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Advertisers:
Visit the Alliance's web site. Just click on the link above or go directly to the Business Directory or Events by clicking on the links below
Business Directory
Events
Welcome New Members!
Arbonne International
Auto and Work Injury Center
Baysinger Partners Architecture PC
Bearcom Wireless
Big O Tires of Portland
Bike Gallery
The Cellar Door
E.A. Search, LLC
Forest Capital Partners, LLC
Georgetown Realty - Jennifer Lynn Bryant
Integrity Productions
Jantzen Dynamic Corporation
MacForce
Maginnis & Carey LLP
Marcus & Millichap
Mercy Corps
ONAMI (Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute)
Oregon Sleep Associates
PIVOT Job Corps
Portland Monthly, Inc.
Professional Controllers
Radiology Specialists of the Northwest
Sandler Sales Institute - Schneider Training Solutions, LLC
Sparrow Clubs USA
Sterling Financial Group, LLC
Univera LifeSciences - Gigi Estabrook
April Anniversaries!
Happy Anniversary to the following members for their many years of membership and service to the Alliance:
79 years
Chown Hardware
Fred Meyer Stores
The Standard
76 years
KPMG
69 years
Kraft Foods
57 years
Associated General Contractors
F.E. Bennett Company
Melvin Mark Companies
Mr. Formal Tuxedo Sales & Rentals
Stevens-Ness Law Publishing Co.
56 years
Andersen Construction Company
50 years
TriMet
48 years
Benson Industries, Inc.
46 years
Lile Moving & Storage North American
45 years
Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker, Inc d.b.a. EPB&B Insurance
44 years
Better Business Bureau of Oregon/W Washington
42 years
Azumano Travel/American Express
40 years
Neil Kelly Co.
Norris & Stevens, Inc.
William C. Earhart Co., Inc.
Yost Grube Hall Architecture
39 years
Peter Corvallis Productions, Inc.
34 years
NIKE Inc
Niketown
33 years
Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel
27 years
Piper Jaffray
23 years
City Center Parking
Dex Media
Kitchen Kaboodle
Kitchen Kaboodle - Downtown Store
Prudential Northwest Properties - Bert Waugh, Jr.
22 years
Gilmore Research Group
21 years
Bogue Philip R.
Portland State University
20 years
Oregon Business Council
18 years
Managed HealthCare Northwest, Inc.
Northwest Container Services, Inc.
Otis Elevator Company
Prestige Limousines
Pro Ad Co., Inc.
16 years
Ater Wynne LLP
13 years
Richards Homewares, Inc.
10 years
Providence Medical Group
Click here for additional contact information and company web sites.
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1. From the Chair: Charter Reform
By Judy Peppler, Chair, Alliance Board of Directors
On March 13, the Alliance Board of Directors voted unanimously to support four measures to reform city government that will appear on the May 15 primary election ballot. The measures will update Portland's City Charter, which hasn't had a
comprehensive review since 1913.
The suggested changes to the Charter come from a citizen-led Charter Review Commission, appointed by City Council in November 2005 to review the city Charter and recommend changes. Alliance Board member Charles Wilhoite chaired the panel
until he was appointed to the Portland Development Commission in July 2006. That same month, Mayor Potter appointed David Wang as the new chairman. Alliance Board members Sam Brooks, Sho Dozono and Dan Bernstine served on the advisory
committee helping to develop the proposals.
The citizen volunteers held more than 100 public meetings over a period of 14 months to review and modify the proposed changes. Ultimately they volunteered more than 2,000 hours of their time to the project.
The citizen commission proposed four key recommendations:
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Make City Hall more efficient and more accountable by having the mayor and a professional manager oversee the delivery of basic services while the City Council exercises legislative oversight.
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Maintain the PDC as quasi-independent but align its priorities with the community's goals.
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Eliminate outdated, confusing and conflicting Civil Service rules and make more high-level employees directly accountable for their performance.
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Give citizens the right to review the charter every 10 years.
The Alliance Board believes these changes will help break down the silos within city government and allow the city to more effectively set and achieve its top priorities.
