Tag Archives: PORTLAND

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The Standard Helps Habitat for Humanity Build a Better Future

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The Standard Helps Habitat for Humanity Build a Better Future

Leadership build day kicks off a partnership providing homes for two families in need

PORTLAND, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– On Thursday, April 11, at the Orchards Project in southeast Portland, Standard Insurance Company (“The Standard”) will launch a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to build new homes for two families in need. In celebration of the partnership, Greg Ness, chairman, president and CEO of The Standard, will be joined by more than 30 members of The Standard’s leadership team who will spend the day working at the SE Portland build site. Ness and his colleagues will strap on tool belts, swing hammers and raise the first wall.

“Habitat for Humanity provides a unique community benefit, helping those in need by engaging them in the hands-on construction of their future homes together with community volunteers,” said Greg Ness. “At The Standard, we place high value on building healthy and sustainable communities, and we are proud to offer the financial support and employee volunteers necessary to build new homes with two families.”

From April through October 2013, The Standard will encourage its more than 2,250 Oregon employees to participate in the build. As an additional incentive, employees will receive eight hours of paid time off to participate in the project.

“Thanks to the volunteer hours and donations provided by The Standard and its employees, we’re creating a decent, affordable place to live for two families who desperately need it,” said Steve Messinetti, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East. “With the generous support of companies like The Standard, we can continue building the community we want to live in; the community where everyone has a safe place to call home.”

Habitat for Humanity is also the beneficiary of The Standard’s 2013 Jeans Day program, which gives employees the opportunity to wear jeans to work on Fridays in exchange for a donation of $100 to a nonprofit organization chosen annually by The Standard. Through the Jeans Day program and a dollar-for-dollar match by The Standard, more than $175,000 has been raised for Habitat for Humanity to support construction of the homes.

For more information about community involvement at The Standard, visit www.standard.com/community.

About The Standard

The Standard is a …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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Columbia's Omni-Freeze® ZERO Cooling Technology Hits Stores

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Columbia’s Omni-Freeze® ZERO Cooling Technology Hits Stores

Company will support launch with largest summer marketing effort in its history

PORTLAND, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Just in time for summer’s inevitable heat, Columbia Sportswear Company (NAS: COLM) introduces Omni-Freeze ZERO, a sweat-activated cooling technology available starting April 5, 2013. The collection is available on www.columbia.com/omnifreezezero and at select retailers globally.

Columbia’s Omni-Freeze ZERO Tour truck currently on tour through June. (Photo: Business Wire)

The culmination of a four-year development effort, Columbia created Omni-Freeze ZERO for athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, and everyone else who works up a sweat while they’re working or playing – something the company points out applies to nearly everybody on the planet.

When exposed to sweat (or any moisture), thousands of little blue rings embedded in the Omni-Freeze ZERO fabric create an instant and prolonged cooling sensation.

“We believe consumers will appreciate the fact that their hard-earned sweat can be used for something more than just passive evaporation,” says Columbia’s Vice President of Global Marketing, Dan Hanson. “Everyone knows that Columbia products are great at keeping people warm in the winter; now they can rely on Columbia to help keep them comfortable in the summer with the industry’s leading cooling technology. Omni-Freeze ZERO is the latest innovation that is helping to transform Columbia into a trusted brand for all seasons.”

The first season’s assortment of Omni-Freeze ZERO is literally “head-to-toe”, consisting of forty styles of apparel, footwear and accessories for men and women, ranging from performance shirts to athletic footwear, and from ball caps and boonies to snug-fitting briefs. And to keep anglers focused on the fish (not the heat), the cooling technology is also incorporated in Columbia’s successful line of Performance Fishing Gear (PFG).

To emphasize the significance of the new technology, Columbia is investing in its largest-ever summer marketing effort, including an exclusive multi-channel marketing campaign with ESPN to engage ESPN‘s active (and sweaty) audience across television, print and digital platforms.

