VOLUME 14, ISSUE 2USA $3.95

CANADA $6.95

The eugene AreA ChAmber Of COmmerCe: CelebrATing…PrOmOTing…infOrming business

AP

ril

/m

AY

20

15

FOR BUSINESS

EdTech Evolution

How combining education and technology can create a new cluster for innovation

Features

8Two businesses answer questions that give insight into their companies.

17What you probably didn’t know about Eugene’s EdTech cluster.

18A look at the new Innovation Hub coming to

downtown Eugene.

Columns/Departments

5Chamber @ Work What the Eugene Chamber is doing to support and promote businesses in the

Eugene area.

20Business News Promotions, new hires, and new members

26Last Call Dave Hauser on innovation and economic

prosperity.

ADVerTiser inDeX

Publisher & eDitOr

David Hauser, CCE

COntent eDitOr

Matt Hollander

eugene Chamber exeCutive COmmittee

Craig Wanichek Chair President & CEO, Summit Bank

Nigel Francisco Chair-elect CFO, Ninkasi Brewing Company LLC

Cathy Worthington Treasurer Licensed Tax Consultant, Worthington Business Services

Sheryl Balthrop Past Chair Partner, Gaydos, Churnside & Balthrop PC

aDvertising

Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce 541.484.1314

Design/layOut

Asbury Design 541.344.1633 www.asburydesign.net

Printing

Shelton Turnbull 541.687.1214

eugene area Chamber Of COmmerCe

1401 Willamette St. Eugene, OR 97401

541.484.1314

Open for Business: A publication of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce (USPS-978-480).

Open for Business is published bimonthly by the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce in February, April, June, August, October and December. Circulation: 3,800.

Open For Business © 2015

The subscription price is $25, included in membership. Periodicals Postage Paid at Eugene, OR.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 1107, Eugene, OR 97440-1107

Cover story

10 With Eugene’s investment and professional leadership in technology and research, industry leaders are

championing the concept of a Eugene EdTech cluster, which would accelerate the pace of innovation in learning science and technologies by bringing together education, research and commercial partners.Pictured (from left to right), Cognitopia Co-founder Matt Fanelli; Saavsus, Inc. Managing Director Paul Berger; Oregon Research Institute Science Director Carol Metzler; and IRIS Educational Media Chief Operating Officer Adam Wendt

Photo by David Loveall

This issueA P R I L / M A Y 2 0 1 5

$PAC-089_EugeneChamber_OpenBiz_7.375x4.8126_AprMay2015.indd 1 2/25/15 11:27 AM

7 Bank of the Cascades17 Carter and Carter Financial18 Dr. Gray Grieve Orthodontics22 Energy Trust of Oregon27 Eugene Airport 21 Evergreen Roofing

16 Harrang Long Gary Rudnick PC4 Hershner Hunter LLP28 Kernutt Stokes24 Lane Transit District13 McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center

2 Moss Adams15 Oregon Community Foundation2 Pacific Continental Bank23 SELCO Community Credit Union

19 The Register-Guard12 Summit Bank 21 Summit Bank SBA Division20 University of Oregon

Potential.We see it in Eugene. And in the industries that do business here—from forest products to not-for-profit and manufacturing, to name just a few.

For more than a century we’ve helped organizations reduce risk, gain efficiencies, and find room for growth. How can we help you prosper?

975 Oak Street, Suite 500 | Eugene, OR 97401(541) 686-1040 WWW.MOSSADAMS.COM

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 2USA $3.95

CANADA $6.95

The eugene AreA ChAmber Of COmmerCe: CelebrATing…PrOmOTing…infOrming business

AP

ril

/m

AY

20

15

FOR BUSINESS

EdTech Evolution

How combining education and technology can create a new cluster for innovation

Royal Mortier of Mortier Engineering. Page 8

A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 1 5 | O P E N F O R B U S I N E S S 5

Amanda Walkup LABOR & EMPLOYMENT LAW

Jeff Kirtner EMPLOYEE BENEFITS & HEALTH CARE

The Affordable Care Act isn’t just about picking a new insurance plan. Nor is it business as usual or a simple benefits choice. It’s a whole new series of employment laws and tax code changes that include penalties, compliance requirements and reporting. And it’s here now.

Health care reform will impact nearly every employer in some way. How it impacts you and your business depends on your circumstances and how well you plan right now. That’s why Hershner Hunter has assembled an advisory team with the right information and expertise to help you understand, decide, communicate, and manage the impact to both your business and your best asset: your employees.

Make the choice to be prepared. Call today to schedule an appointment or to find out about one of our upcoming seminars. 541-686-8511 | hershnerhunter.com

READY

REFORMHEALTHCARE

IS HERE

OR NOT:

Monthly YPN events offer networking opportunities

ChAmber@WOrK

More than 400 business leaders attended the Bach Festival-themed event.

The March Business After Hours featured a celebration of Bach’s 330th birthday hosted by The Oregon Bach Festival and Essig Entertainment.

More than 400 business leaders enjoyed an outstanding evening of business connections, food, fun and a preview of the 2015 Oregon Bach Festival.

Business After Hours is one of more than 100 networking and business building opportunities the Eugene Chamber sponsors for members annually.

Wanichek installed as Chamber Chair

Craig Wanichek, President and CEO of Summit Bank, serves as Chair of the Board of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce and

was officially installed as part of Eugene Chamber’s annual Celebration of Business in February.

Craig is a graduate of the University of

Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. He has over 15 years of banking experience during which he managed significant business relationships with family owned-businesses in the Willamette Valley. He currently serves on the boards of Associated Oregon Industries and Cascade Health Solutions.

