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Oregon Business Association

Balanced Voice

May 15, 2008

When the Presidential candidates meet with Oregon Companies - They Meet with OBA Companies

When the candidates vying to be the next president of the United States visit Oregon, they make sure that their messages reflect the values of Oregonians – innovation, leadership, sustainability.  As they actively campaign for the Oregon vote, Senators Clinton, McCain and Obama have chosen as their respective venues OBA member companies that embody these values.

Barack Obama met with employees at Vernier Software & Technology, Hillary Clinton talked healthcare at OHSU and John McCain outlined his position on Climate Change at Vestas Energy.

Vernier Software & Technology provides award-winning data-collection technology to science and math educators.  Senator Obama used the visit to the Beaverton based tech company to emphasize the need for funding increases for higher education and his plans to improve science education.

As the state's only health and research university, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) brings together patient care, research, education of the next generation of health care providers and scientists and community service to improve the health and well-being of all Oregonians.  Hillary Clinton’s long-standing support for healthcare reform made a tour of Doernbecher Children’s Hospital an appropriate stage for a discussion of her universal healthcare proposal.

Vestas Energy is the world’s leading supplier of wind power turbines.  John McCain speaking at Vestas Business Academy in Portland, outlined his position on climate change including his support of a cap-and-trade plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

OBA Members on the Move

Tom Kelly, President of Neil Kelly Company and his wife Barbara Woodford are being honored by Portland Children’s Museum as recipients of the 2008 Great Friend to Kids Awards.  The 5th Annual Great Friend to Kids celebration will take place, Thursday May 29, 2008 at Wieden + Kennedy. Guests will enjoy fabulous food, drink and entertainment by Quartette Barbette and the Sojourner Truth Marimba Band.  Tom Kelly is a founding OBA member and former Chair of the Board of Directors.

Kaiser Permanente is the signature sponsor of the 2008 Start! Greater Portland Heart Walk, happening this Saturday, May 17 at the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade.  The 5K walk is a major fundraiser for the American Heart Association.  Proceeds help fund research and programs aimed at ending cardiovascular disease--the leading cause of death in Oregon and Washington.  Improving the health of the communities they serve is a key part of the Kaiser Permanente mission.  Sponsorships like this one are essential in helping employees, families, and neighbors live long and thrive.

Susan Sokol Blosser co-founder of Sokol Blosser Winery, was recently honored with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the national organization Women for WineSense.  Founded in 1971 Sokol Blosser Winery was and continues to be a pioneering enterprise that has helped pave the way for an Oregon wine industry that now includes over 300 wineries and more than 13,000 acres of vineyards.

Doug Johanson and Gordie Gorsuch of Vista Capital Partners, Inc. and Michael Tinney of Wells Fargo were each selected as Portland Top Wealth Advisors by the Portland Business Journal and The Winner's Circle.