Relocating to Portland

The Perks of Living in the Largest City in Oregon

With the abundance of craft beersinnovative cuisinelush outdoor spaces and bike-friendly cities, it’s no wonder that Oregon was the top destination for people moving out-of-state in 2017, and has been a top contender for years.

Proximity

Whether you’re in the mood to hike, ski, camp, fish or perhaps even spend a day in wine country sipping on Oregon’s finest Pinots, Portland’s location offers easy access to a plethora of activities.

Multnomah Falls

Forest Park – 10 minutes – One of the largest urban forests in the United States, with more than 80 miles of trails, fire lanes and forest roads. The park stretches for more than seven miles along the eastern slope of the Tualatin Mountains, overlooking Northwest Portland and the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.


Columbia Gorge – 1 hour – a popular destination for hiking, biking, sight-seeing, fishing, and watersports. The area is known for its high concentration of waterfalls, with over 90 on the Oregon side of the Gorge alone.

Wine Country – 45 minutes – A short drive from the city, the Willamette Valley wows with lush scenery and delightful wines.


Mt. Hood – 1 hour –Hang out at the historic Timberline Lodge year-round and enjoy some skiing with gorgeous views. Forests and valleys fill with lavender and wildflowers in the spring, and apples and pears and berries in the summer and fall. 

High Desert – 3.5 hours – This 127-mile eastern byway ventures out among Steens Mountain and the Alvord Desert, linking to three other tour routes for an awe-inspiring look at Oregon’s Wild West.


The Coast - 1.5 hours - We have easy access to the beach! There are numerous spots to check out, anywhere from the Columbia River all the way down to California. Breathtaking views of cliffs, coves and the gorgeous shoreline.

Fun, Unique Neighborhoods


NW 23rd – Discover boutique shopping, great food choices, and an eclectic mix of shops and services to satisfy any need.


Alberta – Independent and diverse, this Northeast Portland neighborhood is full of art, shopping and a plethora of dining options.


Laurelhurst – A neighborhood of vintage homes and undulating streets surrounding a park of the same name, straddling the NE and SE sections of Portland.


The Pearl – Reclaimed warehouse spaces house The Pearl’s many bars and restaurants, from craft breweries and artisan coffee shops to fine dining mainstays.


Downtown – From the theaters and museums of the Cultural District to parks that play host to festivals and farmers’ markets, downtown puts a wide range of entertainment within easy walking distance.


East Moreland – An early-twentieth century, tree-lined quiet neighborhood in inner Southeast.


Food / Beer / Wine

Portland is a no-brainer when it comes to popular destinations for beer lovers. The city has the Pacific Northwest advantage of access to the best ingredients (we’re talking water, hops, malt and yeast…all of them), and houses close to 60 breweries. Popular spots include Hopworks Urban Brewery, Breakside Brewery and Cascade Brewing. It’s hard to walk anywhere in Portland without seeing a fun spot to grab a nice craft beer.


As for food, the list of fun, delicious and innovative restaurants could go on forever. Notable Portland favorites, though, come from John Gorham, one of Portland’s most celebrated restaurateurs. His restaurants are well known for their American-European and Middle Eastern flair, as well as their party-like atmosphere. Each is a unique experience and well worth a visit! You can learn more about the chefs and the restaurants here.


Shopping


There is no Sales Tax in Oregon so… go for it!! Whether you’re in the mood for boutiques (NW 23rd , or The Pearl, to name a few), or mall shopping (outdoor: Pioneer Place; indoor: Lloyd Center), you will not be disappointed by all of the awesome Portland shops.

Sports

Portland loves its sports!


Men’s Professional Soccer: Portland Timbers – 2015 MLs Champs. Sit in the Army section if you’re feeling energetic! 


Women’s Professional Soccer: Portland Thorns – Throw on some red, grab a beer and cheer on the 2017 champions.


Men’s Professional Basketball: Portland Trail Blazers – Always great energy at the Moda Center when the Blazers are in town!


Weather

The Rose City’s reputation as a dreary place where it never stops raining is often the only frame of reference non-local candidates have when we first talk with them about Portland.


