Ronni Wilde
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Articles by Ronni Wilde
Staff Picks 2024
Introduction Each year, our staff selects their favorite backcountry gear from the past 12 months, and we look forward to you sharing your favorite gear of the year as well in the forum comments below! Our Staff This year’s staff picks contributors include our authors, educators, researchers, and operations staff: Sarah Bennett Bailey Bremner Bill Budney Roger Caffin Jeff de Graffenried Chase Jordan Ryan Jordan Stephanie Jordan Matthew King James Montavon Sarah Ortiz Jeffrey Podmayer Drew...
Comfort vs. Weight: Gear Guidance for Aging Backpackers
Introduction As an older backpacker, what has become apparent to me over the past few years is that my needs on trail are changing. As we age, we may encounter various new challenges, including muscle loss, joint and muscle pain, a slower metabolism, reduced energy levels, hormonal shifts, changes in mental sharpness, balance, vision, and hearing, as well as increased concerns from family members about our safety while hiking in the wilderness.
Tumalo Art Co. Celebrates 20-Year Anniversary
((L) Handsome Jack, bronze, 23 in tall x 6 x 11 by Kim Chavez (R) Something Fishy, watercolor 10×12 by Annie Ferder) Right in the heart of the Old Mill District, where it has been for 12 of its 20 years of operation, Tumalo Art Co. is a place of inspiration, for curious visitors who wander in, serious collectors and the artists themselves.
Project 4 Birthed Out of a Desire to Help Local Businesses Survive Pandemic
(Stephanie Shaver) When Stephanie Shaver was working as the Marketing, Design and Production manager for the Bend Chamber of Commerce in 2020 as the pandemic unfolded, she rolled up her sleeves and got busy fervently trying to help the local businesses. Altruistic by nature, Shaver wanted to do all she could to help Central Oregon companies survive.
Printer Resources & Recycling Focuses on Sustainability & a Hands-On Approach
(The dedicated staff of Printer Resources & Recycling in a fun moment together | Photo courtesy of Printer Resources & Recycling, LLC) For Frank Patka, co-owner and CEO of Printer Resources & Recycling, LLC in Bend, the expression that when one door closes, another one opens, has proven quite true. After four years of working for Lasercharge, a company that took used toner cartridges and rebuilt them, he was laid off in 2000 when the business was sold.
Direct2 Air — Taking Chartered Flights to New Heights - Cascade Business News
(Toby Grant Woods founded Direct2 Air last May, and has been in operation out of the Bend Airport since January 1 of this year | Photo courtesy of Toby Grant Woods) There are times in life when you need to get somewhere in a hurry, and booking a flight on the airlines just doesn’t work out the way you want it to. Be it a business meeting, family emergency or even a last-minute vacation, flying commercially is sometimes not the fastest or most efficient way to go.
Through Much Hard Work, the Lubbesmeyer Twins Have Created a Beautiful Business & Relationship
((L) Lori and Lisa Lubbesmeyer (R) Lisa and Lori Lubbesmeyer create collaborative art through a process of building over each other’s work, layer upon layer | Photos courtesy of Lori and Lisa Lubbesmeyer) For identical twins Lori and Lisa Lubbesmeyer, they say opening a business together was tantamount to locking themselves in a room together until they learned to get along.
BTL Liners: A Family-Run Business Now Entering Third Generation of Ownership
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on March 1, 2022 E-Headlines, Feature Section (BTL Liners’ company motto is that there is no job too big or too small, including this 40-acre reservoir | Photo courtesy of BTL Liners) BTL Liners in Prineville is a multigenerational family business that has grown up alongside Central Oregon. As our region has expanded, so has BTL Liners, which manufactures liners, covers and tarps of all sizes.
Buccola Brothers: From Late-Night Ping Pong to Co-owning & Operating RE/MAX Key Properties Oregon
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on February 24, 2022 E-Headlines, Feature Section (Brothers Tim (L) and Ryan Buccola, owners of RE/MAX Key Properties in Bend | Photos courtesy of RE/MAX Key Properties) Growing up, brothers Ryan and Tim Buccola had such a great relationship that their father would often have to come into their room at 2 in the morning to break up their friendly ping-pong matches.
