Meet the Maker
Oct 10, 2021
Our Meet the Maker Series is an opportunity for us to introduce you to some of the amazing individuals in our Traded- Sector community who are demonstrating creativity and ingenuity on a daily basis. Check back often for more profiles.
December 6, 2021
A few weeks ago our team caught up with Greg Turner, one of the owners at Pacific Pattern Technologies, LLC. Located in the Industrial District, PPT produces support tooling and wax patterns for metallic orthopedic implants and turbine engines for the investment casting process.
5 words that describe your business or industry: Unique, Hi-tech, Interesting, Sustainable, Amazing
What is your favorite thing about what you do? Being able to create, design, and manufacture what we design.
What is the best thing about doing business in McMinnville? Love the small town, no traffic, the people and the wine!
What is one of your favorite things to do in McMinnville? Live and work here!
November 12, 2021
We’d like to introduce you to Matt Redhead, the President and Owner of electronics contract manufacturer Excel Tech Inc. What is an electronics contract manufacturer you might ask? “We help original equipment manufacturers by building the electrical components for their products. We specialize in PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) and also perform other complementary services such as box-build, test, coatings, electro-mechanical assembly, rework and packaging. Our customers span the industries of transportation, medical, commercial, industrial, and avionics.”
5 words that describe your business or industry: fun, innovative, fast-paced, relevant, domestic
What is your favorite thing about what you do? The knowledge that we are reliability meeting our customers’ expectations and seeing their finished products perform out in the world.
What is the best thing about doing business in McMinnville? Small town feel with large market reach.
What is one of your favorite things to do in McMinnville? Swim at the aquatic center.
November 1, 2021
Brent Heckman is the Sales Manager at Skyline Homes here in McMinnville.
A brief summary of what you do/ your company produces: I manage the sales department. We are a wholesale builder of homes constructed to the federal HUD code. We provide units to retail dealers, builder developers, and communities throughout Washington, Oregon, western Idaho, and northern California.
5 words that describe your business or industry: Innovative, affordable, modern
What is your favorite thing about what you do? Providing great homes for families every day.
What is the best thing about doing business in McMinnville? I have deep family roots in the McMinnville/Carlton area. I was actually born here in McMinnville on the other side of Linfield College. My grandfather graduated from there in 1936 and my mother graduated there in 1966.
What is one of your favorite things to do in McMinnville? FOOD! LOL, There are some great places to eat here in McMinnville.
October 22, 2021
We’d like to introduce you to Todd Haddican, the General Manager at Skyline Homes. (Check back next week for a profile on Brent Heckman their Sales Manager)
Tell us a little bit about what you do: I work with all of the department heads to staff, produce, service, and sell our products to licensed retail organizations. We produce high quality HUD coded single family dwellings.
5 words that describe your business or industry: Dedicated, driven, affordable, adaptable, community
What is your favorite thing about what you do? I get to interact with so many people daily. There is never a repeat of the previous day.
What is the best thing about doing business in McMinnville? People. There are so many good folks that both live and work in the area. I am proud to be a part of this community.
October 11, 2021
October 4, 2021
Abigail Quist is the founder/ owner of ARQ here in McMinnville. ARQ makes ethically sewn essential clothing with a focus on organic and sustainable fibers. The company has developed a loyal following, primarily through social media. With over 204K followers on Instagram and a feature in the New York Times, we've loved watching the growth and buzz around this company over the past few years.
5 words that describe your business or industry: Comforting, essential, natural, visceral, evolving.
What is your favorite thing about what you do? I don’t have one favorite! We do a ton of creative work here that is deeply satisfying, but one of the very best things has been gathering a wonderful team and building community in partnership with them. Don’t know how I got so lucky.
What is the best thing about doing business in McMinnville? I love this town! I grew up here so being somewhere where I have my family around tops the list for me personally, but this has been a great place to find team members and grow. The community is incredibly supportive in general and people here are so cool. They are obsessed with wine and great food and the out of doors, and so many folks are really urbane, but nobody is pretentious or condescending – no thank you! So many lovely people here.
What is one of your favorite things to do in McMinnville? Eat! Local farms, restaurants, a meal with our whole family, picking seasonal fruits with my kids… There’s nothing better.
March 22, 2021
Chelsey Nichol is the owner/printer at Type A Press, a custom letterpress printing company located in downtown McMinnville.
"We opened 10 years ago with the help of a small corner shop in our warehouse on 4th Street with the support of friends and family who placed their first print orders while we learned the craft. We focus primarily on printing products for local and national businesses and have also expanded to offer short-run screen printing work. We also provide the popular McMinnville clothing and products line that we have sold at our local festivals and downtown inside La Bella Casa. "
5 words that describe your business or industry: Timeless, quality, craftsmanship, tactile, design.
What is your favorite thing about what you do? I love being able to create beautiful printed pieces on my 100-year old press. When a business card, or notecard or wedding invitation is designed especially to highlight the unique printing traits of letterpress printing, the result is always very satisfying.
