Salem Chamber Podcast Salem Area Chamber of Commerce

In this episode, Tom chats with Tammy Dennee, Executive Director of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association, about Tammy's key role as one of Oregon's leading advocates for agriculturalists, farmers, and ranchers.

Having spent her entire career in the ag industry (first in wheat, then dairy, and eventually in cattle), Tammy shares with us the vital work our farmers and ranchers do each day and the immense challenges they face with fluctuations in commodities and added burdens brought upon by strict state legislation. She also talks about her association's priorities, which are to engage all corners of our state (including her members) in legislative discussions surrounding agriculture and educate residents of all 36 Oregon counties that raise cattle about the realities of an ag producer's life and where their food comes from.

Coming from a broken home where she became the head of her household at a young age, Tammy learned to lead earlier than most and now uses those skills as a volunteer in several efforts. These include serving over 25 years in Oregon Rotary Clubs and as a member of the Salem Chamber's SAIF Agri-Business Banquet Planning Committee. Tammy also talks about participating in this year's Leadership Salem Cohort, an experience she is grateful for and proud of.

Tammy tells us that you don't have to be in the ag industry to be a member of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association. So, if you want to support the important work it does, visit orcattle.com.


The Salem Chamber is a 501 C (6) not-for-profit organization representing nearly 1,100 businesses in the greater Salem area.

For additional information, visit SalemChamber.org.

The Salem Chamber Podcast is a production by Chamber staff members Lena Prine (Director of Business Advocacy) and Dan Johnson (Marketing & Communications Manager).

In this episode, Tom sits down with Bill Riecke II, Owner of Bark Boys, Inc., which was honored as the Salem Chamber’s Business of the Year in 2023. Along with sharing what that recognition means to him and his team, Bill talks about growing up in Salem, his time serving our country as a United States Marine after 9/11, his career with Empire Southwest in Arizona, and why he decided to leave that promising career for a return to Salem to run his family’s longstanding landscaping supply business.

Although Bill often jokes that he’s simply a “truck driver,” the Salem community knows him to be so much more. In this episode, we learn how he developed his leadership skills, mindset, and philosophy, which he now utilizes in running one of our community’s incredible family-run business success stories. Bill’s success story proves that hard work and dedication pay off, but that success also comes with a responsibility to serve the community. Hear how Bill and his company give back to Salem and continue to invest in positive outcomes with our community's future at the heart of all they do.

This episode was recorded before Bill’s father and former Bark Boys owner for more than 40 years, Bill H. Riecke, passed away at the age of 67. The Salem Chamber and the Salem business community send their condolences to the Riecke family. 


The Salem Chamber is a 501 C (6) not-for-profit organization representing nearly 1,100 businesses in the greater Salem area.

For additional information, visit SalemChamber.org.

The Salem Chamber Podcast is a production by Chamber staff members Lena Prine (Director of Business Advocacy) and Dan Johnson (Marketing & Communications Manager).

In this episode, Be-BLAC Foundation Executive Director and longtime Salem restauranteur and business owner Gregg Peterson shares his incredible life story.

Gregg shares details of his upbringing in Compton, California, his battle with addiction in early adulthood, and how he leaned on the support of his family, community, and faith in God to transform his life. His rapid ascent as a retail store and restaurant manager and owner, to eventually becoming one of our community's most admired and treasured leaders, illustrates a story of resilience and spiritual growth that any of us would aspire to emulate.

Known to many for owning and operating Salem-based restaurants, such as Broadway Cafe, Gregg now serves as the Executive Director of the Be-BLAC Foundation, a non-profit that supports, empowers, and develops the future Black leaders of Salem and the local Black community as a whole. You will also still find Gregg in the restaurant world, serving as the current Executive Chef at the Kroc Center.

An inspiration for youth, non-profit advocate, community-builder, and business leader, Gregg Peterson shares his decades of wisdom, knowledge, and life experience with us in this episode.

Learn more about the Be-BLAC Foundation (proudly supported by the Salem Chamber) here: https://beblacfoundation.org.
The Salem Chamber is a 501 C (6) not-for-profit organization representing nearly 1,100 businesses in the greater Salem area.

