January - March, 2005

Acordia of Oregon, Inc.- locally known as Acordia/Potts, Davis & Co., welcomes Cameron Rudolph, as their new Managing Director. Rudolph has been in the insurance industry for over 13 years. His diversified background in safety and risk management, mining, aviation, fire service and agribusiness affords him insight into program development, prevention methods and risk management techniques and plans for a wide array of client needs. Acordia of Oregon, Inc., a Wells Fargo company, continues to provide the local trust and service neighbors have come to expect. Call 503-585-7555 or visit www.acordia.com.

AmeriTitle - opened its first Polk County branch in Monmouth, on April 1, 2005, for the convenience of customers in that area. The branch is currently staffed with two experienced Escrow Officers. Christine Brinton and Becky Baxter. The office is located at 1250 Main Street East, Suite 3, Monmouth, OR 97361. The phone number is 503- 838-1898. AmeriTitle also announced new Salem Marketer, Greg Jackson, who moved after working two years at the Corvallis branch. Greg graduated from Oregon State University in 2002 with a BS in Business Administration. He has extensive marketing experience, having worked in marketing for both Kraft Foods and Xerox. Call 503-581-1431 - www.ameri-title.com.

ARK Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Shangri-La Corporation - has expanded into Safety Apparel. Safety Vests and Pants, School Crossing Flags and Utility Belts are just a few of the new quality safety products now offered. ARK Manufacturing, known for its premier leather and nylon animal accessories, recently received Qualified Rehabilitation Facility (QRF) Vendor Status for its new safety product line for Oregon public purchasers. Recent buyers of the new Safety Vests include the City of Dallas Public Works, Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, Department of Corrections, Willamette University and Shangri-La’s ERN Program. Shangri-La Corporation, is a non-profit organization providing homes, jobs, and supports to individuals with disabilities or economic disadvantages. Call 503-581-1732 or visit www.shangrilacorp.org.

Capitol Auto Group of Salem and McMinnville - is pleased to announce the addition of Capitol Ford in Molalla to the company. Capitol Ford, is the most recent addition to Capitol’s lineup which includes Cadillac, Chevrolet, Subaru, Toyota, and Honda of McMinnville, as well as two pre-owned facilities; Capitol Budget Lot and Capitol Truckworld both located in Salem. Scott Casebeer, President of Capitol Auto Group, is excited about this latest addition. “Ford offers an exciting line up of cars and of course the best selling full- size pickup in America, the F-150”. With the growth in the Mid-Willamette Valley we are thrilled to be able to now offer the full line of award winning Ford trucks and cars to our customers”. Call 585-4141 or visit www.capitolauto.com.

Cascade Employers Association - is pleased to announce that for the fifth year running it ranked among the 100 Best Companies to Work for In Oregon. This year 255 companies and more than 24,000 employees completed the annual survey conducted by Oregon Business Magazine. Employees were asked to rate 50 specific workplace conditions – from the cost of health insurance to opportunities for promotion. For a company to qualify, 15 or more Oregon employees must participate. Contact Gayle Klampe at 503-585-4320 or visit www.cascadeemployers.com.

Central Willamette Community Credit Union - has opened its second office in Albany. The 4,500 sq. ft. office is located at 905 29th Avenue SW. The design focuses on high technology with a personal touch. It features a five lane drive-up unit that includes a drive-up 24 hour ATM. Seven Credit Union employees will work at the full service office. At a Business After Hours, for the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chair F. James Healy dedicated the office in memory of Albert R. Rule who passed away on February 27, 2005. Mr. Rule had served as Board Chairman since 1994. Contact Vince Wells at 541-918-7452 - www.centralwcu.org.

Coldwell Banker Commercial Mountain West Real Estate - recently received the following honors: Commercial Elite Membership based on adjusted closed-gross commission for 2004; 14th largest sales office in the nation; and No. 1 commercial office in Oregon. Principal broker Curt Arthur, SIOR, was named Top Commercial Broker in Oregon. The Commercial Circle of Distinction, based on adjusted-gross-commission income, was awarded to principal broker Alex Rhoten, Platinum Level; principal broker Curt Arthur, SIOR, Silver Level; associate broker Rick Downier, CBC and brokers Jim Gray, Scott Ryan and Fred Stephens, Bronze Level.

