There’s no question that technology has changed the printing business.  When Dave and Carol Shank first opened a printing shop in Newport back in 1973, much of the work was done manually.  Today, computers and high tech presses have revolutionized the industry.  The internet has reduced reliance on the printed page.  An estimated half of the nation’s print shops have closed their doors.  Yet after 40 years, Pioneer Printing of Newport continues to thrive.

To understand Pioneer Printing’s success requires an understanding of Dave and Carol.  Dave grew up in Corvallis, graduated from Western Mennonite, a boarding school in Salem, and then worked at a local print shop.  Carol grew up on a farm in Gervais and also graduated from Western Mennonite, but they didn’t know each other since she first attended the school the semester after Dave had graduated.  Years later, they were introduced through Mennonite circles, met at a basketball game, and five months later they were married.

In 1973, Dave and Carol became the managers and only employees of Pilgrim Printing in Newport.  Within two years they had purchased the business and eventually changed the name to Pioneer Printing.  At that time they had a simple business philosophy.  “Our goal was to provide quality and service at a reasonable price,” says Dave.  “We believed that combination would encourage people to come back.”  He was right.  Customers were pleased with the quality, appreciated being able to work directly with Dave and Carol, and knew that they were getting very competitive prices.  So they remained loyal, year after year.

Even if you just have a vague idea, Pioneer’s graphic design department can show you what it would look like in print.  The company has an excellent reputation for printing brochures, business forms, flyers, envelopes, business cards, newsletters, mailers, banners and posters.  Special requests are an almost every day occurrence.  If you want your business card cut in the shape of your delivery van, they can handle it.  The company even typesets, prints and binds entire books.  Pioneer Printing is also well known locally as the publisher of tide books, which are purchased by local businesses and distributed to area visitors bearing the businesses’ logos.

One reason for Pioneer Printing’s longevity is that Dave and Carol have adapted to and invested in new technology.  Forty years ago printing was done primarily in one or two colors, or simply black and white.  As full color printing became the norm, Dave and Carol studied the technology and invested in the necessary equipment.  Today the combination of Pioneer’s high tech presses and advanced digital copiers allows local businesses to obtain full color, high quality printing in both small and large quantities.  Evolving technology has had another advantage – printing prices today are often less than they were decades ago.

With an eye toward sustainability, Pioneer Printing uses Eco Soy based inks, chemical free printing plates, and offers its customers the option of printing on recycled paper.  The company has also planned to sustain itself for at least another generation.  Tim Shank, one of Dave and Carol’s two boys, began working for the family business while he was in the 8th grade.  After graduating high school, he spent two years as a builder, and then decided to follow in his parents’ footsteps.  Now 34, Tim has the experience necessary for Dave and Carol to feel confident that they can successfully pass on the business to him when they retire in three years.

How they handle retirement may be a more difficult question.  Working long hours has become a way of life.  Dave and Carol admit that they haven’t had a real vacation together for 13 years.  When not working, Dave has a preference for archery, Carol likes garage sales, and they enjoy camping as a couple.  Much of their spare time is spent with their two grandchildren and helping with church activities.

Although over the years the printing industry has become less labor intensive, Pioneer Printing still accounts for six jobs in the local economy.  The company’s employees tend to be long term, in fact one Pioneer staff member has been on the job for 29 years.

Dave and Carol have been customers of Oregon Coast Bank since we first opened and have had a banking relationship with a few of our managers for many years before that.  Carol loves the fact that when she walks into Oregon Coast Bank “everyone seems to recognize you.”  As the industry has evolved, the price of printing equipment has sky rocketed, so a strong banking relationship is important to print shop owners.  “Just about every piece of equipment we have, the bank has financed,” explains Dave.  The relationship is reciprocal.  In fact, if you’d like to see examples of Pioneer Printing’s work, just visit any office of Oregon Coast Bank and see our business cards, brochures, fliers and letterhead.

