Oregon Business Matters

Oregon Business & Industry
  • 5.0 (5)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

A biweekly podcast produced by Oregon Business & Industry, Oregon's statewide chamber of commerce, that focuses on insights, issues and initiatives that affect Oregonians' shared prosperity and the state's economic health.

  1. Jim Etzel, Chief Executive Officer of Sport Oregon

    5D AGO

    Jim Etzel, Chief Executive Officer of Sport Oregon

    Sport Oregon CEO Jim Etzel discusses the economic impact of spectator sports in Oregon, which account for 23% more of Oregon's economic output than the national average. Spectator sports should be thought of as traded sector economic activity, attracting people and dollars from out of state, and worth a certain degree of public investment, Etzel argues.

    41 min
  2. KL Wombacher, president and general manager of the Hillsboro Hops

    APR 20

    KL Wombacher, president and general manager of the Hillsboro Hops

    Hillsboro Hops President and General Manager KL Wombacher talks about the minor league baseball team's history in Oregon, its new stadium and the economic and cultural importance of the team to the Portland metro area and to the state.

    31 min
  3. Scott Hamlin, founder of Looptworks

    APR 6

    Scott Hamlin, founder of Looptworks

    In 2009, apparel industry veteran Scott Hamlin founded Looptworks to address the problem of textile waste. Looptworks, which recently moved into its new facility in Gresham, transforms excess clothing and other textiles into thread or yarn that can be reused and nonwoven fibers that can be used to produce insulation and other non-clothing products. Scott talks with host Angela Wilhelms about the company's evolution, its newly acquired Global Recycling Standard certification and the challenges of operating a business in Oregon.

    39 min
  4. Trevor Giroux, president of ATI's Specialty Alloys and Components Division

    MAR 23

    Trevor Giroux, president of ATI's Specialty Alloys and Components Division

    ATI's Specialty Alloys and Components Division in Millersburg might be the coolest company in Oregon that few people know. It produces metals that can withstand incredibly harsh conditions, and its products are used in a wide variety of products, from jet engines to MRI machines.

    29 min
  5. Oregon Business Council President John Tapogna

    MAR 9

    Oregon Business Council President John Tapogna

    Oregon Business Matters talks with John Tapogna, former longtime president of economics research firm ECOnorthwest and newly installed president of the Oregon Business Council. John and host Angela Wilhelms discuss his new role and what he believes are the five major challenges facing the state: poor school performance, insufficient housing, wildfires, the state's overreliance on the income tax and Oregon's historic ambivalence about population growth.

    45 min
  6. Peter Skrbek, CEO of Deschutes Brewery

    FEB 23

    Peter Skrbek, CEO of Deschutes Brewery

    In this episode, host Angela Wilhelms talks with Peter Skrbek, CEO of Bend-based Deschutes Brewery, about the iconic craft brewer's history, its approach to product innovation, its connection to Central Oregon and much more.

    25 min
  7. Cara Turano, president and executive director of the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network

    FEB 9

    Cara Turano, president and executive director of the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network

    Host Angela Wilhelms talks with Cara Turano, president and executive director of the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, about the important role of entrepreneurs in the state's business ecosystem. They discuss the major challenges entrepreneurs face, the common mistakes they make, what it's like to start a business in Oregon and more.

    32 min
  8. Tax Foundation senior fellow Jared Walczak on Oregon's tax competitiveness

    JAN 26

    Tax Foundation senior fellow Jared Walczak on Oregon's tax competitiveness

    Jared Walczak, a senior fellow at the Tax Foundation, joins host Angela Wilhelms to discuss the organization's annual ranking of state tax environments, the State Tax Competitiveness Index. Until recently the vice president of state projects, Walczak explains how the index works and why 35th-ranked Oregon has fallen further than any other state since 2020. He also warns about the consequences of decoupling Oregon from the federal tax code.

    27 min
See All (31)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

A biweekly podcast produced by Oregon Business & Industry, Oregon's statewide chamber of commerce, that focuses on insights, issues and initiatives that affect Oregonians' shared prosperity and the state's economic health.

Information

  • Creator
    Oregon Business & Industry
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Oregon Business Matters

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