know a group of those leaders who are stepping up and taking action.

After spending the last three years as a leadership consultant with T-Mobile, I joined the Salem Chamber team in November.

I’ve been excited to connect with our city’s emerging leaders and begin planning programs, but my first priority was relaunching our Leadership Salem programming.

As one of our city’s most important and prestigious community leadership programs for the last quarter-century, Leadership Salem focuses on bringing our business leaders together. The relaunch has intensified that focus by rallying our leaders around common goals, namely, creating positive impact.

Part of creating that impact is learning to collaborate and identify each other’s strengths. With skill development work and access to decision-makers and experts in several industries, Leadership Salem helps its members grow as individuals but also as a team, while also creating bonds and partnerships that continue to thrive well beyond their time in the program.

Spring 2022

“For me, Leadership Salem was a life-changing experience,” said Angela Williams, Development Director at Huggins Insurance.

“I formed bonds and relationships with folks ready and willing to do what it takes to see Salem/ Keizer thrive. It helped me gain the confidence to lead with courage, make tough decisions and influence others with integrity and genuine goodness.”

“It’s helping me connect the dots.

That’s my mission. That’s what I love to do. I like to help put people in positions to do something for themselves and this wonderful community that they live in.”

Quandray’s business joined the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce in December and shortly thereafter, he was selected as a member of this year’s Leadership Salem cohort.

While optimistic and forwardlooking, the program doesn’t shy away from the challenges facing the Salem business community. Participants receive a comprehensive overview of the Salem area’s realities and opportunities, giving them a sense of what’s at stake and where we can improve as a businessminded city.

Former Chamber CEO Kyle Sexton added, “Our community is an ecosystem: hunters, famers, scavengers, grazers and everything in between.

Programs like Leadership Salem show you how the ecosystem works, and helps you decide the role you want to play.”

Philosophically, Leadership Salem teaches participants to think critically about what it means to be a leader in our community. That framework, combined with their exclusive access to influential government and business leaders, provides them with a fresh perspective about how the city works.

“The biggest part is building relationships and learning more about the community I love and live in,” said Quandray Robertson, owner of Q’s Corner Barber Shop.

“Leadership Salem has allowed me to know and meet individuals that I wouldn’t have known otherwise.

Often, we walk by individuals, not even knowing how wonderful they are. This allows me that time to get to know someone and how wonderful this community truly is and that we have so many wonderful and amazing people in it.”

Knowing that motivated and humble hard workers want to connect with like-minded people, it’s important for Leadership Salem to set the stage for that to happen.

Our role is to invite these incredible leaders and minds to the 17

table and then encourage them to collectively elevate.

Bulgin have made in so many lives since building their business from humble beginnings.

While in breakout groups, it’s rare to see a table not buzzing with conversations. This is where the sparks ignite into the fire that drives many of our leaders out to do great work in the community.

One common theme throughout the experience has been this: The leaders of Salem are ready to get out and reconnect with their city.

“Especially after the last few years, we’ve had so little contact outside of our groups,” said Margaret Gander-Vo, an attorney with Saalfeld Griggs PC. “It’s nice being around people who are engaged in the community in different ways and seeing the kind of networking that can happen when you are moving out of your normal spaces and into a bigger community.”

When we do go out as a group, we also get the chance to see real-life examples of organizations making a difference. In fact, on our first day together, we saw nonprofits making a major impact behind the scenes, such as the IKE Box, YMCA, Church @ the Park, and the Kroc Center.

We were able to tour the stillunder-construction YMCA with CEO Tim Sinatra. We heard about the current impact and future focus of Church @ the Park from Founding Pastor DJ Vincent. And we toured the IKE Box while hearing about the impact owners Mark and Tiffany

Our participants work in different locations all over the city, and all come with diverse industry backgrounds and tenure in Salem.

KAREN FRASCONE

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While the name may have changed, our products and services stay the same. You can continue to enjoy the great service you’ve come to know and love. Stop by and visit us today, we are here for you and our communities we serve!

315 Commercial St SE Salem, OR 97301 503-468-5558

Spring 2022

333 Lyon Street SE Albany, OR 97321 541-926-9000

1495 South Main Lebanon, OR 97355 541-258-7416

www.peoplesbank.bank

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We have participants who work on several non-profit boards and have been doing business in Salem for over a decade. But even they are finding an opportunity to gain a greater appreciation for their city.

“I’m getting to see a new side of Salem I didn’t even know was there,” said Derek Gilbert, Partner and Financial Advisor at Doneth & Sturdivant Wealth Advisors.