The current system, where individual council members manage bureaus – and bureau budgets – can and does lead to inefficiency and duplication. For example, an independent audit in 2006 estimated that the city wasted $10 million to $15
million a year on duplicate financial and purchasing systems. Many bureaus have duplicate staff, such as media relations, that could and should be shared among bureaus. But too often, it appears that bureau heads don't want to reduce the
size of their bureaus, and the potential to capture operating efficiencies between departments is lost.
As voters consider the May ballot measures, the Alliance is pursuing a parallel effort to amend a state statute regarding the governance of PDC to ensure that the City Council has overall policy authority but that the commission retains as
much independence and flexibility as possible. We believe the overall package will help ensure that the city fulfills the intent of the Charter Review Commission to create a PDC that is both quasi-independent and in line with overall city
policy.
The proposed city Charter changes are long overdue. They will allow us to achieve efficiencies and improvements. For that reason, the Alliance Board supports the four charter reform proposals and urges your support.
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Public Policy
2. Study finds lack of transportation investments costs money, jobs
Without additional investment in the state's critical transportation infrastructure, Oregon's economy could lose $1.7 billion annually and 16,000 jobs by 2025, according to a new study released by the Alliance, in conjunction with the
Oregon Business Council and transportation agencies from around the state.
The Cost of Highway Limitations and Travel Delay to Oregon's Economy study was released on March 22. A partnership of the Oregon Business Council, Portland Business Alliance, Oregon Department of Transportation, Port of Portland,
Westside Economic Development Alliance, and Associated Oregon Industries contracted with the Economic Development Research Group to conduct the congestion study. The Oregon Business Plan called for a statewide congestion study to look at
how investments in transportation infrastructure impacted Oregon businesses and the state's economy.
"The study is designed to provide Oregon business leaders, elected officials and citizens better information regarding the relationship between investments in transportation, the state's quality of life and economic vitality," said Steve
Clark, Oregon Business Plan Transportation Committee co-chairman and one of the study's business sponsors. "It is a clear call to action that more investment in the transportation system is needed now."
The study found that Oregon's economy and job base are more transportation dependent than most other states. Oregon has the ninth most trade dependent economy in the country with more than 400,000, or 1 in 5 jobs, either transportation
reliant or transportation dependent according to the analysis.
To address the issues highlighted by the study, a diverse group of Oregon business leaders from across the state have come together to advocate for additional investment in the state's roads and highways this legislative session.
Investments of $300-350 million called for in the Oregon Business Plan will begin to address the growing gap between available funds and the most critical unmet system needs. The Oregon Transportation Plan has identified annual needs of
$490 million for the state system, with city and county needs more than doubling that figure.
The full study and executive summary can be found on the Alliance web site at
www.portlandalliance.com.
3. Join local leaders in Washington D.C.
Business and civic leaders from the Portland region will embark on the Alliance's fifth annual leadership trip to Washington D.C., scheduled for May 2 through 4, to discuss important regional issues with federal lawmakers.
While in Washington D.C., the group will meet with the congressional delegation from the Pacific Northwest, and other key legislative representatives and administration officials. Included in the trip is lunch at The Monocle, a hot spot
for elected leadership. In addition, this year will include featured speaker Charlie Cook, who is widely regarded as one of the most astute impartial analysts of the Washington political scene and is one of the nation's leading authorities
on U.S. elections.
Representatives from businesses of all sizes are encouraged to join the group. To find out more about how you can participate, call the Alliance at 503.224.8684.
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Membership
4. Applications available for Leadership Portland class of 2008
Are you ready to take your leadership skills to the next level? Are you committed to community service and civic involvement in Portland? Don't miss the opportunity to be a part of the next class of Leadership Portland!
The Alliance created Leadership Portland in 2003 to provide emerging leaders interested in community service with the skills and knowledge necessary for future senior leadership positions within companies, civic betterment organizations
and government in the Portland region. Through Leadership Portland, participants gain an understanding of the challenges the community and region face and how to work successfully for positive change.
This intensive program is conducted from September 2007 through June 2008. The program begins with a two-day retreat, and continues with class members meeting for program days, one day a month for eight months. Apply now on the
Alliance web site. The deadline is May 31, 2007.
