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February Front Page Articles

Professor Jerry Gray Selected for Endowed Chair of Economics
Willamette University Professor Jerry Gray was awarded the Peter C. and Bonnie S. Kremer Chair of Economics, a privately endowed professorship awarded to a scholar who is an experienced and dedicated teacher.
“With this position, I feel a sense of excitement - and responsibility - to ensure that Willamette’s students are able to think critically about economics,” said Gray. “Understanding economics is an essential part of a robust liberal arts education.” Named Oregon’s 2005 Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, students and faculty alike praise Gray for his enthusiasm, dedication and humor. He is well known on the Willamette campus for the countless hours he spends outside the classroom helping students learn about economics.
“There is no substitution for time or patience,” said Gray. “I try to illustrate concepts with experiences from my own life or by using everyday examples.” “Jerry is simply remarkable in his ability to translate the most complex and abstract concepts into terms anyone can understand,” said David Douglass, Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. “The Kremer Chair is fitting recognition of his talents as a teacher.” “We are honored by the Kremers’ generosity and deeply grateful for their recognition of the importance of excellent teaching,” said Interim President Larry D. Large. “The many benefits of this endowed chair will be realized now and for many generations of students to come.” About the Peter C. and Bonnie S.
Kremer Chair of Economics The $1.5 million endowment was established by a Willamette alumni couple, Peter and Bonnie Kremer.
Peter Kremer majored in economics at Willamette and earned his master’s degree in business administration from Stanford. Bonnie Kremer graduated from Willamette with an English degree. She reflected, “Our experience at Willamette has given us both a good foundation, and that’s something we want to support.” Photo of Jerry Gray by Frank Miller, courtesy of Willamette University


Join Mayor Taylor for Her Final State of the City Address
Amid the rubble of the disaster in Haiti is a lesson for all of us. What is important in life is our family and friends. It is so easy to forget when we are caught up in our daily lives.
For years I have read how our area is vulnerable to the “big one”, and know that preparation is crucial for long-term survival, and yet we put it off, never quite believing it will happen to us. Even our current recession seems unreal at times when we already survived one just a fewshort years ago.
How do we prepare ourselves for recessions, earthquakes, floods, and all the other disasters? Food, water, blankets, saving accounts – all are necessary, but we also need something less tangible. What we need is to understand that the actions of today will have an affect on tomorrow’s survival.
The angry tone, the failure to listen to each other, the growing sense of entitlement, plus political partisanship divide our country and make us less able to handle what challenges tomorrow brings. I believe in good debate, and I encourage people to speak up about their concerns. But, it needs to be done in a manner that allows civil discourse for future issues. When we create barriers from today’s actions, we lose the ability to have the cohesiveness tomorrow to deal with challenges.
The challenge for the City this year and for the foreseeable future will, once again, involve our budget as a result of the estimated 18% increase in our employer contribution to the PERS retirement program. Due to the decline in the stock market the return on investment is not sufficient to meet the liabilities. We need to find a solution that provides stability for city programs or make decisions to reduce the size of local government.
We can also grow the business side of our community. The more elected officials who understand that business creates the jobs that pay the income taxes for State services, and the property taxes for Local services, the better we will be able to survive downturns. Be assured, no community can thrive on just residential property taxes, we need commercial and industrial taxes for an adequate local tax base. Our role as voters is to be certain we elect people to serve who understand this basic of economics.
The alternative is much higher taxes or drastically reduced services.
The City of Salem has been very probusiness – witness our investment in the Mill Creek Corporate Center where Home Depot is building a 465,000 square foot distribution center, and the SANYO Solar plant at the Salem Renewable Energy Center. Diversity of employment builds good communities that can in turn help those who need a hand up in life, support our schools, police and fire, parks and libraries. We remain committed to retaining the jobs we have, and recruiting new companies. It can require tough decisions and compromises, but the long-term benefits provide survival and success.
Join us on February 10th at noon at the Conference Center when I give my last State of the City speech. We need to have a good conversation about our community and its future, and what we can do to prepare for whatever disaster comes our way.

