(Emcee Shanan Kelley| Photo by Simon Mather)
Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO’s) most recent Pub Talk heard of Redmond’s “phenomenal” growth, including a staggering $757 million project pipeline, and new ways Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems can be leveraged to boost business efficiency.
Pub Talk is a series of networking and speaker events hosted by EDCO for entrepreneurs, investors, and community members, featuring keynote speakers, startup pitches and discussions on industry trends, staged monthly in various locations throughout Central Oregon.
November’s well-attended event, held at Worthy Brewing, featured a keynote address by Justin J. Johnson, founder and CEO of Motivate, and Michael Ulin, CEO of Tenkin AI, billed as: “Building a Lean, AI-Powered Business: How to Go Further and Faster with Less.” Two local startups also presented their business pitches.
But first up was Redmond Economic Development Inc. (REDI) Director for EDCO Steve Curley, who gave some astonishing data illustrating the city’s explosive growth.
He said, “The total number of projects in our pipeline right now is huge, and covers 19 companies representing over 2,900 jobs and more than $757 million in capital investment.
“Not all of the projects are finished, and can take years to conclude, but I can name four that are coming out of the ground right now, including Poltex that makes custom organizational products for the healthcare industry and is building its first manufacturing facility.
“Basalite Concrete Products is currently building a showroom in phase 1 of its project, while a manufacturing facility will be constructed in phase 2.
“Nosler, well-known as a long-time munitions and rifle manufacturer, is well underway with an 80,000 square foot facility as part of its relocation. And the one everybody is excited about — so you can get your toothbrush overnight! — is Amazon, which is moving extremely quickly in its first phase and hopes to have a ‘Last Mile’ delivery facility completed by Spring, representing another 80,000 sq. ft. of construction.
“These projects, underway right now, themselves represent 466 jobs and over $91.6 million in capital investment.
“If you look at what has already happened in Redmond this year, we have had six companies complete their projects — they are in them and using them — including Equipment Share, BaseX expansion, Bend Teardrop (manufacturer of ‘teardrop’ trailers), K&D Excavating, the Hayden Homes new headquarters and support center, and a smaller company that moved here from Colorado.
“Those ‘done deals’ alone represent 121 jobs and over $33 million in capital investment.”
On the newer horizon, Curley added a tractor supplier was moving in, a new McDonald’s had opened up, with fellow fast-food chain operator, Wendy’s, to follow. Two hotels, including a Holiday Inn Express, were in the works, together with a new Heart of Oregon Corporation HQ.
New public and non-profit projects included the library, continued airport expansion, wetlands initiative, and the police public safety facility.
Regarding workforce education, Curley said Redmond High School was investing $10 million in its upcoming Career & Technical Education (CTE) program) expansion, offering a variety of career-focused training programs, such as manufacturing, computer science and welding.
These provide hands-on experience and prepare students for industry-recognized certifications and post-secondary education
The program also maintains connections with local industry professionals who contribute to curriculum development and provide in-class support.
Meanwhile, COCC is investing $8 million in its manufacturing program, which includes a building expansion and equipping the curriculum to further bolster support for the workforce.
Curley concluded, “So, you can see that we have just phenomenal growth happening in Redmond, and it is fun to be a part of it!”
In their keynote address, Johnson and Ulin shared practical insights on using AI to streamline business operations, accelerate growth and maximize impact, without overextending resources.
Both have built and sold multiple companies and expanded on how AI has changed the playbook for building a company from the ground up.
Johnson said, “As a new company looking at product fit and scaling, AI is an absolute game changer.
“When I founded Motivate a year ago we started by looking at functions such as marketing, sales, support and development and asked what parts of those roles could AI accomplish, and where do people fit in between those roles?
“Firstly, tactical manual processes have AI written all over it; those head-down functions, whether its data entry, writing a press release, producing marketing copy for a website and so forth. But you have to attack every aspect of the business, especially when starting out.
“Five years ago I sold a company that employed upwards of 40 people at the time and took a solid five years to really get traction. Now, we are in basically the same market with Motivate, and in four months, with the help of AI, we are at the same revenue base and market momentum with just four people.”
Ulin echoed Johnson’s comments on AI’s ability to increase efficiency, adding, “Automating existing processes is going to be a lot faster and cheaper as next generation companies take the opportunity to look at how the organization works from an AI native perspective.