5. Attend Alliance Interactive Member Workshop
April 24, 2007, 5 - 7 p.m.
200 SW Market Street, Lobby Conference Room
Price: FREE
Food, Focus and Feedback
Bring your creative ideas and join in a discussion about how the Alliance is working to improve the delivery of value to its members. Provide feedback on which membership benefits are the most valuable to you and make suggestions for new
benefits you would like the Alliance to consider. Real-time feedback technology from MSInteractive will be used to help facilitate the discussion. As always, there will be food, beverages and the opportunity to network with area business
professionals. This event is open to members and non-members.
Please register soon, as seating is limited to 65 people. Visit
www.portlandalliance.com.
Event sponsors:
MSInteractive and
Portland Beavers
Wine sponsor:
Bishop Creek
6. Alliance launches new "members only" web site
Now Alliance members can manage their membership online. In March, the Alliance launched its new Members Only section on its web site. This new web section gives members exclusive access to special cost-saving deals and lets them manage
their membership online.
By using the members only access, Alliance members can view and pay their bills online, update their company profile and address, select which communications they want to receive and take part in a survey about the value they're getting
through Alliance benefits.
Alliance members can also access exclusive cost-saving coupons from other members, or create and advertise their own member-to-member discount offer.
Log in now and use your membership to get two free tickets to the Portland Trailblazers (while supplies last).
Log in to
Members Only and get started today. If you are an Alliance member and don't know your username or password, please contact the Alliance at 503.224.8684 or by using the
contact form.
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Downtown
7. City adds public benches and restrooms in downtown
 Mayor Tom Potter's Street Access for Everyone (SAFE) Oversight Committee, co-chaired by Alliance Vice President Mike Kuykendall, continued its work in
March to provide benches and open public restrooms and day shelters in the central city. The City renovated three existing public restrooms, which officially opened in March. The City is scheduled to open five more restrooms by May 1.
The Julia West House, owned by the First Presbyterian Church at SW 13th and Alder Street, currently provides day shelter services at that location and will expand its capacity to provide services for 150-200 individuals, six days per
week.
The City installed benches in February in front of the Sisters of the Road Café, Harbor Light, Transition Projects and behind the Central Library. Once the restrooms, benches and shelters are operational, Mayor Potter has committed to
bring the proposed sidewalk obstruction ordinance to Council for its second reading; the Council voted 5-0 in support at the first reading in December.
8. Downtown crime reduced in January and February
 In 2007, Downtown Portland continues to be one of the safest neighborhoods in Portland. After last year's historic 13 percent reduction in crime,
the trend has continued in January and February this year, with Central Precinct reporting that the crime rate in the Business Improvement District is still down significantly compared to the same period last year.
"Part of this continued success is due to the transit mall relocation to 3rd and 4th avenues in January and the combined efforts of the Clean and Safe team, Portland Police Bureau's Central Precinct, the District Attorney's office and
Tri-Met/Portland Mall Management Inc. security, which disrupted criminal activity patterns in a large portion of downtown," said Clean and Safe Director Bill Sinnott. "We look at this partnership as a real opportunity to enhance our
efforts and keep the crime rate down. There has been a dramatic improvement in the area's livability and we are working hard to maintain the momentum."
Everyone working, living and visiting in the Business Improvement District is encouraged to call Clean and Safe (503.224.7383) to report suspicious activity, threatening behavior, drug activity or situations where Clean and Safe security
officers can offer assistance.
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Events
9. April Forum: The Business of Professional Sports
April 18, 7:30 a.m.
Governor Hotel, 614 SW 11th Avenue
Register Now
Professional sports, facilities and franchises are important engines of economic development for urban areas. They contribute millions of dollars annually and create hundreds of new jobs. In Portland, the Rose Garden, PGE Park and Portland
International Raceway host multiple events that generate millions of tourist dollars.
Speakers:
Mike Nealy, President, Global Events Group
Mike Golub, Executive Vice President of Business Operations,
Portland Trail Blazers
Angela Batinovich, Managing Partner, Portland LumberJax
Event Sponsor:
Global Events Group
Series Sponsors:
The ODS Companies and
Portland Tribune
10. It's not too late! Get your tickets for this year's premier business event
The Alliance Annual Meeting, scheduled for May 10 and presented by US Bank, is the largest gathering of business and civic leaders in the state, with more than 1,000 attendees. Richard Davis, President and Chief Operating Officer of U.S.
