Cascade Microtech

This is the start of an ongoing series  on the Silicon Forrest. Most people have heard of Intel's many regional plants in Hillsboro, but few have heard of companies actually headquartered in Oregon. One of them is Cascade Microtech, a manufacturer of machines designed to help efficiently build semi-conductors. They serve 800 clients, including the 20 largest semiconductor manufacturers in the world. These semi-conductors are used in advanced memory chips, microprocessors, graphics processors,  application-specific integrated circuits, and more!


 Founded in Oregon

Cascade Microtech began in 1983 when two Tektronix employees, Eric W. Strid and K. Reed Gleason, were licensed to invent the first microwave wafer probe to test microchips.

Being based in Oregon
 
Within a year they had left Tektronix to start Cascade Microtech in Beaverton. In 2004 the company went public, and is now traded on NASDAQ:CSCD. Currently they produce probes in Hillsboro Oregon, Dresden Minnesota, and Brooklyn Park Minnesota.



Giving back to Oregon

If you know of Cascade Mircotech giving back to the community, please let us know!


Number of Oregon Employees

As of 2004, Cascade Microtech has 243 employees in Oregon.

Number of locations in Oregon

Cascade Microtech has one facility in Hillsboro, Oregon. 


Final Score: 4 out 5 stars

Most information gathered from: http://www.cmicro.com/ Additional information provided by  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_Microtech

Franz Bakery

In Oregon, you'll find Franz bread everywhere, whether it's your favorite restaurant, fast food chain, or your grocery store. I have several memories of going to the Salem outlet store with my dad and browsing the shelves for deals. We'd often leave with several bags of bread, and occasionally hot dog or hamburger buns. Some of my favorite features of Franz bread are their regional names for each of their varieties. This week I've been eating turkey or roast beef sandwiches on their Big Horn Valley organic bread.

Being founded in Oregon

Franz Bakery's story began when two brothers, who were also Austrian immigrants, left their uncle's United States Bakery in Portland to start their own bakery in 1897. Their new bakery was so successful that they bought their uncle's bakery, but kept Franz as the band name.

Being based in Oregon

  The Franz brothers built a bakery on NE 11th & Flanders in Portland, that is still operated by the company today. Franz Bakery is the largest bakery in Oregon, and one of the biggest on the West Coast.


Giving back to Oregon

Franz supports several food banks and shelters, in addition colleges and universities. They also sponsor the City of Hope walk in Portland and Seattle each year, as well as the Ronald McDonald House.


Number of Oregon Employees

 Franz's newest bakery in Springfield, OR has a total of 191 employees. Their corporate headquarters in Portland has 2,300 employees. This company also employs workers in their bakery outlet stores as well as truck drivers.

Number of locations in Oregon

According to their website: "Franz supplies baked goods to virtually all of the fast food restaurants, 80 percent of restaurants and nearly all the area grocers in the Northwest. Products are marketed under the individual bakeries' names, as well as brands such as Bay City, Seattle International, McKenzie Farms, Svenhard's, and Aunt Katie’s." Franz has bakeries in McMinnville, Springfield, and Portland. The Portland location offers tours during the school year as long as parties schedule them well in advance.
You can purchase Franz directly from their 20 factory outlet stores in Portland, Aloha, Tigard, Salem,  Albany, Roseburg, Grants Pass, Medford, Klammath Falls, Redmond, Bend, The Dalles, Pendelton,   Astoria, Tillamook, Newport, and Coos Bay.

Using Oregonian Ingredients
Franz's website claims most of their ingredients come from the Northwest. It's probably safe to assume that at least some of those ingredients are harvested in Oregon.  


Final Score: 5.5 out 5 stars*

Most information gathered from: http://franzbakery.com/about-franz Additional information provided by http://www.hoovers.com

*Companies that mention using Oregonian resources or ingredients are given extra stars.

Roth's Fresh Markets

Those in the Salem, Keizer, and McMinville know Roth's like a friend. Orville Roth's stores often sponsor music programs and other community events. My marching band in high school could count on Roth's to host our fireworks stand in their parking lot, and to help us sort bottles in our can drives. Roth's also has a reputation for offering its customers locally-grown, organic produce. Some organic farmers at my church were able to market their produce and herbs through a Roth's store.