Family-Run Companies Remain at Heart of U.S. Business
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on February 22, 2022 E-Headlines, Feature Section (Brad and Jan Elliott, pictured with their grandchildren, have just transferred ownership of BTL Liners to their daughter and son-in-law | Photo courtesy of BTL Liners) While the past two years have been challenging for all businesses, those owned and operated by family members may enjoy a benefit that their counterparts don’t have: At the end of the day, relatives who work together can support each other in ways...
Prineville Continues to Grow Chamber Gains More Than 72 New Members in 2020-2021
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on February 17, 2022 E-Headlines, Feature Section ((L-R) Prineville – Crook County Chamber of Commerce staff Deb Shaw, Membership, Marketing and Events coordinator; Kim Daniels, director; and Amy Hurt, office administrator | Photo by Sempre Sole) Prineville has thrived in recent years, even through the pandemic and labor shortages, says Kim Daniels, director of the Prineville – Crook County Chamber of Commerce. Here is what she has to say: How did 2021 go in general?
Sisters Chamber Reports Strong Tourism & Highly Successful Outdoor Events
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on February 17, 2022 E-Headlines, Feature Section (Sisters saw tourism increase over the past two years | Photo courtesy of Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce) Sisters has remained strong and resilient over the past two years, says Turi Shergold, Membership & Marketing coordinator for the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce. Here is what she had to say: How did 2021 go in general? Sisters is resilient. It’s a great little town.
The Secret to Seahorse Chocolate is in the Roasting
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on February 1, 2022 E-Headlines (Seahorse Chocolate is made onsite in Bend, sourcing beans from small estates and farms from around the world | Photos courtesy of Amanda Gartrell) Seahorse Chocolate in Bend was born when founders RC and Amanda Gartrell began making chocolate at home in 2017. RC had a long history in the coffee business, Amanda says, and had always wanted to try his hand at roasting cocoa.
Bar Fiori Online Natural Wine Store Offers Fun Niche
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on January 27, 2022 Business Profiles, E-Headlines (Kelsey Kuther, creator and owner of Bar Fiori | Photo courtesy of Kelsey Kuther) Wines are Paired with Albums & Songs Bend may be known for its beers, but Central Oregon is also a fantastic place to sit back, relax and enjoy a nice glass of wine.
Bend’s Hooker Creek Companies & Global Real Estate Investment Company Plan to Turn Former Mill Site into ‘Extraordinary Development’
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on January 25, 2022 Business & Industry, E-Headlines (The 21-acre site that Hooker Creek Companies and Kennedy Wilson plan to turn into a mixed-use development project | Photo courtesy of Kennedy Wilson) Matt Day, owner of Bend-based Hooker Creek Companies, and global real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson (NYSE: KW) have entered into a joint venture to create a mixed-use project on the former KorPine mill site, located on a prime 21-acre parcel near the...
Leading Edge Flight Academy Helps Student Pilots Soar
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on December 9, 2021 E-Headlines, Feature Section (The Leading Edge fleet of aircraft | Photo courtesy of Leading Edge Flight Academy) For those wishing to become a pilot as a profession or who simply want to fly for fun, Leading Edge Flight Academy has offered airplane and helicopter training in Central Oregon for more than 16 years.
COCC Aviation Program Puts Students on Faster Track to Piloting
(Carl Manning in a helicopter cockpit with an instructor | Photo courtesy of Carl Manning) For students dreaming of soaring through the heavenlies while piloting an aircraft, the Central Oregon Community College (COCC) Aviation Program offers an excellent way to achieve that goal. “We have a degree-seeking program that in the end yields a professional pilot armed with a two-year aeronautical science degree,” says Karl Baldessari, director of the program.
Next Mile Meals Provides Keto-Friendly Food for Backpackers & Campers
(Next Mile Meals founder and owner Jessie Greger at the completion of her 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail hike | Photos courtesy of Next Mile Meals) In 2017, Jessie Greger found herself at mile one of the Pacific Crest Trail, about to begin a 2,650-mile trek from Mexico to Canada. “That’s not a unique story: it’s a trail that thousands attempt each year and a few hundred complete successfully,” explains Greger. “My diet, however, was unique.