In his role as Chair, Wanichek presides over an elected Board of Directors who together govern the work of the Chamber. The Board meets monthly to act on policy recommendations made by Chamber committees and staff, reviews current initiatives, oversees and directs the financial standing of the organization and generally establishes and guides the strategic direction of the organization.

The Chamber Young Professionals Network gathered at IDX Broker’s new downtown headquarters. Each month, the Chamber provides young professionals with programming specially targeted to meet their needs for networking, professional and personal development, and community awareness.

YPN event attendees Peter Billups (Eugene Emeralds), Bryson Womack (IDX Broker), Sean Dunn (Director’s Mortgage) and Mary O’Neil (Eugene Chamber) enjoy the new digs at IDX Broker.

Business After Hours celebrates Bach Festival

6 OPEN FOR BUSINESS | EUGENE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Forecast stresses need for capable workforce

Chamber program supports manufacturing sector

ChAmber@WOrK

541.617-3500 | botc.com | Visit us in Eugene & Springfield

Whether it’s funding a new idea, a new piece of equipment

or a new building, or just finding better ways to manage

your cash flow, you can consider our business lending

experts an extension of your team. Give us a call. We’d

love to help.

There’s nothing we love more than helping you do what you

love. That’s why our bankers treat your business goals as if

they were their own. And we take pride in understanding not

just your business, but also what’s unique about doing

business here in Eugene and Springfield.

Let’s build business in Eugene and Springfield. Starting with yours.Come talk to your local business lending experts.

Manufacturers interacting with high school students in the advanced metals class toured Willamette High School’s career technical education shops in March. Manufacturing leaders toured Willamette’s automotive, metal, and woods shops; interacted with students; and were able communicate with teachers and administrators what they need in a future workforce. The tour was part of the Chamber’s Focus on Manufacturing program designed to provide insights, resources and networks aimed at supporting/sustaining manufacturing businesses in the region.

Director of Business Oregon, Sean Robbins, said the state is emphasizing a “grow your own” strategy at Economic Forecast 2015, produced by the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. That strategy includes helping local startups get off the ground and helping businesses already here expand.

More than 500 business leaders participated in the event, which was sponsored by Oregon Community Credit Union and EWEB. The program featured a focus on state and regional economic development efforts and insights from Oregon's leading economists on the future of the regional and national economy.

A panel of five economists predicted moderate growth for the upcoming year of 2 percent for Lane County. Their primary concern is the timing and magnitude of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates.

Panelists warned employers that to attract skilled employees, wages will need to increase. Other issues that were cited as holding the region back were a lack of available buildings for industry needs and lack of an available world-class business park.

The Register-Guard panel of five economists predicted moderate growth.

A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 1 5 | O P E N F O R B U S I N E S S 98 OPEN FOR BUSINESS | EUGENE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Mortier Engineering

Royal Mortier is young and busy. As Engineering VP and Project Manager at Mortier Engineering, he represents the third generation of Mortiers in the business.   He took an unusual path, studying to be a per-sonal trainer at Lane Community College before earning his engineering degree at Oregon State University.  While studying at Oregon State, he had plenty of job offers, which all disappeared by the time he gradu-ated. The economy’s downturn meant his own family company was not able to hire him. He was able to find work with the Army Corps of Engineers. He’s finally back home and with the employee-owned business his grand-father, Emile (“Mort”) Mortier, began and where his father, David Mortier, is the current President and CEO.  Mortier Engineering is known for a wide variety of projects, includ-ing structural/failure investigations, forensic engineering, specialized inspections and fire/water damage assessments.

Do you have a best customer story?Our best stories I relate to my own life.

What would I want? Anytime we can get out to a project and find a fast and efficient solution, it is a success. We don’t do typi-cal engineering work. We work a lot with insurance companies on damaged build-ings, or unlivable homes. We prioritize the projects when a home is not livable because a tree, which was once a gorgeous part of their property, has now crushed the roof, or a business cannot be operated because a vehicle has smashed through the walls. Our job is like solving riddles, and it is a great success when we can.

Can you tell us something about Mortier Engineering not well known?

We follow a “teaming opportunity”. This

“teaming” is a business approach we model after one used by Jerry’s Home Improve-ment Stores. The work we pursue is not only unique for engineering firms, but an opportunity for us to team up with other businesses and work together.

Why partner with the Eugene Chamber of Commerce?

There was not an opportunity for me at Mortier (Engineering) when I entered

the job market so I worked with the Corps on some individual and some really large projects from Reno to Napa. When I came to Mortier, I felt there was significant value to be added by being involved in the com-munity. How you use any tool is important to success, and this tool (the Eugene Cham-ber) connects us to people around us; makes us part of the community.

For me, the Chamber is part of my

fOur quesTiOnsWe asked two local businesses to respond to questions that give insight into their companies and their predictions for 2015.

Mortier Engineering Vice President Royal Mortier says his job is like solving riddles.

Eugene AreaChamber ofCommerce

The Running Y Ranch

Located three hours from Eugene and near sunny Klamath Falls in Southern Oregon, the Running Y is a golf and full-service vacation resort. The Running Y Ranch features Oregon’s only signature Arnold Palmer-designed golf course which has the ultimate compliment from Arnold Palmer as one of his favorite “Sweet 16” courses. Travel Oregon has recognized the Running Y Ranch Golf course as one of the top golf resorts in Oregon with their Seven Gems of Oregon Campaign. Lisa Galloway lives and works on this beautiful property and is uniquely qualified as Director of Sales to promote this Eugene Chamber member.

What is your best customer story?We have a group of physicians who

came over from Grants Pass for an annual retreat they hold. They move around from resort to resort annually and bring spouses and kids, so it is also a vacation. They raved about the accommodations, our different lodging options, the food, the fun. They have wine shipped in. When they departed, they left our staff all of their left over wine as a thank you gift. We received a wonder-ful email informing us that at their board meeting they decided to come back for a second year, which is a huge compliment.