Forty years of longevity in any business is noteworthy, but to succeed for that long in an industry as volatile as printing is a special achievement.  Advertising is often filled with claims of quality, service and reasonable prices.  As typical as that may sound, it’s a difficult combination to actually deliver.  Dave and Carol have always taken those business fundamentals seriously, which is why 40 years later Pioneer Printing still plays an important role in our community.

For over a half a century Road & Driveway Company has paved and maintained the roads of the central Oregon Coast from Florence to Tillamook.  The company, headquartered in Newport, now operates three major quarries, two asphalt plants and in peak times employs more than 50.  Despite its size, Road & Driveway remains a family owned business.

Raised in Toledo, Bob Wienert started working part time in his father’s businesses at the age of 14.  After graduating with a degree from Western Oregon College of Education, Bob was asked by his dad to come home and help run the family businesses.  More than 40 years later, he’s still at the helm.

Although Bob calls the 30 plus hours a week he continues to work as “semi-retirement”, he’s turned over the day-to-day management of the company to his sons Rob and Ryley.  Like their dad, Rob and Ryley each started working at the company while attending high school.  Both are graduates of Oregon State University – Rob’s degree is in Business Administration, Ryley’s is in Construction Engineering Management.  A third brother, Rogan, is currently attending OSU and also intends to join the family management team after graduation.

With people using them every day, each road and driveway the company paves is in a sense their best form of advertising.  “We don’t take shortcuts with quality,” explains Rob.  That’s possible because Road & Driveway Company is able to control the product from start to finish – from mining the rock, to creating asphalt mix, to applying it.

The Wienert family owns Cedar Creek Quarries, which mines and crushes rock to various sizes to be used for paving, drainage, aggregate driveways, walkways, culvert bedding, rip rap and landscaping.  Road & Driveway Company’s paving services include roads, highways, bridges, driveways, handicap ramps and berms.  The company also provides heavy equipment rental for excavation, compaction, demolition, grading and lot sweeping.

In times of emergency, the community often depends on Road & Driveway Company.  “If there’s a land slide or beached vessel, we’re there even if it’s in the middle of the night,” explains Ryley.  In fact, it’s understanding coastal weather conditions and the resulting effect on road construction that has made Road & Driveway Company so successful.  The company is also highly invested in technology and is the only paver on the coast that owns a state-certified asphalt lab.

It may sound unusual to think of quarries and asphalt plants as “green” businesses, but Road & Driveway Company is a leader in environmental protection.  The company has been awarded the state environmental award for asphalt plants on three separate occasions.  “Asphalt is 100% recyclable,” points out Rob.  “A significant percentage of all our mixes include recycled product.”

“I wouldn’t make a very good employee,” laughs Bob, but for many years Road & Driveway Company has been one of our area’s best employers.  With benefits including medical insurance, 401K contributions, bonuses, and annual raises, Road & Driveway Company’s employees average more than 20 years with the company.

Desiring to keep their deposits working locally, Road & Driveway Company became an Oregon Coast Bank customer more than five years ago.  The Wienerts appreciate being able to talk directly with Oregon Coast Bank’s management team.  As bankers, we appreciate Road & Driveway’s 50 plus years of service to the community and their reputation for quality work.  In fact, recently we had them re-pave the parking lots at our Newport office.

The Wienerts laugh about it saying, “for the most part we get along,” but transitioning the management of a family owned company from generation to generation can be a difficult process.  Starting with the company as laborers, then gaining an outside perspective through their college years, the Wienerts take nothing for granted.  Over the years, Road & Driveway Company has grown significantly and acquired other companies, but it remains a family business – a company deeply rooted and supportive of our local community.

Rob Vevers and David Adams first worked together at another landscape company.  Between them they have more than 70 years of experience in commercial landscape maintenance.  With expertise in landscape design, installation, maintenance, irrigation and chemical applications, Rob got his state licenses about 11 years ago and promptly opened his own firm.  A couple years later, David came on board and the partners incorporated their business as Sea Breeze Landscapes.