Meet the New CCBI

Chemeketa Center For Business And Industry Opens

Innovation, Creativity, Excellence - All of this, plus more will take place as the organizations located in the new Chemeketa Center for Business & Industry (CCBI) building work to accomplish their common missions. This new building just north of downtown Salem, is poised to offer great resources for the business community. Not only is it in a great, convenient location, it has provided the opportunity for many resource partners to continue to build an effective workforce and economic development system to create skilled workers, high wage jobs and economic opportunity for our communities.
The new 50,000 sq. ft., four-story CCBI building is equipped with a cutting edge auditorium and training classrooms, computer lab, a bistro and a catering service that functions as a teaching and demonstration kitchen, and the resources to help promote jobs and economic growth.
This framework provides the opportunity for an even more effective partnerships between the public and private sectors, local workers and colleges.
The CCBI building allows for expanded learning venues. For example, Chemeketa has partnered with PGE to hold a variety of workshops that enhance business practices and provide expert advice on energy efficiency here in Salem. Now in addition to their Portland and Wilsonville locations, a full schedule of PGE programs are being offered at CCBI. Other seminars are also being scheduled such as the 2010 Export Strategies, Tools and Technique Seminar scheduled for January 27th; and a complimentary seminar focused on Financial, Employment, and Accounting Compliance for 2010 provided by Northwest Farm Credit Services, Saalfeld Griggs PC, and Moss Adams, LLP for January 21st.
These events and others are posted on the SEDCOR website at www.sedcor.com.
Today’s workforce development along with economic growth for a community requires employer engagement, community connections and industry-driven education and training through a network of resources.
Successful workforce development requires collaboration. By bringing together industry specific groups with common missions, issues can be identified and innovative solutions can be developed.
The organizations located in this new learning facility will have the opportunity to expand their partnerships and work more closely together to fulfill our common mission and goals. Workforce and economic development are cornerstones of the efforts being put forward. The organizations in the new CCBI building are taking important steps to connect the right resources to the individuals and businesses needing them, in order to strengthen the economy.
The quality of our community’s workforce is a factor in gauging our economic competitiveness. Positions available in the current job market require skills beyond high school level and changes in industry require ongoing training for workers. Being able to provide access to education and training opportunities is an important measure of our areas’s economic development potential.

Serving Businesses a Wide-Range of Learning Opportunities

With some of the major players in local economic and workforce development housed within its four walls, there will be unprecedented opportunities for synergy at the new building. It will be fully occupied by the end of January.
Diane McLaran, Director of the CCBI says “Continuing education, job advancement and strengthening business are top priorities for the organization. The new facility will allow for expanded programs and stronger partnerships.”
In addition to college programs serving local businesses, CCBI will house the offices of SEDCOR (Strategic Economic Development Corporation), a public-private partnership that helps recruit companies and retain existing jobs. Another tenant is the Enterprise for Employment and Education which addresses workforce needs for our region. Portland State University will occupy the entire fourth floor and provide continuing education to state employees.
Chemeketa’s programs like Customized Training services and its MERIT program which assists microenterprises will be in the thick of the action. Chemeketa’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will operate their programs from the facility, including its new EDGE Business Incubator Program sponsored by Bank of the Cascades.
The bank’s contribution will help off-set costs, so students can focus on their ideas and business plans. The SBDC is accepting applications to fill spaces in the program.
The ten selected businesses will benefit from entrepreneurship courses, business coaching, and access to office resources.
“In this economic environment, it is more important than ever for Bank of the Cascades to team with Chemeketa and support the development of homegrown entrepreneurs who represent the future of our business community,” said Larry Goodreau, Senior Vice President and Area Manager for Bank of the Cascades.
Call 503-399-5181 or visit www.chemeketa.edu/aboutus/locations/ccbi.