Bancorp, will be the keynote speaker. Davis has more than 28 years of experience in the banking industry and has led the commercial and consumer banking groups during his career with U.S. Bancorp.
During the event the Alliance will honor the winners of the 2006 Top Ten Growth Awards. The Awards, co-sponsored by Oregon Business magazine, recognizes some of the fastest growing companies in the Portland region.
The event begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Oregon Convention Center. Single tickets are available for $75 or $750 for a table of 10. To register, visit
www.portlandalliance.com.
Presenting Sponsor:
US Bank
Event Sponsors:
CH2M Hill,
JetBlue,
NW Natural,
Pacific Power,
Providence Health System,
Qwest and
Tonkon Torp LLP
Media Sponsor:
Spirit Media
Visual Presentation by:
GuildWorks
Top Ten Growth Awards Sponsor:
Oregon Business magazine
11. AeA Oregon Council to Host International Environmental Compliance Program
AeA Oregon Council has been selected to host one of three National Road Show Conferences on International Environmental Compliance. AeA is the nation's largest technology trade association, with 2,500 member companies representing all
segments of the high-tech industry.
This all-day event, co-sponsored by the Alliance, will take place on Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at Embassy Suites, Washington Square in Tigard. The program is designed to enable managers, compliance executives, legal departments and
environmental and facilities professionals to better understand and comply with international hazardous waste directives and regulations. Attendees will receive critical information from senior industry executives, trade attorneys and
government officials on how to ensure their products comply with environmental regulations.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Embassy Suites at Washington Square,
9000 SW Washington Square Rd., Tigard
For more information or to register for this event, visit:
www.aeanet.org/orenvironmentalcomplianceprogram.
Sponsored by:
Underwriters Laboratories, Tetra Tech, Portland Business Alliance and U.S. Commercial Service
12. Alliance members: Register for 2007 InnoTech for free
The 4th annual Oregon InnoTech returns April 25-26, 2007, to the Oregon Convention Center. Mark your calendar and
register today.
Alliance members can register for free! Use code PBA317 when registering, and receive complimentary admission (a $35 value).
InnoTech is the largest annual event of business and technology leaders and is expected to draw more than 2,000 attendees. Don't miss the discussion of current trends in innovative business practices and the latest technology.
This year InnoTech will feature presentations from Microsoft, Google, Intel, NYTimes.com and many other leading technology companies. The event will also feature the
Oregon CIO Summit, IT Executives of the Year Awards, InnoTech Happy Hour and the latest on Open Source, Virtualization, Security and Collaboration.
Visit Alliance staff at booth #317.
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Economic Updates
13. Portland area sees job gains in February
The Portland metro area's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in February, unchanged from January. Oregon's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in February, the U.S. rate was 4.5. An estimated 64,300
metro area residents were unemployed and looking for work, down 1,800 from a year ago.
The metro area gained 1,600 nonfarm jobs in February on a seasonally adjusted basis, raising total employment to 1,026,800 jobs, up 20,700 (+2.1 percent) over a year ago.
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Member News
14. Norris, Beggs & Simpson celebrates 75th anniversary
On April 1, Alliance member Norris, Beggs & Simpson, Portland's oldest locally owned commercial real estate firm, celebrated its 75th anniversary. Established in the midst of the Great Depression, the company has successfully grown into a
multimillion dollar enterprise by evolving with an ever-changing business environment. The firm's expansion resulted from capitalizing on new opportunities, such as entering new markets or broadening its range of services and
expertise.
In honor of Norris, Beggs & Simpson's milestone year, Portland mayor Tom Potter proclaimed Monday, April 2, as Commercial Real Estate Appreciation Day. In addition to commemorating the firm's success over the years, the day offered an
opportunity to observe the commercial real estate industry's contributions to the viability of our communities.