While there are a few rainy months in Portland, the average annual rainfall is about 36 inches, which is about half of the average annual rainfall for the top 10 rainiest states. And the weather is getting better every year, with mild winters and summers that make enjoying the spectacular outdoor landscapes surrounding Portland even easier.


We still recommend that candidates pick up a sturdy rain jacket when they relocate to Portland, but the weather should not be a barrier to getting here.


Portland locals have a saying – “there is no such thing as bad weather…just bad rain gear”.


Cost of Living

Along with the question about compensation often comes a follow-up about the area’s complete cost of living. At 10% above the national average, Portland’s cost of living has earned a bit of a bad reputation, especially among candidates from Midwestern cities.

Compared to other metropolitan areas on the West Coast, however, Portland is still one of the most affordable options.


The median home price in San Francisco, for instance, is $774,500 more than the median home price in Portland. And, towards the end of 2017, Portland was knocked from the top three metros for rising home prices, getting overtaken by Las Vegas and San Diego. 

Candidates may have to pay more for a cup of local coffee or a slice of pizza if they move to Portland, but after speaking to someone who actually lives here, people quickly realize that the city is more affordable than some statistics seem to imply.


When the topic of compensation arises, often in the context of concern, we ask candidates about how they invest in their quality of life.


Portland often ranks among the top cities to live in based on quality of life, with good reason: It’s one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the world with one of the best public transportation systems in the country. It’s surrounded by natural beauty, with mountainsforest trails and coastal beaches only a short drive from the metro area. And with flourishing foodbeermusicarts and sports scenes, there really is something for everyone.


Once non-local candidates hear about the lifestyle in Portland, compensation becomes less of an obstacle to bringing them out here.


Tax Structure

While Oregon has an income tax of 8.5%, it is offset with ZERO sales tax and lower property taxes as compared to its peers on the west coast. In a variety of studies, Oregon has ranked in the top 3 fairest tax systems. 


The national average for state and local taxes as a share of income is 10.4%, where Oregon sits below the national average at 10%. 


Property taxes are based on assessed value of the property and based on voters passing Measure 50, when a home sells, the value is not reassessed. In addition, Oregon does not have an excise tax on homes sales as compared to its neighbor to the north with an average tax of 1.28% of the sales price.


Exciting & Growing Businesses

Despite the small-city, Portlandia-inspired perception, Portland is home to thousands of thriving businesses that span a variety of key industries, including software, technology and manufacturing. Recently, Portland has developed a reputation as a “no-brainer” city for big tech companies such as eBaySalesforceAutodesk and Airbnb to open up satellite offices.


Many footwear and apparel companies call Portland home including Nike, and Columbia Sportswear, along with Adidas’s North American headquarters.

The tech scene has never been more promising, with organizations such as Puppet LabsWacom TechnologyJama Software and Exterro choosing to remain in or move their operations to Portland. New start-ups are garnering the attention of investors every day, and growth opportunities abound.


In addition to footwear and technology, Portland has a reputation for fostering premium food brands such as Kettle ChipsTillamook Cheese and Dave’s Killer Bread that are quickly becoming household names around the country.


In Conclusion…

With its mild climate, beautiful seasons, and easy access to a variety of topographies, Portland has so much to offer, and we are lucky to call this city home!


Check out 180one’s other posts about Portland!

