September 1, 2010
Douglas Timber Operators
Breakfast Meeting Announcement
LOCATION: Elmer’s
Program: Update on Rock-ED and the Joe Merchep Foundation
For more information, please contact our office (541) 672-0757.
September 1, 2010
Douglas County Business Workshop Calendar—September 5, 2010
By Jennifer O’Neill, UCC Small Business Development Center, Administrative/Program Specialist, 541-440-7824 or jennifer.oneill@umpqua.edu. Pre-registration is required.
Workshop Title: Mission Possible-Job Search
Date: September 7th through September 10th (Tuesday –Friday’s)
Stop by the office to be scheduled.
Time: Contact UT&E
Cost: FREE
Location: UT&E, 760 NW Hill Avenue, Roseburg
Sponsoring agency: Umpqua Training & Employment
Contact Phone #: 541-672-7761
Workshop Title: 1st Steps to Starting Business Workshop
CRN: 20885
Date: Friday, September 30th
Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Cost: Free
Location: UCC Workforce Training Center, 2555 NE Diamond Lake Blvd
Sponsoring Agency: UCC Small Business Development Center
Contact Phone #: 541-440-4669 or 541-440-7824; Registration 541-440-7744
Workshop Title: Basic Website Design
CRN: 21009
Date: Tuesdays & Thursdays, August 31st through Sept. 30th
Time: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Cost: $85
Location: UCC Campus, TC 104
Sponsoring Agency: UCC Community Education
Contact Phone #: 541-440-4655 Kathy
Workshop Title: Basic Tax Preparers Course
CRN: 21040
Date: September 7th through December 4th
Time: 4:30 – 8:30 pm Tuesday’s
9:00 am – 1:00 pm Saturday’s
Cost: $449
Location: UCC Workforce Training Center, 2555 NE Diamond Lake Blvd – Tuesday’s
UCC Campus, WCH – Saturday’s
Sponsoring agency: Community Education
Contact Phone #: 541-440-7651 Michele
Workshop Title: Certified Flagger Training
CRN: 20930
Date: September 7th
Time: 4:30 – 10:00 pm
Cost: $79
Location: UCC Campus, TC 119
Sponsoring Agency: UCC Community Education
Contact Phone #: 541-440-7691 Judy
August 30, 2010
Douglas County Physicians Announce Interim CEO
Board Appoints Roseburg Physician Robert Dannenhoffer
Roseburg, Oregon—The Physicians of Douglas County (DCIPA) is pleased to announce that Robert Dannenhoffer, M.D. has been named interim chief executive officer and will take over the day-to-day management of the organization for the next three to six months while an executive search is conducted.
“The job of CEO is a critical position to which members and staff looks for guidance and leadership,” said Dr. Larry Sharp, DCIPA’s Board chairman. “Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer is one of DCIPA’s founding fathers and its original Medical Director. He has incredible breadth of experience and we are grateful that he has agreed to provide leadership during this time of transition.”
In order to accept the DCIPA Board assignment, Dr. Dannenhoffer vacated his position at Roseburg’s Mercy Medical Center where he had been Vice President of clinical effectiveness and a member of the hospital safety committee. In addition to his being a practicing physician with ties to DCIPA and Mercy, Dannenhoffer was also Medical Director at SureCare Health Plans, Inc. He has served as President of the Oregon Medical Association (OMA).
During a period at the Bethesda Naval Hospital, Dr. Dannenhoffer was an instructor in the Pediatrics Department at Harvard Medical School and an assistant professor in the Pediatrics Department at Uniformed University of Health Services.
“DCIPA is a great organization with a great future, and I’m looking forward to leading it through the many health care challenges facing Douglas County and the state of Oregon,” Dannenhoffer said.
DCIPA’s Board of Directors made the interim appointment after Ron Preston resigned from the day-to-day management of the organization and transitioned to a new position. He will continue with DCIPA as Senior Consultant and will serve as a liaison to stakeholders on critical state and federal issues.
