T H E M O N T H LY B U S I N E S S S E C T I O N F O R L I N N A N D B E N T O N C O U N T I E S A N D T H E M I D - W I L L A M E T T E VA L L E Y
www.democratherald.com/business • www.gazettetimes.com/business
May 2012
South Albany High School career counselor Jackie Labonte assists Jordan Post, 16, with her resume. MARK YLEN | MID-VALLEY INBUSINESS
Pickings slim in teen job market High schoolers need to take extra steps to land that first job By JENNIFER ROUSE
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t used to be a rite of passage — a teenager’s first real job. Whether it was bagging groceries, flipping burgers, or pumping gas, earning money over the summer used to be the norm for young people. These days, with the nation’s economy still only marginally improving, competition is fierce and jobs for teens are hard to find. High school students are instead increasingly turning to sports camps, volunteering, and odd jobs to fill their summer days. According to a report from the Oregon Employment Department, not working is becoming the new norm for today’s teens. Anna Sokolov, business-to-school liaison at Albany Options School, said her students are frustrated by employers who can afford to be picky and are unwilling to take a chance on inexperienced workers. “They say that employers are looking for people 18 and older. They’re not interested in 16 and 17 year olds,” Sokolov said. “They say you can’t find a job unless you’ve already had a job. No one is willing to give you that first chance.” The story is the same from other area career counselors. Jackie Labonte of South Albany High’s Career Center remembers that when she started at South five years ago, the job board filled with employment listings from local businesses used to be packed with opportunities for teens. “I would have so many I could barely keep up with posting them,” she recalled. “Now, jobs for high school students go to college students or older workers. The pickings are extremely slim.” Donna Keim, a career counselor at Corvallis High School, says she tells her students not to expect a steady, paying job at all — at least, not right off the bat. She recommends that students identify an industry they are interested in and volunteer their services for free, arranging to get school credit for their work. “It’s not like it used to be,” she said. “I tell them to expect to put in a couple years of volunteer time before they are offered a position.” National and state employment numbers bear out the trend, although analysts say this year’s numbers are somewhat better than they were for 2009 through 2011. In 2011 — the most recent year for which statistics are available — unemployment among 16- to 19-year-olds was SEE TEEN JOBS | A6
Career counselor Jackie Labonte helps Kelsey Sullivan, 16, in her job search at South Albany High School.
TIPS TO GET A JOB So what can teens to do improve their chances of finding a job? Here are tips from local career counselors who work with students all year long to prepare for both longterm and short-term job goals. BE PREPARED: Get a food handler’s card, earn a CPR certification, or take a tractor safety course before you apply. This shows employers you’re well-qualified and ready to step right into the job. BE POLISHED: Create a resume listing all your skills, even if you don’t have work experience – you can list volunteer work, school leadership positions, or personal qualities such as good teamwork or communication skills. Ask a career counselor at your school to review the resume for you. They can also set you up with opportunities for a mock interview, so that when you actually apply for the
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job, you know how to present yourself professionally. BE PERSISTENT: Follow up with each potential employer you hand a resume to, asking more than once about job opportunities. Plan to do volunteer work or some other resume-building activity if a job doesn’t pan out, so that you are gaining experience even if you’re not getting paid. DON’T BE PICKY: Don’t turn up your nose at farm work, fast food, odd jobs or another position that sounds less than ideal. State employment analysts said they’ve heard horror stories of young people refusing to work long hours, or being willing to accept jobs only if they are allowed to check their Facebook page during a shift. A job is a job, and even a menial one will show future employers that you’re responsible, reliable and hard-working.
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May 2012
B US I N ES S P R O F I L E
MARK YLEN | MID-VALLEY InBUSINESS
Kelsey Sullivan, 16, calls a prospective employer while looking for a job at the South Albany High School career center.
Teen jobs Continued from page A5
AMANDA COWAN | MID-VALLEY InBUSINESS
Dan Coyle of Treepieces pauses for a photo at the Oregon State University Memorial Union craft center on May 23 with sports helmets he made that are tested with bicycle standards. The helmets are created using a variety of woods.