“The real winners will be the ones that take the opportunity to rethink how they do business and design with the future in mind, not just, say, to supercharge how things work today.
“If you want to start implementing AI today, you need to think about what the strategic goals are for your organization, whether its trying to cut costs or expand sales etc.? Look at what you’d like to achieve and then align your initiative against those goals.
“Look at tools to automate functions where appropriate and consider what you are trying to accomplish and how that can be made better. But if you are really trying to future proof your organization, that involves a cultural shift and change in management approach, giving employees and leaders the space to experiment and encourage trials and failure.
“Organizations that do best in adapting to shifts have that culture of experimentation built in. It’s not about replacing jobs or people, it can give more life to the job.”
Johnson said, “Companies can emerge better, faster and smarter, and automating certain processes can allow employees to spend more time with customers.
“For existing companies, you could start out with meeting of department heads over how to use the available tools to automate processes and work that people don’t necessarily want to do, so they can spend more time with customers and in areas such as sales, and building better relationships with the community. It is an opportunity to elevate and make a difference versus being chained to that computer.
Ulin added, “It’s about creating a culture where it’s ok to try new things and to encourage people to think bigger, not to take the same things and do them with fewer people. Rather, it’s taking 100 people and seeing if they can accomplish that which used to take 10,000 people.
“If I was a college grad today, I would learn how to develop skills in AI as there is currently a shortage of talent in that area.
“Now that companies can be so much more effective, with AI enabling organizations to punch above their weight, why not go bigger?”
Startup pitches at the Pub Talk forum included Sisters-based Possum Fox Backyard Goods. Founded by husband and wife duo Isaac and Rose Hetherington — and named after their two boys’ favorite animals — it produces a skin care line using all natural ingredients like grass-fed tallow.
As their website states, “Inspired by ancestral traditions and our desire for healthy living, we provide natural skin care products that restore, rejuvenate and protect.”
Isaac Hetherington said, “We started out three years ago with a mission to get toxins out of the house.”
Rose added, “The average American is in touch with upwards of 168 dangerous chemicals and toxins every day — in fact, some of our favorite household items are making us sick.
“But we can control what we put on our skin and there is a demand for more options for luxurious skin care products that are completely all-natural and free of chemicals such as carcinogens.”
Issac Hetherington said there was a growing trend toward green focused products, and tallow had been used for skin care dating all the way back to ancient Egypt.
As a highly purified rendered beef with a structure almost identical to oils secreted in our own bodies, he said it helps skin revert to its natural state, enabling healing and moisturizing “at a cellular level.”
Rose Hetherington said, “We want to lead the charge to get toxins out of skin care and be a bridge between luxurious skin care and the all-natural green market. We also want to educate our audience on why it is important to start paying attention now and to use natural skin care for longevity.
“It is our goal to build a brand here in Central Oregon and amplify all the values that we share here including health and community.”
The global skin care market is projected to grow to $435 billion by 2035, with a small subset of that increasingly embracing the green, clean, natural movement.
Rose Hetherington said Possum Fox started out in local farmers’ markets and retail outlets such as Locavore, working with small sustainable Central Oregon ranches like Pole Creek Ranch, but is growing faster than expected.
Isaac concluded by saying the company was seeking partnerships and collaborations and potential investment to expand production and upscale packaging.
The second pitch came via Uriel Fox, whose NEO’PROS company makes swim and athletic wear, designed for comfort and style, for breast cancer survivors.
She said, “Our garments are made of high-quality, quick-drying fabric that is comfortable both in and out of the water.
“They are designed to move with you, not against you, and to allow customers to feel confident and empowered in our swimwear and workout tops.”
Fox is herself a breast cancer survivor who received treatment 18 years ago.
She said that ten years ago she made a promise to her daughter to develop her idea.
Fox said, “Breast cancer is multi-faceted, and I wanted to create something comfortable and secure that would promote confidence, with a new unique design structure. There are some 100,000 mastectomies per year, and the market is expected to increase 12% in the 25-30-year-old age group.
“Exercise is also strongly encouraged by the medical community, and I am hoping to raise funds to help produce more items to fulfil an underserved market.”
