The Latest in Advertising

Cork & Barrel, a three-day wine and food event benefiting KIDS Center, was just voted “Best Fundraiser” for The Source Weekly’s 2022 “Best of Central Oregon” awards. Cork & Barrel consistently raises 20% of KIDS Center’s annual operating budget. This year marked the event’s tenth anniversary. Cork & Barrel 2022 showcased 16 wineries from the Willamette Valley and drew 825 attendees. The fundraiser netted more than $500,000 to fund critical services for families impacted by abuse. Hundreds of volunteers filled more than 400 volunteer slots to make this event run smoothly. Numerous local businesses and organizations also lent their support, including First Interstate Bank, Les Schwab Tires, Cascade Hasson Sothebys International Realty, Northwest Foundation, and Avion Water Company, Cork & Barrel’s presenting sponsor for all ten years.   Cork & Barrel helps KIDS Center provide services free of charge for Central Oregon families. KIDS Center offers medical evaluations, forensic interviews, family advocacy, and therapy to help children and families heal from the devasting effects of abuse. Built by the community 28 years ago, KIDS Center partners with multiple agencies in six counties and leads our region’s response to child abuse.   Next year’s Cork & Barrel fundraiser will take place July 20-22, 2002 and feature the Walla Walla wine region. Learn more at corkandbarrel.org.

The financial investment required to become a professional pilot is a hurdle for many aspiring pilots. Additionally, the U.S. is facing a national pilot shortage caused by a training and hiring slowdown from the pandemic and a wave of early retirements. To support the long-term career success of pilot candidates and to help address the shortage, Leading Edge Flight Academy (LEFA) in Bend, Oregon, and Ravn Alaska, based in Anchorage, announce a strategic partnership. Through the partnership, LEFA pilots become eligible for Ravn’s Flow Program at the conclusion of their commercial flight training. Upon selection, candidates receive a Ravn Connect seniority number. After 6-18 months as a LEFA flight instructor, they are immediately qualified to begin flying for Ravn’s Part 135 operations, with guaranteed flow-through to Part 121 airlines. To further reduce the financial burden and ensure the success of candidates, Ravn agrees to assume monthly payments of any student debt accrued during flight training at LEFA for the entirety of their employment with the company. “I am pleased to announce this partnership between Ravn Alaska and Leading Edge Flight Academy and what it can mean for students at any level. Employment with Ravn Alaska, Ravn Connect, and Northern Pacific can offer not only a career path but relief from mounting student debt.” – Rob McKinney CEO.   “LEFA’s Part 141 program and multiple financing options provide the most direct and cost-efficient path to a career as a professional pilot. At Ravn, a new pilot could work their entire career, first flying turboprops in Alaska and ultimately flying long-haul international flights. And if remaining in good-employment standing with Ravn, that pilot could have their entire student debt from flight training paid off. That’s a huge opportunity for anyone wanting to become a professional pilot.” – Jack Walker, Leading Edge Flight Academy.   About Leading Edge Flight Academy For nearly 20 years, Leading Edge Flight Academy (LEFA) has helped its students launch their professional pilot careers from their training facility in Bend, Oregon. As an FAA Part 141-approved flight training program, LEFA can get students through flight school and on to their next aviation goal in less time and lower cost. Learn more at https://flybend.com. About Ravn Alaska Ravn Alaska is a regional airline headquartered in Anchorage that services communities across Alaska, including Aniak, Cold Bay, Dillingham, Dutch Harbor, Homer, Kenai, Sand Point, St. Mary’s, St. Paul Island, Unalakleet, and Valdez. The airline provides daily flights aboard its safety-rated de Havilland Dash-8 fleet, charter flights, and cargo shipments. Visit https://ravnalaska.com to book a flight and learn more about Ravn.

