A Few Words

Here we go again. Kroger and Albertsons announced plans to merge and that they will divest 49 locations in Oregon. They have not announced which ones. We have an Albertsons and Safeway in Ashland. Surely one of them will be one on the chopping block…Again. A few years ago, Safeway and Albertsons merged and the…

When Greg Henderson started the Southern Oregon Business Journal he did so with the support of “sponsors”. These companies paid monthly to support Greg and the idea of delivering news about business in Southern Oregon. They got an ad out of it, but it was really something more than being just an advertiser. When I…

This is always the last thing I write for each issue. Sometimes I think it should be the first. A guiding light. A beacon. But no, it’s always the last thing. A recap. A taillight. Or as I like to think of it, the afterburner.  We gathered to celebrate the work life of Ken Trautman…

June 2023 I almost called this issue “Grants Pass has got it going on.” Because last month I featured Nathan Miller on the cover and this month I’m featuring Trever Yarrish.  Both are CEOs of cool tech companies and more in Grants Pass.  When I visit Grants Pass, I can see and feel the vibrancy.…

May 2023 I strongly encourage you to read “Anyone can be successful, Just ask Nathan Miller” on page 16 of this months journal.  Nathan built a $10,000,000 a year business with only 16 employees in Grants Pass, Oregon with only $140 and a lot of sweat equity and he believes any of us can do…

April 2023 I witnessed my first bank run, ok it was my second, the first one was in Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life”.  Last month, I watched as twitter frenzied tech millionaires and billionaires transferred with a tap on their phones $50 BILLION dollars overnight from Silicon Valley Bank making it insolvent and forcing…

I just got back from nearly two weeks in the UK. It was an awesome trip and very enjoyable, and it was a work trip.  Dena and I setup a basecamp in London and took trains daily to meet with business owners, dev partners and business associates, current and past.  Dr. Martens has been a…

Where did January go? How is it already February? Lots going on. 1. We now have two paper choices in Jackson County filling the void left by the closure of the Medford Mail Tribune. Read more on Page 38. 2. SOU and Asante are seeing record breaking philanthropy. Embedding a culture in your business of…

Happy New Year. It’s only the middle of January and so much sad business news has happened already this year, it is overwhelming.  I’m wired to be a positive person. I like to see and report positive things.  But as the deluge of negative press releases and sad news rolled in during the first week…

It’s Christmas time! We are supposed to be spreading cheer at this time of year.  The photo on the covers are from Chad Sobotka. I love his photos and I’m thankful that he gives me permission to share them with all of you.  This issue focuses on Cyber Fraud. Not very Christmasy of a theme,…

This month is mostly about employment. It’s top of mind for me. The subject comes up at every meeting I attend. The Oregon Employment Department always has great articles on employment that we can all learn from. I’m reposting several of the most recent and relevant in this months journal.  Hunter Fiber is rolling out…

I was asked to moderate a panel at the Plug into Eugene: Resources in the Local Innovation + Bioscience Ecosystem event as the publisher of the Southern Oregon Business Journal. Normally I’m asked to speak as president of Project A or Rogue Broadband or even Art Authority, but this was the first time I was…