Jill Miles

Managing Director, Portland Office

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

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• Certified Economic Developer, October 2000.

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• Fellow Member – Industrial Asset Management Council

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• National and FDI business recruitment responsibilities – manage Business Oregon’s relationship based business recruitment 10X strategy.

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• Successfully led the recruitment of the following companies to Oregon:  Facebook, Adobe, Amazon & Apple, Flexential, QTS, Dupont Fabros, Stack Infrastructure and T-5 data centers.  Other recruitments include: Wayfair, Wal*Mart Distribution, Upstream 21, Ferry-Morse, Sykes Enterprises, Altrec/Great Outdoors, Lippert Components, Pioneer Hybrid, Keystone RV, Cayuse Technology, Alaskan Bushwheel, Joseph Bronze, Treadit Tire, WebMD.  With many of these companies led the “close the deal” negotiations, which included infrastructure and other incentives

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• Participated in five formal Business Retention programs, including membership on the Business Response Team tasked with long-term follow up assistance.  Companies that expanded in Oregon under my leadership include:  Genentech, Nike, Daimler North America, Precisions Castparts, Con-Agra, Tillamook Cheese, ODS Health Plans, Coca-Cola, IBM, Boise, Cascade, Nobel Panels, Earl Brown & Sons, Hill Meat Company, Natural Structures and others.

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• Managed the process of establishing a private non-profit corporation for Northeast Oregon Business Development in order to qualify for USDA Intermediary Re-Lending Program

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• Wrote numerous applications for funding to benefit economic and community development.  Examples include:  Community Incentive Fund, Community Development Block Grant, Rural Enterprise Business Grant, Economic Development Administration Planning Grants, Regional Investment Fund, Immediate Opportunity Fund.

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• Instructor and on faculty of the Northwest Economic Development Course since 1996, Ellensburg, Washington

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• Instructor at the Community Development Institute since 2006, Boise, Idaho

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• Instructor – Association of Oregon Counties County College

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TRAINING

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• Graduate, Economic Development Institute, University of Oklahoma, 2001.

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• Business Development in the Information Age for Rural Areas.

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• Inside and Outside Marketing.

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• Back Office and Call Center opportunities for eastern Oregon

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• National Development Council – ED 101, Economic Development Finance, 1994.

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• Northwest Economic Development Course – Ellensburg, WA, 1995.

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• IEDC Real Estate Development Reuse – Portland, OR, 2004

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• Leadership Development – Industrial Asset Management Council

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• Effective Negotiation

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• IEDC FDI and Export Training – Reno, NV 2018

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SKILLS

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• Finance and analytical skills with attention to business start-ups, expansions and recruitment opportunities

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• Excellent verbal and written skills – able to work with community, legislative, elected officials and business leaders

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• Ability to handle pressure and meet deadlines, consider myself a self-starter

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• Strong public speaking skills – a returning speaker for many organizations including Chambers of Commerce, Leadership Training, Rotary, Oregon Planning Institute, Northwest Economic Development Course, Community Development Institute

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• Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local economic development programs

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• Ability to negotiate successfully

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• Able to work independently

EXPERIENCE

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Senior Business Recruitment Officer - Statewide Business Oregon (Portland)

2009 to Current

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Responsible for statewide recruitment across many industries as well as FDI inbound recruitments

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Responsible for managing lead development working with economic development partners, organizing proposal responses and site visits

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Organize and participate in Familiarization Tours

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Coordinate industry outreach events related to specific industries which include:  data centers, food processing, distribution, shared services/ecommerce, value added wood products and headquarter relocation/expansions

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Coordinate outbound account calls, primarily focusing on site selection consultants and company targets

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Represent all of Oregon at national and international events, trade shows, professional meetings, and trainings

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Was the lead for two years and responsible for staff of three (including myself) and managed work plan development as it tied to the agency strategic plan and performance measures, managed budget and travel responsibilities for the team and reporting back to leadership supporting Director and Governor priorities.

            Regional Business Development Officer Northeast Region

            National Business Development Executive

            Oregon Economic & Community Development Department (La Grande)

            12/95 to 2009

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Regional Business Development Officer

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Serve as liaison for the Oregon Economic & Community Development Department between northeast region and state.  Current region consists of Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties. 

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Lead and support economic development activity leading to job creation and retention in rural Oregon.

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Work with small, medium and large businesses in the areas of business start-ups and expansions.  Trouble shoot in areas beyond economic and community development, by bringing in other agencies as necessary.

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Work on industry development strategies, such as introducing the dairy industry to northeast Oregon, as well as building on existing RV manufacturing industry.  This includes cluster development for select industries in northeast Oregon.

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Work closely with non-profit, regional economic development organizations, and certified development corporations to provide technical assistance to northeast Oregon.

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Provide leadership and coordination of other federal, state and local programs.

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Actively participate on the Governor’s Regional Community Solutions Team which is comprised of Economic & Community Development, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Land, Conservation and Development, Housing & Community Services, and Department of Transportation.

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Ad hoc staff for the Umatilla Army Depot Local Reuse Authority.  Providing assistance in developing business development opportunities at the Depot and long-term strategy once they receive the land from the US Army.

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National Business Development Executive

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Recruit investment representing the entire state of Oregon, both nationally and internationally.

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Manage 10X strategy with site selection consultants

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Represent Oregon at national events that draw site selection specialists and corporate real estate managers and asset managers.

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Manage statewide prospects to find the appropriate location.

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Worked national and international trade shows/fairs.

Economic Development Specialist

Northeast Oregon Economic Development District

6/93 to 12/95

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Provide planning and technical assistance to member governments of Baker, Union and Wallowa counties through collaboration and facilitation for economic development activities.

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Provide complete loan packaging, analysis, site reviews and closings.

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Grant writing and administration services.

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Staff services for the Oregon Regional Strategies Program – a regional investment planning activity to focus state resources on regional priorities, which included job creation activities.

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Serve on advisory panels for the cities of Elgin, Union and Halfway for Rural Development Initiatives.

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Staff services for Regional Workforce Quality Commission, Region 13.

Fiscal Officer/Administrative Assistant

Northeast Oregon Economic Development District

4/91 to 5/93

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Provided all administrative support and fiscal duties for the District with annual budgets of approximately $750,000

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Edited, composed and completed correspondence

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Provided accounting responsibility for a 9 fund accounting system

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Maintained and audited all loan files

EDUCATION

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      Eastern Oregon University

      La Grande, Oregon

      Bachelor of Science, Liberal Studies w/emphasis on business & psychology

      La Grande High School

      La Grande, Oregon

      Diploma

       Additional Accomplishments

       Certified Economic Developer

       Graduate of University of Oklahoma, Economic Development Institute

       Multiple IEDC courses

       Fellow Member of the Industrial Asset Management Council

CURRENT MEMBERSHIPS

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      Industrial Asset Management Council

      International Economic Development Council

      Oregon Economic Development Association

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Committee involvement includes: Professional Development, New Member Recruitment, and Conference Planning

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      Board Member of 7x24 Southwest Washington/Oregon Chapter