BEST in BUSINESS
Nine businesses were honored at the 5th annual Clatsop Economic Development Resources
awards at the Seaside Convention Center on March 22. Kevin Leahy, executive director of
CEDR and the Small Business Development Center, announced the winners as follows:
2017
CEDR
AWARDS
2017 WINNERS:
Entrepreneurship — Small Business:
The Wine Shack and Provisions 124
Outstanding Customer Service:
Ruth Swenson & The Hillcrest Inn
Visionary Award:
Jim DeFeo, owner of Astoria CoffeeHouse
and Bistro, Cargo and Carruthers
Business Service to the Community —
Small Business:
Kathleen Deland Peterson
Technological Advancement:
Gustafson Logging
Business Service — Large Business:
Coaster Construction
Job Creation Award:
Pelican Pub & Brewery
Entrepreneurship — Large Business:
LEKTRO
Economic Impact Award:
Martin Hospitality
ENTREPRENEURSHIP — SMALL BUSINESS:
It is really refreshing, to watch the development of a business as it
evolves from its’ previous entity, into a new and dramatically different
operation. During the last four years, this business, after purchasing
the business from its’ original owners, has transformed itself into a
multi-faceted business organization.
Under these businesses efforts, Puffin Brand Wines has been fully
implemented and has achieved great acceptance. They have won 14 wine
awards including numerous Platinum, Gold, and Double Gold Medals
already in their first few years. With their newly instituted distribution
system throughout the State of Oregon, they have focused on highly
localized wine selections appealing to the destination visitor market.
That withstanding, the opportunity to take over another portion of
the building they leased, the owners created a new concept, Provisions
124, a deluxe and gourmet food shop. It has proven to be very
successful, so much so that they have now purchased the two
buildings on their tax lot.
It’s my honor to announce The Wine Shack and Provisions 124 as
the winner of the Entrepreneurship Award – Small Business.
OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE:
Several nominations started like this: I would like to nominate this
individual and the business she manages for the CEDR outstanding
customer service award. Some comments: “When my husband and I
moved to Seaside 2 years ago, she was one of the first people that we
met. Her first words are there anything she could help with? She
represents her business with grace and style. And another: “I first met
her at the lobby of her business 5 years ago, She welcomed my family
graciously, and spent an hour of her precious time with us! We said
how we adored her welcoming spirit, and that the owners were lucky
to have her. My VIP treatment that day, I found out, had nothing to do
with me. This is her standard, which she applies to guests, business
acquaintances, and friends alike.
Except for the Seaside Visitors Bureau, she is the THE go-to
person for anything happening in the area! She is also so involved in
our great community, and if you ask her to volunteer somewhere, it is
done! In Rotary, we call this “Service above Self”!
For her kind and diligent work, and hospitality in more than just
business, we are so pleased to announce Ruth Swenson & The
Hillcrest Inn for the CEDR Outstanding Customer Service Award!
VISIONARY AWARD:
The Org Committee of the Astoria Downtown Historic District
Association (ADHDA) is pleased to support the nomination of this
business owner and the three vibrant businesses he owns and manages
in the heart of historic Downtown Astoria. His outstanding sense for
designing places people want to be has led to his on-going success.
The first business project was the opening of the Astoria
Coffeehouse and Bistro, which is now a hub of activity for
Downtown. The block that holds the Bistro is also now home to
Cargo, an eclectic collection of curiosities and gifts. (And note that
11th street in Astoria, with it “parklet, trees, and lights shows what can
be done in a Downtown core with vision, passion for business, and a
welcoming spirit!)
And finally, this business entrepreneur has recently opened
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WHO’S WHO 2017
Carruthers restaurant, which has already become one of the most
popular and talked about restaurants in our region, and was already
voted the Best Fine Dining by Coast Weekend Readers! Jim DeFeo,
owner of Astoria CoffeeHouse and Bistro, Cargo and Carruthers is
being awarded the VISIONARY AWARD!
