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!

29 Feb, 2024
Each year, 180one presents the Year in Review, sharing our insights into the overall executive talent market and recapping the work we performed on behalf of our clients throughout the year. To explore what we saw in years’ past, check out the Year in Review section of The Water Cooler.
By Christine Kennedy 12 Feb, 2024
 Business Manager About Us For over 55 years Shelter Products has supplied lumber, plywood, and related building materials to large, wood framed construction projects. Our sales are supported by staff headquartered in key metropolitan areas throughout the U.S. We specialize in mill direct shipments at prices we guarantee for the duration of projects. Direct shipment enables us to supply the highest quality of materials at the most competitive prices. Understandably, mills offer their lowest prices when they can ship a single product on a rail car or truck. It takes more time to figure out how to load multiple products on a truck, and time is money. What that means for SPI is that we can only save our customers money if their projects are large enough that we can ship 60-70% of the order on straight trucks. Which is why the vast majority of our jobs are multi-family housing, assisted care living, military housing, hospitality, and campus housing. Our business is built on relationships - understanding our customers’ needs and helping them earn contract awards profitably. Over 90% of our orders are repeat business. With sales exceeding a half billion dollars annually, it’s fair to say we’ve earned our customers’ loyalty by outstanding service, quality, and competitive pricing. SPI is a privately held C-Corp with shares held by a clear majority of our employees, including the Board of Directors. Our share ownership creates a culture where all our shareholder/employees embrace the philosophy that our customers’ success is our business model. Position Summary The Business Manager will be the division president’s partner. They will analyze financial statements, review operational reports, and devise tools to refine measurements of success and enhance profitability. Division presidents will focus their efforts on securing business, managing backlogs, and covering open positions. The Business Manager will be responsible for all other aspects of the business. Put simply, Division presidents will be on offense, and Business Managers will keep score and be on defense. This will require Business Managers to lead teams with diverse skill sets to ensure we service our customers’ needs. The Business Manager will be a member of the senior leadership team and will assist in developing and executing long and short-term plans aligned with corporate business goals for profitability and growth. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Partner with the Division President to execute the strategic plan in conformity with the company’s vision. Support the sales process through thoughtful review of contracts and financial analysis of trading results. Conduct financial reviews including working capital usage, prepare management reports, and evaluate financial and operational results. Prepare short- and long-range budgetary forecasts. Manage risk by thoroughly reviewing and revising contracts and monitoring unbought positions. Evaluate sales and purchasing performance. Monitor inventory management, warehousing, and purchasing. Administer and review inventory processes, programs, and controls to identify problems and suggest resolutions. Develop and monitor proactive reporting and metrics to identify, manage, and mitigate potential risks. Lead and manage the operations teams (trader assistants, project managers, traffic/logistics, etc.). Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Bachelor’s degree with emphasis in Business, Finance or Accounting. Advanced degree is a plus. 10 years of related experience in Finance or Accounting. CPA not required, but is a plus. Related industry experience in wholesale, distribution, building materials, or construction a plus. Demonstrated leadership in managing staff and major projects or initiatives. Budget development, forecasting, and oversight experience. High energy with a strong work ethic. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills Effective communication skills, verbal and written. Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative management style. Ability to create and customize complex analytical documents utilizing Microsoft Office products. Ability to make decisions that significantly impact the company’s credibility, operations, and services. Ability to define issues, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to organize and prioritize workload. Able to travel to customer and company locations. 180one is a retained search firm engaged by Shelter Products to conduct this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Matt Oltmann at matt.oltmann@180one.com / 971.235.6236
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1 80one recently partnered with Seaboard International and is proud to announce the executive placement of a new Controller, Andrew Waples. Forest City Trading Group (FCTG), as an employee-owned organization, is among the largest lumber wholesale distributors in the US with roots going back to the 1960’s. At $7 billion in revenue and growing, we facilitate distribution of products across 6 continents through our network of 13 operating companies and close to 700 employees. Seaboard International is an Operating Company within FCTG that has roots that go back 40 years. They are well established in Nashua, NH as an industry leader in the import and distribution of forest products serving a variety of markets including industrial, construction, and building materials. Congratulations to Seaboard and FCTG and Andrew Waples for a successful hire!
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