Columbia is also launching the “Omni-Freeze ZERO Tour,” an experiential tour featuring two converted ice cream trucks that will make more than 100 stops at major sporting events, summer festivals and key retailers across the United States from April through June. This tour will allow people to see and feel Omni-Freeze ZERO in action and enter a contest to win an Omni-Freeze ZERO shirt. For details …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Portland General Electric Schedules Earnings Release and Conference Call for Wednesday, May 1

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Portland General Electric Schedules Earnings Release and Conference Call for Wednesday, May 1

PORTLAND, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Portland General Electric Company (NYS: POR) announced today that it will host an analyst conference call and webcast at 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, May 1, to review its first quarter 2013 financial results.

The conference call will be hosted by Jim Piro, president and CEO; Jim Lobdell, senior vice president, finance, CFO and treasurer; and Bill Valach, director of investor relations.

Portland General Electric‘s first quarter 2013 earnings summary will be released before financial markets open in the United States on May 1.

To hear the conference call by webcast, log on to Portland General Electric‘s Investor Web site at investors.portlandgeneral.com and select the webcast icon. A replay of the call will be available beginning at 2 p.m. ET on May 1 and continue through May 8. To access the recording, call 888-203-1112 and enter access code 8147167.

About Portland General Electric Company

Portland General Electric, headquartered in Portland, Ore., is a fully integrated electric utility that serves approximately 828,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Oregon. Visit our Web site at PortlandGeneral.com.

POR-F

Source: Portland General Electric Company

PGE
Steve Corson, 503-464-8444
After hours: 503-251-4099

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Oregon

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

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Planar Releases 3D BIM Models of LCD Displays and Video Walls through Autodesk Seek

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Planar Releases 3D BIM Models of LCD Displays and Video Walls through Autodesk Seek

Architects, engineers and designers can now easily integrate 3D BIM models of Planar displays into building plans

PORTLAND, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Today, Planar Systems, Inc. (NAS: PLNR) , a global leader in digital display technology, announced that 3D Building Information Modeling (BIM) models of select Planar large format LCD displays and video walls are now available free through the Autodesk® Seek web service.

Planar’s Clarity Matrix LCD video wall on Autodesk Revit (Photo: Business Wire)

Autodesk Seek allows architects, engineers and designers to easily find, preview and download 3D models of Planar displays. They can then incorporate these models into their building plans without having to create the models themselves. According to a report by McGraw-Hill Construction titled, “The Business Value of BIM in North America: Multi-Year Trend Analysis and User Ratings (2007-2012),” BIM adoption has grown 500% in the past years among AEC (Architect, Engineering, Construction) professionals and research indicates that up to 80% of firms have adopted BIM.

“The BIM process has transformed design and construction with its ability to improve project 3D design and team collaboration,” says Jennifer Davis, vice president of marketing for Planar Systems. “By offering our products as BIM ready objects, we make it easier for architects, engineers and designers to integrate Planar displays into their project designs right from the start.”

3D BIM models of three Planar product families are now available from the Autodesk Seek online content library, a web service that supplies free BIM models from a wide range of building product manufacturers. The models include Planar® Mosaic™ architectural video walls, Clarity™ Matrix LCD video walls and Planar® UltraLux™ Series large flat panel monitors. Each of these BIM models provides data-rich drawings and product specifications that accurately depict the displays and their options within Autodesk® Revit®, a market-leading 3D design platform.

While Planar has provided 2D CAD drawings of its products for years, it was time-consuming for designers to turn these 2D drawings into accurate 3D objects. With the 3D BIM models available on Autodesk Seek, building professionals can now download these models and easily plug them right into their overall project designs, speeding up their work and improving the quality of their project models.

…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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The Standard Introduces Protector Essential? Individual Disability Income Insurance

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The Standard Introduces Protector Essential ℠ Individual Disability Income Insurance

New product in The Protector Series ℠ competitively priced, attractive to middle-income workers

PORTLAND, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– A new disability insurance offering from Standard Insurance Company (“The Standard”) provides brokers with the opportunity to reach a largely untapped market. The Standard announced the launch of its newest Individual Disability Income (IDI) insurance product, Protector Essential℠, which is designed to meet the income protection needs of middle-income earners.

