2008 Candidate Profiles - Board of Directors

Voting members of The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County, the largest Chamber in the state and among the most influential in the region, will cast their ballots by Monday, May 5, for eight directors to serve a three-year term beginning September 1, 2008 and ending August 31, 2010.

Ballots will be sent electronically to all voting reps by mid April for the first-ever E-Ballot voting campaign.

Bill Maentz, The Maentz Agency

Bill Maentz, president of the Maentz Agency Inc., specializes in message, marketing and media strategy. He has a marketing degree from Southern Oregon University, with 21 years of experience in advertising, makreting and all fields of public information. 

Maentz started his career in special events coordination, organizing NASCAR and Indy Car events, music concerts and rodeos. With that experience, he spent the next three years working for RCA Corporation. Bill then had the honor of working for KOBI-TV as an account manager, learning the ins and outs of television advertising and account management, until he opened his own advertising agency in 1987. 

Bill Maentz operates by a simple concept: build a business environment that is strong creatively and prudent financially. His vision worked, and that philosophy of good business practices and solid creative marketing has served the Maentz Agency Inc. now for 18 years.  

The Maentz Agency Inc. currently works for over 50 companies in seven Western States. The firm has 20 employees and includes creative staff, media planners, public relations and marketing strategists. 

Bill has worked hard for The Chamber in his first term and would love to continue on the Board. He currently sits on the VCB Advisory Board, The Chamber Legislative Action Team, and has committed many hours to enhancing the programs and events for The Chamber. 

Maentz has a strong commitment to the community and sits on the Board of Directors of The Greater Medford Rotary, the Southern Oregon University Foundation, The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County, The Salvation ARmy and the Medford Cruise Association as well as advising to over 10 non-profit organizations. 

Don Cato, Harry & David

Don Cato is the Senior Vice President/General Manager, Customer Operations at Harry & David. Don is directly responsible for distribution, logistics and call centers for all Harry & David companies. 

Cato joined the organization in 1995. Prior to his current role, Don accumulated over 24 years of experience in various senior management positions with Dayton Hudson Corporation, Target Stores, and Carter Hawley Hale and Younkers Department Stores. 

Don was recognized with a Special Achievement Award by the United States Postal Service in 2001 and 2003 for his outstanding innovations supporting the mailing industry. 

Cato is the current chairman of the Parcel Shippers Association (PSA) in Washington, D.C. He is a former member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the United Way of Jackson County and a graduate of The Chamber Leadership program. 

Dixie Hackstedde, Windermere/Van Vleet

Dixie Hackstedde has been a prominent Rogue Valley community member for the past 20 years. After graduating from Oregon State University, Dixie began a 14-year career as an Elementary P.E. and Health instructor. In 1990, she started a new career in Real Estate Sales.

A Broker with Windermere/Van Vleet and the company's top overall sales agent for the last six years, Dixie holds the prestigious CRS designation, which only 5% of realtors nationwide can claim.  

Dixie is a member of The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County and has served on the Board of Directors for the last four years. In addition, she is a sustaining member and past President of the Junior League of Jackson County, past co-chair of the Public Relations committee for the Board of Realtors and has served eight years on the Rogue Valley Medical Center Foundation Board. Dixie and her husband Dick (Subway Sandwiches) were co-chairs of the Pacesetter Committee for the Rogue Valley Medical Center Rebuild Campaign. Dixie enjoys spending time with her husband Dick, daughter Stephenie and the family Yorkie, Bailey.  

Steve Vincent, Avista Utilities

Steve Vincent continues to maintain a very active civic role in the community and the state. The seed of his civic participation began with an appointment by Medford Mayor Jerry Lausmann as the first Chair of the Mayor's Youth Advisory Commission. 

While attending Southern Oregon University, he then became legislative aide to State Representative Eldon Johnson for six years ('91, '93 and '95 sessions). He then transitioned to lobbyist for Avista Utilities for six years ('97, '99 and '01 sessions). While in Salem, Steve was loaned by Avista to lobby on behalf of The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County, SOREDI, Southern Oregon University, Rogue Community College, Southern Oregon Historical Society, and the Oregon Economic Development Association. 

Following Salem, Steve became the utility's Oregon Economic Development Manager and is now Avista's Regional Business Manager. Civic engagement and philanthropy is a leading responsibility in this position. 

