Salem Area Chamber of Commerce

Thank you to Doty Pruett Wilson PC for hosting Greeters last Friday at Elsinore Theatre! Our group enjoyed networking inside the beautiful theatre, a great venue for a Greeters presentation! During DPW's presentation, we learned much more about this longtime local CPA firm, which offers a wide range of both personal and business services, including tax planning and preparation, estate planning, and business evaluations. Learn how DPW's financial expertise can help you or your business here: https://dpwcpas.com/ Join us for Greeters again tomorrow, July 26, as we are hosted by Bison Dump Hauling & Junk Removal at Chuck E. Cheese! Greeters Details: https://lnkd.in/eqgcifxf

On Friday, July 19, we celebrated the ribbon-cutting for Willamette Legacy Law at its offices located at 1032 3rd Street in West Salem. Willamette Legacy Law Founder and accomplished Estate Planning and Probate Attorney Stephanie Palmblad cut the ribbon alongside her staff, supporters, and Chamber Ambassadors. Established at the beginning of 2024, Willamette Legacy Law specializes in crafting legacies for its clients with a focus on estate planning, trusts, and probate law. The new firm prides itself on its commitment to understanding each client's unique story to develop personalized legal care, ensuring the security of their legacy. Learn more about Willamette Legacy Law here: https://lnkd.in/gbXcss23 Join us in congratulating Stephanie and her Willamette Legacy Law team!

Ever dreamt of pitching a business idea on a show like Shark Tank? Next month, SEDCOR is partnering with Launch Mid-Valley to host Pitch Willamette, an event that will showcase local Willamette Valley businesses to a panel of hungry investors. Businesses can apply by sending an email to [email protected] with any or all of the following by July 26: - Business Plan - Pitch Deck - Any videos - Financial projections and/or profit-loss statements - Anything else to build your business case Five startups will be selected to pitch and potentially receive up to $25,000 in investments. The event on August 21 will also include social time for networking, drinks, and hors d'oeuvres before the main event at the Chemeketa Center for Business & Industry, where local entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas to seasoned investors. Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gan3Ww8A Thank you to our friends at SEDCOR for providing this opportunity to the business community! This event is generously sponsored by Willamette Valley Bank.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Greeters at the Marion County Fair on July 12! As we do every year, we had a great time visiting the county fair during its opening and seeing so many members of our business community come out for a sunny July day!

Earlier this week, our Chamber Business Women gathered for their annual Summer Social, this year at the gorgeous Deepwood Museum & Gardens! Thank you to the Deepwood for hosting, the Sierra Bravo Mobile Event Trailer for providing the food and drink, and everyone who joined us for a fun time out!

At the Business of the Year Awards & Annual All-Member Meeting last month, the 2022-2024 Leadership Salem Cohort celebrated graduating from the program. In this video, produced by cohort members Zak Stone (Zak Stone Photography) and Victoria Payne Sexton (MissionFlow), the graduates introduce themselves and share some of their experiences in Leadership Salem. Congratulations again to our Leadership Salem Graduates! Time is running out to apply for the next Leadership Salem Cohort, which kicks off in September 2024! Apply by the end of the day, Friday, July 19 to join this incredible program and a new, dynamic cohort of current and future Salem leaders. Leadership Salem info and application: https://lnkd.in/eNTjkj9g

At our monthly Business Advocacy Meeting on July 11, 2024, we learned more about the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) Climate Protection Program (CPP), which the agency is reestablishing after the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled the program's first iteration invalid in late 2023. Watch the meeting here: https://lnkd.in/gWVdF-up The DEQ has established new rulemaking for the program with a "comparable scope and emissions reduction ambitions" as its previous version had. With the program's final rulemaking draft expected to come this summer and formal and public comment to follow, our July meeting marked a great time to review the policy. NW Natural Environmental Policy Manager Kellye Dundon and Oregon Business & Industry Senior Policy Director Sharla Moffett joined us to present on the CPP rulemaking and its key elements, the timeline of events around this policy, the fiscal impact it could have on our region, concerns industry and the public have, and ways we can continue to engage throughout the process. Thank you to Kellye Dundon and Sharla Moffett for sharing more about this policy and to everyone who joined us at the Chamber, as well as online.

Want to be a part of the next generation of leadership in Salem? We are currently accepting applications for the McLaran Leadership Foundation’s one-of-a-kind leadership development program, Leadership Salem. If you are looking to develop your leadership skills, form new and powerful community connections, meet our city’s influencers, and immerse yourself in the rich history, diversity, and vibrancy of Salem, then this is the program for you! Leadership Salem’s primary goal is to prepare motivated individuals to serve in impactful leadership roles throughout our community. This two-year program provides participants with: - Exclusive access to decision-makers, elected officials, business and non-profit leaders, and experts in our community - Focused skill development - Lasting bonds with current and future community leaders Beginning in September 2024 and concluding with a community project in June 2025, this incoming cohort will focus on empowering Salem’s next generation of leaders to multiply our collective community impact. Click here to learn more and apply by Friday, July 19: https://lnkd.in/eNTjkj9g Please contact McLaran Leadership Program Director Katie Costic at [email protected] with any questions. Thank you to our Leadership Salem Presenting Sponsor, Willamette University MBA!

Check out our new Business Spotlight on REDW Advisors and CPAs! Spotlight: https://lnkd.in/gUMwiZj4 Following its merger with longtime Chamber member Grove, Mueller & Swank, P.C., award-winning national firm REDW Advisors and CPAs is building upon GMS’ legacy of service to Salem with an eye toward growth, expanded client services, and a dynamic suite of new tools and resources. Excerpt: For Grove, Mueller & Swank — one of Salem’s preeminent accounting firms for more than 35 years and a highly involved and engaged Salem Chamber member since 1995 — the partnership with REDW allows its locally connected team to offer a greater depth of service to Salem-area clients than ever before. “Prior to aligning with REDW, we focused on tax, accounting, and auditing services, often having to outsource or find partners to support clients in other areas,” said John D. Hawkins, JD, CPA, who served as the chairman of the board at Grove, Mueller, and Swank, and is now Tax Principal at REDW Salem. “Over the past decade, REDW has undergone an evolution, transforming into a multi-disciplinary organization serving clients’ audit and tax needs, but also offering cybersecurity, business, wealth management, HR consulting, and financial services, both regionally and nationally.” Please join us in welcoming REDW to the Salem community! To learn more about REDW’s Salem office and the services it offers, click here: https://www.redw.com/gms/

Each July, our Chamber Business Women gather for a Summer Social to network over wine, mocktails, and great food after business hours. Join us on Tuesday, July 16, as we take in the spectacular scenery at a historic Salem landmark, the Deepwood Museum & Gardens! WHAT: CBW Summer Social WHEN: Tuesday, July 16, 5:00 to 7:00pm WHERE: Deepwood Museum & Gardens, 1116 Mission Street SE ADMISSION: $30 for members, $45 for future members Food and drink ticket are included! Pre-registration for this event is required. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gvSsXHn We look forward to seeing you there!