What do Oregonians need to know about the Running Y?

We are under new ownership and man-agement. CLV Properties (commercial real estate investor Bill Lynch runs CLV, which

also owns Valley River Inn) purchased us in September (2014), and we are managed by CoHo Services. Our new owners are true visionaries. We will make some major improvements to our 3600 acres with an 82-room lodge, 35 vacation rental proper-ties, including chalets and golf villas. We are pet friendly in some of our rentals.

Our golf facilities will add a track-man simulator, which measures several swing components via computer. There are miles of paved trails here for running and biking; an 18-hole putting course, both indoor and outdoor pools; a day spa; a new village including a salon, dress shop, grocery and liquor store; and bike rental. Internationally renowned physician, Dr. Murad is having a book signing here in April and an Inclusive Health Retreat in September.

Why partner with the Eugene Chamber of Commerce?

Down in Klamath Falls, we make a point to partner with Chambers and net-work at expos from Northern California up to Washington. We work with an outfitting company (ROE Outfitters) and

find that the Chamber is a great way to tell folks what we offer. We will soon (coming in July) have a mile-long zip line, and we offer fishing, white water rafting, and want to highlight our great resort. We have duck hunting on the property, paddle boarding, kayaking. The Chamber Expo is an excel-lent opportunity to get the word out. We want folks to know that they can take one of the top ten most scenic train rides on the West Coast from Eugene to Klamath, which by the way, has 300 days of sunshine per year. In the summer, there are docents on the train.

What do you predict given the current economic situation in Oregon?

Last year was our best ever. This year is trending to be even better. There are houses under construction in Klamath. Real Estate is moving again. Kingsley Field expanded which brought in 80 families and they are contracted for at least two years. The salaries range from $45,000- $125,000. We are a Holiday Inn Resort, which gives us a global exposure. We are moving in a posi-tive direction!

The Running Y Ranch near Klamath Falls features beautiful views and Oregon’s only signature Arnold Palmer-designed golf course.

fOur QuestiOns

personal growth mission, which for others might be going to church, the gym, support groups, Toast Masters (which Royal also attends), whatever. So I connected with Cedric (Rudd, Director of Sales for the Eugene Chamber). The Chamber allows for cross connection, finding available sup-port and networking, and brings together

great like-minded people who really want to see themselves and other businesses succeed.

Given the current economy, what do you predict for Mortier Engineering?

We are growing a lot. We have new cli-ents and are pursuing new avenues. We are expanding our team. We employ more than a dozen now but will grow our subsidiary

companies and in Eugene. Once your reach a certain level, some folks get lost in the shadows. We would rather open another office elsewhere than become huge. We are trying to increase our overall offerings in Florence, and we might grow to Bend, Portland, Medford, or Ashland. We have been employee owned since 1991, so there is significant stake in it for everyone. Continued on page 9

Continued from page 8

A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 1 5 | O P E N F O R B U S I N E S S 1 11 0 OPEN FOR BUSINESS | EUGENE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

COver stOry

Industry leaders are championing an education/technology cluster in Eugene to drive entrepreneurship and innovation

BY MATT HOLLANDER

PHOTO BY DAVID LOVEALL

If the conceived Eugene EdTech cluster were a painting, it would un-doubtedly be a stipple. Thousands of individuals representing dozens of organizations are currently striving to find the most effective uses for technology in learning settings. But as a single dot on the canvas, it can be hard to see the picture for what it is: a landscape of infinite opportunity.

For some time, Eugene has been widely regarded as a hub of higher learning and groundbreaking research. Pillar organizations including the Univer-sity of Oregon, Oregon Research Institute (ORI) and Oregon Social Learning Center (OSLC) have attracted industry-leading talent and procured upwards of $150 million in federal grants in 2014.

In recent years, Eugene has also developed a reputation as a nerve center for entrepreneurship and innovation. The startup-friendly environment has stimulated growth of emerging technology and media industries. According to the Technol-ogy Association of Oregon, the Eugene area is home to more than 200 tech or tech-enabled companies.

Given the amount of resources, including investment and professional leader-ship in technology and research, it’s no wonder industry leaders are championing the concept of a Eugene EdTech cluster, which would accelerate the pace of innovation in learning science and technologies by bringing together education, research and commercial partners. With greater collaboration between existing

From left to right, Paul Berger, Managing Director, Saavsus, Inc.; Adam Wendt, Chief Operating Officer of IRIS Educational Media; Carol Metzler, Ph.D., Senior Scientist and Science Director at ORI; Tom Keating, Business Partner at Cognitopia; Matt Fanelli, J.D./MBA, Co-founder, Cognitopia

EdTech evolution

A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 1 5 | O P E N F O R B U S I N E S S 1 31 2 OPEN FOR BUSINESS | EUGENE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

organizations, and branding of their success, many feel that a consortium could become greater than the sum of its parts.

“All the pieces are right here in this com-munity,” said Adam Wendt, Chief Operating Officer of IRIS Educational Media, which produces personal and professional develop-ment courses for parents and educators. “One of the unique things Eugene has to offer is the opportunity for organizations who approach the same problem from different angles to come together and produce a product that’s better suited for the marketplace.”

A brief history of the cluster

The origins of today’s landscape can be traced back to the 1960s, when a group of clinical psychologists from the University of Oregon formed ORI to study child develop-ment and parent training methods.

Two decades later, scientists Jerry Pat-terson and John Reid used work started at ORI as the foundation for a new organiza-tion, OSLC, whose work centered on solving antisocial behavior in children.

ORI subsequently had to morph into a smaller organization.