From individual homeowners to large resorts, Sea Breeze Landscapes has a steady customer base from the north end of Lincoln City to the south end of Yachats.  Many of their customers have been with the firm since it first opened.  Apparently they appreciate the service and results.  Most customers prefer to work with Sea Breeze Landscapes on an annual contract, which gives them affordable, consistent monthly payments.  Typically that means weekly service during the heavy growing season, monthly maintenance during the winter, and prompt storm cleanup whenever necessary.  In fact that may be why Sea Breeze Landscapes customers are so loyal to the firm – “when you sign a contract with us, we’ll be there,” explains Rob.

Sea Breeze has an expertise in coastal landscaping, which is important because they choose plantings which can withstand harsh coastal weather.  “You can waste a lot of money in a short period of time if you’re not familiar with the local ecosystem,” explains Rob.  In fact, on numerous occasions Sea Breeze has been hired to replace expensive landscapes designed and installed by non-coastal firms.

What‘s the best part of working as a landscaper?  “You get a real sense of accomplishment when you drive through the community and see how nice the landscapes you work on look,” says Rob.  Perhaps the biggest drawback is exposure to the elements.  “We work when it’s raining sideways,” laughs Rob.  Oftentimes Rob, David and their crew are forced to wear commercial rain gear – “just like the fishermen”.

Although he admits that “self employment is a two-edged sword”, Rob is able to say with pride, “we have a business that pays the bills, employs other people and allows us to make our own decisions.”  During rapid growing seasons, both the partners, in fact the entire four man crew, work long hours, sometimes as much as 14 hours a day, seven days a week.

The range and expense of equipment necessary for commercial landscaping is extensive, so Rob and David appreciate the strong business relationship they have with Oregon Coast Bank.  “We have some expansion ideas for the future which will definitely require the bank’s involvement,” explains Rob.  He also has very nice comments about Oregon Coast Bank’s day care center, which his six year old daughter attends.

All of us at the bank have great things to say about Sea Breeze Landscapes, too, in fact for years they’ve maintained the landscapes of four of our five offices.  Designing, installing and maintaining coastal landscapes requires a high degree of local expertise, which is exactly what we get working with Sea Breeze Landscapes.

Always industrious, Russ Harley started working at the local Montgomery Ward’s Tire Department while attending high school in Newport.  Soon he was buying, rebuilding and selling cars on his own, often borrowing the initial purchase price from his local community bank.  After graduating high school he served in the Navy and then spent 17 years fishing in Alaska.

In 1997 Russ returned to Newport permanently and opened Steen’s Master Lube, a Napa Auto Care Center just off Highway 20.  In those days it was just Russ and another employee, but word soon spread that they were skilled mechanics and business began to grow.  “We worked on the good, the bad and the ugly,” laughs Russ.  “We still do.”  It wasn’t just family cars they worked on, businesses and government agencies also brought their fleets to Steen’s for maintenance and repair.

In 2008, the Oregon Coast and most of the country, plunged into a recession.  But for Steen’s Master Lube, hard economic times had the opposite effect.  Instead of purchasing new vehicles, many families and companies became cautious and chose to hang on to older vehicles.  Business at Steen’s Master Lube almost tripled and has continued to grow ever since.

You could call him a bit of a numbers guy, because Russ pays a lot of attention to the data on his company’s computer system.  That’s why he can tell you that local families are maintaining and hanging on to their cars longer.  “Seventeen years ago the average mileage on the cars we worked on was about 60,000,” explains Russ.  “These days it’s more than 160,000.”

Another interesting statistic is that the average customer of Steen’s Master Lube has been bringing their vehicles to Russ and his team for more than five years.  “We’re different from most shops,” comments Russ.  “When someone comes in with a Check Engine Light on, we’ll look it over for free.  Perhaps most importantly, we’re still willing to get our hands dirty.”  The company now rebuilds more than 100 engines each year and fixes other major mechanical systems like transmissions.

