Handling the day you didn’t expect
What do you do when your work day takes an unexpected turn that makes your original plan impossible to achieve? Management consultant Tom Cox discusses the importance of Plan B.
Oregon Business Team
FedEx ramps up in Troutdale
FedEx’s new 447,000-square-foot shipping facility in Troutdale is humming with activity as the company prepares for the holiday madness. Local managers have hired part time and full time workers and employment at the facility is up to 550 jobs and growing.
Indow windows opens factory
Startup Indow Windows opened a manufacturing facility for their energy-efficient window inserts in North Portland.
From the Editor: Looking forward to 2011
As 2010 comes to an end, there seems to be no joy in Mudville. In our online survey of readers this month, the mood is considerably dark. We asked readers what signs they were seeing that the economy is improving and almost half of the 808 respondents said, “None, the economy still stinks.”
Business confidence sinks
Few of our readers think the economy is getting better or that their region is headed in the right direction.
Hering tackles a tough commercial market
J. Clayton Hering, president of Norris, Beggs & Simpson, pushes his company through a historic real estate downturn.
Old questions return to leadership gathering
When it staged its first leadership summit in 2002, the Oregon Business Council faced an incoming governor, high unemployment, a sluggish economy and a state budget shortfall of nearly $2 billion.
Businesses drop asking prices
Portland Metro business owners have been slashing asking prices when selling their companies, even though their revenues have been about the same for the past couple years.
Portland embraces cargo bike’s ability to deliver the goods
Joel Grover worked at the Bike Gallery in Portland for more than 20 years before he decided to set up Splendid Cycles on his own in May, selling nothing but cargo bikes.
Japan keeps jobs in Forest Grove
As other agricultural businesses in the area such as plant nurseries struggle because of the anemic housing market, 60-year-old food processor New Season has seen steady sales over the past five years thanks to vegetable powders it produces for a line of Japanese soups and its strong relationships with local farmers.