Helmets: A natural fit Outdoor enthusiast carves out business venture constructed from any kind of wood. “Wood actually absorbs energy abbling in woodwork as a because it is cellular,” Coyle said. Here are five keys to success from hobby shaped a business “Softer wood can absorb more imDan Coyle of Corvallis: opportunity for Dan pact.” PERSISTENCE: Coyle, of Coyle Coyle of Corvallis. Treepieces, said his persistence leads Different wood has different Coyle is an outdoors him to overdo and not under-do in areas weight and design. All of Coyle’s enthusiast and enjoys of concern when it came to creating his pieces are finished to show off the wood articles. working with wood. The result has grain and natural colors. The result is INSPIRATION AND COURAGE: Pay been custom paddles, eyeglass a beautiful shell. attention to the inspiration and have the frames and helmets. Now, a venture Helmets for a variety of sports, courage to go for it. involving wooden bicycle helmets CONFIDENCE: Go with your gut. If from horseback riding to kayaking to has taken off, and his future looks to you have confidence in your idea, Coyle hardhats for construction and logbe busy with custom creations that said, other people will feel the same ging, will eventually be available. For will sustain a business. way. now, Coyle has met bicycle helmet “I’ve always enjoyed building and TAKE A RISK; “I like being out of the safety requirements and will focus inventing,” Coyle said. “I also like box,” Coyle said.“Go with a new idea.” on this particular line. However, he cautioned, there are all risk.” Helmets are a product that have sorts of ways to take something, so So, he is going for it. watch out for tangents. Focus on one dibeen made pretty much the same for Coyle registered the business rection. about 40 years, Coyle said. To go fulname Treepieces about 15 months PRIORITIZE: Prioritize family and ly organic in production was someago, but has been working on the friends. Focus on encouraging people thing that made him feel really good. creative side of his helmet project for and foster a strong support group. Coyle has traded in his chain saw nearly two years. for a computer to help him create but Now, he plans to get serious with ceiving support and guidance to creit still takes six to 12 hours to make the other side of the business. ate his business entity, locate startone helmet. up funding, set up financials, develCoyle enrolled in the microbusiFirst, Coyle makes a 3-D model ness program at Linn-Benton Com- op sales and marketing skills and deon the computer. The navigation fine operations. munity College to learn the ins and program reads the image and sends outs of running a business. The ideas He said things are moving so the dimensions to the tools. gathered through the program quickly, he is having a hard time Coyle can’t keep his finished helped him to win the award for the slowing down on the craft side to foproduct on the shelf. While he best “concept company” at the recus on business operations. promises a custom fit, people have cent Willamette Angel Conference. been buying them at trade shows. Beautiful shells While he didn’t receive a large “People are drawn to a particular sum of investment funding from the Ten years ago, Coyle constructed look or pattern and have to have it,” conference, Coyle said he will get his wooden shell helmets with a about $6,000 in services to help him chain saw and grinder. He made the Coyle said. cover consulting and marketing fees shell pieces for their beauty and fit Trying to teach himself the busiand $1,000 free and clear. them to foam liners. He didn’t worry ness end of things while making hel“If I’m lucky, there will be patent so much about them passing safety mets, Coyle said he gets further beattorney services in there,” he said. hind every day. It takes hours for him requirements or being completely to source necessary pieces while orThe LBCC Small Business Devel- natural. Then, for fun, he lined one ders are coming in from around the with cork and compared it with a opment Center’s MicroEnterprise world. program is funded in part by a Com- traditional foam helmet. Testing at Oregon State University revealed his munity Development Block Grant Coyle’s helmets sell from $300 to cork lining passed along with the from the city of Corvallis. It is a $400 and he said the business could foam. three-part support system for lowsoon start paying for itself. Until income entrepreneurs. The first then, he lives off his savings and “My whole attitude changed course, called MicroBusiness Exfamily investments. about the project, ” he said. “The plore and Commit, helps residents plan had been to make the shells to Previously, Coyle was the director learn business basics while doing a fit the foam lining. I was happy — of Santiam Crossing School in Scio. feasibility study on their business surprised — to find the natural maHe still freelances teaching wilderidea. terial passed the test.” ness classes and outdoor adventures Coyle now is in the second for the Corvallis Parks & Recreation Treepieces helmets are made course, Launch Your Business, reDepartment. from natural fiber. The shell can be
By MARIA L. KIRKPATRICK
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FIVE KEYS TO SUCCESS
Google Search for iPhone gets cleaner and faster LOS ANGELES (MCT) — Google Search for iPhone has gotten a complete overhaul that makes the app much cleaner, speedier and a bit user-friendlier, if you will. The updated app, complete with the day’s Google Doodle, now automatically fills the screen in both portrait and landscape orientations with search results. You scroll down, and the controls are hidden. You scroll up to reveal them again. Across the bottom of the screen, you find the categories of search areas including images, videos, news and blogs. This carousel also disappears as you begin to scroll through results. A nice intuitive touch — if you’re looking at results, you don’t need the other navigation options.