“I’m kind of embarrassed by how little I actually know about a town I

thought I knew a lot about. Getting to see little things like Q’s Barber Shop, Don Froylan Creamery, these businesses you drive by but never go in, has been incredible.”

“I’m a pretty social guy, but I’ve been exposed to a network of just wonderful people, people doing different things. It’s been really powerful.”

This year’s cohort is just getting started. Next year’s cohort starts

Know someone looking for a new career?

These local businesses are hiring!

Have a job to post? Check out the Salem Hires Facebook group.

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Respect for people — that’s the Salem Health way

Join us! There are opportunities for everyone, from entry-level to senior professionals.

At Salem Health, we believe in inclusion, diversity, equity and having a learning culture.

Respect for our patients and respect for each other are at the core of what we do.

• • • • •

salemhealth.org/careers

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Nutrition Environmental Information technology Administrative Security

• Nursing • And much more!

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

in September, and I’m excited to announce we already have applicants coming in.

Here is a breakdown of how Leadership Salem works: • Meets one day each month.

• The year concludes with a community-service project.

• Year two, they are assigned groups and help facilitate one of the tours.

With any cohort experience, the content is a small portion of the overall benefits. The major benefit comes with the friendships, bridges, and bonds that form.

Real Estate. “The additional credibility of being involved with Leadership Salem opened doors for me and enhanced my profile in the marketplace.”

“Leadership Salem helped me grow my business by providing a network of individuals that allowed me to have a wider net to connect people in pursuit of my role in the commercial real estate space,” said Jennifer Martin, Principal Broker with First Commercial

If you consider yourself a leader in Salem, you have an obligation to get out of your comfort zone and expand your circle of influence.

This means talking to those you disagree with. It means making sure people feel invited when you organize events.

Our Community Needs YOU! If you enjoy helping people and changing lives for the better, then Chemeketa Community College may have the perfect job for you.

Chemeketa Community College is a workplace environment that values diversity, caring, and innovation. With positions in student services, administration, in the classroom, and on our grounds, you can find the perfect job for you.

New positions are posted regularly.

Visit jobs.chemeketa.edu for more information.

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NOW HIRING

BUS DRIVERS

OUR TEAM Spring 2022

SALEMKEIZER.ORG 21

Ismael Zuniga Belman

Chrissie Bertsch

Jordan Blake

Kyle Brouse

Kimberly Chichester

Soraida Cross

Ricardo Escobedo

Corrina Hawkins

Grant Kendall

Katelyn Renee Kessler

Bryant Malone

Rory McManus

Katya Mendez

Nathan Naggi

Chelsey O’Meara

Kelsey Oran

Hannah Osinga

David Qualls

Connor Reiten

Elizabeth Scharback

Naomi Tillery

Above: More participants in the Chamber’s Leadership Salem program.

All growth happens outside of our comfort zone.

There are people in this city doing amazing things that you will never know about unless you make an effort to connect. We challenge

Iton Udonsenata

Treven Upkes

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you to become a connector and get to know other Salem leaders, like Angela, Quandray, Margaret, Derek and Jennifer.

currently accepting applications

If you feel like you are a good fit for Leadership Salem, we are

Apply now at SalemChamber.org/

Welcome to a new, improved and affordable model for primary care.

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“Resurrecting the lost art of health and healing” If you would like information about becoming a new patient, contact us at admin@phoenixrising.family

for our September 2022 cohort.

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Guiding your business every step of the way.

Aldrich exists to improve the lives of our people, our clients, and our communities. Our vision is to be a long-lasting business with an entrepreneurial spirit, which drives our desire to be leaders in the markets we serve. With decades of experience, we use our deep industry expertise to guide you through today’s financial complexities.

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Phoenix Rising Family Medicine 1655 Liberty St SE, Salem OR 97302 (503) 339-7689 • www.phoenixrising.family 22

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

NeighbORly [ INSPIRING KINDNESS ACROSS OREGON ]

Fighting fires, delivering food and standing strong together elevated the practice of kindness across Oregon. Now we have the opportunity to keep kindness at the forefront of our lives, to reach out, to share, to give our time, treasure and talent, to rise and thrive together. Kindness inspires kindness. Let’s keep it rolling.

Visit oregoncf.org/neighborly to learn, connect and get inspired.

Spring 2022

23

How to Make Your Point with our Elected Officials

By Zachary Sielicky, Director of Business Advocacy If you want to get things done on a political level, sometimes voting isn’t enough. You must make your case directly to the people at or near the top.