What is the best thing about doing business in McMinnville? The support from local citizens and businesses. Being able to be uniquely me and continue to operate a small business for over 10-years is because of the support I have received from the community.
What is one of your favorite things to do in McMinnville? I love to walk down 3rd Street (from my shop on 4th) and see people I know. That small-town feeling you get when you walk into a favorite shop and see a friend who works there or go to eat at a restaurant that a friend owns. That familial feeling of belonging to a community.
January 4, 2021
John Mead is the owner and founder of Vesuvian Forge, a McMinnville based company that makes architectural concrete products, such as countertops, furniture, fire tables, landscaping pavers and outdoor kitchens. Their proprietary blends include materials that dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of their products. Their manufacturing is 100% local, based out of their shop in NE McMinnville.
5 words that describe your business or industry: Crafted, Concrete, Durable, Beautiful, Fun.
What is your favorite thing about what you do? My favorite thing about what we do is engaging with customers to create something special and uniquely fitting to their particular circumstance which becomes part of the narrative of their place. It’s inspiring to see people and business adapting to new realities and creating new ways of doing business, engaging with friends and improving their homes in the midst of otherwise dire times.
What is the best thing about doing business in McMinnville? Doing business is McMinnville is different than doing business in Portland. Here people know each other. We have a role in each other’s lives in this tightknit community. Walking down historic 3rd street, or Alpine Avenue we bump into friends, colleagues and acquaintances. The ability to network in this town is fantastic and it’s fun to remember that we are all a few degrees separated from someone else in this town that has the tidbit of knowledge or experience that will help us through just about anything.
What is one of your favorite things to do in McMinnville? Eating outdoors in McMinnville is fantastic. Sitting, nibbling, sipping and people watching on a sidewalk in McMinnville is great fun and usually it’s just a matter of time before someone you know comes walking down the street. There are so many choices of places in this town to do this… Pura Vida, Mac Market, Nick’s, La Rambla, Elizabeth Chambers Cellar, Community Plate to name a few. From a wine and food standpoint this town is an embarrassment of riches, but I don’t think anyone is complaining.
December 21, 2020
Nick Walton is the owner and roaster at Flag & Wire Coffee. (Along with his wife Kim). Flag & Wire is a wholesale coffee roasting company, café & subscription service focused on great coffees, procured honorably and prepared in a way that adds value to people’s lives. Nick has been keeping McMinnville caffeinated since 2015.
Five words that describe your business or industry: Treat, Global, Opportunity, Competitive, Unnecessary.
What is your favorite thing about what you do? The best part about my job specifically, is the freedom it's beginning to afford me as my kids get older. I LOVE McMinnville and I LOVE this business. But to be honest, both McMinnville and Flag & Wire will still be here in 10 years when my kids have moved out.
There are many other things that I love about the coffee industry--it connects me meaningfully to a global community that I otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity to be a part of. It connects me to people I wouldn't get to know, and helps me understand more about the world that OTHER people live in, and not just the one that I do.
I love the fun shiny equipment, and the weird competition events and the odd characters. I love the traveling and the fact that people are generally happy to be doing business with us as opposed to some other business category like ISP's or Insurance companies, where oftentimes the best that could be hoped for would be pleasant tolerance.
But as I reflect in real-time, the MOST important thing in my life is the people I have around me, (around town, around the world), and the MOST important people in my life are my wife & kids. So the thing I like the MOST about this business is the ability it affords me to spend more of my time with my kids.
What is the best thing about doing business in McMinnville? There are many excellent things about doing business in McMinnville. Quality of life was an important consideration for us when choosing the move to town. We really benefit from the proximity to Portland, materials warehousing, freight and shipment hubs and things like that. Doing business in McMinnville is awesome because it means we get to be in McMinnville.
What is one of your favorite things to do in McMinnville? McMinnville boasts outsized resources and amenities. We have access to more good stuff than we should when compared with similarly positioned communities. I believe that to be the case anecdotally, anyway, having lived or spent meaningful amounts of time in several areas of the state and country. Great food, great drinks, outdoor activities nearby. It's a good town.
December 7, 2020
Remy Drabkin is the Owner & Winemaker at Remy Wines. Remy produces wine under the labels Remy and Three Wives in addition to wine for custom crush clients. The Tasting room located just outside of McMinnville is a warm and welcoming place that is host to a variety of events every year from complimentary Opera to Al Fresco dinners and fundraisers.
5 words that describe your business or industry: Cheerful, creative, collaborative, innovative and fun.
What is your favorite thing about what you do? Actually making the wine - loading the press, filling barrels, doing punchdowns - harvest is my favorite time of year.
