SALEM, Ore.—The Strategic Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR) celebrated outstanding contributions to the Mid-Willamette Valley’s economic vitality at its Membership Meeting & Annual Awards on Sept. 18, 2024.
Founded in 1982, SEDCOR has long been committed to fostering economic growth in Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley. The annual gathering serves as a platform to recognize those who have exemplified exceptional corporate citizenship and entrepreneurial spirit.
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SEDCOR Business Partner of the Year: Elise Yarnell Hollamon
SEDCOR’s Business Partner of the Year award goes Elise Yarnell Hollamon of the Newberg City Council, Community Wellness Collective, Providence Health, and Rallied Force. Yarnell Hollamon’s contributions through her company, Rallied Force, have addressed critical staffing shortages in over 20 Oregon businesses since its inception in January 2023.
“Rallied Force has created employment opportunities for more than 150 individuals, including those overcoming significant barriers such as addiction and homelessness,” SEDCOR officials note.
Yarnell’s impact extends beyond employment. Her non-profit, Community Wellness Collective, established in 2018, has tackled housing insecurity by creating a low-barrier shelter in Newberg. The organization has provided nearly 30,000 beds and over 65,000 meals in just 3.5 years.
As a Newberg City Council member since October 2018 and the Director of Access Strategies for Providence Health and Services, Yarnell continues to drive positive change, SEDCOR stated. Her involvement in SEDCOR initiatives like Project Oasis and the Barbara Roberts CTE Center further cements her role as a dedicated community advocate.
SEDCOR Entrepreneur of the Year: Revino
The Entrepreneur of the Year award recognizes Revino, a Newberg-based company revolutionizing sustainability in the wine industry. Revino’s innovative reusable wine bottle system, which hit retail shelves last summer, is designed to be used up to 50 times. Traditional wine bottles are single-use, contributing to the 16.2 billion glass containers disposed of annually according to Revino.
“These bottles feature a distinctive curve and embossed details that make them easily recognizable, encouraging consumers to participate in the recycling process,” Revino representatives explain.
Read: Revino Aims to Reduce Wine Industry’s Carbon Footprint
The company’s approach is making significant environmental strides: their bottle return and reuse cycle reduces CO2 emissions by nearly 2 million pounds and diverts 320 tons of material from landfills, promoting a circular economy for packaging.
Since its launch, Revino has partnered with 16 Oregon wineries and filled over 60,000 cases of wine. Willamette Valley Vineyards alone filled over 1,400 cases of Revino’s reusable bottles with 2023 Whole Cluster Pinot Noir.
Revino’s vision recently garnered recognition at Pitch Willamette, a local shark-tank-style event organized by SEDCOR and Launch Mid-Valley. The company secured $20,000 from the panel of investors, further validating its transformative potential in the industry.
Learn more about SEDCOR at its website.
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