As Redmond Continues to Thrive: City Officials Work Hard to Plan Ahead
(Since 2000, Redmond has experienced a population growth of 26.9 percent | Photo courtesy of the City of Redmond) No longer the lesser stepchild to Bend, Redmond has emerged as a city that successfully blends residential, retail and industrial sectors. Though still a relatively small town, Redmond has outpaced Bend in manufacturing growth, and as of the 2020 census, it now has a population of 33,274.
Central Oregon Manufacturing is Bouncing Back
(Photo | Pixabay) Despite intense obstacles over the past year and eight months — including a global health crisis, labor dirge and supply chain shortage — the manufacturing sector in Central Oregon marches on. Every community in the region has craftsman-related businesses, and most are soldiering through regardless of the challenges they encounter along the way.
Central Oregon Veterans Village Nears Completion
((L-R) Bend Heroes president and Veterans Village founder Erik Tobiason, J Bar J CEO Stephanie Alvstad, State Representative Jack Zika and Greater Bend Rotary’s Bruce Abernethy at the construction site in September | Photo Courtesy of J Bar J Youth Services) First Five Residents Scheduled to Move in on Veterans Day Central Oregon Veterans Village, a community of transitional shelters for homeless veterans, is turning the corner toward completion, with the first five residents scheduled to...
OSU-Cascades Celebrates Grand Opening of Edward J. Ray Hall
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on September 7, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines, Hot News (The main entrance of Edward J. Ray Hall | Photo courtesy of Oregon-State University-Cascades) On September 1, a ceremony was held on the Oregon State University-Cascades campus in Bend to celebrate the grand opening of the school’s second academic building, the 55,000-square-foot Edward J. Ray Hall.
Women in Business — How Do the Numbers Stack Up Nationally? - Cascade Business News
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on August 26, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines (Photo | by RODNAE Productions from Pexels) There is no question that women represent a huge portion of the American workforce. But just what does that look like? Here are some interesting facts and statistics about women in business on the national level.
Local Businesswomen Share Their Experiences & Journeys
(Top Row, L-R) Brenda Potampa, Katy Brooks, Jenn Limoges and Laura J. Breit. (Bottom Row L-R) Katy Haines, Monica Elsom, Karen Smuland, Georell Bracelin and Sharon Calhoun) They are mentors, moms, managers and CEOs. They work hard, play hard and inspire those around them. They are women who possess ingenuity and creativity, and have climbed the ranks through their careers to achieve top-level positions, or started their own businesses and hung in there no matter what to achieve success.
Women in the Oregon Workforce — Then & Now - Cascade Business News
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on August 26, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines (Photo | by RODNAE Productions from Pexels) In Oregon and in our local region, women continue to play a pivotal role in the workplace, despite the pandemic’s toll.
Kôr Community Land Trust Holds Ribbon-Cutting Celebration
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on July 29, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines (Ribbon Cutting | Photo by Tess Freeman) Kôr Community Land Trust held a ribbon cutting event in celebration of its first net-zero, affordable homeownership development, Kôrazón, on Tuesday, July 13. “It’s an honor to be here. At Kôr, we say it takes a village to build a village, and it really does,” says Jackie Keogh, executive director of Kôr Community Land Trust. “These units are net-zero.
Oregon Wildfire Defense Aims to Help Prevent Homes from Burning
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on July 15, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines ((L) An Oregon Wildfire Defense spray tech. (R) A home saved from the 2007 Witch Fire near San Diego | Photos Courtesy of Oregon Wildfire Defense) With extreme heat and drought conditions upon us, wildfire season starts earlier and earlier each year, and with it can come worry and stress about the safety of our homes, particularly for those living in the outskirts.
Travel Agents Share Insights on Post-Pandemic Tourism
((L) Mexico is a current popular travel destination. (R) Hawaiian travel is huge at the moment because it’s within the U.S. | Photos courtesy of Sandy Ewing) As the world begins to reopen after our long pandemic shutdown, people are excited to get out and travel again. But as the pros agree, traveling is not as straightforward as it used to be. Staying on top of changing regulations and each destination’s unique requirements is no simple task for travelers or travel agents.