CCBI Customized Training Meeting Business and Industry Needs; SANYO Solar of Oregon LLC Another Success Story

Companies that invest in workforce development, realize how important training is and that it is a necessity to be competitive in the global marketplace.
CCBI’s Customized Training (CT) group offers extensive professional and workforce development training and consulting services specific to employer needs. In partnership with industry, workshops are defined by business and industry processes, content and organizational culture.
Strategic planning, training and employee development services are types of assistance that CT provides. CT utilizes a combination of seasoned training consultants, college instructors and professionals to design and teach their classes.
In the last eight years, the CCBI’s Customized Training has provided training and consulting services to 367 clients, with over 57,378 students participating in over 3,418 classes. 80% of CT’s business is repeat customers, with marketing done through word of mouth and referrals. The State of Oregon is a big client, with statewide training programs in DEQ safety, ODOT’s flagger program and others. CT provides for a quick turnaround of training curriculum for clients with a tight schedule.
Unique characteristics of the CCBI Customized Training are: A strong customer service orientation with customized workshops designed to meet the needs of business 90% of classes are held at work sites, with many using proprietary processes Onsite training is much easier for workers to attend Compressed and just-in-time delivery workshop formats.
Responsiveness to industry requirements and needs State-of-the art classroom, computer labs, and portable computer lab A diverse cadre of trainers and consultants.
CT also provides new employee workshops for businesses that are expanding or relocating to the area. T-Mobile, Weyerhauser, Wachovia Corporation, and SANYO Solar of Oregon LLC have all had specialized training designed for their workforces. SANYO, the CT team and Chemeketa faculty developed a curriculum and trained employees for the solar manufacturing plant which opened in November. “SANYO’s pre-employment training is a prime example of Chemeketa’s customization capabilities,” states Susan Patterson, CCBI customized training manager. “The training program was fairly seamless for SANYO, who only had to hire employees and assist us with the curriculum.
Chemeketa took care of the rest.” According to Patterson, SANYO’s training program has four curriculum components for the operators, which were first recommended by SANYO and then written into the training curriculum. Chemeketa faculty worked closely with SANYO managers, technicians, and engineers to ensure the curriculum represented their manufacturing processes. The College also enlisted the help of Toyko International University of America to provide a Japanese cultural competency session. Other components include the Basics of Solar Manufacturing, Silicon Growing and Slicing, and Manufacturing Computer Literacy.
A quality audit on the Chemeketa Solar Manufacturing Training Program was done by SANYO Solar Japan, with excellent results. Positive feedback was received on the scope and quality of the program. They were impressed with the program and said they had never seen such a well designed and thorough program for training incoming employees either here or in Japan. The entire management team at SANYO Solar of Oregon sent their sincere thanks for the excellent hard work on the Training Program. Congratulations! Call 503-399-5181 for additional information.
Small Business Development Center Chemeketa’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has provided business training and advising to thousands of business owners in Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties for the last 26 years. The center is one of nineteen SBDCs throughout Oregon that provide assistance to new and established small businesses. Their services are available to anyone who owns or operates — or is considering starting — a small business.
Marcia Bagnall, was named Director success of business enterprises in Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties.
The program provides 10 participants with: An office on the third floor of the CCBI building Enrollment in business and entrepreneurship courses and other training opportunities Ongoing advising and their personal board of advisors Access to high-speed internet, fax, copier and printers The support and encouragement of the SBDC staff and fellow incubator tenants The program is currently accepting applications. Entrepreneurs will be offered an educational experience for up to three years with office space along with other small business owners. If you are interested or know someone who might be please contact the Small Business development Center.
Applications are available online at sbdc@ chemeketa.edu or by calling the SBDC at 503-399-5088.