These days, cars are built to last longer, but regular maintenance is still essential, especially on the coast.  “It’s not just the rust that makes the coast hard on cars,” explains Russ.  “Living in small towns means short trips, which leads to carbon buildup and eventual engine difficulties.”
As Steen’s Master Lube business has grown, so has its staff.  Today the company employs seven and provides paid vacations as well as ASE and NAPA training.  “Our guys work on every make and model, so their training has to be continually updated,” points out Russ.

Because of computer diagnostics, the company’s equipment must also be updated every year.  That can be expensive, which is why Russ is so appreciative of the close relationship he has with Oregon Coast Bank.  “I borrowed the money to build this place and I regularly borrow money for new equipment,” explains Russ.  “It’s not just the lending that’s important, I talk to my bankers about all my business plans and I very much value the advice.”

Russ also seems to keep up with new banking technology.  He uses Online Banking, the advanced features of Oregon Coast Bank Smart ATMs, and even deposits checks using his smartphone.  “They’ve made banking so easy that I find myself making excuses to actually visit the Oregon Coast Bank office,” laughs Russ.  “I still like to talk to them face to face.”

Marketing experts generally agree, there’s no better advertising than word of mouth.  When people find a good mechanic they tend to tell their friends, and that’s exactly why 17 years later business continues to grow at Steen’s Master Lube.  We’re proud to have played a small part in their success.

Lisa Cheng took a rather circuitous route before arriving in Newport.  When her older sister left their native Taiwan to attend the University of Chicago, Lisa’s mother decided, “I can’t leave her all alone in the big city”.  The family promptly moved to Chicago for a brief period, until Lisa’s father decided it was “a bad place to raise children”.

Traveling through Rome, Georgia the family asked for directions from a stranger.  Language barriers made the conversation almost impossible.  So the stranger guided them several miles to their destination.  Struck by this act of kindness, Lisa’s dad decided that Rome would become their new home.

The Cheng family soon opened the first of several successful Asian-influenced restaurants in the Rome-Atlanta area.  While she was in high school, Lisa began bussing tables and cleaning dishes in the restaurants.   When she had gained the necessary experience, she advanced to waiting tables.  Lisa continued working at her dad’s restaurants while she raised a family of her own.

During a weeklong vacation to Newport, she fell in love with the area, extended her stay another week, and began looking for locations for a restaurant.  She found the perfect space right on Newport’s historic bay front and The Noodle Café opened for business in 2009.

Operated by Lisa, her brother, Chef Hann Cheng, and Hann’s wife, Amy, The Noodle Café’s Asian fusion cuisine has become immensely popular with customers and restaurant reviewers.  Lisa’s mom taught her how to knead dough and pull it to make sumptuous noodles in the traditional Northern Chinese style.  Each day she also makes from scratch the larger Udon (Japanese style) noodles, which are sought after for their chewy texture.

The Noodle Café’s menu is a fusion of healthy Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai and Vietnamese dishes, often featuring fresh, local seafood.  Amy, who is of Korean heritage, added her family’s traditional recipes such as Bulgogi, Seafood Pancakes and Kim Chi.  “Jung Bong” is a spicy seafood broth that was praised in an article in The Oregonian’s Mix Magazine and has drawn a steady stream of foodies from the Portland area ever since.  The popular Thai and Vietnamese offerings, such as Thai Curry Noodle and Pho Noodle Soup, are from recipes of Lisa’s Thai and Vietnamese friends.  The House Special Wok, tossed Udon noodles with large shrimp, scallops and kalamari, is a local favorite as is fresh Yaquina Bay Oysters tossed with scallions and onions.

The Noodle Café is open six days a week for lunch and dinner.  Lisa, Hann and Amy work the entire shifts, but as Lisa says, “coming from a restaurant family, that’s normal.  Seeing people enjoy our food is what makes us happy.”  Often on her day off, Lisa will drive three hours to Portland to purchase spices not available locally.  The Cheng family does however close the restaurant and take off several weeks each year for Chinese New Year.