Recreation & Tour Companies Riding the Post-Pandemic Wave
(The Tetherow Resort Golf Course | Photo courtesy of DVA Advertising & Public Relations) As we bounce back from the pandemic, tourism and recreation are rebounding with a vengeance. Recreation company pros say they have had exceptionally busy spring seasons and that so far, summer is equally as active with tours and bookings.
Barnes Butte Recreation Area Provides 620 Acres of Open Space Within Prineville City Limits
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on June 24, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines (Barnes Butte Elementary School | Photo Courtesy of City of Prineville) In 2017, the City of Prineville purchased the 460 acres now known as the Barnes Butte Recreation Area, and the site has provided a wonderful place of respite for locals over the past year and a half.
Prineville — A Community that Takes Care of Its Own - Cascade Business News
(Prineville is a beautiful slice of Central Oregon paradise | Photo courtesy of Prineville Chamber of Commerce) It could be said that Prineville is a Central Oregon oasis: The idyllic small town is geographically set apart from the rest of the region — surrounded by the Ochoco National Forest, the Crooked River and the Prineville and Ochoco reservoirs — and though it is only a 45-minute drive from Bend, it feels like it’s a world away.
Prineville Businesses Have Found Innovative Ways to Stay Afloat
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on June 22, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines (Downtown Prineville is home to many locally owned small businesses | Photo courtesy of EDCO) The business sector in Prineville has mirrored that of other areas in Central Oregon and across the country over the past 16 months: There have been successes as well as struggles.
In COVID Aftermath, Employers Struggle to Find Workers
(Photo | by Waseem Farooq from PxHere) As we move out of the pandemic crisis and into recovery mode, one of the biggest fallouts that has occurred is a severe labor shortage. Businesses are back open again, but are having extreme difficulties bringing in enough staff to run them.
Knightsbridge International Real Estate — A Growing Local Firm with Office in London - Cascade Business News
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on May 25, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines (Christie Glennon (Pinnick) | Photo courtesy of Knightsbridge International Real Estate) Christie Glennon (Pinnick), owner/principal broker of Knightsbridge International Real Estate, has been a broker in Bend for 16 years. She used to work for the Lowes Group realty company here, and says she always joked about wanting the space they were in because it is such a prime downtown spot.
Bend Cloud to Offer More Reliable Internet Connections in Central Oregon
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on May 13, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines, Money & Investments ((L-R) Bend Cloud President Michael Phillips and Central Oregon Internet Exchange President Jacob Roe-Bauer | Photo courtesy of Bend Cloud) Have you noticed that your internet seems slow lately? If you are working or gaming at home and feel frustrated over internet speed, you are not alone.
Credit Union Pros Weigh in on Past Year
(Photo | PxHere) Local credit unions have felt the push of the pandemic in much the same way that banks have. These professionals have also issued CARES Act funding and helped sustain their customers over the past year. Here is what they had to say: Question: How is business going a little more than one year into the pandemic?
Local Financial Pros Reflect Upon the Business of Banking During a Pandemic
(Photo | Image by 3D Animation Production Company from Pixabay) Last year at this time, the COVID pandemic was new, and the CARES Act — which established several temporary programs to address the financial devastation caused by the outbreak — was only about five weeks old. Banking professionals were scrambling to make the funding available to their customers, and the world was just beginning to learn how to function within this new way of life.
Mortgage Companies Setting Volume Records Too
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on May 6, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines, Money & Investments (Photo | PxHere) As the real estate market continues to explode across Central Oregon and much of the rest of the country, it is not just the buyers, sellers and Realtors who are feeling the effects. Business professionals in related fields, such as mortgage brokers, are also riding the tidal wave.
Rental Demand Remains High in Central Oregon
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on May 6, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines, Money & Investments (Photo | PxHere) Landlord/Tenant Laws Impacting Investors On the rental side of the real estate market, demand remains fierce, and owners are feeling the impact of the new landlord/tenant laws. “Demand for rental properties remains high. We had a larger supply of available inventory at the beginning of quarantine last March,” says Gretchen L.
The Residential Real Estate Market — Not for the Faint of Heart - Cascade Business News
(An Eagle Crest home listed with Eric Wilson of RE/MAX Key Properties in Bend | Photos by Riley Visuals) To describe the current residential real estate market, one might best imagine the scene by visualizing a shark tank at dinner time. The feeding frenzy taking place in Central Oregon and in many areas across the country is shocking and boils down to this: supply and demand.
Demand for Commercial Real Estate ‘Like the Oregon Trail All Over Again’
(The High Desert Industrial Park, a 127,000-square-foot building park that is 50 percent leased | Courtesy of Fratzke Commercial Real Estate Advisors, Inc.) There is a bumper sticker that can be seen around town with a map of Oregon and the words, “We’re Full” in the middle. A couple of years ago, that sticker may have brought on a chuckle.
Element 1 of Bend Hosts Open House
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on April 20, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines (Robert Schluter, co-founder and president of e1, and e1’s fuel cell electric vehicle golf cart | Photos by Ronni Wilde) Element 1 Corp (e1), a business that develops zero-emission technology at its headquarters here in Bend, held an event yesterday to showcase its latest projects, introduce staff members and to say thank you to the community.
Local Small-Scale Farmers Share Joys & Struggles of Growing in Central Oregon
(Gigi Meyer and Rosie the goat in calendulas | Photo courtesy of Windflower Farm LLC) Central Oregon can be a challenging place to grow things, but there are an increasing number of small, family run farms in the region where hearty souls have found ways around our cold and sometimes-fickle climate, the deer, land development and other farming obstacles common to the area.
Providing Safety & Recovery in Battery Recycling
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on April 13, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines (The OnTo Technology staff | Photo courtesy of OnTo Technology) Recycling batteries plays an important role in protecting the planet: Failure to dispose of them properly is harmful to the environment, and when a battery reaches the end of its life, it can become dangerous and even create a fire hazard. While the use of rechargeable batteries is helpful to the environment, proper disposal of them is crucial.
Bend’s Wahoo Films Celebrating 15 Years of Creativity & Growth
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on March 23, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines (Wahoo Films crew on location in 2017 | Photo courtesy of Wahoo Films) Fifteen years ago, Michelle Alvarado had just come off a year of traveling in a van and compiling videos to produce a documentary when a new phenomenon was emerging. YouTube had launched in 2005, and Alvarado quickly recognized the marketing potential of online videos.
Tech Company Cognito Announces its Official Move to Sisters - Cascade Business News
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on March 23, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines (Photo | by Anete Lusina) Central Oregon continues to attract new businesses and those looking to relocate from other areas, and the high-tech sector is part of the influx. Cognito, an identity verification company founded in Palo Alto, California in 2014, moved its headquarters to Sisters about a year ago, and has been on a steady growth path ever since.
Wall Street Suites — From Dilapidation to Destination - Cascade Business News
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on March 9, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines (Wall Street Suites | Photo Courtesy of Wall Street Suites) Wall Street Suites — once the home of a dilapidated old motel in need of major repair — has been given new life by its owners and is now a thriving destination hotel, rated the #1 Motel/Hotel in Bend by Trip Advisor.
As COVID Begins to Subside, Local Hospitality Industry Will Hit the Ground Running - Cascade Business News
(A socially distanced meeting at Riverhouse on the Deschutes | Photo courtesy of Riverhouse on the Deschutes) When Cascade Business News’ annual Meeting Guide edition published last year on March 4, little did we know that the world was on the eve of being turned upside-down.
Family-Owned Bend UpStyle Moving to New, Bigger Location
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on March 4, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines (Bend UpStyle owners (left to right) Randy, Jeanette and Jeremy Wright are preparing to open their new location | Photo Courtesy of Randy Wright) When Randy Wright and his stepmom, Jeanette Wright, were new to Bend, they enjoyed shopping at Bend UpStyle, a unique store that offers new and custom as well as pre-owned furniture items.
Import Performance Owner Remembers His Humble Beginnings
By Ronni Wilde — CBN Reporter on March 4, 2021 Business & Industry, E-Headlines (Gabriel and Rebecca Christian | Photos Courtesy of Gabriel Christian) Sometimes, a person finds his or her calling early on in life. This was the case with Gabriel Christian, owner of Import Performance auto repair in Bend. “I was very mechanical, even in middle school. I fixed everyone’s bikes in the neighborhood,” says Christian. “In high school, I spent many of my days in the auto shop program.
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