Chemeketa Event Services Event Planning, Facility Rental and Catering

The new CCBI building offers a multitude of options for training, seminars and company meetings. Room capacities range from 15 in smaller classroom, 80 in the auditorium/lecture hall to over 150 in the large training area. Pricing is available for half day or full day with a different rate for profit and non-profit organizations.
The facility rental and catering will be handled by Chemeketa Event Services Catering – a department of North West Innovations (NWI). Chemeketa Event Services serves as the hospitality arm of Chemeketa Community College. The event department offers information on facility rental locations, catering and restaurant options, with internship opportunities for college students to enhance the classroom learning by gaining real world experience in the hospitality industry.
The culinary team is comprised of creative and talented individuals, which have successfully executed events of all sizes for hundreds of different groups and organizations. A wealth of experience and the creative thinking of talented event staff provides conference, meeting and event planning services to support the needs of the business community from all over the Mid-Willamette Valley.
At CCBI, a Bistro will be open to the public and will feature a full espresso drink menu along with morning pastries.
Grab and go gourmet deli options will be available for lunch. The completion of a teaching and demonstration kitchen on the first floor of the building will offer endless possibilities for education, community involvement and special events.
This new building is an ideal location for the business community from all over the region to hold meetings, corporate events, training seminars, private dinners and social events. The CCBI building’s advanced technology and architectural enhancements is a welcome addition to the existing wide variety of facilities and offers the perfect settings to hold events.
For more information, call 503-584-7272 or email eolaevents@chemeketa.edu.
Enterprise for Employment and Education The Enterprise for Employment and Education (Enterprise) is a public-private partnership dedicated to strategic workforce solutions. They work with businesses, education and training organizations, county and state governments, foundations and non-profits to identify and address the current and future workforce needs of Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties.
The Enterprise serves as the Local Workforce Investment Board for the three counties, whose vision is to have the skilled workforce necessary for businesses to locate, stay and thrive in the Mid-Willamette Valley. Its mission is to identify current and future workforce needs and solutions that promote business recruitment, retention and growth. It conducts work toward this mission with the support of Mid-Willamette Jobs Council.
The Enterprise is guided by a resultsdriven, highly motivated Board of Directors which brings expertise in the areas of training, human resources, employment, management and public policy. The directors are actively engaged in identifying workforce needs, creating new partnerships, finding additional resources, and advocating for workforce development.
Most of its resources come from the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funding via the Department of Labor. The Enterprise provides WIA core and intensive services for adults, dislocated workers and youth in the WorkSource Oregon system.
The Enterprise strives to build community awareness and support that will encourage potential employees to pursue careers. As a trustee for workforce development, we act as: A scanner to identify workforce challenges and opportunities, A convener of effective partnerships to create solutions, A manager of resources to fund solutions, and an evaluator to ensure short term return on investment and identify long term trends and opportunities.
The Enterprise has invested over $50,000,000 into workforce development • • of SBDC in November. Having worked at the SBDC and the CCBI for the last decade, Bagnall’s experience with the Center’s Entrepreneurship, Small Business Management and MERIT microenterprise program made her the ideal person to lead the SBDC into the new decade.
Starting a small business is a challenge, but the SBDC provides tools to proceed with a business idea. Launching a new business requires careful planning and involves making many important decisions. The SBDC offers free or low cost services to potential and existing businesses.
Through training, advising and business coaching the SBDC offers resources for starting, growing, financing, expanding or relocating a business. They offer a business resource library, computer lab, office space for meeting clients, and many different training programs.
The MERIT MicroEnterprise program uses a nationally recognized training curriculum to help entrepreneurs develop their business ideas, learn the basics of running a business, and write a business plan. MERIT supports the “underserved” and anyone else who has difficulty getting small business training or credit through traditional means.
Opportunity Knocks offers business owners a connection for help on critical issues with scheduled monthly meetings with other business owners to discuss issues, obstacles and other matters faced by business owners every day. Concerns and lessons are shared in a confidential and supportive setting. Opportunity Knocks is a peer advisory program for business owners which are supported by trained facilitators.
The nine-month Small Business Management program is ideal for established small business owners. It includes interactive classroom learning; one-on-one business advising; business tools; access to experts; the chance to exchange ideas and experiences with other small business owners; and accountability.
The new EDGE Business Incubator program, sponsored by Bank of the Cascades is directed at new business owners. (See next page for more information).
For more information on the SBDC, call 503-399-5088 or visit sbdc.chemeketa.edu for a complete list of programs and classes.