“There are certain professions that are often underserved by the disability insurance market,” said Steve Brady, second vice president, Individual Disability Insurance Sales at The Standard. “With many workers’ savings depleted by the Great Recession, they often don’t have the reserves to withstand a disruption in their annual income. There is a real opportunity here to get a quality product to those who need it.”

The primary market for Protector Essential includes individuals making $75,000 or less annually, including occupations such as hairstylists, electricians or administrative assistants, and medical occupations such as physical therapists, dental hygienists and registered nurses.

“Protector Essential provides access to income protection for first-time IDI buyers and price-sensitive customers, a market need based on input from master general agents and producers,” Brady said. “Customers electing Protector Essential receive The Standard’s superior claims service and expertise as well as the company’s commitment to a quality individual disability insurance product.”

Now available in 27 states, Protector Essential includes the following features:

  • Guaranteed renewable
  • Regular Occupation coverage to the maximum benefit period for all occupation classes
  • No limitation on coverage for mental disorder and/or substance abuse
  • Rehabilitation Benefit
  • Residual Disability Benefit
  • Lump Sum Recovery Benefit
  • Ability to customize coverage with optional riders including Cost of Living and Catastrophic Disability Benefit

A Future Purchase Option will be available by the third quarter of this year.

To begin quoting Protector Essential or writing individual disability income insurance policies with The Standard, producers can contact getinfo@standard.com or 800.992.4446 for more information.

The Protector …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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PGE to Begin Negotiations for Additional Renewable Power Resources

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PGE to Begin Negotiations for Additional Renewable Power Resources

OPUC’s independent evaluator validates competitive bid process

PORTLAND, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Portland General Electric Company (NYS: POR) today announced it has finalized a short list of bids in its current request for proposals seeking approximately 100 average megawatts of renewable power. The company will begin negotiations soon to secure a resource from the final short list that meets PGE‘s identified need for additional renewable power generation. Names of the short-list bidders and other details of their proposals will remain confidential under non-disclosure agreements. The short-list bids include both power purchase agreements and PGE-ownership options.

The RFP was conducted pursuant to competitive bidding guidelines established by the Oregon Public Utility Commission, using objective scoring criteria intended to identify renewable projects that will provide the best balance of cost and risk while meeting PGE customers’ needs for reliable, affordable electric power.

Accion Group Inc., an independent evaluator selected by the OPUC, oversaw the RFP and review of bids to assure an objective and impartial process. On March 11, 2013 the independent evaluator gave the OPUC a final assessment of the bid scoring and final short list selection, and a closing report with a detailed assessment of the process. The independent evaluator report confirmed “the RFP was conducted in a fair and unbiased manner, and we are satisfied the RFP requirements of the OPUC were met in the conduct of this RFP.” The report and more information about the competitive bidding process are available at PortlandGeneralRFP.accionpower.com.

PGE will ask the independent evaluator to monitor the negotiations. Final selections are expected by mid-2013. PGE expects the resources selected will be brought into the company’s portfolio in the 2013-2017 timeframe to help meet Oregon’s Renewable Energy Standard.


About Portland General Electric Company: Portland General Electric, headquartered in Portland, Ore., is a fully integrated electric utility that serves approximately 828,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Oregon. Visit our website at PortlandGeneral.com .

PGE
Steve Corson, 503-464-8444
PortlandGeneral.com/Newsroom

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Oregon

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article PGE to Begin Negotiations for Additional Renewable Power Resources originally …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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Tripwire, Inc. Acquires nCircle

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Tripwire, Inc. Acquires nCircle

Acquisition creates $140M company poised to lead multi-billion dollar strategic risk and security market

PORTLAND, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Tripwire, Inc., a global provider of IT security solutions, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire nCircle, a leading provider of information risk and security performance management solutions. The acquisition is expected to close in April and is subject to the customary closing conditions. The terms of the acquisition are not being disclosed.