August 30, 2010
Douglas County Physicians CEO Ron Preston Announces Transition to New Position as Senior Consultant
DCIPA to Announce a Successor Soon
Roseburg, Oregon—Ron Preston, chief executive officer of The Physicians of Douglas County (DCIPA) for the past 15 years, is resigning from the day-to-day management of the organization. Preston will continue with DCIPA as a Senior Consultant and serve as a liaison to stakeholders on critical state and federal issues.
“As CEO, Ron Preston provided the critical leadership that helped bring quality health care to Douglas County,” said Dr. Larry Sharp, DCIPA’s Board chairman. “The Physicians of Douglas County are widely recognized as stewards of health and health care, thanks to Ron.”
“Physicians are faced with enormous challenges that threaten their ability to provide quality services and maintain sustainable medical practices. Government is implementing wide-sweeping changes to expand coverage to the uninsured and force providers to reduce healthcare costs. At the same time, competitors are boldly looking for ways to increase market share and grab revenue,” Sharp said. “Ron Preston has been there every step of the way advocating tirelessly on behalf of independent physicians. He will continue to fight these important issues for DCIPA in a new capacity which better serves his and DCIPA’s needs.”
Ron Preston is credited with expanding DCIPA’s marketshare, enhancing DCIPA’s visibility in the community, and providing quality and affordable health care to the uninsured and the underinsured.
His commitment to technology and to recruiting highly trained physicians for Douglas County has made a difference. Ron worked behind the scenes to keep health care costs low. He launched the electronic medical records (EMR) system to enhance the quality of health care for patients.
“People have a better understanding that physicians in Douglas County today are as highly trained as anywhere else, thanks to Ron Preston’s leadership.”
DCIPA is moving quickly with plans to find a successor. The Board will meet within the next week to name an interim CEO.
August 30, 2010
From: Neil Hummel, Century 21
Greetings: August 19, 2010
WOW! Did our American Legion team do us proud? They placed 3rd in the nation in the American Legion World Series. That is the highest finish of any team that has gone to the World Series. I am so proud of those boys and all they were able to accomplish. We needed something positive to rally around to give us something to speak of that is good and wholesome. With all the horrific events that have occurred in our community this past year, we needed this event. Be sure and thank the kids when you see them in the community and let them know how much you appreciate their achievements.
Also, on another note, COSTCO opened their doors on August 12th, with over 5000 customers coming through the door. It was one of the largest “Grand Openings” the company has witnessed for a town our size. The store was welcomed with open arms and a big boost to our economy with over 300 local people employed by them.
Our community suffered another economic blow when Alcan, a large international cable company decided to close its doors at the end of this year. They at one time employed over 350+ employees and had to close because of the hard economic conditions world wide. We all are devastated by their decision to close and leave our area. Also, The Swanson Timber Company announced that they are closing their Glendale mill and cutting back on production at their Roseburg mill as well. This will have a severe impact on our community because those are high paying jobs that we are losing.
Our July residential highlights ended on a positive note when comparing July 2009 with this July for closed increased +2.5%. However, pending sales were down -14% and new listings dropped -11.9%. Our inventory has increased to 16.3 months up from 14.1 months just a month ago and up from 15.8 months a year ago. When comparing June 2010 to July closed sales fell -10.9% (82v.92). Pending sales decreased -7.5% (86v.93) and new listings were down -16.2% (207v.247).
Our average sales prices are still decreasing. In fact, comparing 2009 to July 2010 the average sales price decreased by -11.4% to ($148,400v.$167,500). However, when you compare June 2010 to July 2010 the average sales price increased by +0.5% ( $148,400 v. $147,600.) The total market time in 2010 is down by 6 days from 187 in 2009 to 181 days in 2010. Our real estate market continues to suffer and I don’t see any bottoming out soon. I feel that 2011 is going to present the toughest economic time we have see yet. We still have many properties coming on the market and our foreclosure rates continue to climb. (up +23% statewide.) Many of our sellers are participating in the selling process, with buyer incentives, fixing up their properties to ensure a faster sale and offering seller financing when possible. During times such as these, sellers have to realize that the proper pricing of their properties is the most important element in the marketing process.
Enjoy the rest of your summer and I hope you are like me ready to , “Bring on the Football Season!” GO DUCKS!