Last fall, Steve finished five years on the Board of the Oregon Economic Development Association (President in 2005-06). He was named Oregon Economic Development Leader of the Year in 2007. Secretary of Energy, Samuel Bodman, appointed him to a USDOE advisory board. He was also appointed by Governor Kulongoski to the Department of Treasury's Growth Account Board. Steve is a founding board member of Portland based Earth Advantage. He is a member of the Jackson/Josephine County Regional/Rural Investment Board and is also the chair of SOREDI's Marketing Committee.

A fifth generation native of Jackson County, Steve's commitment runs deep. He lives in Eagle Point with his wife of 16 years, Carrie, and two kids Christopher and Amanda.  

Kingsley Kelley, KTVL-TV Channel 10

Kingsley Kelley has been Vice President and General Manager of KTVL News 10 since December 2003. Prior to that, he held the same position at WLNE-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, from 1999 through 2003. At that time, both stations were owned by Freedom Communications Inc. Prior to that Kelley worked at various TV stations in southern Oregon beginning in 1983. 

After earning a B.S. in Communications from Oregon State University, Kelley's television career began in creative services and new production, working as a newscast director and commercial producer/director. Over the past 25 years, he has been working non-stop in the broadcast industry and progressed from director to operation manager to program director and, eventually, general manager. Kelley says the job of the GM is to hire smart people and let them do their jobs so he can sit in his office and watch TV all day. 

Currently, Kelley serves as Vice Chair of Communications for The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County, and as a board member of the United Way of Jackson County, Medford Rogue Rotary Club, and the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater. During his five years in Rhode Island, Kelley was active on community and industry boards including the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Community Prep School, Rotary Club of Providence, Family Service of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Broadcasters Association and the Nielsen Customers Alliance.

Kelley was born in Columbus, Ohio. Kelley met his wife Diana while both were attending Oregon State University. They have been married since 1980 and have two adult children. 

Don Skundrick, Retired

Don Skundrick is recently retired from LTM after 42 years in the construction materials business, although he is still at LTM part-time since he just can't give it up.

Skundrick's past and present  business and civic connections in which he has held officer status include:  Past President of Southern Oregon Drug Awareness, Past President of Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc. (SOREDI), Past Board member and Treasurer of the Rogue Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, Past Board Chair of The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County, Past President of the Bear Creek Rotary Club, current member of the Greater Medford Rotary Club, current member of the Regional Advisory Board for PacifiCorp, and current commissioner for the Medford Water Commission. 

Don has been married to his wife Sharon for 42 years and they have two sons, Seth and Dustin, two wonderful daughter-in-laws and and one outstanding grandson Finnian.

Susan Toner, Providence Health System

Susan has been the Executive Director of the Providence Community Health Foundation and a member of the Providence Medford Medical Center Senior Management team for the past five and a half years. During that period of time, she has worked with a 27 member Board of Directors to develop a comprehensive development program. Under Susan's leadership, the Foundation raises funds through special events, including the Festival of Trees, annual fund activities, grant writing, capital campaign and planned giving.  

Susan came to Providence from Idaho State University where she was the Director of Community and Public Relations. She also worked as a Major Gift Officer in the Department of University Advancement during a $100 million Capital Campaign. 

Toner currently serves on The Chamber Of Medford/Jackson County Board of Directors, as well as on the Board of Directors of the Southern Oregon Estate Planning Council and the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater. Susan is also a member of the Medford Rotary. 

Stuart Foster, Foster, Denman, LLP

Stuart Foster served as a member of the Oregon Transportation Commission from 1995 to 2007. He served as the Chair of the Commission from 2003 to 2007. He is a partner with the law firm of Foster Denman, LLP, Attorneys at Law, in Medford. Mr. Foster holds a B.S. degree in economics from the University of Oregon and a J.D. from Willamette University College of Law. He and wife Karen have four children, Mary, Eric, Evan and Ian.

Stuart has served as President of the Oregon state Bar, a member of the Oregon State Bar Board of Governors, Chairman of the Business Law Section of the Oregon State Bar, Chairman of the Oregon State Bar Task Force that wrote Oregon's Revised Business Corporation Act, a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, a member of the Legislative Task Force on Indigent Defense Cost and Caseloads, and Director and Chair of the Oregon State Professional Liability Fund.

His community involvement includes: past President of The Chamber of Medford/Jackson, member of the Medford 549c School Board, member of the Governor's Commission on School Funding Reform and has served as President of the Medford Rogue Rotary.  

Foster has received the Lawyer Advocate of the Year Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the President's Member Services Award from the Oregon State Bar. 

Skip Patterson, Preferred Results, LLC

Skip Patterson has lived in Medford for 21 years and was the Regional Manager for Pacific Power in Medford for 11 of those years. Skip was with Pacific Power for 35 years, retiring in 1998.