“Tripwire and nCircle have the opportunity to be a powerful and transformational combination in the rapidly changing security market,” said Jim Johnson, CEO of Tripwire. “Our combined solutions are uniquely positioned to align security posture with business objectives, a crucial step in making security and risk meaningful and actionable across the enterprise.”

In 2012, the two companies’ combined bookings were approximately $140 million; together they had over 500 employees and more than 7,000 customers in 96 countries. The combined company would have ranked among the largest security and vulnerability management companies in this competitive space, including IBM, EMC, Symantec and McAfee. Tripwire is highly profitable, with a customer base that includes nearly 50% of the Fortune 500.

“Security experts know that continuous monitoring — the process of finding and eliminating vulnerabilities before they can be exploited — is a foundational component of any security framework and the most cost effective way to reduce the risk of security breaches,” said Abe Kleinfeld, CEO of nCircle. “The combination of Tripwire and nCircle brings together the industry’s leading researchers and the broadest and deepest solutions for reducing risk.”

Today, cyber security is more than an IT problem. The convergence of security and risk now impacts the entire enterprise, and executives are demanding risk-based security solutions. Following the acquisition of nCircle, Tripwire’s combined solutions will enable senior security officers to make risk-based security decisions aligned with business priorities and goals.

In a Gartner Inc. report titled Meeting the Information Needs of the Chief Risk Officer in 2023, analystsPaul E. Proctor and Rob McMillansaid: “Chief Risk Officers will have the benefit of an engaged executive team, but the challenge of a constantly shifting universe of risk to present and prioritize for stakeholders. To manage their responsibilities they will need new knowledge, tools and techniques for gathering, assessing and presenting information.”

“It’s difficult to mitigate attacks without understanding vulnerabilities and assessing that resources …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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ESI to Webcast Its Investor Conference on March 14

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ESI to Webcast Its Investor Conference on March 14

ESI executives to provide insight into the company’s technology innovations, growth strategy and market focus

PORTLAND, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. (NAS: ESIO) , a leading supplier of innovative laser-based manufacturing solutions for the microtechnology industry, today announced that it will webcast its 2013 Investor and Financial Analyst Conference in New York on March 14. At the conference, ESI’s executive management team will provide insight into the company’s technology innovations, growth strategy and market focus. The webcast will begin at 9:00 a.m. ET and can be accessed on ESI’s investor web site at investors.esi.com. A replay of the event will be on the web site for one year.

ESI’s 2013 Investor and Financial Analyst Conference will be held at The Muse Hotel New York, located at 130 West 46th Street. This event will feature presentations by ESI’s CEO, Nick Konidaris, and CFO, Paul Oldham, plus executives from each product group. In-person briefings with ESI’s executives will also be made available following the formal presentations and luncheon.

To register for the conference, visit www.esi.com/2013IFAC.aspx.

About ESI, Inc.

ESI is a leading supplier of innovative, laser-based manufacturing solutions for the microtechnology industry. Our systems enable precise structuring and testing of micron to submicron features in electronic devices, semiconductors, LEDs and other high-value components. We partner with our customers to make breakthrough technologies possible in smart consumer electronics and other industries. Founded in 1944, ESI is headquartered in Portland, Ore., with global operations from the Pacific Northwest to the Pacific Rim. More information is available at www.esi.com.

ESI
Brian Smith, 503-672-5760
smithb@esi.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  New York  Oregon

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The article ESI to Webcast Its Investor Conference on March 14 originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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The Standard Charitable Foundation Grants $20,000 to DePaul Industries

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The Standard Charitable Foundation Grants $20,000 to DePaul Industries

Grant connects people with disabilities to well-suited jobs and career pathways

PORTLAND, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The Standard Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Standard Insurance Company (“The Standard”), has awarded a $20,000 grant to support DePaul Industries’ Project SEARCH. The grant will support the program’s work to secure employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“The Standard Charitable Foundation’s grant to Project SEARCH will help us put people with significant barriers to employment on the pathway to more fulfilling, self-sufficient lives,” said Dave Shaffer, president and CEO of DePaul Industries. “Thanks to the generous support of companies like The Standard, we can continue strengthening our community by providing workforce solutions and creating a positive work environment for individuals with disabilities.”

