Money Troubles
The state’s angel investing fund gets hammered in Salem.
Up on the Roof
In 2010 Vanessa Keitges and several investors purchased Portland-based Columbia Green Technologies, a green-roof company. The 13-person firm has a 200% annual growth rate, exports 30% of its product to Canada and received its first infusion of venture capital in 2014 from Yaletown Venture Partners. CEO Keitges, 40, a Southern Oregon native who serves on President Obama’s Export Council, talks about market innovation, scaling small business and why Oregon is falling behind in green-roof construction.
Agents of Change
BY JON SHADEL
Transforming the culture of Oregon’s educational leadership.
Inside the Box
BY GINA BINOLE
Screening for “culture fit” has become an essential part of the hiring process. But do like-minded employees actually build strong companies — or merely breed consensus culture?
Is there life beyond Reed?
A storied institution climbs down from the ivory tower.
Grain Food
BY JACOB PALMER
A Power Lunch at Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grain Store and Restaurant.
Downtime with Jill Nelson
Live, Work, Play with the CEO of Ruby Receptionists.
Back to School
BY CHRIS NOBLE
Oregon is home to an abundance of gritty warehouses reborn as trendy office spaces, as well as crafty hipsters turned entrepreneurs. Does the combination yield an equally bounteous office products sector? Not so much. Occupying the limited desk jockey space are Field Notes, a spinoff of Portland’s Draplin Design Company, and Schuttenworks, known for whittling Apple device stands. For a full complement of keyboard trays, docking stations and mouse pads, check out the GroveMade line, guaranteed to boost the cachet of even the lowliest cubicle drone.
Getting What You Pay For
A conversation with Chris Maples, president of the Oregon Institute of Technology.