Patterson has served as President of The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County in 1995 and was honored with the 1st Citizen Award from The Chamber in 1998. Skip is a current member of The Chamber and serves as Chair of the Awards Committee. Patterson was President of SOREDI in 1990 and is a current member. His other community involvement includes:  Director, PremierWest Bank; Board of Directors, Medford Urban Renewal; Current Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, ACCESS, Inc.; Advisory Board member of Rogue Community College; Past Chair of Asante Health System from 1994-2000 was was awarded the Alfred Carpenter Award from Asante in 2006; Member of the Medford Neighborhood Church and current member of the Medford Rotary Club. 

Patterson states, "Everyone has an obligation to try and make a positive difference in their communities however large or small, because getting involved can provide benefits that strengthen the bonds of each and every member of our community, especially those that chose to make that difference."

After retiring from Pacific Power, Skip started a consulting firm, Preferred Results, that does contract work for Boise Cascade. Past clients have included Pacific Power, Dry Creek Landfill and the Eagle Point Irrigation District. 

Skip and his wife Gay have three sons Jim, Steve and Mike and eight grandchildren.  

Randy Jones, Mahar Homes

Randy Jones is general manager and partner of Mahar Homes, Inc., developers and builders of residential subdivisions and professional office parks, such as Summerfield Subdivision, Saddle Ridge Subdivision, Alder Creek Subdivision, Golf View Professional Office Park, Alder Creek Professional Office Park and Hillcrest Office Park. 

Jones has served on many builder association boards and committees at both the local and state level including officer positions over the past twenty five years. He is the recipient of the "Builder of the Year" award three times from the Homebuilders Association of Jackson County and once from the Oregon Homebuilders Association.

Randy has served on many community outreach projects such as renovating of the Dunn House, general contractor for building the Children's Advocacy Center Mistletoe House and chairman of the building committee for Table Rock Fellowship. He has served on numerous committees such as the Southeast Medford Implementation Advisory Committee, Engineering Standards for Public Improvements, Community Development and Hillside Ordinance committees.

Jones is the lead helicopter pilot for Jackson County Search and Rescue and chairman of the aviation committee for Oregon-California Regional Search and Rescue Task Force. He is the recipient of the Jackson County Search and Rescue Member of the Year Award as well as the American Red Cross Heroes Award.  

Randy is the holder of Chamber of Commerce distinctive title of "Godfather" on the local and national level for having brought the most new member companies into The Chamber during a sanctioned membership campaign:  a total of 33 new members during a two day event. He is also the recipient of the Member of the Year Award for The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County in 2006.

Randy has been married to his wife Jonelle for 36 years and is father to Melissa and Kimberly and Grandfather to Avery and Jack, with little Indiana ready to come into the world mid-June 2008.

Rob Patridge, Meridian Investments, LLC

Rob Patridge is currently The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County's Vice Chair of Representing Business Issues and a member of The Chamber's Board of Directors. Rob is the President of Meridian Investments, LLC, providing management and consulting services for several companies in the investment and development of real property in the Western United States. Prior to his current position, Rob served for six years as the General Counsel for Pacific Retirement Services, Inc., the Rogue Valley Manor's parent corporation. Rob also served as Deputy District Attorney for Jackson County for three years and was assigned to JACNET.

Rob has served our community as our State Representative in the Oregon Legislature for six years (1999-2004), where he was elected by his peers as the Majority Whip for two terms. Prior to his service in the Oregon Legislature, rob served on the Medford City Council for three years and was elected Council President. 

Rob is currently a coach for Rogue Valley Soccer Club, Member of the Advisory Board of the Crater Lake Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Medford Parks and Recreation Foundation. Rob has served on and consulted with numerous community Boards. 

Rob was raised in southern Oregon since the age of four and grew up on a working cattle ranch. Following his graduation for Eagle Point high School, Rob attended Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. While at Willamette, Rob was on the Dean's list and earned his Bachelors Degree of Science and Law Degree. He was also active in University Affairs and the Kappa Sigma National fraternity. 

Nikki Jones, Express Personnel Services

Nikki Jones has been the owner and operator of Express Personnel Services for the past 16 years providing job placement and employees throughout the Rogue Valley.

Community service and associations include:  current member of the Board of Directors for The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County; past member of The Chamber Ambassadors; current member of the Rogue Valley Workforce Development Council; Current President, Board of Directors, Boys and Girls Club of the Rogue Valley; current member of Recovery Works committee; current member of the Society for Human Resource Management; current member of the Oregon Association of Staffing Services and American Staffing Association.