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at 29.7 percent.That’s slightly down from the high of 31 percent in 2009,but not much. “It still means that one in three young people who want to work can’t find a job,” said Charlie Johnson, senior economic analyst for the Oregon Employment Department. An additional trend is that not only is the number of jobs for teens shrinking, the number of teenagers attempting to land them has also steadily decreased over the past two decades. “They are working less, but there are also fewer of them looking for work,” Johnson said. Sixty percent of Oregonians aged 16-19 are neither employed nor looking for work. That’s a significant drop from previous generations; the average used to be about 59 percent of teens in the labor force, with only 41 percent not employed or looking for work. This isn’t linked to the recession, according to Johnson. Youth labor rates have been declining since 1990, and economists have no good explanation for the drop. Career counselors at local high schools say that while the number of teens able to find a steady job is low, short-term job offers such as a weekend of yard work or an afternoon of running errands are still coming in to local high schools, and they tend to get snapped up fast. Odd jobs like that aren’t reflected in employment statistics.
RESOURCES FOR JOBS CIS CONNECTION: This employer database is run through Oregon schools; it allows students to search available job opportunities and internships in a single location. It also allows businesses to get their job postings listed in a place where many potential workers will see them. http://oregoncis.uoregon.edu/ home/Products/CISConnec tion/tabid/234/Default.aspx SUMMER ACADEMIES: These classes offered through Linn-Benton Community College are free or low-cost for high school students.They provide an introduction to several different trades and career fields.You won’t earn money by taking a class, but you’ll gain skills, and it will do more for your resume than playing XBox all summer — it will show future employers that you’re motivated and well-educated. www.linnbenton.edu/go/ summeracademies YOUTH WAGE GRANT: Linn County offers subsidies to businesses who hire first-time workers aged 14-19. Applications and information about the program are available at www.co.linn.or.us.
wood said, “It was good practice for helping me get used to being interviewed.” He looks forward to getting paychecks that he can put toward gas and spending money. He also likes the fact that his schedule will give him the flexibility to still participate in conditioning practices for his waBe prepared ter polo team. So how can teens get a Fleetwood said that job? The key factors in findamong his friends he knows ing summer employment some who don’t work, inare no different than stead spending summers they’ve ever been — they just matter even more now. hanging out at home or participating in sports camps. Counselors say teens Others, he says, do have must come in prepared — jobs, but they’re not glamwith a resume, a food hanorous: working at a gas stadlers’ card or other certification, and good interview- tion and assisting at a retireing skills. They also must be ment home, for example. The fact that even lowwilling to take jobs that may paying jobs are out there seem boring or menial. Garrett Fleetwood, a jun- should be encouraging news ior at Crescent Valley, just got for teens, said Johnson of his first job, as a summer life- the Employment Department. And recent economic guard at Osborn Aquatic news indicates that more of Center. Fleetwood said he’d those could possibly be been interested in the position for a couple of years, ever opening up this summer. since he started participating Food service, clerical work, in swim team and water polo. and retail all added jobs this spring, and those are secHe prepped in advance to be equipped for the job, taking a tors that tend to hire young workers, Johnson said. CPR and lifeguard training “Things are looking betclass and participating in a ter, but we’re still not near mock interview exercise. to saying that things are “The mock interview was really helpful,” Fleetlooking good,” he said.
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B US I N ES S DATA March 2012
April 2012
11.6 8.2 8.1
9.5
10.6 10.5
8.6 8.5 6.2 5.8 5.7
U.S.
Oregon
Benton Co.
Thousands
April 2011
9.0
Linn Co.
Source: Oregon Employment Department Note: Data are seasonally adjusted.