What is the best thing about doing business in McMinnville? Community! Even with Covid we had a great year, walking to Mac Market for outside lunch from Heart and Seoul or morning coffee from Flag and Wire. We have great resources here for supplies, community forums to continuously improve our products. If a piece of equipment goes down, there's always a neighbor to lean on. Wine in Oregon and especially wine in McMinnville is very collaborative - we all want each other to succeed.
What is one of your favorite things to do in McMinnville? EAT! Really - we have so many amazing places to eat here. I already know where I'm getting takeout from tonight - I want all these amazing restaurants to be here post pandemic.
November 30, 2020
Tim Voyles is the Plant Manager at Ultimate RB here in town. He has been working with the Carlisle Company for 33 years, and he moved to McMinnville in 2018 to take over day-to-day operations. Ultimate RB is one of the largest and most technically advanced tire recyclers in the world with the ability to make quality products that contain up to 96% post-consumer waste.
5 words that describe Ultimate RB: Sustainable, Innovative, Durable, Eco-Friendly, Safety.
What is your favorite thing about what you do? Making sure we are running as safely and efficiently as possible. Another aspect I enjoy is being able to work with college students who are up and coming engineers looking to start careers in Manufacturing and offering training, mentorship and support.
What is the best thing about doing business in McMinnville? The People in McMinnville, Not only our employees, but the community as well. Everyone is incredibly supportive of what we are doing here, and I’ve felt very welcomed.
Favorite thing to do in McMinnville? Kayaking and Hiking
November 9, 2020
Cody Jones is the Owner of Cody Kime Designs, a local company offering custom metal fabrication, design and manufacturing.
5 words that describe your business or industry: Customer service, precision, aesthetics, processes.
What is your favorite thing about what you do? Creative freedom
What is the best thing about doing business in McMinnville? McMinnville has a great vibe, the majority of people that I have met are aspiring to do great things for themselves, their business, and the community.
What is one of your favorite things to do in McMinnville? Wine and dine, we have some of the best winemakers and culinary craftsman in the country right here in McMinnville.
November 2, 2020
Lisa Allen the Head Brewer at Heater Allen Brewing
Heater Allen specializes in producing distinctive all-malt lager and other German and Czech style beers. They use only the finest, most appropriate malts, hops, water and yeast in their brews. While their lagers are similar to those made in Germany and the Czech Republic, they are their own unique interpretation of the style.
5 words that describe your business or industry: Beer, Brewing, Community, Packaging, Lagers
What is your favorite thing about what you do? I get to make something that people enjoy and that makes people happy.
What is the best thing about doing business in McMinnville? The community is great and supportive.
What is one of your favorite things to do in McMinnville? Enjoy the restaurants in town!
October 26, 2020
October 19, 2020
Terry Wilmeth Co-Founder & CTO of RP Advanced Mobile Systems:
RPAMS developed a name for itself in the Special Operations community by designing and developing innovative mobility accessories for tactical ATV/UTV platforms. They recently expanded their offerings to include UVC Light Systems used to sterilize high touch surfaces. They are the winner of the 2020 MEDP McMinnville Maker Award.
5 words that describe RPAMS: Tackling Challenging situations with innovative solutions.
What is your favorite thing about what you do? The satisfaction of creating a helpful product. Especially knowing that our products are often a solution to a highly adverse situation.
What is the best thing about doing business in McMinnville? The McMinnville Business Community is full of great people that are receptive to the work that we do. It is a fantastic place to develop and grow a business.
Favorite thing to do in McMinnville? I love hanging out downtown. There are a lot of great shops and restaurants. We love visiting the Farmers Market on Thursdays.
October 12, 2020
Bruce Christensen is the Chief Executive Officer of Cart-Away Concrete Systems Inc.
Cart-Away Concrete Systems has been manufacturing portable concrete mixer and delivery systems in McMinnville since 2004.
5 words that describe Cart-Away: Customer Service, Accessibility, Niche, Oregon-Made.
What is your favorite thing about what you do? I get to create things and watch the products evolve and be a success.
What is the best thing about doing business in McMinnville? The supportive business community and friendly people. (Its also a great place to live!) The low utility rates, and great industrial district make doing business here really easy.
Favorite thing to do in McMinnville? As the owner of the ’65 mustang, one of my favorite things that happens in McMinnville is the Cruising McMinnville Event (Formerly known as Drag the Gut).
October 5, 2020
Deven Paolo is the President and Co-Founder of Solid Form Fabrication.
Solid Form Fabrication designs, engineers, fabricates and installs projects they are proud of with people that inspire.
5 words that describe Solid Form Fabrication: Ingenuity, Custom, Community, Team, Growth.
What is your favorite thing about what you do? “It is something different everyday, there is a lot of creativity and problem solving, and we have a really awesome team to work with.”
What is the best thing about doing business in McMinnville? The community has the right balance. The town is big enough to have everything you need, but small enough where you can build really strong relationships with a lot people, and you can also make an impact.
Favorite thing to do in McMinnville? Run. There are a lot of awesome trails around, I love running out at Miller Woods.