For additional information, visit SalemChamber.org.

The Salem Chamber Podcast is a production by Chamber staff members Lena Prine (Director of Business Advocacy) and Dan Johnson (Marketing & Communications Manager).

In this episode, Tom sits down with Rhonda Rhodes, Principal of the Career Technical Education Center (CTEC), as the Salem community eagerly anticipates the arrival of the CTEC Aviation Program at the Salem Municipal Airport.  Serving as the head of one of the nation's leading career technical training schools, Principal Rhodes discusses how she discovered her calling to build up future generations of students and the innovative approach CTEC takes to train our community's incoming workforce.

A native Oregonian with a profound dedication to education, Rhonda's commitment to merging classically trained educators with local industry experts is a guiding principle at CTEC as it trains and empowers graduates. Explore the conversation to uncover the 'secret ingredient' that has paved the way for a transformative educational experience at the school, fostering an environment where both students and teachers can reach their goals while strengthening our community's workforce pipeline at the same time.

This episode was recorded before CTEC officially opened its Aviation Program at the Salem Airport on January 29, 2024. Click here to read a recap of that celebration, which included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and public addresses from local leaders, including Salem Mayor Chris Hoy and CTEC Principal Rhodes.


The Salem Chamber is a 501 C (6) not-for-profit organization representing nearly 1,100 businesses in the greater Salem area.

For additional information, visit SalemChamber.org.

The Salem Chamber Podcast is a production by Chamber staff members Lena Prine (Director of Business Advocacy) and Dan Johnson (Marketing & Communications Manager).

In this episode, Tom sits down with Jon Moore, of The Physical Therapy Project, for a discussion that delves into Jon's formative years as a baseball player at Sprague High School, his undying love for sports, and his journey from athlete to physical therapist. After many years in the profession, he opened his own clinic in 2021 with a modern, non-traditional approach that prioritizes the comfort and well-being of his patients. Here, Jon reflects on how the profound lessons he learned from the sports and healthcare fields have shaped who he is today, as a leader, business owner, and community supporter. 

As the proud Owner and a dedicated Physical Therapist at The PT Project, Jon approaches his role with a commitment to being a "Human Body Consultant." The PT Project is renowned for its specialized and personalized treatment plans, where Jon serves not only as a healthcare professional but also as a constant source of encouragement for patients undergoing rehabilitation. With an abundance mindset at the core of his philosophy, Jon's passion is reflected in the dedicated care he provides to those seeking optimal health and recovery. 

The conversation also digs into Jon's deep community involvement, including being the exclusive PT provider for the Salem Capitals Basketball Club and his work with the Corban University Athletics Department.
The Salem Chamber is a 501 C (6) not-for-profit organization representing nearly 1,100 businesses in the greater Salem area.

For additional information, visit SalemChamber.org.

The Salem Chamber Podcast is a production by Chamber staff members Lena Prine (Director of Business Advocacy) and Dan Johnson (Marketing & Communications Manager).

In this episode, Tom chats with Salem business and community icon Gladys Blum, a Principal Broker and Owner of one of the most respected and trusted real estate agencies in the Willamette Valley, Blum Real Estate. 

In touring us through her journey from childhood in rural Idaho to leading one of the most successful real estate agencies in the nation for decades, Gladys shares some of the many lessons she's learned in business and life, including how to glean and apply best practices into everything you do. She also talks about the many things she loves about the Salem community, her passion for giving back and supporting the development of children, her optimistic outlook on our community's trajectory, and how she was surprised and humbled to be named Salem's First Citizen in 2005.

A mother of three, including fellow Blum Real Estate Principal Broker Troy Blum, and with more than 60 years of marriage under her belt, Gladys also speaks to the importance of balancing family life and how her family has supported her throughout an incredible career.
The Salem Chamber is a 501 C (6) not-for-profit organization representing nearly 1,100 businesses in the greater Salem area.

For additional information, visit SalemChamber.org.

The Salem Chamber Podcast is a production by Chamber staff members Lena Prine (Director of Business Advocacy) and Dan Johnson (Marketing & Communications Manager).