However, temporary pains led to long-term gains. The institutions developed niches independent of each other and experienced significant growth. Combined, ORI and OSLC now provide 400 local positions, in-cluding 61 research scientists.

Between 2011 and 2012, both organiza-tions underwent leadership changes: Rick Varnum became the chief operation officer of OSLC, and Byron Glidden and Carol Metzler, Ph.D., were promoted to lead ORI. Varnum said while they still compete for a lot of the same talent and support, they regularly share results of their work and insights on the funding climate.

It was also around this time that Paul Berger launched the Education and Research Cluster through the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, which promotes dissemination and commercialization of regionally devel-oped, research-based programs.

Berger, who has worked in high-tech and knowledge-based businesses for 25 years, said

that strong business models became critical when the amount of federal support shrank during the Great Recession.

Fortunately by that point, there was a wealth of media and technology companies, such as IRIS, that were motivated to help translate research that would otherwise sit on shelves into every-day products.

Wendt said that one of the keys to meld-ing research and technology is finding a common language, and that Berger has been instrumental in facilitating these conversa-tions through the cluster’s monthly meetings.

Branding the sector

Recently, IRIS worked with ORI to de-sign, produce and test Two Families Now, a parenting class delivered online. The central aim of the project was to create a low-cost, parent-training program uniquely tailored to meet the needs of parents going through divorce transitions.

Wendt said that IRIS has always been fast on the heels of innovation, whether that was the transition from VHS to DVD, or from

COver stOry

THE 30-MINUTES-OR-LESS E.R. SERVICE PLEDGE Emergency medicine is about three things: compassion, skilled care and speed. You’ll find these

at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center. The experienced E.R. physicians and the entire team are committed to working diligently to have you initially seen by a clinical professional* within 30 minutes of your arrival. For more information, visit McKweb.com.

We know you have better things to do than wait hours in an E.R.

Scan this code with your smartphone to view our current average wait time.

If you’re experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. *Clinical professional is defined as a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner. McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff.

McKweb.com

78582_MWMC_ER_7_735x4_8125c.indd 1 9/5/14 2:51 PM

DVD to online platforms. However, early experiences taught him that accessibility is the most important factor, and it’s often some time before education and research catches up with the technology.

“We know that our ability to keep up with technology is essential for continued success,” said Metzler, Senior Scientist and Science Director at ORI, “especially for those of us who are interested in using technology to deliver interventions or collect data. The challenge is that research, by its nature, can be very methodical.”

Metzler, who has spent the past 25 years with ORI, is currently working on a project to test whether online delivery of parenting intervention is as effective as staff-delivered versions.

When working within the local com-munity, as she will for this study, Metzler said she can feel the support for research and willingness to participate. She said that is an underlying strength of conducting research in the Eugene area.

“Behavioral science has been a part of the local identity for a long time,” she said.

“We’ve often thought of ourselves as a cottage industry, but recently we’ve been absorbed into the larger EdTech cluster; and it’s really exciting to think about the possibilities for research that come with having a critical mass of local resources.”

The Education Research Cluster is cur-rently on hiatus from its meetings. Although

they served their original purpose of getting people to talk to one another, Berger said that defining the sector and its focus was a chal-lenge. The leadership team is in the process setting a new course, and Berger said that one goal is to improve the movement of resources from the University to local businesses. To that end, he said the monthly meetings could turn into a more a formal space for industry people to connect with researchers on projects and new grant opportunities.

“What will move this sector forward is successful commercialization,” said Berger, Managing Director of Saavsus, Inc., a publisher of research and evidence-based programs from the Oregon region. “As more and more examples of that occur, success will attract success. There is a huge need to build a brand around Eugene as a place for publish-ing and producing products.”

Introducing an entrepreneurial edgeIf research institutions and media compa-

nies represent the first and second waves of Eugene’s EdTech cluster, then companies like Cognitopia are part of a third generation.

Cognitopia develops technology-based

COver stOry“We know that our ability to keep up with technology is essential for continued success, especially for those of us who are interested in using technology to deliver interventions or collect data.”

– Carol Metzler, Ph.D. Science Director at ORI

Invested In your success

When it came to helping Don and Anne DeZarn of Pacific Headwear

and Promotions expand their business, Summit Bank made sure they were

covered from head to toe.

96 east Broadway in eugene 541-684-7500

summitBankonline.com

1 4 OPEN FOR BUSINESS | EUGENE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

tools to assist individuals with cognitive dis-abilities, operating on a hybrid of grant fund-ing and business modeling.

Co-founder Matt Fanelli, J.D./MBA, explained that Cognitopia, which was first established by Tom Keating, Ph.D., in 2003, evolved from the traditional research and development model in response to the finan-cial market crash. When the company went without funding for a couple years, Keating recognized the need for a model that was less affected by fluctuations in federal support.

“I think that companies that do really well are going to be the those who are using grants and research as a means to an end, rather than an end unto itself,” said Fanelli. “People don’t get into this line of work for a quick buck; they want to affect positive change, and it isn’t easy to do that in the grant world because you don’t have much control of distributing the research to market.”

Cognitopia is currently developing two products: Goal Guide, an application designed to help those with cognitive disabilities be-come more empowered by creating and track-ing personal, academic and vocational goals; and ScanDo!, an app that teaches through video modeling opportunities by scanning an assigned bar or QR code.

Fanelli said that testing these products with actual prospective customers makes it more likely that they will eventually reach the market.

“You’re not creating value in the market-place if you’re just convincing three people on a grant committee that your idea is worth something. It’s hard but, ultimately, much more valuable to do that with a few thousand customers in the actual market,” he said.