325 300 275 250 225 200 175 150 125
Units sold past year
April 2012
409 106 17 500
Units sold past year
April 2011
462 117 25 459
Average sales prices
April 2012
155,093 224,411 187,282 273,977
247,877 Benton County Linn County
191,847
April 2011
145,169
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Source: Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service
Average sales price
153,365 241,788 153,758 280,929
Officers & Directors
299,687
Mid-Valley Residential Report
Albany N. Albany Brownsville Corvallis
MOVERS&SHAKERS
Residential Average Sales Price by Area
Unemployment Rate 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0
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Independence Jefferson Lebanon Philomath Sweet Home
Units sold past year
Units sold past year
Average sales prices
Average sales price
April 2012
April 2011
April 2012
April 2011
65 49 288 77 134
49 55 302 81 125
152,638 199,188 129,691 246,507 124,786
219,977 196,512 151,739 237,830 115,944
Source: Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service
Corvallis MSA (Benton County) Nonfarm Payroll Employment Source: Oregon Employment Department
Change from March ‘12 April ’11 50 0 10 -50 0 -160 0 -10 0 -10 30 -70 -30 -40 -20 -400 10 0 10 -30 -150 180 -30 -50
Mining, logging and construction Manufacturing Trade, transportation and utilities Information Financial activities Professional and business services Educational and health services Leisure and hospitality Other services Federal government State government Local government
April ’12 1,160 3,210 4,280 770 1,360 3,710 5,670 3,090 1,200 560 10,220 2,820
March ’12 1,110 3,200 4,280 770 1,360 3,680 5,700 3,110 1,190 550 10,370 2,850
April ’11 1,160 3,260 4,440 780 1,370 3,710 5,710 3,490 1,200 590 10,040 2,870
Total nonfarm payroll employment
38,050
38,170
38,690
April ’12
March ’12
April ’11
1,900 6,590 8,500 350 1,250 3,120 4,940 3,040 1,300 330 1,170 5,850
1,880 6,540 8,390 360 1,250 3,070 4,920 2,980 1,290 330 1,170 5,890
2,050 6,650 8,390 370 1,210 3,160 4,860 3,100 1,330 330 1,230 6,300
20 50 110 -10 0 50 20 60 10 0 0 -40
-150 -60 110 -20 40 -40 80 -60 -30 0 -60 -450
30,990
30,680
31,120
310
-130
-120
-640
Linn County Nonfarm Payroll Employment Source: Oregon Employment Department Mining, logging and construction Manufacturing Trade, transportation and utilities Information Financial activities Professional and business services Educational and health services Leisure and hospitality Other services Federal government State government Local government Total nonfarm payroll employment
Change from March ‘12 April ’11
DAT E B O O K Wednesday: Department of State Lands Unclaimed Property Reporting Seminar for businesses and organizations.Time: 8:30 a.m. to noon,State Lands Building,Land Board Room,775 Summer St.N.E., Salem.Free (preregistration required).Info: 503-986-5290 or online at www.oregonstatelands.us. Wednesday: : Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Membership Forum.Speaker: Rick Kenyon,president/CEO,Selmet.Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.,Linn County Fair & Expo Center,3700 Knox Butte Rd.,Albany.Cost: $13 members; $20 guests.Info: 541-926-1517. Thursday: Albany Kiwanis Luncheon: “What’s Happening In the World of Big Retail Stores In Oregon and the USA”. Speaker: Brent Wiest, General Manager, Target Distribution Center, Albany. Time: Noon, Pop’s Branding Iron Restaurant, 901 Pacific Blvd. S.E., Albany. Info: 541-223-1247. Friday: Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament, sponsored by ATI Wah Chang. Time: 7 a.m. registration; 8 a.m. shotgun start, Spring Hill Country Club, 155 Country Club Lane N.W., Albany. Cost: $135 per-
son/$675. Info: 541-926-1517. Saturday: Forklift safety training, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., room IC-106, Industrial C Building, Linn-Benton Community College, 6500 Pacific Blvd. S.W.,Albany. Cost: $149, which includes all materials. Registration: LBCC Business and Employer Services, 541-9174923. June 6: Dairy Goat Field Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fraga Farm, 28580 Pleasant Valley Road, Sweet Home. Focusing on small-scale goat dairying and cheese-making. Cost: $50 per person or $75 for a couple registering together and sharing resource materials. Information: 541-766-3556. Registration: http://extension.oregon state.edu/smallfarms/events. June 6: Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Luncheon: “The Women of Morocco.” Speaker: Rita Cavin, president emeritus, Linn-Benton Community College. Time: 11:45 a.m., Phoenix Inn Suites, 3410 Spicer Drive S.E., Albany. Cost: $15 members; $20 non-members. Info: 541-926-1517. June 7: Albany Kiwanis Luncheon: “What’s New at Albany
Boys and Girls Club? Progress on New Expansions and Construction Plans.” Speaker: Ryan Graves, director Boys and Girls Club of Albany. Time: Noon, Pop’s Branding Iron, 901 Pacific Blvd. S.E., Albany. Info: 541-223-1247. June 12: Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce Women in Business. Speaker: Dawn McNannay. Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Bing’s Kitchen, 2416 S. Santiam Highway, Lebanon. Cost: $12. Info: 541-258-7164. June 13: Society of Human Resource Management monthly chapter membership breakfast.