Chemeketa Center For Business And Industry Opens

EDGE Business Incubator Education • Development Growth • Empowerment – Sponsored by the Bank of the Cascades The Entrepreneur’s EDGE Business Incubator is a results-driven provider of education, services and resources delivered in a supportive environment to encourage the launch, growth, stability and long-term activities over the last decade, including: Funding WorkSource Oregon Centers and a Youth Opportunity System; Providing matching grants for businesses to “skill up” their current workforce and implement high performance workplace strategies; Facilitating industry consortia to more effectively leverage training investments for larger numbers of companies and employees.
The Enterprise makes an annual investment to the Youth Opportunity System, an integrated network of services available to help youth complete secondary education, obtain occupation skills or postsecondary education, enter employment, and advance along career pathways that lead to success.
This system is overseen by the Enterprise Youth Council, with input from key stakeholders, including businesses, youth, families of eligible youth, educators, and service providers which include Arbor Education & Training, Polk HALO (City Of Independence), Salem Keizer Public Schools and Willamette ESD.
The Enterprise provides staffing and coordination to a number of business consortia in order to better leverage resources, reduce training costs, and create coordinated solutions to workforce issues. These efforts are focused on programs and protocols that benefit multiple companies within an industry niche. The Mid-Willamette High Performance Consortium, Food Processors Consortium, Metals Consortium and the Secondary Woods Consortium provide a forum for collaboration and learning among members; provide resources to companies for training and growth; help members set continuous improvement benchmarks; provide guidance; and increase the number of companies in the region actively using high performance strategies. Through these groups, industry is taking responsibility for themselves and collaboration between companies to further their goals.
Call 503-581-1002 or visit www.workforcesolutions.
net.
Portland State University, Child Welfare Partnership Training Center Based at the Portland State University’s Graduate School of Social Work, the Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services integrates research, education and training to advance the delivery of services to children and families. We work with agency and community partners to promote a child welfare system that protects children, respects families, and builds community capacity to address emerging needs.
The Child Welfare Partnership is a program of the Center and is a partnership that joins the Oregon Department of Human Services Public Child Welfare Program and Portland State University.
Based at the Portland State University School of Social Work, our long history of involvement with public child welfare provides an advantage in terms of knowledge of agency-based research, familiarity with practice trends, and a network of local and national relationships for research and training.
The Training Unit has had a presence in Salem since the founding of the Partnership in 1994 and provides basic and advanced training for Child Welfare Caseworkers, Supervisor, and Caseworker Assistants in addition to Foster, Adopt and Relative Caregivers certified to care for children in state custody.
During its first 15 years, the Partnership has brought together the expertise of Oregon’s major urban university with the strengths of the public child welfare system to forge program and practice improvements to help better serve children and families.
The partnership has become a leader in establishing and promoting excellence in child welfare practice through a combination of research, training, and graduate education. By contract with the Oregon Department of Human Services’ child welfare program, the partnership’s Training Unit delivers an extensive training curriculum for entering and advanced child welfare workers, and caregivers (foster, kinship and adoptive). Through the Child Welfare Education program, the partnership offers financial support and customized field education and coursework for social work students committed to careers in child welfare. Partnership Researchers provide evaluation support for federally-required programs such as the Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration Project and others. Although we provide training in locations throughout the state, the majority of staff training is held in Salem while the majority of Caregiver training is provided in caregivers local communities.