Fanelli, who is a participant in the Regional Accelerator Innovation Network, a govern-ment-funded accelerator program, added that the growing entrepreneurial community offers numerous examples of how to do this.

“We’re starting to examine EdTech from a business perspective. Grant funding may be a piece to the business, or part of your competitive advantage, but it’s not an ongoing business; you’re not serving customers,” he

said. “And those who want improve the lives of people have to change how they’re doing it.”

Taking it all in

Stepping back from the canvas of Eugene’s EdTech cluster, one can’t help but admire the potential, for it features researchers, teachers, developers and content creators. And best of all, they are starting glean that perspective for themselves.

“It’s still pretty new to think of us as a cluster,” said Metzler. “I feel like we’re just now getting a sense of our landscape as a set of or-ganizations and how we support and connect with each other. I think it would behoove us to continue to develop those relationships.”

Eugene AreaChamber ofCommerce

COver stOry

Avant Assessment www.avantassessment.com

CBT Nuggets www.cbtnuggets.com

Cognitopia www.cognitopia.com

Concentric Sky www.concentricsky.com

Deschutes Research www.deschutesresearch.com

Double S Instructional Systems www.doublesinstructional.com

Educational Community Supports

Emberex www.emberex.com

EPIC www.epiconline.org

Eugene Health and Performance Foundation www.healthandperformance.org

InSilico www.insilicodesigns.com

Intervision www.intervisionmedia.com

IRIS Educational Media www.irised.com

ISTE www.iste.org

National Institute for Direct Instruction www.nifdi.org

Northwest Media www.northwestmedia.com

NoteWorthy Learning www.noteworthylearning.com

ORBIS www.orbiscascade.org

Oregon Career Information System www.oregoncis.uoregon.edu

Oregon Research Institute www.ori.org

Oregon Social Learning Center www.oslc.org

Pacific Northwest Publishers www.pacificnwpublish.com

Parenting Now www.Parentingnow.org

Personal Technologies www.personaltechnologies.com

Saavsus, Inc www.saavsus.com

Score 4 Reading, LLC www.score4reading.com

Spotkin www.spotkin.com

Thinkersmith www.thinkersmith.org

Thought Cycle www.thoughtcycle.net

Did we miss somebody? We’d like to hear from you. businessnews@eugenechamber.com

eugene-area edtech Players

Thanks, Southern Willamette Valley! For four decades, your generous support of The Oregon Community Foundation has benefited thousands of people in your own communities. Thank you also to the 257 volunteers whose hard work and dedication made it happen. We look forward to the next 40 years of helping you create charitable funds that directly support your region. For more information, call us at 541.431.7099 or visit www.oregoncf.org.

4OY E A R S

Thank you for making 40 years of dreams possible.“You’re not creating value in the marketplace if you’re just convincing three people on a grant committee that your idea is worth something. It’s hard but, ultimately, much more valuable to do that with a few thousand customers in the actual market.”

– Matt Fanelli, J.D./MBACognitopia, Co-founder

A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 1 5 | O P E N F O R B U S I N E S S 1 7

Our Deep Oregon RootsHelp Businesses Prosper

We have been helping Oregon businesses meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities for over 50 years.

harrang.com 800.315.4172info@harrang.com

PORTLAND EUGENE SALEM

Our region has strong concentration of EdTech companies compared with similar-sized regions

EdTech, or education technology, is an emerging sector that blends educational and learning outcomes with innovative technology applications. In 2010 the Eugene Chamber identified the EdTech cluster as a regionally specialized industry due to the concentration of video game companies, social science re-search organizations, and academic computer science departments. The EdTech cluster continues as a strong economic driver for our region. In fact:

• EdTech is an important traded sector and source of outside income for the region.

• A variety of private, non-profit research centers brings hundreds of millions of federal grant dollars into the region every year.

• Between 2010 and 2013, software pub-lishing employment grew by 47% from 1,271 to 1,869 employees.

• In 2012, Eugene-Springfield software publishers paid over $104 million in wages.

• Employment in software publishing is growing faster in the Eugene-Springfield region than in Oregon or the nation.

• Eugene-Springfield’s workforce has a specialization in software publishing. An employee in Eugene-Springfield is 6.2 times more likely to work for a software publisher

than an employee across the nation.• Eugene-Springfield also has a high con-

centration of social sciences and humanities research. An employee in Eugene-Springfield is 6.5 times more likely to work in social sciences or humanities research than an em-ployee across the nation.

• In 2012, social sciences and humanities research in Eugene-Springfield paid over $18 million in wages.

As the data shows, Eugene-Springfield’s education and training research organizations coupled with the region’s exceptional software publishers creates a thriving EdTech cluster for the region. The region boasts a strong concentration of these industries creating a unique presence of the EdTech cluster in comparison to other regions in similar size, or even greater scale. The EdTech cluster will continue to be a strong economic driver for the region.

Facts about Eugene’s EdTech cluster

Together, we’ll map a course that can take you where you want to go

Securities are offered through Raymond JameS Financial SeRviceS, inc. member FinRa/SiPc.

D R E A M B I G

871 Country Club Road in Eugene

541.683.2900 | CarterandCarter.com

COver stOry

Eugene AreaChamber ofCommerce

n A directory of the Eugene-area EdTech companies.Page 14

1 8 OPEN FOR BUSINESS | EUGENE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE For a complimentary website analysis for your business, visit rgmedialab.com or call Tyler Mack at 541-338-2291.

We’ll help your business succeed online.Introducing RG Media Lab

For decades The Register-Guard has provided businesses with Lane County’s most trusted and respected advertising medium. Now we’ve created RG Media Lab to help local businesses who need to build modern, mobile-friendly websites and improve their digital marketing. We’ll also help you create compelling content that converts your website visitors into customers.