Project SEARCH is an internationally recognized program originally founded in Cincinnati, OH. The only organization operating Project SEARCH in the state of Oregon, DePaul Industries is actively closing the unemployment gap for people with disabilities by connecting them with fulfilling jobs where they can excel.

“The Standard Charitable Foundation is proud to support Project SEARCH, whose efforts align with our goal of supporting programs that increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities,” said Greg Ness, president of The Standard Charitable Foundation and chairman, president and CEO at The Standard. “In addition to the grant, I’m particularly proud of our partnership with Project SEARCH, which has led to the employment of individuals here at The Standard.”

To learn more about The Standard Charitable Foundation, please visit www.standard.com/foundation.

About The Standard Charitable Foundation

The Standard Charitable Foundation is the independent charitable and philanthropic arm of The Standard. Founded in 2006, the Foundation’s mission is to make a positive difference in communities by supporting community development, education, disability and health organizations. While the Foundation has a broad goal of making a positive difference in communities, it places special emphasis on helping individuals and families who have experienced a loss or setback such as a major disability or the loss of a loved one. Since 2006, The Standard, its employees and The Standard Charitable Foundation have contributed more than $12 million in grants and social investments.

About …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

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ESI Revolutionizes Flexible Circuit and Interconnect Processing with its New Model 5335

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ESI Revolutionizes Flexible Circuit and Interconnect Processing with its New Model 5335

PORTLAND, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. (NAS: ESIO) , a leading supplier of innovative laser-based manufacturing solutions for the microtechnology industry, today announced the release of its Model 5335 UV Laser Drilling System. As successor to the market-leading 5330 product family, the 5335 benefits from over 15 years of market experience and R&D efforts to deliver the industry’s lowest cost of ownership in flexible circuit and general micromachining applications through improved throughput and quality.

The 5335 brings state of the art performance to the flexible circuit and general micromachining industry by use of its proprietary Third Dynamics™ technology. With this technology, the 5335 provides enhanced optical beam manipulation beyond what is achievable with simple galvanometer control. Third Dynamics™ enables industry-leading drill, routing, and skiving performance through a combination of ESI‘s patented compound beam positioning and solid-state optical technologies.

“We are very excited about the 5335’s upgraded productivity and convenient operation,” said Jae-Hong Min, president of long-time ESI customer and partner Korea Via Tech. After experiencing the benefits of the Model 5335 over a trial period, this supplier to PCB manufacturing heavyweights such as Samsung and LG Innotek placed a multi-system order. Min explained, “We expect that the 5335’s high productivity and quality will positively impact confidence amongst customers.”

The 5335’s patented solid-state beam steering technologies, advanced motion control algorithms and sophisticated power control processes enable gains in throughput and quality. Martin Orrick, Director of Product Development for ESI‘s Micromachining, Test and Inspection division, stated, “The 5335 represents the seventh generation in ESI‘s single-head UV laser drilling tools. ESI has engineered the system around building blocks field-tested in hundreds of systems worldwide while further enhancing it with capabilities never before seen in the laser material processing industry. As a market leader in UV laser tools with over 1,000 such systems sold, we are convinced that this is the most flexible and productive UV laser tool available today.”

The 5335 is currently available for sale and is priced to deliver the industry’s lowest cost of ownership.

About ESI, Inc.

ESI is a leading supplier of innovative, laser-based manufacturing solutions for the microtechnology industry. Our systems enable precise structuring and testing of micron to submicron features in electronic devices, semiconductors, LEDs and other high-value components. We partner with our customers to make breakthrough technologies possible in …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance