My first year in Portland - A note from Andrew Hoan

Dear Members and Colleagues, 

I started at the Portland Business Alliance a little over a year ago.

Each day, I am inspired in all that the employer community accomplishes. I am continually humbled and honored to speak on your behalf on the issues that matter to our community.

Our voice is stronger together as we work through challenging policy at the city, county, metro, state and federal levels. I'm so excited to work with our team and new board of directors in the year ahead. Thank you for your support and partnership.

 
(Watch to view highlights from Andrew's first year.)

Since my first day on June 18, 2018, we've been busy. Here’s a snapshot of what we've been able to accomplish:

• The Alliance is growing, and we are becoming more diverse. Over the last year, we set a new record in overall membership, and welcomed nearly 130 new employers. Of these new members, more than 20% self-identify as Minority, Women, Veteran, Business/Enterprise (MWVB/E). 
• Through our annual Value of Jobs Economic Check-Up, we’ve focused on convening critical dialogue around the inequities of our region’s economy, with a new focus on East Multnomah County. 
• For the first time in several years, we’ve highlighted the importance of trade, not just in Portland, but throughout the entire state of Oregon, providing a critical look at the damaging policies of protectionism. 
• With the help of our affiliate partners at Downtown Portland Clean & Safe, we renewed and enhanced a public-private partnership, which brought 7-day-a-week sanitation service to downtown for the first time in the city’s history. On top of that, we invested in hundreds of new garbage cans for our central city. Portland deserves the cleanest downtown in the nation and we are well on our way there thanks to these critical partnerships. 
• After celebrating 30 years of essential service, Downtown Portland Clean & Safe has embarked on refreshing its brand and voice. We look forward to sharing more with you in the months ahead. 
• We started a city-wide listening tour for small businesses across our region, beginning with business districts on the east side. These ideas and sharing sessions better inform our advocacy agenda and ensure that businesses across the region are being heard. 
• Our partnerships with policy leaders continues to grow. The Alliance and its membership are cornerstones in new policy roundtables like Multnomah County Preschool for All, Metro 2020 Transportation Committee, Commissioner Hardesty’s Small Business Committee, and so much more. 
• For the first time in 149 years, the Alliance is engaged in a Strategic Planning process. After dozens of stakeholder interviews and input sessions, we’ve landed on three pillars of strategic priorities: Building a healthy business ecosystem, fostering community collaboration, and supporting innovation. 
• Finally, the leadership team at the Alliance is almost entirely new, and we’ve promoted talented staff from within to take on stronger roles to guide the Alliance in a more inclusive way, while also attracting thoughtful and collaborative leaders to better deliver on our mission. 

The year ahead offers exciting developments. Next month, we transition to our new office space at One World Trade Center (121 SW Salmon). The new home of the Alliance is designed to be a community facility serving all of our members, our affiliate partners Downtown Portland Clean & Safe and Partners in Diversity, as well as anyone seeking a place to convene thoughtful conversations that advance greater Portland as a vibrant place to live.

Once settled into our new space, I look forward to engaging with you on our Strategic Plan. This is an opportunity to pave a path for the future of the Alliance and its work within this amazing community.

On a personal note, my wife, Karina, and I are excited to welcome a new child into our family – with a due date fast approaching! Portland born and raised! (Theo is very excited to be a big brother!)

My family extends our gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of this great region, and look forward to making our home an even better place to live, work and raise a family.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve,


Andrew Hoan
President & CEO