But what is the best way to do that? Most people who want to reach out to their elected representatives come up short for anything beyond writing the occasional letter to their congressional representative or senator, and many of them are at a loss for how to do even that. Getting your point across to powerful people is one of the ways we can boost our civic power, so it is a skill worth learning. Here are some approaches that tend to work.

Going Through Official Channels There is a reason everybody who represents you, from the city council to the President of the United States, has a publicly available email address; it is perhaps the easiest way to reach them with your concerns. While the President probably has staff read his email for him, city and county officials can often be directly reached via email. If you are able to compose a persuasive letter putting your concerns across, you might be in contact with the right person just minutes after hitting send.

Many officials also have some kind of contact form for the public on their government website.

These can save a lot of effort, since they usually provide you with a standardized template for getting your point across, rather than making you come up with something completely novel for your email.

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Less-Formal Approaches If you have tried going through channels and you are still waiting for results, or if you are concerned your communication will get lost in the shuffle if you leave it at that, you might consider taking a less-formal approach to making your point with an elected official.

One way is to personally lobby for an issue. Many civically engaged citizens take the time to visit city council and county board of supervisors’ meetings, where they can be added to the meeting schedule and get some allotment of time to speak on an issue. Failing that, you can often schedule a personal meeting with your representative in their office that could run anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour. This usually works well, if you can get a slice of their time, since face-to-face conversations can go a long way toward convincing your rep of your conviction and the importance of your issue. You might also consider joining a civic organization, such as your friendly local chamber of commerce, which has the ability to schedule events your representatives might attend.

Evaluate Your Case However you go about contacting your elected representatives, remember that they meet all sorts of people, and you are far more likely to get what you want if you are polite, reasonable and can make a

logical case. Before your meeting, or before you send your email, try going over what you want to say with a skeptical eye. Address any weaknesses in your argument before bringing it to your elected official; it is bound to make your argument much stronger and more persuasive.

Be Respectful Finally, the most critical component to getting your point across to elected officials is to always approach the medium of dialogue you chose with respect. Although you may not agree with every elected official who represents you, demonstrating humility and respect is by far the most essential arrow you have in you quiver. Elected officials, like any human, may not always remember what you say to them, but they will always remember how they felt around you.

This will, in most cases, leave the door open for future dialogue and communication about issues you wish to voice support for or opposition to. It is important to always remember, that both Democrats and Republicans all want the same thing: a healthy, vibrant, safe, and prosperous community.

It is how we get there which creates turmoil between the two ideologies.

If there is any component of this article I wish everyone remembers, it is far and away the knowledge that respect and humility is the most powerful weapon we may use when we engage with elected officials.

503.

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With a unique apprenticeship program for refugees, Sparrow Furniture provides work skills, English tutoring and employment opportunities, along with custom home furnishings.

Perusing Sparrow Furniture’s modest showroom is a delightful tour for the senses. The space is not only filled with custom hardwood creations that attract the eye in all directions, but also with an aroma of sawdust from freshly cut woods that wafts in from the shop on the other side of the back wall. That smell and the faint sound of buzzing saws lets you know these unique products are made right here.

For many local patrons, the homemade and high-end quality of the pieces are Sparrow’s selling point. But for those who’ve met Sparrow’s staff and know their story understand there’s more that sets Sparrow apart from Salem’s big box furniture stores.

Founded by Salem for Refugees Executive Director Luke Glaze in 2016, Sparrow began with a mission to make

a positive impact on the community. From the start, this “social business” has been far more interested in serving others than making a buck, offering apprenticeships and employment opportunities specifically to Middle Eastern and African refugees.

The idea was born from development work Glaze did in the Middle East, where he partnered with current Sparrow Furniture Director Jess Bashioum. There, they, alongside their respective spouses, ran projects to assist at-risk women in the region by using recycled materials to create items they could sell, such as jewelry.

Seeing the need to also help refugees resettle back home in Oregon, Glaze then used a similar nonprofit model to form Sparrow. Now, just a few years later, Sparrow has developed a robust program to help lift its employees and apprentices

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

out of rough, sometimes tragic, situations and provide them with an opportunity to learn a valuable trade, but perhaps more importantly, to learn English.

serves as executive director), which often helps Sparrow find its apprentices in the first place, including five new employees hired in just the last few months.

“We try to do an 18–24-month training program, where they are learning the American work ethic, English and the different skills you need to be successful,” said Bashioum. “Then we try to help place them in meaningful, long-term work.”

Led by Sparrow staff and a group of volunteers – mainly retired teachers and local students – the one-on-one English tutoring portion of the program occurs every day that an apprentice works. Then, while working in the shop with native English-speaking staff, the training is reinforced and put to practical use.

