BendBEAT

Brian Ladd sits down with Mike Hollern. After helping to found Brooks Resources Corporation in the late 60s, Mike has had a large influence on the region over the last 50+ years. Mike guided Brooks Resources through the fat and thin years of the real estate industry, creating such memorable communities as Black Butte Ranch ,  North Rim ,  Awbrey Butte  and  NorthWest Crossing .

Learn more about Humm , their story, and how their success as a local business in Bend, Oregon relied heavily on the support of the local community. We were blown away by the refreshing perspective and philosophy Eric and Michelle shared with us about facing challenges of a growing town, what it means to be a true citizen in a community, and how each of us can contribute in our own way. Watch the...

Brian Ladd sits down with Bill Smith, arguably one of Bend's greatest visionaries, responsible for reimagining Bend and taking it from a tired mill town to a thriving, desirable destination. Cementing himself in our community's history, Bill Smith along with his wife, Trish, have had an undeniable impact on Central Oregon. "While the Old Mill District is Smith's signature piece, and widely credite...

+ Bend Oregon's mayor from 1997 to 1999 + Mountain biking Hall of Famer + Prolific journalist + COTA Co-founder + Medalist at Mountain Biking World Championships + Photographer and Jazz enthusiast Bob Woodward first visited Bend in 1976 and moved to the sleepy town of 12,500 for the outdoor lifestyle it provided. He never would have imagined Bend to grow into what it is today.  Bob's list of accom...

Amy Tykeson is the former CEO of BendBroadband, where she guided the company into a new era of digital technology and community partnerships. Tykeson is currently the managing trustee of the Tykeson Family Foundation, supporting education and healthcare in Oregon. She has served on numerous boards for nonprofits, startups and higher education initiatives in Central Oregon. Among other recognitions...

Check us out on YouTube! Heidi Wright was Chief Financial Officer of The Bend Bulletin's parent company, Western Communications, from 2014 to 2017, before she departed for Salem-based EO Media, a family-owned publishing company. She worked as publisher in Butte, Montana, for Lee Enterprises and was president of Klamath Publishing and publisher of The Herald and News in Klamath Falls from 2004 to 2...

Kirk Schueler is an institution here in Bend who has moved the needle on its growth and helped shape its neighborhoods and communities. He is the CEO of Brooks Resources, the leading land and community developer in Bend, Member of the board of trustees for the Oregon State University, and the Chief Administration Officer for St. Charles Health Center.

Roger Lee is the CEO of the Economic Development Council of Central Oregon (EDCO), which has been responsible for economic strategy for the area, recruitment of businesses, and the expansion of commercial air services and commercial parks. Jim Schell, a prominent community builder for Bend, rightfully called Roger "the architect for the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Bend." Roger is considered by ma...

Marinus Koning | Founder, ReachAnother Foundation

Jim Schell | Board Chair at Opportunity Knocks

Introducing Bend Beat