Their entire team was delightful to

work with and helped us accomplish our next steps in the digital world for our landscape services. They were very good at helping us articulate our goals and then brought them to life on the Web and in social media forums. Our new website is outstanding; it’s user-friendly and easy to view on all screen types. We are thrilled with the positive feedback we have received from both our current clients and new contacts.

Ron and Joy FeltOwnersFrom left to right:

Tyler Mack – Director, Deborah Ramirez – Sales Manager, Jason Miller – Client Services Coordinator, Melissa Rokaitis – Digital Marketing Consultant, Tyler Robinson – Web Developer

Meet our team!

RG Media Lab Services:• Responsive Website Design• Social Media Management• Email Marketing• Video Production• Secure Hosting Services

The University of Oregon Board of Trustees recently agreed to accept a “Gift of Real Property” from the city of Eugene for a downtown building that will house the greater Eugene area implementation of the Regional Accelerator & Innovation Network (RAIN) and other University innovation activities.

RAIN is a state and local partnership of governments, higher education, the business community and entrepreneurs designed to advance the formation and growth of tech-based startups regionally. RAIN Eugene, a partnership of the University, the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce and local government, operates the RAIN Eugene Accelerator and associated RAIN Eugene programs.

The vote by the Board of Trustees, which is required by Board policy, paves the way for the transfer of a building at 942 Olive St. to the University of Oregon. On Feb. 9, the Eugene City Council voted to transfer

ownership of the city-owned building to the University for $1.

Located adjacent to the downtown cam-pus of Lane Community College, the build-ing will provide 12,800 square feet of flexible space for training, education and support of entrepreneurs from the University and the community. Envisioned as an entrepreneurial hub, the building will become home to the RAIN Eugene Accelerator and house com-plementary UO activities that predominantly support commercialization of university-based or university-assisted research. These include the Tyler Invention Greenhouse, a program sponsored by the Alice C. Tyler Per-petual Trust, and UO Department of Product Design’s Downtown Innovation Launch Lab.

The RAIN Eugene accelerator is an inten-sive 12-week program focusing on mentored support of the three most important compo-nents of a new business; people, product and plan. The Tyler Invention Greenhouse seeks

to build upon the UO’s strengths in green chemistry and green nanoscience and encour-age green product ideas stemming from basic research discoveries. The Downtown Innova-tion Launch Lab is a set of design studios and design services connecting UO’s expertise and students in product design with entre-preneurs inside and outside of the University.

The city of Eugene and the UO are already engaged in innovation activities together through RAIN. RAIN Eugene is currently housed in a temporary space in the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. The move to the downtown core will further strengthen ties between the city and the UO, advance the formation of new companies in the South Willamette Valley, and benefit downtown and the city’s overall economy, say city council members who approved the transfer.

The building will undergo an extensive rennovation in preparation for a February 2016 opening.

entrePreneurshiP eugene

Innovation hub comes to downtown

A clear choice for straighter teeth

541-484-1877InvisalignEugene.com

995 Willagillespie Road

Eugene AreaChamber ofCommerce

A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 1 5 | O P E N F O R B U S I N E S S 2 12 0 OPEN FOR BUSINESS | EUGENE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

$2.3 billion added to Oregon’s bottom line

24,500jobs for Oregonians

$42.7 millionincome tax generated for Oregon

$52.1 millionspent by visitors

uoregon.edu/impact

When it comes to economic footprints, we have big feet.

Promotions/ New HiresPhotos appear left to right from top.

Luvaas Cobb promoted Erin A. Fennerty to partner.

Pacific Benefit Consultants, Inc. announced insurance agent Jeanine Wallace has received designations as

Chartered Healthcare Consultant and Registered Health Underwriter. www.pbcins.com

Real Estate Agent Brita Arcuri has finished 2014 as the #1 highest producing broker in RMLS for Lane County, having

sold $44,558,000 in real estate. www.britaarcuri.com

Hayden Homes announced former CEO Hayden Watson has been promoted to Chairman of the Board. Former President Dennis Murphy has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer. Former Managing Director Steven Klingman has been promoted to President. www.hayden-homes.com

The Eugene Symphony Association has hired Development Director Sara Mason. eugenesymphony.org

RE/MAX Integrity announced Jessie Bays as Real Estate Broker to work with Marti Templeton as a Buyer’s Agent

specializing in the Junction City area. www.integrityhomesonline.com

The Valley River Inn announced the promotions of the following staff: Devon Ross, Arthur Steward, and Tina Rodriguez. www.valleyriverinn.com

Moss Adams LLP promoted Stephanie Gardiepy to Tax Manager where she will oversee the Technician Team. Alicia Andrews has received promotion to Accounting Associate while pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting at University of Oregon. www.mossadams.com

Ninkasi Brewing Company LLC announced Per Nielsen as Vice President of Sales. www.ninkasibrewing.com

Dr. Carol Marusich of Lifetime Eye Care welcomed Dr. Joy Bodwell as an Optometric Physician. Dr. Bodwell joins the

practice with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Central Florida and a Doctorate in Optometry from Pacific University. www.LifetimeEyeCare.net

Dr. Movassaghi of Movassaghi Plastic Surgery & Ziba Medical Spa was elected as President of the Northwest

Society of Plastic Surgeons. www.drmovassaghi.com

Sandi Thompson, wardrobe consultant, is now representing two companies: ViVi Jewelry, the new Cookie Lee and Ruby Ribbon, women’s clothing with a built-in secret that helps you look svelte. www.myjockeyp2p.com/sandi

businessneWs Tap into Summit Bank’s SBA DIVISION.