August 24, 2010
THE COUNTY SCENE
Eco Devo Update
The long awaited update to the comprehensive economic development plan was presented this week to a combined meeting of the Umpqua Economic Development Partnership, the Industrial Development Board, and a room full of interested citizens.
The update is focused on the development of family wage jobs in the county. It took a look at our current employment clusters and correctly highlighted our focus on sustainability as having a strong potential to be a unifying concept to differentiate our region from our competitors. Our forest products sector and Orenco Systems are just two examples of businesses in the county that define success by balancing economic, social and environmental values. In interviews with a diverse group of county businesses, sustainability was clearly contributing to the bottom line and was being successfully integrated as a business practice. Further, Douglas County has businesses who are leaders in their industries for green product development.
Building an economic development strategy under the umbrella of sustainability will translate beyond the manufacturing sector and be readily adaptable to tourism, agriculture, service, and other components of our county scene. Our developing wine industry is a natural to embrace this concept. I am hopeful that the potential of the strategy will be recognized across the board and we will develop a consolidated marketing effort for Douglas County.
The update makes clear that we have strengths and opportunities. Our use ready industrial sites and our speedy, customer service oriented permitting processes are not easily replicated by other places. We have a good economic development team that gets an amazing amount done for its size.
On the flip side, our lack of modern, useful buildings is a problem. Further, economic development is seen as a function of government, and we need more private sector (business) investment and involvement.
The group that attended the roll out was energized and excited about honing our strategy and coordinating and communicating with other sectors to broaden our efforts. We all recognize that these are very crummy times to expect to land a bunch of new family wage jobs right away. As well, we recognize that these are ideal times to get focused on selling our strengths and strengthening our weaknesses. Having a road map to move us along is a very valuable tool.
Susan always welcomes your questions or comments. Please contact her by email at morgan@co.douglas.or.us; by mail at Douglas County Courthouse, Room 217, 1036 SE Douglas, Roseburg, 97470; or by phone at 440-4201.
August 24, 2010
9/14 Business After Hours
August 23, 2010
Douglas Timber Operators
Breakfast Meeting Announcement
LOCATION: Elmer’s
Speaker: Doug Robertson, Douglas County Commissioner
Program: State of Douglas County
August 23, 2010
Glenn McDuffy recen
tly accepted the Small Business Management (SBM)
program coordinator position at Umpqua Community College’s Small
Business Development Center.
The SBM is targeted at existing businesses
and has monthly classroom sessions that cover business elements of
operation, financial management, marketing, sales, human resources,
business planning and goal setting. The program also incorporates monthly
visits to participating businesses for personal, one-on-one business advising
and ongoing analysis to help business owners implement sound plans for
sustainable growth and greater profits.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Southern Oregon University,
McDuffy moved to San Diego, where for 20 years he worked in a variety of business
management positions and also started multiple real estate and investment companies of his own.
An outstanding communicator, he has been a national trainer, motivational public speaker, and
negotiator, and has hosted his own radio talk-show. He has been a popular presenter and speaker
in finance and business management at numerous national and international conferences for
close to twenty years.
After extensive travel and work both nationally and abroad, McDuffy elected to return to his
hometown of Ashland, Oregon. Following his return, he obtained his master’s degree in teaching
from Southern Oregon University in order to fine tune his ability to help others accomplish their
personal, professional, and educational goals.
McDuffy is an adjunct faculty member at both Rogue Community College and Southern Oregon
University where he teaches business management and marketing with a special emphasis on
small businesses.
For more information about the SBM program, please contact the UCC Small business
Development Center at 541-440-4669 or Mr. McDuffy directly at glenn.mcduffy@umpqua.edu.
August 20, 2010
This past week the subject of my newsletter was the importance of high quality customer service and it brought positive reader comments.
I found this article from Retail Customer Experience about a survey that “…point(s) to the powerful relationship between customer experience and revenue and highlight a critical need for companies to stop looking at service operations as cost centers, and instead view every interaction as an opportunity to increase satisfaction, build loyalty, and grow revenue. The following report details the findings and analysis of the survey results, and highlights what this valuable customer insight means for today’s enterprise.”
Registration is required.
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