The firm will celebrate its 75th by hosting several events throughout 2007 and 2008. The events include a kickoff anniversary party in April, a speaking event with a national guest speaker, and sponsorship in the National Association of
Industrial and Office Properties' Pacific Northwest Real Estate Challenge. This last event is held in Seattle and invites several Pacific Northwest universities, including Portland State University, to compete in presenting a development
proposal for a multifaceted and complex real world real estate project. Additionally, the firm will be holding several employee events to celebrate the people that have defined the firm as it stands today.
15. Alliance members named young movers and shakers
On March 23, the Portland Business Journal released its annual "Forty under 40" special edition. Congratulations to the following Alliance members who made the list:
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Aaron Babbie, Provenance Hotels, Corporate Director of Sales and Marketing (Alliance board member)
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Doug Badger, Director of PNITA and President of Western Strategies LLC
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Chandra Brown, Vice President, Oregon Iron Works
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Wendy Veliz Buck, Government Affairs Representative, Portland General Electric
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Matt Cole, Managing Director of Leasing for Portland, Equity Office Properties
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Matt Donegan, Co-president, Forest Capital Partners
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Maggie Finnerty, Clinical Law Professor, Lewis & Clark Law School
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Dave Gorretta, Audit Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP
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Bob Harding, Regional Service Manager, Pacific Continental Bank
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Sonja Henning, Partner, Tonkon Torp LLP
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Ashley Henry, Energy Industry Liaison, Stoel Rives LLP
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David M. Howitt, President, The Meriwether Group, Inc.
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Tom Johnson, Partner, Perkins Coie LLP
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Drummond Kahn, Director of Audit Services, City of Portland
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Peter Kwong, Audit Shareholder, Perkins & Co. PC
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Matt Levin, Shareholder, Markowitz Herbold Glade & Mehlhaf PC
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Brian Pearce, General Manager, Unico Properties LLC
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Brent Renison, Partner, Tonkon Torp LLP
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Tamara E. Russell, Partner, Miller Nash LLP
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Josh Sasaki, Partner, Miller Nash LLP
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Terra Spencer, Partner and COO, Leopold Ketel & Partners
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Jean Ann Van Krevelen, Executive Director, Cascade AIDS Project
16. PGE's Peggy Fowler named Portland First Citizen
 Portland General Electric (PGE) CEO Peggy Fowler has been named the recipient of the 2007 Portland First Citizen Award. The annual award, given by the
Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors, honors civic achievement and business leadership in the community. Fowler will be recognized at the annual Portland First Citizen Banquet on May 24 at the Governor Hotel.
Fowler has worked for PGE since 1974, and was named CEO in 2000. She is chair of the Oregon Business Council's Healthcare Taskforce and on the boards of The Regence Group and Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon. She has also been
involved with the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" campaign.
17. New SBIR workshops help entrepreneurs win funding to innovate and grow
The Oregon Small Business Development Center Network (OSBDCN) is bringing in top national expert, the Greenwood Consulting Group, to share the secrets to winning federal grant money to fuel innovation. The full-day workshop gives
businesses the tips to successfully compete for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program grants.
An Oregon SBIR Grant Workshops is scheduled for 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 10, at Portland Community College's Rock Creek Campus Event Center, 17705 NW Springville Road.
In conjunction with the workshops, the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (OECDD) is launcheing a Phase 0 Grant Program for Oregon entrepreneurs. This will provide up to $3,500 in matching funds to defray costs to prepare
SBIR and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) grant proposals.
Workshop cost is $100 and limited to 50 participants at each location. Training materials and lunch are included. Registration and details are at
www.bizcenter.org/sbirworkshops. Register by April 6. For more information, call the Oregon Small Business Development Center Network, 541.463.5250.
18. George Fox University names new president
 George Fox University Provost Robin E. Baker, who has overseen the expansion of academic programs at the university since 1999, will be the
institution's next president, effective July 1. The George Fox Board of Trustees selected Baker in March and he will begin his presidential duties following the retirement of President David Brandt.
"It has been an honor to serve as provost for the past eight years at George Fox University as we have grown in size and quality," Baker said. "This is an excellent place to earn an undergraduate or graduate education in an environment
that seeks to nurture and develop the whole person. I now look forward to leading the institution in its effort to become one of the premier institutions of Christian higher education in the country."