Ashley HornerSBA Program Administrator

Jeff AlthouseFounder Oakshire Brewing

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DIVISION

Contact Ashley today!ashley.horner@summitbanksba.com541.684.7500MEMBER FDIC

The Oregon Logging Conference would announced the 2015-2016 Officers of the 78th Annual Conference as follows: The following board officers and staff will serve the OLC for 2015-2016: President - Jeff Unger, Unger Logging, Reedsport, First Vice President-Jeff Wimer, Student Logging Training Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Second Vice President- Rick Kiege, Kiege Logging Co., Inc., Prineville, Treasurer- Mike Randall, Swanson Bros Lumber Co., Noti, and Conference Manager- Rikki Wellman, Oregon Logging Conference, Eugene. www.oregonloggingconference.com

KDP Insurance, Inc. welcomed new Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jim Walton.

Gallic & Johnson Financial, private lending group announced new hire Kyle Blain. Kyle was most recently the owner of Blain Insurance Group.

www.gallicfinancial.web-loans.com

Announcements & KudosThe Eugene Concert Choir, a 110-voice masterworks chorus is celebrating its 40th anniversary! This season at the Hult Center will feature 3-concerts conducted by Artistic Director, Diane Retallack. www.EugeneConcertChoir.org

businessneWs

Jeff Unger, Jeff Wimer, Rick Kiege and Mike Randall.

A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 1 5 | O P E N F O R B U S I N E S S 2 32 2 OPEN FOR BUSINESS | EUGENE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Science Factory Children’s Museum announced weekly live astronomy shows open to the public each Saturday through April. Special guest lectures begin at 1 pm and allow audience interaction with expert astronomers as part of the live programing. www.sciencefactory.org/exploration-dome

Killer-Q Guitar and Instrument Straps, a division of Strapworks LLC. was named “Best in Show” in accessories at the National Association of Music Merchants. This year-old Eugene company was recognized for their “Made in America” quality at the largest show in the event’s history. www.killer-q.com

Reynolds Electric, a third generation family business, celebrated 35 years of operation in Lane County this March. www.reynoldselectric.com

Ninkasi Brewing Company announced distribution to Utah through a partnership with General Distributing

Company. This marks the ninth state where Ninkasi beer is sold. www.ninkasibrewing.com

The Eugene Symphony Association celebrated their 50th Anniversary season with the theme: Celebrating our past, creating out future. Music Director & Conductor, Danail Rachev will lead the season which includes a concert with cellist Yo-Yo Ma & former music directors – Conductor Laureate Marin Alsop (1989-1996), Miguel Harth-Bedoya (1996-2002), and Giancarlo Guerrero (2002-2009) featuring three world premieres of works commissioned by American composers especially for the Eugene Symphony. www.eugenesymphony.org

Eugene Mindworks, a coworking community, is in its third phase of expansion, growing to 11,000 square feet of collaborative office space that includes three conference rooms, 27 private offices, a lunch room, and a community area. www.eugenemindworks.com

U.S. Bancorp-U.S. Bank was announced as Fortune’s Most Admired Superregional Bank. www.usbank.com

GloryBee announced two new gourmet products in their honey line: Raw Fair Trade Coffee Blossom Honey and Habanero Honey. GloryBee remains a family-owned natural foods company producing 100% pure honey. www.GloryBee.com

businessneWs

Eugene AreaChamber ofCommerce

businessneWs

WANT A TASTE OF ENERGY SAVINGS? BRING US IN.Whether you’re a restaurateur or a major retail operator, upgrading to energy-efficient equipment can save you money. Energy Trust of Oregon has the expertise and a network of specially trained contractors to get the job done—and our cash incentives help make it affordable.

+SAVE ENERGY. BRING US IN. Visit www.energytrust.org/BringUsIn or call 1.866.605.1676.

Serving customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas.

Garden Way Retirement Community was awarded 2015 Best of Senior Living Award by SeniorAdvisor.com for their year of top ratings and reviews by residents and their families. www.gardenwayretirement.com

Feeney Wireless announced the availability of Crossroads and Skyus-E. This software and hardware combination creates an easy-to-use IoT (Internet of Things) platform to effectively and efficiently collect, monitor, and manage data for daily business needs. www.feeneywireless.com

New MembersWhen you join the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, you become part of a vibrant and prosperous community of creative entrepreneurs, forward-thinking innovators and visionary business leaders. We’re pleased to welcome these new members who have chosen to take advantage of the Chamber’s tools, resources and expansive network to grow their businesses:

AG Campus Housing www.agcampushousing.com

Anjuna Medicine www.anjunamedicine.com

APEX Professional Development Network

Bags of Love www.bagsofloveinc.org

Banner Bank (formerly Siuslaw Bank) www.bannerbank.com

Cascade Garden Equipment LLC www.cascadegardenequipment.com

Cigars on 7th

ECCO Apartments www.eccoApts.com

Environment Testing and Training Northwest www.ettnw.com

Essenemgy LLC

Eugene Active 20-30 Foundation/Active 20-30 Club www.eugene2030.org

Eugene Opera www.eugeneopera.com

Eugene Wine Cellars, LLC www.eugenewinecellars.com

GizMobile Northwest www.gizmobl.com

Granite Properties LLC

J. Scott Cellars www.wscottcellars.com

Junior League of Eugene www.jleugene.org

Kipsters Gymnastics, Dance & Fitness www.kipstersgymnastics.com

LANE Monthly www.lanemonthly.com

With SELCO’s local team of business banking pros at your side, you’ll be poised to reach new heights. Our commercial lending team can help with:

Commercial Real Estate Loans SBA Loans Commercial Term Loans Business Lines of Credit Commercial Construction Loans Merchant Services

Call, click or visit today.selco.org / 800-445-4483 925 Harlow Road / Spring� eld

NMLS #402847

Your local business banking partner.