Staff training includes: Child Welfare Core Training Certifier and Adoption Worker Trainer Foundations Training of Trainers for Regional Caregiver Trainers Social Service Assistants Training Freeing and Placing Children for Adoption Training Advanced Engagement Skills Training Distance Delivery Training Supervisory Training In the 2007 - 2009 biennium, the Training Unit trained approximately: 2600 Child Welfare Professionals 200 Child Welfare Community Partners 4000 Child Foster, Adopt, and/or Relative Care providers Almost 3000 training events were held in the biennium included classroom and distance delivery, on-site and regional training and training delivered by a combination of in house professional trainers and contracted subject matter experts.
For more information contact Marty Lowrey, Child Welfare Partnership Director of Training at 503-315-4273 or email mlowrey@chemeketa.edu.
SEDCOR – Strategic Economic Development Corporation SEDCOR, is the lead economic development agency for Marion and Polk Counties. We are a private, non-profit membership organization, composed of over 500 business and community leaders.
Our mission is to enhance and diversify the economy of the Mid-Willamette Valley.
Being located in the new CCBI building is a great step for SEDCOR in strenghening the area’s economic base and workforce.
Workforce development is a large part of SEDCOR’s mission, as a highly skilled workforce is essential for a competitive edge in recruiting new businesses and the ability for local businesses to expand or introduce new technology. Our partnerships with Chemeketa and other organizations is crucial to industry development.
Education is a key component to economic development and in response to this, SEDCOR and Chemeketa have developed the Industrial Maintenance Operator/ Mechanic (IMOM) program. It is tailored to local industry needs and is designed to identify experts to facilitate the transfer of that knowledge to other members of the workforce.
Seasoned workers have been identified and are being certified as Master Trainers.
They in turn will teach modules which have been developed for specific skills in areas including painting, welding and fabrication.
Safety and other foundation skills training will be provided to companies in all industries.
The IMOM Program was awarded the Oregon Economic Development Association’s 2009 Outstanding Collaborative Partnership Award with the Chemeketa Center for Business and Industry. The IMOM program was also featured in the Statesman Journal recently as one of the Top 10 Good News Stories in 2009.
SEDCOR’s Program of Action Business Retention and Expansion Program - Business resources and information; Employee recruitment, screening and retention; and management and process expertise Manufacturing Advocacy - ensuring an adequate supply of industrial land, marketing of industrial land and buildings, infrastructure and other land use planning activities International Trade and Export Promotion - help to locate new export markets and export financing Economic Incentives - through Enterprise Zones, tax and energy credits and employee training Industrial Recruitment - foreign and domestic companies.
SEDCOR Events - for networking and support, and to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information.
Publications and Information Resources - to keep our members up-to-date on the region’s economic development progress and activities in the business community.
Call 503-588-6225 or visit www.sedcor.com


Oregon Business Development Department

Tom Fox, Oregon’s Business Development Department’s Business Development Officer for Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties has shared office space with SEDCOR for many years. Business Oregon works to create, retain, expand and attract businesses that provide sustainable, living-wage jobs for Oregonians. Tom has contributed to the growth of our local economy through workforce development, strategic insight and thoughtful advocacy. He refers business loans to the State for traded sector business (manufacturing) and assists with managing the Regional industry consortiums.
Tom makes appropriate referrals of business to the SBDC and Chemeketa Community College. He works on supply chain issues; serves as a Board member of the Enterprise for Employment and Education; and makes workforce referrals.
Tom’s list of duties also includes assisting with recruitment of new businesses and retention of workforce for existing businesses. He manages the Strategic Reserve Fund at the regional level and also acts as a partner to local jurisdictions in economic development. Tom was recently the first recipient of the Outstanding Partner Award from the McMinnville Economic Development Partnership.
Call 503-584-7308 or visit www.oregon4biz.com.