Central Oregon Community College’s (COCC) Jim Wilcox, small business adviser and program manager for the college’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), was recently named Oregon’s “State Star” for outstanding service by the state office of the national SBDC network. Wilcox will be honored this September at the association’s national conference in San Diego. “The impacts you have made on the business owners you’ve assisted are commendable,” said Mark Gregory, network director of the Oregon SBDC, in announcing the award to Wilcox. “Your 22 years of service to businesses in Oregon are truly remarkable.” To date, Wilcox has assisted and advised 859 small business clients, has launched 29 small businesses and helped create 600 jobs, and has worked with business owners to secure $39,106,622 in loans and capital for business expansion, according to association records. With a background in management, business ownership and human resources, Wilcox has extensive experience in managing the day-to-day business operations of a small business. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Portland State University. COCC’s SBDC, part of the college’s Center for Business, Industry, and Professional Development, offers free business advice, small business resources and support, and a host of classes and trainings for entrepreneurs and startups. Visit cocc.edu/sbdc to learn more.

Donations help local students receive supplies and tools for the school year   Mid Oregon Credit Union, in partnership with Family Access Network, has kicked off its annual Supplies 4 Schools drive. For almost two decades, Mid Oregon has been helping Central Oregon K-12 students get a head start on the school year with the supplies and tools they need to be successful. Throughout the month of August, Mid Oregon is collecting school supplies and cash donations from members and the community at its seven branch locations in Bend, La Pine, Madras, Redmond, Prineville, and Sisters. A new feature this year allows members and non-members to make online donations using their debit or credit cards by visiting the Supplies 4 Schools donation page at midoregon.com. “Some children and families do not have the resources for school supplies they need to be equipped for the learning process,” says Kyle Frick, VP of Marketing and Community Relations for Mid Oregon Credit Union. “We look forward to facilitating our members and the community giving generously to this cause.” Supplies 4 Schools donations and funds stay in the local communities where they are collected. Mid Oregon partners with Family Access Network and school districts to distribute supplies to students in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson Counties who lack the necessities to succeed at school. Most-needed items for the 2022-23 school year include water bottles, scissors (all sizes), watercolor paint sets, mechanical pencils, 2” and 3” binders, backpacks (all ages), pencil boxes and lined and graph composition notebooks.  Photo Caption: Sisters branch 2021 supply donations—thank you members!   Mid Oregon Credit Union is a full-service, member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in and serving Central Oregonians since 1957. With more than 42,000 members in Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, Lake, and North Klamath Counties and over $650 million in assets, Mid Oregon partners with members to meet their financial needs and to help them achieve their dreams. For more information about our services and branch locations in Bend, La Pine, Madras, Prineville, Redmond, and Sisters, please visit midoregon.com.   Family Access Network (FAN) offers assistance, possibility, and hope to Central Oregon families in need by connecting them with crucial resources to help children flourish in school and life. FAN is unique to Central Oregon, located in nearly all public schools across Central Oregon. Working through a dedicated FAN advocate, a child or parent is connected to essential services such as food, shelter, heating, health care, clothing, and more. Learn more at familyaccessnetwork.org.

New Bend Chamber member workability™ was awarded a mini-grant by the Central Oregon Health Council for its proposal Expanding Job Opportunities for Neurodiverse Talent in Central Oregon. The grant provides Central Oregon employers the opportunity to post job openings free-of-charge on www.workability.one, an Internet Job Board which connects inclusive employers with neurodiverse and disabled job seekers. The goal is to encourage a minimum of 10 employers to post jobs on the site, and to encourage 100 job seekers to register and upload their resumes to the website within the next six months. Employers can visit www.workability.one/post, scroll down to the bottom and select “Central Oregon Health Council funded job postings,” to create an account. There is no limit on the number of jobs employers can post at no charge, as long as they can provide support and accommodations that may be needed for prospective employees to succeed. While there is no charge to post jobs, workability asks participating employers to share information about the number of jobs posted, job applicants, and if any of the applicants are hired through this process. Likewise, workability asks job seekers who are able to land a new job through the job board share the results of their job search and contribute to an outcomes report.   If you have any questions, please contact Sheila Jordan at 541-638-8528 or email jobsacrossthespectrum@gmail.com.