NEWS & NOTES

New business: Jo Rae Perkins, Certified Financial Planner, with over 21 years of experience in the industry, has opened Eagle Financial Planning & Investments, LLC. She provides a full line financial planning for businesses and individuals. Prior to starting her own company, she was a financial advisor with Key Investment Services, through Key Bank, and also worked with WM Financial Services, and US Bancorp Investments. Eagle Financial Planning & Investments offers Mutual Funds, Stocks, Bonds, Certificates of Deposit, Variable and Fixed Annuities, Life, Disability, and Long Term Care insurance.

Her office is located in the First American Title Building, at 2405 14th Ave SE in Albany, across from the new library. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday or by appointment evenings and saturdays. For information or to set up an appointment call 541-928-6077 or email: jperkins@nextfinancial.com.

Performance recognition: Cummings Moving Systems, LLC., of Albany, an agent of Mayflower Transit, was honored recently by the van line for exceptional professional performance. The recognition was conferred during Mayflower's 2008 Convention, held in Palm Desert, Calif., with more than 400 Mayflower representatives in attendance. Announcement of the recognition, was made by Mayflower President Richard H. McClure. Cummings Moving Systems is located at 3015 Salem Ave. in Albany.

Mayflower Transit, with headquarters in suburban St. Louis, is one of the nation's largest household goods movers and maintains a global network of 600 affiliated agencies. More information about Mayflower Transit and its services can be obtained through Mayflower's Web site at www.mayflower.com.

Rookie of the Year: The Quality Inn Hotel in Albany was named "Rookie of the Year" by Choice Hotels International for its efforts during its first year of operation. The award is part of the Awards for Property Excellence (APEX) awards program by Choice, franchisor of the Quality brand.

The Albany hotel was cited for demonstrating a commitment to excellence and received high qualifying marks on hotel inspections, guest satisfaction scores and hotel training. Quality Inn is part of an award-winning group among Choice properties in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington and is one out of three hotels in its region to receive this award.

New broker: Kathy Corjasso, a 40 year resident to the area, has joined RE/MAX Integrity as a real estate broker at their Corvallis location. Corjasso is focused on helping people, and her background includes work in the medical profession. Her special interests include spending time with family, sewing, crafts and gardening. Her background includes years of enjoyed work with senior citizens.

Advisor/instructor: The Small Business Development Center at Linn-Benton Community College has hired Rudy Asunsolo as a business advisor and instructor. Asunsolo has extensive experience and working knowledge to help guide emerging entrepreneurs into a successful business venture. He leads some of the SBDC's instructional training, including the Linn-Benton Micro Business Program co-sponsored with Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services. He is available to work with any size business, whether it be a start-up or existing business, to fine tune a business plan and provide assistance with financial statements and marketing for small business.

Asunsolo is also bilingual and is available to help our Latino population with best business practices and one-on-one business advising. To request advising, contact the Small Business Development Center at www.bizcenter.org/Albany.

BUSINESS CALENDAR

Nov. 18: Expanding Your Leadership Edge: "Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership". Presenter: Joseph Bailey, Certified Professional Facilitator at LBCC. Time: 7:50 a.m. to 10 a.m. Location: Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, 435 1st Ave. W. Contact the chamber for information, 926-1517.

Nov. 18: Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours. Location: Jordan Jewelers, 202 1st Ave. Time: 5:15 to 7 p.m. Cost: Chamber members $6 ($7 at the door), non-members $10. For information contact the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce at 926-1517. Limited Seating availabe.

Nov. 18: Free seminar: "Leading Change" presented by LBCC Business & Employer Services and the LBCC Lebanon Center. Time: noon-1 p.m., Location: LBCC Lebanon Center, 44 Industrial Way.

Nov. 18-20: Willamette Valley Ag Expo featuring classes, seminars and displays. Location: Linn County Fair & Expo, 3700 Knox Butte Rd. Time: Tuesday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: $4. For additional information contact Scott Ingalls at 866-904-6165 or go online at wvaexpo.com.

Nov. 19: Downtown Corvallis Association membership meeting with featured speakers. Location: Cloud 9, 126 S.W. First St. Time: 8 a.m.

Nov. 20: Linn-Benton Mediation Service will sponsor a "Conflict Resolution Workshop" at Two Rivers Market, upstairs meeting room. Provides training in conflict resolution. Topics covered will include approaches to conflict, listening skills, brain storming solutions, dealing with anger. No prerequisites. Time: 5:30-9:30 p.m. Location: 250 Broadalbin St. SW, Albany. Cost: $20 (scholarships available). Registration required. Call 928-5323 or lbms@mediate.peak.org.

Nov. 22: Workshop: Best Friends Approach to Caring For Someone with Alzheimer's". Presented by the Mennonite Village. Time: 3 to 8:30 p.m. Location: Mennonite Village Chapel, 5353 Columbus Street S.E. For information contact Mary Scott, 928-7232, ext. 407, or via email at mary@mennonitevillage.org.

Nov. 23: Lite Up A Life presented by Samaritan Evergreen Hospice. Time: 2 p.m. Location: Linn County Fair & Expo, 2700 Knox Butte Rd. For information, call 812-4662 or 451-6303.

November 26: Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Membership Forum: "The Regional Energy Outlook: Touch Challenges, Sensible Solutions". Speaker: Ed Finklea, Executive Director Energy Action Northwest. Sponsored by Northwest Natural Gas. Time: 11:30 a.m. Location: Linn County Fair & Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Rd. Cost: $13 for pre-registered chamber members; $15 chamber members at the door; $17 non-members. For information contact the chamber at 926-1517.

December 3: Women in Business Seminar: "Wine, Women and Chocolate". Speaker: Mary Olson, owner of Airlie Winery. Limited seating, reservations required. Time: 4:30 to 6 p.m. Cost: Chamber members $20; non-members $25. Location: Spring Hill Country Club, 155 Country Club Lane N.W. Sponsored by Signal Northwest. For information and to register call 926-1517.

December 4: Linn-Benton Mediation Service will sponsor a "Conflict Resolution Workshop" (in Spanish) at Two Rivers Market, upstairs meeting room. Provides training in conflict resolution. Topics covered will include approaches to conflict, listening skills, brain storming solutions, dealing with anger. No prerequisites. Time: 5:30-9:30 pm. Location: 250 Broadalbin St. SW, Albany. Cost: $20 (scholarships available). Registration required: 928-5323 or lbms@mediate.peak.org

December 16: Linn-Benton Youth Job Fair. Time: 8:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Location: Linn-Benton Community College, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany. Mock interviews for high school students in Linn and Benton counties. For registration and additional information contact the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce at 541-926-1517.