With English and woodworking skills, the apprentices are then equipped with the tools to seek full-time employment.

While a handful of apprentices have eventually become staff members at Sparrow, the goal is to empower them to spread their wings elsewhere.

After serving Sparrow for 18 months and showing great language skills, one apprentice named Tabakonya earned a position at Trillium Pacific Millwork, which manufactures tables, countertops, cutting boards and other wood products.

“Her training and her skills led to a job that pays a lot more money and overtime, so she was able to support her family,” Bashioum said.

While its apprenticeship program deserves a lot of the credit, many of the successful job placements are a result of Sparrow’s hard work and strong connections to local charities, woodworkers and other nonprofits. Perhaps the most utilized is Salem for Refugees (where Glaze now

Connections to local for-profit businesses have also been instrumental in Sparrow’s recent growth. Sparrow has notably sold furnishings to downtown establishments such as Basil and Board, Isaac’s and the Masonry Grill, which to Sparrow, has signaled a broader ethos of community support from other Salem businesses.

“One thing I love about Salem is the community vibe,” Bashioum said. “We are all for supporting local and supporting community. And I feel like them choosing to go with us, when it might take a little bit more time, just to support community-based things, is a big deal.”

Now, Sparrow has even more ways to get involved with business partners. In February, Oregon gubernatorial candidate and oncologist Bud Pierce donated a Salem Area Chamber of Commerce membership to Sparrow, which Bashioum says, it will certainly take advantage of when it comes to networking with peers and connecting with the Salem community.

“My background is in community health and in development. I’m not a sales, retail or marketing person, so I’m eager to connect with people to help me with those things.”

Although Bashioum may not have envisioned herself in this particular role, like her employees and apprentices, she sees her work as serving a greater purpose.

“My passion has always been for the underserved and the marginalized. And if I have to be in retail and sales,

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I’m so glad it’s something that gives back to the community and supports those who need it. I can get up and go to work knowing I’m not just selling furniture, but that there’s a bigger mission to what we are doing.”

As far as what’s next for Sparrow, Bashioum sees some potential opportunities with expanding the workshop and adding a commercial kitchen to allow some of the refugees to not only prepare traditional meals from their countries of origin, but also to train in the culinary field.

But for now, the most important thing for Sparrow is to be a haven for those who have been displaced after suffering unimaginable hardships.

“Most refugees are coming from war, losing family, losing homes and the idea that they can never go back to their home,” Bashioum said. “That’s why we want to be a place for them to be safe.”

For more information about Sparrow Furniture and to learn how you can get involved, visit sparrowfurniture.org. 503.

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

Ashlee Mecham When I first started my career in Salem, The Statesman Journal had a Young Professionals Spotlight and I noticed a trend of a lot of individuals who attended a group called Salem Young Professionals. I decided to attend one evening and got to know quite a few other young professionals in Salem.

At the time, I was unaware this group was connected with the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, but from this group, I was invited to attend a Greeters meeting. My first Greeters meeting was at Skyline Ford in April of 2016. The next month, I served on the Greeters team and have been to nearly every Greeters meeting since.

In February of 2018, I was approached about becoming an Ambassador and decided to take on the opportunity. I have always enjoyed being able to volunteer and give back to the organizations that I’m involved in and have enjoyed being an Ambassador thus far. In July of 2018, I also

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became the co-chair for Chamber Business Women and still serve for the Advisory Committee for that group as well.

Being part of the Chamber of Commerce has taught me so much about the community I live and work in, connected me with people I would have never met otherwise, and helped me to grow my business in more ways than one. The Chamber has introduced me to amazing people whom I call friends, keeps me up to date on what is going on in our community, and is a champion for my business and many others.

Although I am self-employed and have no employees, I always feel support from the Chamber of Commerce in my endeavors, and I see how it supports businesses of all sizes with an ultimate goal to have a thriving community here in Salem. I’m excited to see this group evolve, to see the new Salem Emerging Leaders group blossom, and to continue serving with such a great group of individuals. 503.

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Stay Well

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Santiam Hospital & Clinics accept all insurance including all Medicare Plans, OHP, Kaiser Permanente & Blue Cross

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1110 Commercial St. NE • Salem OR 97301 tel 503-581-1466 fax 503-581-0972 www.salemchamber.org

Looking to hire skilled employees?

Chemeketa Community College graduates are trained by industry experts.

Our hands-on programs prepare graduates for immediate careers in fields such as: Diesel Technology • Horticulture • Welding • Electronics Connect with Chemeketa’s Career Services team to match with graduates in your industry at go.chemeketa.edu/careercenter EO/AA/ADA/Title IX institution