2 4 OPEN FOR BUSINESS | EUGENE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

THANK YOUTHANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING CHAMBER MEMBERS WHO SUPPORTED THE EUGENE CHAMBER’S ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DINNER, CELEBRATE BUSINESS 2015

PreseNTiNg sPONsOr: Summit Bank

FrieNds OF THe CHAmber TAble sPONsOrs: Arnold Gallagher PC; Campbell Commercial Real Estate; Cappelli Miles; Chambers Construction Co.; Eugene Area Radio Stations, EARS; Eugene Police Employees Association; Evans Elder & Brown, Inc., Funk/Levis & Associates, Inc.; G Group, LLC; Gaydos, Churnside & Balthrop PC; Hershner Hunter LLP; Hilton Eugene; Jones & Roth CPAs & Business Advisors; KEZI 9; KVAL-TV; Lane Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Oregon Community Credit Union; Pacific Benefit Consultants, Inc.; PeaceHealth; PBP Insurance; PIVOT Architecture PC; Selectemp Employment Services; Siuslaw Bank; Summit Bank; Trillium Community Health Plan; University of Oregon; Wildish Companies

AddiTiONAl sUPPOrT PrOvided bY: Attic Media, Blue Bus Creatives, Capitello Wines, Dandelions Flowers and Gifts, Funk/Levis & Associates, Hilton Eugene & Conference Center, KVAL-TV, Ms. LadyBug Gift Baskets, Noble Winery and Vineyards, Past Eugene First Citizens, Sterling Graphics, The Duck Store

Legal Shield, Independent Associate www.brandyrainey.legalshieldassociate.com

LegalShield, Independent Associate www.joinjulianne.com

Lucky Noodle

McClure Real Properties www.martinmcclure.bhhsrep.com

Noble Estate Vineyard & Winery www.nobleestatewinery.com

Nordstrom Rack shop.nordstrom.com

Northwest Community Credit Union www.nwcu.com

Paychex, Inc. www.paychex.com

Rebath by Henderer Design & Build www.eugenebathroomremodel.com

Ryder System, Inc. www.ryder.com

Sam Evans www.linkedin.com/in/samevans4

Silke Communications www.silkecom.com

Starbucks Coffee Company – Campus

Starbucks Coffee Company- 18th & Pearl

Starbucks Coffee Company- Broadway

Starbucks Coffee Company- Oakway

Starbucks Coffee Company- W. 11th Ave

Starbucks Coffee Company- Willamette www.starbucks.com

States Industries, LLC www.statesind.com

The Herbal Centre, LLC www.leafly.com

Uber Eugene www.uber.com

Vijay Vasam Adult Foster Home LLC

Ward Insurance www.wardinsurance.net

Wendy Gregory Photography- The Studio www.wendygregoryphotography.com

Business News covers promotions, hires, awards, business giving and business news. Email items to businessnews@eugenechamber.com.

businessneWs

Eugene AreaChamber ofCommerce

New members continued from page 23

2 6 OPEN FOR BUSINESS | EUGENE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

THE SUCCESS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT in our region hinges on a number of factors, yet among the most promising are efforts supporting innovation. Early-stage businesses have higher productivity level and faster gains than their more mature competitors, and are more likely to take risks that lead to new discoveries. They create approximately three million jobs in the United States each year and employ a higher percentage of scientists, engineers and other

innovators than the labor market on average.

last Call by Dave hauser

Offering higher-than-average wages and room for advancement, these com-panies help their cities attract and retain young, well-educated workers who are, in turn, more likely to branch out and start their own new ventures. For these reasons and more, the Eugene Chamber has made support of innovation and entrepreneurship a key priority.

Eugene Chamber has served as a partner in the launch of Regional Ac-celeration Innovation Network (RAIN). RAIN is a state and local partnership of governments, higher education, the business community and entrepreneurs designed to advance the formation and growth of tech-based startups regionally. RAIN Eugene, a partnership of the

university, the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce and local government, operates the RAIN Eugene Accelerator and associated RAIN Eugene programs. The RAIN Eugene program will serve as the foundation for an exciting new Innovation Hub in downtown Eugene. (see page 18) The Chamber was among the leading advocates for the Innovation Hub.

The Eugene Chamber also helps connect early- and seed-stage businesses with angel and venture investors through as a co-producer of the Willamette Angel Conference (WAC). Now in its sixth year, the WAC has helped promis-ing local businesses such as Cascade Prodrug and Dune Science on their

path to success. Following this year’s conference in May, the WAC will have invested more than $1.5 million in new ventures in the Willamette Valley while identifying and connecting dozens of angel investors.

Supporting entrepreneurship creates new jobs, investment and a steady stream of economic energy. After years of com-mitment and hard work by the Chamber and many others there is an appreciable level of momentum throughout the start-up scene in Eugene/Springfield. Madison Avenue advertising and marketing veteran, Bill Blackman said “Great changes may not happen right away, but with effort even the difficult may become easy.”

Eugene AreaChamber ofCommerce

5 Airlines/10 Nonstop Destinations/Infinite Connections

Innovation vital to economic prosperity

PO Box 1107Eugene, OR 97440-1107

Certified Public Accountants & Consultants

1600 Executive Parkway, Suite 110, Eugene, Oregon 97401541.687.1170 | kernuttstokes.com

Anticipating the road ahead with confidence

At Kernutt Stokes, we know that making informed

decisions is critical for financial success. John Mlynczyk,

and the team at Kernutt Stokes, can be your guide. Our

team is prepared to work with you to identify and meet

your specific needs.

Contact Kernutt Stokes to see what possibilities we can

find for your business.

Prepared

JOHN MLYNCZYK, PARTNER