Wednesday, July 18, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 13
LAIRD: Sisters-based
company’s motto is
‘Move, Start, Grow’
Continued from page 3
to help support the project of
moving and expanding the
manufacturing to Sisters.
It may not be long before
the company is the largest
employer in Sisters, accord-
ing to Hodge.
Laird Hamilton addressed
the crowd as well. “I am hon-
ored to be here and thankful
everybody that I have come
across has got unique spirit
and there is something about
this place energetically that I
felt when I first landed. This
whole project is a positive
thing. We are here because of
the goodness this represents.
This is something that can
affect a lot of people.”
Speaking of the products
themselves, Hamilton said, “I
believe that when people are
healthier and they feel bet-
ter they are happier and they
then make better decisions in
their lives. With Paul’s help
we expanded to making this
stuff for more than just our
buddies.”
Hodge said, “We moved
here seven years ago to raise
our family in a culture that we
wanted to raise our kids in, to
be able to experience nature
and enjoy everything that
Central Oregon has to offer.
Naturally the people that are
here, now as employees, fit
the culture of the company
of keeping a healthy lifestyle,
so it all seems to be lining up.
It’s a match made in heaven,
so to speak.”
Hamilton agreed that
locating in Central Oregon
fits the nature of the products
they manufacture. “The rea-
son why the company is here
is because of Paul. It makes
complete sense that it is right
here in Sisters.”
Hamilton joked that the
company’s success has made
people begin to refer to him
as “the creamer guy” rather
than for his identity as a
world-class surfer.
Hodge also spoke of the
future vision of the company.
“The bigger picture is that we
are working to build an over-
all food brand that encom-
passes the entire grocery
store. You should be able to
go (to) every food (isle) and
be able to find some Laird
product.”
Hodge believes the com-
pany and the employees that
it will attract will be a further
benefit to the entire Sisters
community.
“Obviously, some of the
jobs will be imported given
that we expect to have a large
number of new employees in
the years to come, some of
which will need specialized
skills sets. The type of per-
sonality and culture we will
attract will be a huge benefit
to this community. They will
be active community mem-
bers who are athletic and into
the lifestyle and here for all
the right reasons.”
Paul and Carla Schneider
of Sisters bought the lots in
the industrial park about a
year ago, not sure of how the
property would be developed.
“It’s worked out really well
so far,” he said.
Also on hand was Mike
Wallenfels, a board mem-
ber for the Oregon Outdoor
Alliance as well as work-
ing as the vice-president of
global sales at Hydro-flask.
He sees Laird’s products as
being related to the work he
is doing in both capacities of
his life.
“There is a great intersec-
tion between natural foods
and lovers of the outdoors,
because folks with healthy,
active lifestyles love this
stuff. The OOA and Hydro-
flask both have natural rela-
tionships with companies like
this,” he said. “This company
is providing good jobs, really
good jobs for people.”
Keeton-King Construc-
tion, which is the main con-
tractor for the buildings
Laird will occupy, is another
beneficiary of the develop-
ment. Ed Gilmore attended
the ceremony, happy that his
company has gotten to be part
of such an important local
project. A second building
is under construction, and a
third is planned for the prop-
erty in the near future.
“We don’t generally get
commercial projects like
this right in Sisters,” he said.
“We didn’t know when we
started what the buildings
were going to be used for, but
once that got decided we had
to really get going right away
on this first building.”
From the outside the build-
ing are fairly non-descript
metal structures, but the inte-
riors are quite specialized for
food production, according
to Gilmore. He feels good
about his company’s role in
the project.
“It’s great to see all the
locals who are working for
Laird, which has made it a
great project for us to be a
part of,” he said.
The nonprofit group
E D C O ( E c o n o m i c
Development for Central
Oregon) played a large role
in helping Laird locate in
Sisters. The group’s motto is
“Move, Start, Grow” which
relates encouraging busi-
nesses to move to the region,
for entrepreneurs to start a
business, or for established
businesses to grow. EDCO
helped guide the company by
providing data, connecting it
with incentives, and more.
Capi Lewis, who works in
the Sisters office of EDCO
as managing director, said,
“This project can be such a
showcase for how this can
work, and the City’s support
cannot be underestimated,”
she said. “The incentives the
City provided along with the
support from the county com-
missioners really made this
happen.”
According to Lewis,
higher wage living quality
jobs are what this area really
needs and that having Laird
Superfood here will provide
opportunities for graduates
of Sisters School District to
return to the area and find
living-wage jobs.
“Companies like this are
what we need here for our
next generation,” she said.
entertainment & EVENTS
WED...JULY 18
MON...JULY 23
Sisters Saloon Poker Night
7 p.m. Every Wednesday! $20.
For additional information call
541-549-7427 or go online to
sisterssaloon.net.
Food Cart Garden at
Eurosports Trivia Night
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sign-up
is at 6:15 p.m. Free, every
Wednesday! For additional
information call 541-549-2471.
Hardtails Bar & Grill Open
Mic & Jam Night 7 p.m.
Every Monday, no cover! For
information call 541-549-6114
or go to hardtailsoregon.com.
Sisters Saloon Painting
Party 6 to 8 p.m. $35, every
Monday! For additional
information call 541-904-5280
or go to sisterssaloon.net.