Being founded in Oregon

Hermann C. Jochimsen and Orville N. Roth opened their first grocery store on August 5th, 1962 in Silverton, Oregon.

Being based in Oregon

Owned by Mr. Roth's son, the headquarters of Roth's Fresh Markets is found in Salem, OR.

Giving back to Oregon

Roth's is known for financially supporting a basket full of programs at area high schools. The Special Olympics also recieves support from Roth's, as does the Marion-Polk Foodshare in annual can drives.


Number of Oregon Employees

Roth's has over 800 employees in the state of Oregon, 300 of which are high school students.  Some Roth's employees receive benefits including 401(K)s, medical insurance, life insurance, as well as paid vacations.

Number of stores in Oregon

Roth's has 10 grocery stores in the Mid-Willamette Valley, including stores in Salem-Keizer, Silverton, and McMinnville.



Final Score: 5 out 5 stars



Most information gathered from:  http://roths.com/contact.php. Additional information provided by former Keizer residents.

Nike Inc.

Any Oregonian who has lived here long enough knows about the Nike headquarters. It's the envy of any business person who doesn't already work there. Nike's brand is known around the world, but especially in Eugene,  where the Oregon Ducks sports teams wear Nike apparel. Ironically, the national headquarters is located in a town named for its former beaver dams.

• Being founded in Oregon 
• Bill Bowerman, a track coach at the University of Oregon, and Phil Knight, one of his runners, co-founded Nike in 1972. Originally they called it Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS), aiming to design shoes for athletes. Today the company is more widely known as Nike, named after the Greek goddess of victory. 
• Being based in Oregon
• Though Nike is famous world-wide, it is headquartered in Beaverton, OR, a Portland suburb.  
• Giving back to Oregon
• Nike is committed to reducing its environmental impact and reducing the natural resources it uses. Recently Nike released its "Environmental Apparel Design Tool" to company outsiders to improve sustainability throughout the sports fashion industry. This company also works to improve conditions for its factory workers worldwide, though they have a long way to go before their conditions meet public standards (only 17% of their factories had completed worker surveys or completed human resources training.) Despite this, Oregonians can appreciate Nike's openness about both sustainability and working conditions. Fellow companies should take note.
• As for Oregon, Nike established a grant program in May of this year called "Nike Employee Grant Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation" which seeks to improve the Portland communities through sport. It offers grants to charities that aim to make a difference in health, fitness, education, and environment. Some key benefactors are public schools in the Portland area. Portland area schools also receive help from the "Nike School Innovation Fund." Nike has also partnered with Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland and Special Olympics Oregon. 
• Number of Oregon Employees
• The Beaverton headquarters has 7,000 employees, about a fifth of their employees worldwide. 
• Near their global headquarters, Nike has a company-owned factory that produces the unique parts used in Nike shoes. They also have a factory in Tigard for their Nike Golf brand that has 84 employees. Nike contracts several third party factories in Oregon to help manufacture their products. 
• Number of stores in Oregon
• Nike has ten retail and factory stores in Oregon. Each factory store employs 40-65 full-time and part-time workers.
• Number or stores that carry Nike brand in Oregon
• Nike has a store locator on their website to help you find retailers of Nike products.  It lists 250 retailers, including Sports Authority and Foot Locker. 

Final Score: 3 out 3 stars

All information gathered from: http://www.nikebiz.com/
Additional assistance provided by: Nike USA Consumer Services

About

Where do our paychecks go?

I'm sure we could list off the usual: rent/mortgage, food, clothes, fun, etc. Still, those don't entirely answer the question. Where does our money go after purchase? Does it go back to our schools, our jobs, and our neighborhoods? Or does it go overseas? Does our spending money go back to our region, or does it go across the continent to a parent company CEO?

This blog investigates Oregon based and Oregon founded companies, restaurants, brands, stores, and entertainment. Each business is rated on a star system, one star for each of the following categories: being founded in Oregon, being based in Oregon (i.e. corporate headquarters, factories, etc) and giving back to Oregon in charitable actions.

Buy Oregon: Save Oregon is about investing in your neighbors and your family's future.

This isn't just a blog; it's a movement.