CBC announced the promotion of Lisa Anderson, Broker to Office Manager. Lisa has been a valued member of the Coldwell Banker Commercial sales team for the past five years and part of the management team for the past two years. Her skills in marketing and customer relations have made Lisa an essential part of the company’s recent national accomplishments for sales and service. 503-587-4777 - www.cbcoregon.com.

Creative Company - has been selected by SELCO Community Credit Union, for ongoing branding and marketing services. SELCO management brought Creative Company on as agency of record to develop an overall marketing strategy that will be carried out in a wide variety of marketing tools, from advertising and literature to interior displays. They have also added two new members to their staff – Del Starr, Operations Manager, formerly CEO of Welliver Metal Products and David Sanguinetti, former account manager at AIM Healthcare services joins as a media and account manager. 503-883-4433 or visit www.creativeco.com.

Elegant Catering - is now serving lunch in their cafe. They feature soups, salads, sandwiches and a chef’s special (hot entree) daily. Enjoy a great lunch in a cozy bistro atmosphere at 3185 Broadway NE, two blocks north of Fred Meyer. Contact David Herber at 503-399-7437 - www.elegantcatering.com.

Eschelon Telecom, Inc. - a provider of voice, data, Internet services and business telephone systems, announced recently that it has launched Simple Solutions, a new bundled telecommunications product offering designed specifically for smaller businesses. It includes analog lines, DSL, long distance and voicemail for a single, flat monthly fee. The product is ideal for smaller business customers who want the ease of having all of their telecommunications and data services from a single provider. Contact Jenna Soule at 612-436-6426 - www.eschelon.com.

Golden Rule Remodeling and Architecture - was named The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) 2005 Regional COTY Award for Contractor of the Year – Residential Additions from $100,000 to $250,000. The award winning home will be on display during the Tour of Homes in September 2005. “Before and after” photography, problem solving, functionality, craftsmanship and innovation are all measured by the judges. Jack Johnston has been doing business in Salem, Oregon for 25 years. He attributes his success to making sure the client is happy and that the quality of the work is second to none. In 2004, Golden Rule added seven people to their staff. Contact Scott King at 503-365-8100 - www.goldenruleremodeling.com.

Hicks Technology, Inc. - provides a wide range of quality technical services. They provide professional consulting, outsourcing, and project management for small business, corporate enterprise, and government agencies. Hicks, an IBM Business Partner, has been granted Premier Warranty Servicer status for 2004, due to their outstanding level of service. This qualifies them to sell and service IBM equipment. Response time, customer satisfaction and parts usage measurements are all requirements for this classification. Hicks, diagnoses the problems down to the component level and only replaces the bad part, which keeps IBM’s warranty and service expense down. Hicks is the only IBM Business Partner in Oregon and the only business that qualified for the Premier level of service. Bill Hicks, founder and Larry George, Business Development Manager were long time employees of IBM. 503-507-2826 or visit www.hickstech.com.

Jet Heating has expanded to a full service Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Fire Sprinkler Protection company. Jet Mechanical is a full service plumbing contractor committed to fulfilling the engineering, installation and maintenance needs of its residential, commercial and industrial consumers. Jet Fire Protection addresses issues associated with installing and maintaining automatic fire sprinkler systems: design, fabrication, installation, maintenance and service. New projects include the Keizer Station, Kelly’s Home Center and communities for Holiday Retirement and Sunwest Management, which will create 75 to 100 new jobs. Call 503-363-2334 - www.jetheating.com.

Jones Oil Company - has been selected as a Signature Class Distributor, by ChevronTexaco Products Company. They placed in the top 20% of all their North American Distributors. This classification allows for a wide range of benefits such as being a preferred choice to handle direct accounts, five-year contracts for facilitating long-term business planning, additional funding through a Business Development Program and top priority for financial support from ChevronTexaco for expansion opportunities. A long term commitment is required to meet the criteria for this classification, as well as strong financials, business planning and operational excellence. Contact Jim Jones at 503-399-9563 or email jim@jonesoil.com - www.jonesoil.com.