“Social Media Strategies – Are You Part of the Conversation”.Speaker: Thea Albright,Marketing Manager, NWCommunity Credit Union.Time: 7:30 to 9 a.m.,Allann Bros.,1852 Fescue St.S.E.,Albany.Cost: Free to members; $15 non members.Info: diamondbluerose@centurytel.net. June 13 and 14: 2012 Oregon Brownfields Conference and Awards Luncheon, DoubleTree Hotel, Portland. A learning and networking opportunity for those working to make contaminated properties economically viable for reuse. Cost: $250. Registration: www.ettend.com/id=2303.
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The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon State University recently announced the appointment of five members to the Oregon Hatchery Research Center Advisory Committee. The members are Michael Brinkley of Eugene; Ruth McDonald of Yachats; Julie Collins of Portland; Norm Ritchie, also of Portland; and Tom Ebert of Alsea. Ebert will continue to represent science at large on the committee. He has been on the committee since its inception in 2005.He is a retired population ecologist with primary interests in details of life histories and reproduction of organisms. ❑ Corvallis High School teacher Colleen Works has been appointed to Chalkboard Project’s new Distinguished Educators Council. Chalkboard has formed the council to provide Chalkboard and education policy makers specific recommendations to support and strengthen the teaching profession and ensure that Oregon is a good place to teach. In March,Chalkboard invited award-winning teachers from across Oregon to apply to serve on the council.The members will serve on the council until May of next year.The council is expected to formalize its recommendations in a report by early fall,and then begin presenting its recommendations to education policy makers.
People on the Move Samaritan Mental Health Family Center in Corvallis recently welcomed Kiri Horsey, a licensed professional counselor who provides child and adolescent therapy. As a child and adolescent therapist,Horsey specializes in individual,family and group counseling,and encourages learning though activity and experience. She uses a variety of therapeutic Horsey modalities,including play therapy,cognitive behavioral therapy,dialectical behavioral therapy and collaborative problem-solving.Horsey also specializes in bereavement and grief counseling for children and families. She received bachelor’s degrees in psychology and human development from Washington State University in Vancouver,and a master’s degree in counseling from Oregon State University. Prior to joining Samaritan, Horsey worked with children and families at the Trillium Children’s Farm Home and Old Mill Center for Children and Families in Corvallis. Horsey is accepting new patients, and can be reached at 541-768-4620.
❑ Endocrinologist Susan Sanderson joined The Corvallis Clinic on May 16. Sanderson specializes in treating diabetes,thyroid and other endocrine conditions.She came to Corvallis from Hawaii,where she worked as a pediatric and adult endocrinologist. While there,she Sanderson developed the first diabetes education program in West Hawaii to be recognized by the American Diabetes Association. Sanderson received her medical degree in 1986 from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She completed her residency and internship in internal medicine in 1989 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and a fellowship there in endocrinology and metabolism in 1991. Sanderson is board certified in endocrinology, metabolism and diabetes by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Sanderson is accepting new patients and referrals.To schedule an appointment,call 541-754-1260. ❑ The Oregon State University Foundation has appointed announced several new hires. Matt Davis has been named telefund manager. Davis previously worked for four years in golf operations at the Corvallis Country Club. He received a bachelor’s degree in speech communications from OSU. The foundation also has appointed Kelley Marchbanks as director of development for the College of Veterinary Medicine. She worked as development officer for the University of Missouri for four years. She previously was coordinator of constituent relations at the Mizzo Alumni Association, and was program manager of the Girl Scout Council of Greater St. Louis. Jenny Smrekar is the new associate director for annual giving programs, and director of the President’s Circle. She previously was director of development and communications of the Girls’ School of Austin. Before, that she was director of individual giving of the California College of the Arts. She received a bachelor’s degree from OSU, and a master’s degree from the Heinz School of Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University. Grady Goodallhas been chosen as associate director of development for the College of Business.He worked for the foundation the past year as interim gift-planning associate.He previously served as coordinator of government and community relations and director of advancement at Eastern Oregon University.
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