By Catherine Landgraf 16 Apr, 2024
Chief Executive Officer The Company For over 35 years, Terra Dynamics (“TDI”) has delivered an environment of excellence to their clients through successful delivery of park and field construction, wetlands mitigation, landscape architecture, and greenspace enhancement projects. With experience in public works - and a commitment to quality, performance, and safety—Terra has secured one of the finest reputations in the industry. They lead the industry in innovation, application, technology and performance. The differences are the belief that one company should be everything you need in a commercial landscape construction contractor as well as the knowledge and experience to deliver the best to their clients. In 2023, Terra expanded their footprint with the acquisition of Paul Brothers Inc, a 3 rd generation owned commercial landscaping company based in Boring, Oregon. Together these companies have a combined 85 years of experience delivering top quality projects while making a lasting impact on parks, playgrounds, schools and more around the Pacific Northwest. The Role Reporting in the Board of Directors, the CEO will lead the organization that has experienced long-term success and sustainable growth. The CEO shall possess the leadership skills to build upon the organization’s record of quality, expansion and excellence to drive continued success. The CEO serves as the face of Terra Dynamics and builds and maintains relationships in order to advance and support the organization’s mission, programs and services. Ideal CEO Candidate will need to be skilled in the following areas Leadership Skills : Through leadership, create a unified organization. Ability to develop, communicate, and implement sustainable short-term and long-term vision for Terra Dynamics. People Leadership : Develops a strong leadership team to maximize operations and future growth while maintaining a culture of shared responsibility and stewardship among Terra Dynamics and the Board. Ensures a work environment that recruits, retains and supports quality staff, and that the appropriate processes are in place for recruiting, selecting, developing, motivating and evaluating staff. Strategic Planning : A balance of long-term strategic thinking and short-term tactical thinking to drive goals aligned with Terra Dynamics goals of consistent and sustainable growth, with a heavy focus on profitability. Operational : Understands the need to create a strong and repeatable infrastructure that supports the current organization and future growth for delivering a consistent, quality experience for both clients and employees. Leverages technologies and processes to be less labor intensive for both execution of projects and tracking their respective performance that results in greater efficiencies for the team. Business Acumen : General business interest that includes creating a financial vision, and strong overall financial acumen including understanding of the balance sheet. Knowledgeable about standard business practices (planning, metrics, P&L management), and a track record of building efficient organizations with low waste and success at profitable execution. External Relations : Maintains relationships with key personnel in State and Local governments, as well as other key external relationships including other General Contractors, Bonding and Insurance companies, and other support organizations. Qualifications Bachelors degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering or related field. 10+ years of experience in commercial construction management overseeing multiple multimillion-dollar projects. Construction experience working with State and Local government contracts. Demonstrated proficiency and expertise in the following areas: Construction management Budget development and control Persuasive presentations Bid process and Estimating Recruiting and Development Contract review, negotiating, and administration Preconstruction costing Field personnel management Interested in Learning More? 180one is a retained search firm and has been engaged by TDI to manage this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Rochelle Fleisher at: 503.699.0184 or rochelle@180one.com
By Catherine Landgraf 05 Apr, 2024
Corporate Controller About Us Impel Company (“Impel”) is a high-growth, rapidly expanding collection of small businesses. Our platform of companies includes capital equipment sales & distribution, repair & field work, manufacturing, and engineering. We are operating in 12 locations across 12 states in the Western US with new acquisitions quarterly. Impel is owned by Pike Street Capital, a growth focused PE firm out of Seattle, WA. The firm invests in middle-market companies in the industrial technology, specialty manufacturing, and distribution & logistics sectors. The Impel investment serves as a foundation from which to expand into the rapidly growing pump and related products industry. Pike Street Capital and Impel have completed 8 acquisitions since the partnership and are actively looking for additional acquisitions and other strategic partners to grow their product offering, service capability, geographic reach, and technology. Position Summary Reporting to the CFO, the Corporate Controller serves a key leadership role within Impel’s finance organization. The Corporate Controller is responsible for overseeing the accounting department and ensuring financial information provided to management and other stakeholders is accurate, reliable, timely, and compliant with accounting regulations. Essential Duties Oversee the accounting and finance operations process for Impel. Directly manage team of branch controllers and oversee the finance and accounting organization. Controls the accuracy and timeliness of financial statements and reports. Oversee the preparation and approval of all consolidated financial reporting materials and metrics. Manage all financial audit activities. Manage cash flow and forecasting; direct all financial, project-based, and departmental accounting. Administrator of accounting/enterprise software. Improve reports and reporting internally. Maintain banking relations and credit facilities, ensure compliance with debt covenants. Online banking and Company Credit Card Program Risk management, company renewal of general liability policies, professional liability policy. Partner on M&A activity including managing purchase accounting process as well as integration of financial systems and processes for new acquisitions. Partner with executive team on the development and execution of core and business financial planning and analysis including: Budgeting and forecasting Long-range planning Monthly and quarterly management reporting/business reviews Finance Strategy Financial KPI Maintain in-depth relations with all members of the management team. Implement operational best practices. Skills and Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field and equivalent business experience. CPA, CMA and/or MBA certification preferred Ten (10) years of progressively responsible accounting management experience. Five (5) years of experience managing accounting teams. Experience within the distribution and/or manufacturing industries preferred. Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills. Proficient in various accounting, financial and MRP/ERP software use. Epicor ERP and/or Sage MAS 90 a plus. Needs analysis and enterprise system design and ERP implementation experience a plus. Ability to communicate and influence decision making at all levels of the organization. Ability to clearly analyze and explain financial details and concepts in lay terms. Ability to learn quickly and adapt to changing environment. Advanced leadership skills with an ability to lead and mentor others. Ability to build collaborative relationships with branch and corporate leadership. 180one is a retained search firm and has been engaged by Impel to manage this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Tom Haley / 503-334-1350 / tom@180one.com
By Greg Togni 03 Apr, 2024
Chief Financial Officer About Us In 1953 father/son team, Ralph and Neil Skutt, manufactured the industry’s first multi-sided hobby kiln in Olympia, Washington under the name “Skutt & Sons”. The introduction of this new lightweight design revolutionized not just the ceramic kiln business but the whole ceramic industry by bringing ceramics to the home. A lot has changed over the last 70+ years. Kiln companies have come and gone, new clay bodies and glazes are constantly being developed that demand greater firing precision, and automatic controllers are quickly replacing the once cutting edge KilnSitter. Throughout the years we at Skutt have worked hard to meet the changing needs of our customers, but one thing that has remained constant is our fierce dedication to manufacturing quality products and providing outstanding customer service. We realize that every object placed in a Skutt kiln has value. It could be a child’s horse that looks more like a dog or a master potters $20,000 commissioned sculpture. Both of these artists are counting on our kiln to do its job and we don’t want to let them down. Position Summary Reporting directly to the CEO and with direct lines to ownership and the Board of Directors, this net new CFO position is responsible for directing and overseeing the financial activities of the company, directing the preparation of financial reports and summaries, and creating forecasts on future growth by performing the following duties: Essential Duties Responsible for all company financial activities (accounting, banking, taxes, budgets, forecasting, etc.). Manages IT systems and outside IT service providers to achieve business needs. Leads company interfacing with general counsel and outside legal firms. Supports the CEO at all Board of Directors meetings. Develops direct reports, and the entire management team, in financial acumen and training. Works with the executive team to define and model Skutt’s culture and brand. Additional Job Duties and Responsibilities Supports the Executive Leadership team in establishing company vision, goals and strategy. Works with the CEO and other executives to coordinate planning and establish priorities for the budgeting and planning process. Studies long-range economic trends and projects their impact on future growth in sales and market share. Directs the preparation of all financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, shareholder reports, tax returns, and governmental agency reports. Compares sales and profit projections to actual figures and budgeted expenses to actual expenses; makes or oversees any necessary adjustments to future projections and budgets. Reviews planning process and suggests improvements to current methods. Analyzes operations through budgeting and cost accounting activities to effectively manage business activities. Identifies opportunities for expansion into new product areas. Develops and maintains banking business relationships. Works with and supports tax accountants to inform and report financial activities (i.e. taxes). Oversees sales and use tax activities. Manages IT support partners in maintaining robust computing systems, including phones and websites. Manages ERP system operation and updates. Calculates and communicates capital budget, spending and analysis to the BOD. Establishes and maintains relationships with appropriate legal partners and general counsel. Establishes pricing guidelines and final product prices in conjunction with marketing and sales leaders. Negotiates best available team member benefits and insurance packages. Overseas investment of funds and works with investment bankers to raise additional capital required for expansion. Works collaboratively in a team environment with a spirit of cooperation. Directly supervises employees in the Accounting department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities following the organizations policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance or related field is required. Master’s degree is preferred. 10 years related experience in senior level accounting or finance position. Previous experience in manufacturing and distribution companies is preferred. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Strong team leader and organizational skills with the added ability to take initiative. Highly organized, accurate, detail and multi-task oriented. 180one is a retained search firm engaged by Skutt Ceramic Products to conduct this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Rochelle Fleischer at rochelle@180one.com / 503.699.0184
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