BUSINESS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
— SMALL BUSINESS:
This small business is run by an amazing person. As soon as you
enter her cozy office, you are always greeted with a happy “Hello!” and
a kind smile. When you are her client, you feel like her only client. She
treats her clients with undivided attention and makes your vision come
to life in print or website form. It is not uncommon that during her
meetings with clients, laughter can be found drifting down the hallway.
And another: I am on the South County Community Food Bank
Board (SCCFB) along with her. She created and maintains SCCFB’s
website and willingly gives a lot of her time on a volunteer basis and at
her own expense. I know she does this for many other non-profits also
at her own expense. She is extremely generous of her time sharing her
skills and knowledge.
Her plan was to take on at least one nonprofit organization a year,
but she has a soft heart and has done up to three and four in a year,
giving these organizations a beautiful top of the line website that they
otherwise could not afford. Some websites she created, hosted and has
maintained for free: Assistance League, Seaside Rotary, Tsunami
Skippers, North Coast Building Industry Association, and in
production at this time: Seaside Historical Museum, The Harbor and
the list goes on!
I am so honored to announce that Kathleen Deland Peterson is
receiving the CEDR Business Service to the Community- Small
Business award!
BUSINESS SERVICE — LARGE
BUSINESS:
ENTREPRENEURSHIP —
LARGE BUSINESS:
This business has been shaping the character of
Cannon Beach since the early 70’s by being very
involved with the community, plus building many of the
downtown structures. Cannon Beach has always been
this businesses hometown, and they have done many
things to help the town improve and become successful.
• Being the lead sponsor of Sandcastle and also
taking their crew to do all the setup and making sure it
runs smoothly.
• Involved in building the Sandcastle float for the
Star Light Parade.
• Donating labor and materials to remodel the
Cannon Beach Food Bank.
• Sponsor for the Coaster Theater.
• Sponsor for the local arts festivals.
• Sponsor for local baseball and soccer teams.
In the last four years, they have done many
improvements to their office and shop on Elk Creek
Road. To make it a place for the community to come to if
we were to have a natural disaster (Tsunami)
Some examples
• Reinforced the existing foundation and structure to
give it above average rating for earth quake and flooding.
• Backup generator for the building/back heat system
for the main shop area.
• Propane backup tanks since natural gas would be
shut down with a disaster.
• Two 500 gallon fresh water tanks
• 2-way radio and satellite phone.
• 150 bunks and medical supplies.
• Outhouses with underground storage tanks.
They are working on improving with training and
teaming up with Red Cross so they will be ready and
hopefully it will never be used. When asked why they’re
doing all this, the answer was, “Our thought was to get
prepared and ready and hope that we will never use it.”
It’s my honor and privilege to award the Business
Service — Large Business to Coaster Construction!
Nomination: LEKTRO, Inc. seems to qualify in all
your award areas, and would be a worthy choice in
numerous categories. Customer Service: LEKTRO has
the finest customer service in the industry, from sales
to service, providing replacement parts for all models,
and offering answers for all tech support questions.
Economic Impact: Clatsop County experienced the
same economic downturn as other parts of rural
Oregon when the recession hit, but instead of
personnel lay-offs, LEKTRO maintained and even was
able to grow it employees force during this time, and
recovery. Job Creation: Since Eric Paulson took
ownership of LEKTRO in 1988, it has grown from a
10-person company with sales under $1.0M to
employing over 85 people and generating $25M in
annual sales.
LEKTRO recently received the Ground Support
Worldwide Magazine Product Leader of the Year
Award for their AP8950SDB-AL-250 tug which is the
most versatile towbarless aircraft tug in the world. Its
versatility, wide range of OEM certifications, and all
environmentally friendly all-electric drive were
deciding factors for our receiving the award, as well as
our industry leading after sales support.
Entrepreneurship: To accommodate the growing
demand for their airplane tugs, LEKTRO has created a
global dealership and customers in nearly every
country in the world!