19. Nominate this year's Rose Festival Grand Marshal
The Portland Rose Festival is asking the greater community of Rose Festival supporters and fans to select the 2007 Centennial Grand Floral Parade Grand Marshal from their own ranks. Looking away from honorable civic leaders, accomplished
athletes or trendy celebrities, the Rose Festival will honor the most important and valuable people of the festival's 100 years, the community that gives the Rose Festival its life and purpose.
100 years, 100 words. For the Rose Festival Centennial, the Grand Marshal(s) will be selected by a community-wide nomination process. Using a short story format, community members can nominate a family member, a neighbor, a co-worker or
themselves by submitting a 100-word (or less) essay on why that individual should be Grand Marshal. Rose Festival parade committee representatives will judge essays on individual's personal and historical connection to the festival.
Essays should be submitted via email to Jessica Metteer at
jessicam@rosefestival.org or fax to 503.227.6603. Deadline for entries is Tuesday May 1. Winners will be announced by the last week of May. All submitted nominees must be available to ride in the Grand
Floral Parade Saturday, June 9.
Stay tuned for a full calendar of
Centennial events.
April Fitness Tip: Healthy Working Ergonomics
By Sherri and Alex McMillan
If you are like most business professionals--averaging 40 hours per week at your desk and computer with poor posture--the symptoms of unhealthy work ergonomics will begin to surface as back and neck pain, sciatica, carpel tunnel syndrome
and various other aches and pains. That's why healthy ergonomics is so important.
You invest the time and money in a good mattress to get a good night's sleep. In the same way, you should invest time in figuring out whether your desk, chair and computer are positioned to minimize tension and strain so you finish your
workday feeling well.
Here are tips you and your co-workers can review (it's nice to assess stations in pairs so your partner can view whether your station is meeting the criteria):
Keyboard:
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Your keyboard should not be sitting on your desk but should be tucked under your desk so you can slide it out when needed. Desk height is not ideal for a keyboard.
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Keyboard heights are fixed at most workstations, so you will need to adjust your seat height and body position in relation to the keyboard. Sit with relaxed shoulders and good upright posture. Place your hands on the keyboard (and your
elbow on your elbow rests) in a typing position. Now, adjust your seat height until your elbows are bent at 90 degrees.
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It's also recommended to position a wrist support in front of your keyboard so that your wrists rest comfortably while typing.
Chair height and footrest:
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Once you have your chair positioned based on the above suggestion, you should assess whether you have a 90 degree angle at your knees and hips and whether your feet are resting flat on the floor. If your body is not in this correct
position, then you will need an adjustable footrest.
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Most seats also come with an adjustable lumbar (lower back) support – this should be positioned so that it conforms right into the curvature of your low and middle back areas.
Computer Display:
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Your computer should be elevated off your desk onto a mount so that when sitting up with perfect posture, your straight-ahead eyesight hits the middle of your computer screen. If you constantly have to look down into your computer screen
for extended periods of time, chronic strain in your neck and shoulders can surface.
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Measure the distance of your computer screen from your eyes – the distance should be no less than 14 inches and no more than 30 inches to avoid excessive eye strain.
Sherri and Alex McMillan own Northwest Personal Training & Fitness Education and have been in the fitness industry for more than 18 years. They were recently awarded the 2006 IDEA International Fitness Directors of the
Year. Visit their web site at
www.nwpersonaltraining.com. |
21. Upcoming Meetings
April 10, Transportation Committee, noon
April 13, President's Council, noon
April 17, Communications Committee, noon
April 17, Cornerstones for Success Committee, 3:30 pm
April 24, Public Safety Sub-Committee, 8 am
April 25, Government Relations Committee, 7:30
April 25, Small Business Council, 3 pm
May 2, Central City Standing Committee, noon
22.
Print a copy of this month's Calendar of Events or
view online calendar
23. To unsubscribe to this newsletter, follow the instructions at the bottom of this email.
You have received this newsletter as a member of the Portland Business Alliance or someone that has indicated an interest in receiving information from the Alliance. If you do not wish to receive future editions, please use
the unsubscribe feature below. To subscribe others to this publication use the send to a friend feature below.
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