The Noodle Café came to Oregon Coast Bank for their merchant credit card processing account and are very pleased with the service and low processing costs.  “They are very helpful, if I call with a problem while the restaurant is busy, they’ll even call me back later to make sure I got it right,” explains Lisa.

Lisa, Hann and Amy love living in Newport and we’re glad they chose to call it home.  If you haven’t yet tried it, The Noodle Café’s acclaimed Asian fusion cuisine is certainly worth a visit.  And if you’d like someone to talk to, chances are pretty good that there will be an Oregon Coast Bank staff member at the table next to you.

David and Ellen Turner met while attending Newport High School and soon became high school sweethearts. They also worked part-time at a local restaurant, McIvar’s Landing. David worked at the restaurant for a total of 13 years, and served as manager after graduating high school.

Wanting a family business of their own, the Turners saved as much as possible. In 1995 they were able to purchase the Newport Arctic Circle from Lou and Sue Gates, who had owned the popular restaurant for 20 years. The Newport Arctic Circle’s history actually goes even further back; the restaurant first opened its doors 45 years ago.

In 2007, David and Ellen also purchased the building and land, borrowing money and using their home as collateral. Almost immediately, they took out a second loan to remodel the facility. The Turners are typical of family business success stories; they worked long hours and accepted the risks of investment.

Described as “a step up in fast food”, Utah-based Arctic Circle operates 85 franchised restaurants, four of which are in Oregon. David serves on the company’s advisory board, helping make menu and operational decisions that affect the entire chain. On an almost annual basis, the Newport Arctic Circle has received a company-wide award for selling the most take-home bottles of Arctic Circle’s renowned fry sauce.

All Arctic Circle burgers are cooked to order using 100% Angus beef. Four entrée salads are particularly popular with those concerned with healthy eating. Perhaps because of location, halibut fish and chips is a top seller at the Newport Arctic Circle. But the restaurant is best known for its 30+ flavors of “above the rim shakes”, all made the old fashioned way with fresh ingredients.

With a highly loyal local clientele, business is strong for the Newport Arctic Circle, even in the winter. But with the influx of tourists in the spring and summer, the restaurant’s volume can double or triple. “The hardest part of running a busy restaurant is taking a vacation,” laughs David. “We haven’t had one outside of Oregon for six years.”

The Turners attribute their restaurant’s success to their staff – “everyone has a rhythm,” says David, “they really know what they’re doing.” The Newport Arctic Circle employs 15 year round and up to 20 during the peak summer months. David and Ellen believe it is imperative to take good care of their employees, and as a result, the restaurant has very low turnover. Konnie Henderson has been on the staff for more than 20 years. Assistant Manager Shirley Huff has been with the team for over 13 years.

When a shift needs filling, it’s usually Ellen that steps right in. David works seven days a week, but appreciates the fact that his “great crew” allows him the flexibility to volunteer as Track and Cross Country Coach at Newport Middle School. All three of the Turner’s children also work regular hours.

A few months back, David stopped in to the Newport office of Oregon Coast Bank to ask about refinancing and lowering the rate on the business loans that they had at another bank. He was amazed at how fast and easy the process was.

Soon, Oregon Coast Bank had refinanced the Turner’s business mortgage, remodeling loan, home mortgage and the mortgages on both their rental properties. “If we could have known then what we know now, we would have been Oregon Coast Bank customers from the beginning,” explains David. “It was a great experience being able to talk directly to the decision makers – they really made life a lot easier for us.”

David and Ellen do have very nice things to say about their bank, but the respect is mutual. In fact Oregon Coast Bank employees can often be seen enjoying meals at Arctic Circle. We even asked them to cater our most recent Board of Directors meeting. And while burgers, shakes and fries may not be typical at other banks’ board meetings, it suits us just fine, as long as they include a bottle of their fry sauce.

About 21 years ago, Kath Schonau moved to Newport when her husband was appointed as the local Presbyterian minister. For the next 10 years she worked at Pacific Communities Hospital in discharge planning. She (more…)