Kaufman Homes - announced the addition of David Holton, to their team as Project Administrator. A graduate of the University of Oregon, David brings with him over 20 years of architectural and project administration experience. Most recently a project manager with Curry Brandaw Architects, David served as project administrator for the Return to Grandeur of the Historic Elsinore Theatre and the construction of Salem’s Riverfront Carousel, as well as other projects across the US and Canada. Contact Dean Kaufman at 503-370-8390 - www.kaufmanhomesinc.com

Lancaster Mall - announced the addition of a new state-of-the-art Regal Cinemas theatre complex, to be called Lancaster Mall Stadium 11. Construction will kick off in July 2005, with an opening in the summer of 2006. The complex will include stadium seating throughout, the latest in digital sound technology, several large auditoriums for blockbuster crowds and a total seating capacity of more than 2,200. The mall will also get a redesigned mall entry, improvements to parking lot, a new entrance near the Macy’s department store, new public restrooms, a conference room, management offices, customer service area, and a pedestrian walkway connecting the new mall entry to the theatre. Bunni Oslund-Fisk, Mall Manager says, “The transformation will benefit our customers with enhanced entertainment choices and a variety of shopping experiences.” 503-585-1338 - www.lancastermall.com.

MaPS Credit Union’s - new administrative headquarters is scheduled to be occupant-ready by mid-spring. Approximately 85 MaPS employees will move from the Hines St. location. “The decision to move from our present location is both a recognition of the credit union’s solid growth and its ongoing commitment to grow with our community,” said MaPS President and CEO Dan Penn. MaPS also broke ground in April for a new building for its West Salem branch, scheduled to open October, 2005. Cori Frauendiener, MaPS’ Director of Education Partnerships, was named 2005 Oregon Business Person of the Year, by the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). FBLA’s main focus is to develop leadership skills in the business leaders of tomorrow. For the last three years, Frauendiener and school staff have successfully worked to integrate FBLA into the North Salem High School Business Academy courses. Frauendiener, a 21-year MaPS employee, directs MaPS’ education partnerships with local high schools and is deeply involved in the community. Contact Maureen Gruchalla at 503-588-0181 - www.mapscu.com.

Marion-Polk Building Industry Association - has changed its name to the Home Builders Association of Marion & Polk Counties. Their new website is www.homebuildersassociation.org. Contact Mike Erdman at 503-399-1500.

Moss Adams LLP - recently added two more accountants and business advisors. Chris Valentine has returned to Moss Adams after spending the last three years working as a national industrial contractor. Chris, a CPA for 18 years will focus his tax practice on manufacturing, construction, and real estate development clients. Chris is the Vice President of the Eugene CFMA chapter and serves on the National Tax Committee. James Lanzarotta, a Business Assurance Partner, transferred from the Tacoma office. Jim specializes in governmental and not-for-profit organizations. He has been a CPA for over 20 years. Contact Linda Apling at 541-686-1040 – www.mossadams.com.

PGE - ranks No. 1 in the power quality and reliability category in the Western Region and is No. 2 nationwide in the same category, according to a J.D. Power and Associates 2005 Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study. Released in March, the study is based on interviews with representatives of more than 11,000 businesses that spend between $500 and $50,000 monthly on electricity. “We’ve spent the past 15 years developing and implementing programs to improve reliability for our customers, and it’s nice to see that our efforts have been recognized by them,” says Steve Hawke, vice president of Customer Service, System Engineering and Utility Services. “That being said, the operations groups still have a lot of ideas for further improvements, and we do not intend to get complacent. As our customers’ needs, for higher quality grow so must our efforts to keep pace and meet their expectations.” PGE earned its high scores on power quality and reliability with many fewer outages and interruptions than other utilities across the country. 503-463-6170 or visit www.portlandgeneral.com.

Pacific Northwest Technology Group, Inc. - 2004 was a banner year say’s CEO Dan Phillips. “To start with, our 2004 sales were up 175% from our 2003 figures”. To handle the new business, PNWTG added four technical consultants to its staff. To support the growing staff they then tripled their office space. To express it’s new image, www.pnwtg.com is being revamped from a static to a dynamic website, proactively providing industry news, information and help to their clients. The start of 2005 also brought the formation of a licensed limited energy cabling division. “Our clients were requesting infrastructure improvements and combining the front-end cabling with the back-end network services was a natural fit. They’ve received several local sub-contracting jobs from companies in CA and ID simply because of their services mix. A substantial increase of market share has been in the healthcare industry and Internet based security/monitoring services. PNWTG offers a range of technical services to clients throughout the Willamette Valley. 503-393-3391 or visit www.pnwtg.com.

The Prudential Real Estate Professionals’ Salem-Keizer Office - is number one in the country again, the fourth year in a row, announced Byron Hendricks, President and Principal Managing Broker. The office competed against over 1,800 other offices nationally in the Prudential Real Estate Affiliates network. The number-one ranking, based on closed residential units for 2004, was announced recently at the national Prudential convention in Las Vegas. Hendricks praised his associates on “delivering quality service to their clients one transaction at a time.” He added: “This past year has been an outstanding one for our industry and our company.” The company in 2004 merged with the Eugene Prudential affiliate, to create the third largest realty firm in Oregon and the largest in the Willamette Valley. They have eight offices - commercial and relocation divisions, from Woodburn to Eugene, with 350 sales brokers and staff. The Salem-Keizer office has nearly 160 sales associates. 503-371-3013 or visit www.commercialpropertyfinder.com.

RAM Systems - Moving Map Sectionals were recently approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). RAM Systems LLC’s moving map sectionals is the first approval from the FAA regarding computerized sectionals. The system inserts the seamless sectionals into its moving map programs and they are also marketed as a stand alone product. This decision helps RAM maintain its goal to develop products that are entirely operable and legal under FAA regulations. 541-327-1169 or visit www.ramsystemsllc.com.

Specialty Polymer’s President Sheryl Southwell, was awarded the Business Journal’s - Orchid Award based on professional accomplishments the company’s civic involvement. Since Southwell joined the company in 1998, the firm has doubled sales, more than doubled work force to 118 and opened a South Carolina facility that will greatly reduce shipping costs for its products. “We’ve been able to grow even in a tough economy,” says Southwell. “We have a great team and they’ve really stepped up to the plate.” Southwell obtained a degree in biochemistry and began a research career at the University of Minnesota. She later became involved in a Bay Area biotech startup that eventually became a $20 million company. Southwell refuses to take credit for Specialty Polymers’ success, deflecting praise to her 78-year-old father, who was recently inducted into Oregon State University’s Chemical Engineering Hall of Fame. 503-981-7523 or visit www.specpoly.com.

GE Security - Supra Products has officially undergone a name change. The company is now GE Infrastructure, Security - or GE Security. The Supra products produced at the Salem location will continue to be marketed under that brand. 503-375-0434 or visit www.ge-supra.com.

Wachovia Corporation - opened doors to state and local leaders at an official Grand Opening of their new facility on March 2nd. Along with officials from the company’s Charlotte headquarters, Governor Ted Kulongoski, Salem Mayor Janet Taylor, representatives from the Salem City Council, Marion County Commission, Chemeketa Community College and the OECDD were also on hand. “It was amazing to hear so many teammates directly thank us for bringing Wachovia to Salem,” said Vicki Perryman, Direct Access Chief Administrative Officer. About 125 guests and teammates gathered to hear Governor Kulongoski, Mayor Taylor, along with Wachovia management, talk about what the center means to them. Kulongoski praised Wachovia for its commitment to employee development, education and community. Guests then took a tour of the facility planned and presented by Salem teammates. Paul Bajus, Site Manager stated, “Those of us who moved here from other contact centers are thrilled to be in Salem. This is a very special community.” There are currently 487 teammates who have taken over 1,334,259 calls! Call 503-587-6209 - or visit www.wachovia.com.

Woodburn Company Stores - ranks second among Oregon destinations, with 3.4 million visitors in 2004. They recently announced they would begin their third expansion, which will add 23,700-square feet to the already 300,000-square foot center. The first tenant to occupy the expansion is Nike Factory Store, which will open in fall, 2005. 503-981-1900 or visit www.woodburncompanystores.com.