It is my distinct honor to announce that LEKTRO
is the first company in the five-year history of the
CEDR awards to win a second award; the Entrepre-
neurship- Large Business Award!
JOB CREATION AWARD:
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT:
“I nominate this company a business based out of Astoria, Oregon
for the CEDR 2017 Awards. Over the past 43 years, this business has
made technological advancements with the changing economic, social
and environmental dynamics in our community.”
An example of their technological advancement is their adoption
of the cable yarding system. Cable logging is a specialized logging
method used on steep terrain. Their cables are capable of yarding
distances up to 2,500 feet. Their logging production is about 35
million board feet/year (8,500 log truck loads). Cable yarding requires
strategic planning and an understanding of the systems, equipment,
and rigging requirements to meet environmental and economic goals.
Gustafson Logging Company were pioneers in developing
techniques for large woody debris placement as a part of forest
operations.
Gustafson Logging is an example of a company that combines
recent innovations in logging methods with forest science, and on the
ground ingenuity. As forestry technology advances, Gustafson
Logging continues to adopt the improved tools and techniques that
improve the effectiveness, and efficiency of their forest operational
methods.
I am honored to announce Gustafson Logging as the winner of the
Technological Advancement Award.
After the closure of the very successful Dooger’s
Restaurant over 5-years ago in Cannon Beach, the
restaurant remained closed and empty, diminishing the
economic vitality of a very vital tourism town. With the
new vision and commitment that this business showed,
the restaurant was purchased, torn down, and rebuilt.
It reopened in June of 2016 just a few months after
the CEDR Awards ceremony. This business employed
over 10 construction staff every day for over seven
months. Seventy-two people were hired to fulfill their
fulltime and peak season needs. They did this through
two recruiting fairs. Their payroll went from nothing to
over $1,000,000 and they expect that to grow 30% in the
coming fiscal year.
They are one of the fastest growing Brewers in
Oregon, and dramatically increasing production every
year. Their growth rate they are experiencing is over 100%
year over year since their first corporate opening in 1996.
We are excited about this major new employer and
business and the impact they are already having on the
City of Cannon Beach, and our Clatsop County area.
Please join me in congratulating Pelican Pub &
Brewery for the Job Creation Award.
ECONOMIC IMPACT AWARD:
In the past 10-years this company has invested over
$20 million dollars in building facilities, and
renovation of hotels and restaurants that have served
millions of travelers from all over the world. In just the
past year they have finished renovations of the
Stephanie Inn and their Dining Room (one of
America’s top 50 luxury boutique hotels), the Surfsand
Resort, and currently the remodel of the Lumberyard
Rotisserie and Grill to change it into the Public Coast
Brewing Company, all amounting to $3,100,000 of
new investment. In addition to this they have just done
a major redesign/remodel to the Haystack Gardens
Wedding and Banquet Center’s building and
landscaping. (A one and a half acre garden). Also just
completed, is a remodel of the incredibly popular
Wayfarer Restaurant, one of the few remarkable
oceanfront restaurants in Cannon Beach. This adds
another $1,000,000 capital investment to the original
$3,100,000 mentioned above. With over 200
employees here locally, the economic impact on
Cannon Beach and Clatsop County is undeniable.
They are one of the largest employers in our County.
The unique culture of this hospitality company can
be summarized up in the saying, “We create great
memories!”
Their management philosophy always please the
guests first with employees held in similar regard. It
doesn’t get any better than that!
It’s my honor and privilege to award the Economic
Impact Award to Martin hospitality!
ENTREPRENEURSHIP —
LARGE BUSINESS:
LEKTRO owner Eric Paulson.
ECONOMIC
IMPACT
AWARD
WINNER
Ryan and Stephanie
Snyder of Martin
Hospitality with
Alisa Dunlap, CEDR
Board VP.
JOB
CREATION
AWARD
WINNER
Pelican Pub
and Brewery
CEO Jim Prinzing.
WHO’S WHO 2017
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