TUES...JULY 24
THURS...JULY 19
Village Green Park Rhythm
& Song in the Park 5:30 p.m.
for free community dinner; 6
to 8 p.m. for rhythm & song.
All are welcome; rhythm
instruments provided or
bring your own! For info go to
citizens4community.com.
Cork Cellars Tasty
Thursday Hosted Wine
Tasting 5 to 7 p.m. with
Jones of Washington Winery.
For information call 541-
549-2675 or go online to
corkcellarswinebistro.com.
Sisters Saloon Karaoke
Night 9 p.m. to midnight.
Every Thursday, no cover! For
information call 541-549-7427
or go to sisterssaloon.net.
FRI...JULY 20
Food Cart Garden at
Eurosports Live Music with
Bitter Creek Band 5 to
7 p.m. No cover! For additional
information call 541-549-2471.
Hardtails Bar & Grill
Karaoke Night 9 p.m. Every
Friday, no cover! For more
information call 541-549-6114
or go to hardtailsoregon.com.
Fir Street Park Sisters
Farmers Market 2 to
5:30 p.m. Fresh on Fridays, thru
September! For additional
information go online to
sistersfarmersmarket.com.
SAT...JULY 21
LIVE SATURDAY!
8pm•JULY 28
SYSTYR SKYNYRD
THE WORLD’S ONLY
ALL FEMALE SKYNYRD
TRIBUTE BAND!
$10 in advance at
Hardtails or bendticket.com
$15 at the door day of show
175 N. Larch St.
1
t..
541-549-6114
5
5 96 4
hardtailsoregon.com
Three Creeks Production
Facility 10th Anniversary
Party & Live Music with
Larry and His Flask 2 to
8 p.m. at 265 E. Barclay Dr. with
food trucks, games, dunk tanks
& more! Free entry and family
friendly. For more information
go to threecreeksbrewing.com
or call 541-549-1963.
Paulina Springs Books
Brad Smith Memorial 5 to
7 p.m. All are invited to
remember and pay tribute
to Brad Smith. If you’d like to
donate to his memorial bench,
checks may be made to Paulina
Springs. For more information
go to paulinasprings.com or
call 541-549-0866.
Food Cart Garden at
Eurosports Music & Swing
Dance Lessons 5:30 to
6:30 p.m. with professional
dance instructors Clint and
Jenny. Free! Come alone or
bring a partner! For additional
information call 541-549-2471.
Cork Cellars Live Music
with Mark Conklin 7 to
9 p.m. No cover! For
additional information call
541-549-2675 or go online to
corkcellarswinebistro.com.
Suttle Lodge & Boathouse
Live Music on the Lawn
with Mission Spotlight 7 to
9 p.m. Free, all ages welcome!
For additional information go
online to thesuttlelodge.com or
call 541-638-7001.
Sisters Saloon Trivia Night
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sign-up is at
6:15 p.m. Free, every Tuesday!
For information call 541-549-
7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
WED...JULY 25
Food Cart Garden at
Eurosports Trivia Night
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sign-up
is at 6:15 p.m. Free, every
Wednesday! For more
information call 541-549-2471.
Sisters Saloon Poker Night
7 p.m. Every Wednesday! $20.
For additional information call
541-549-7427 or go online to
sisterssaloon.net.
THURS...JULY 26
Fir Street Park Live Music
with Michael Cleveland
and Flamekeeper 6:30 p.m.
Free bluegrass concert,
presented by Sisters Folk
Festival. Bring seating or a
blanket, and a picnic if desired!
For more information go online
to sistersfolkfestival.org.
Cork Cellars Tasty
Thursday Hosted Wine
Tasting 5 to 7 p.m. for “Variety
of Malbecs.” For information
call 541-549-2675 or go online
to corkcellarswinebistro.com.
Sisters Saloon Karaoke
Night 9 p.m. to midnight.
Every Thursday, no cover! For
information call 541-549-7427
or go to sisterssaloon.net.
FRI...JULY 27
Hood Avenue Art Artists’
Reception wtih Patricia
Freeman-Martin and Jeff
& Heather Thompson 4
to 7 p.m. with live music and
refreshments! Info, call 541-
719-1800 to hoodavenueart.
com or call 541-719-1800.
Food Cart Garden at
Eurosports Live Music
with the Bobby Lindstrom
Trio 5 to 7 p.m. No cover! For
additional information call
Eurosports at 541-549-2471.
Paulina Springs Books
Author Signing with Dennis
McGregor 4 p.m. Dennis will
circulate between the book
store and Sisters Gallery &
Frame Shop to sign “You Stole
My Name.” Info: 541-549-0866.
Sisters Gallery & Frame
Shop Author Signing with
Dennis McGregor 4 p.m.
Dennis will circulate between
the gallery and Paulina Springs
Books to sign “You Stole My
Name.” 541-549-9552.
Downtown Sisters 4th
Friday Art Stroll 4 to 7 p.m.
Galleries & shops feature
entertainment and treats! For
info: sistersartsassociation.org.
Fir Street Park Sisters
Farmers Market 2 to
5:30 p.m. Fresh on Fridays, thru
September! For additional
information go online to
sistersfarmersmarket.com.
Events calendar listings are free to advertisers. Submit
items by 5 p.m. Fridays to teresa@nuggetnews.com
