By Linda Whitmore
Slayden Construction Co. has a special relationship with Stayton High School and the youth of the community. The company is being honored with the Business of the Year Award after nomination by school officials and teachers.
“They are so great to work with and their generosity toward this community is admirable,” Bonnejo Ixtacuy, Stayton High School counselor said in her nomination.
“It means a great deal to the company and our employees to be selected as the Business of the Year by the Stayton/Sublimity Chamber as well as by the Oregon Business Magazine,” said Larry Gescher of Slayden. “As a company we are always striving to be the best employer that we can be and this includes giving back to the communities that we live and work in.”
Thursday, April 23, 5:30 p.m.
Social, 6:30 p.m. dinner, 7:30 p.m. awards
Regis High School Activity Center
Tickets: $25, available at local banks, credit union, or at the
Stayton Sublimity Chamber of Commerce office,
175 E, High St., Stayton 503-769-3464
As an example of the company’s outreach, Ixtacuy told how “Slayden Construction, on their own, contacted Stayton High School and offered to donate an abundance of food, turkeys and money (for perishable items) for however many Thanksgiving baskets were needed for families who would have otherwise gone without.” But that was not all. “In addition, they ‘adopted’ one of our families for a full Christmas giving experience.”
To be selected Business of the Year, a company is one “which has contributed to civic improvements; one which has excellence of products and/or services; and one which assists in accomplishing a healthy economic community.”
Slayden Construction met the criteria.
In addition to donating food and gifts for the needy at Stayton High School, the company donated $1,000 to the Skills USA club to help high school members go to national competition last June, said Dale Sunderman, vocational education teacher at the school.
Stayton High School art teacher Edie Tiger noted how Slayden Construction provides an annual Community Grant Scholarship as well.
Involvement in education is on a personal level, too. Nora Slayden served on the school board and was its chairwoman in the late-’90s, said Charlotte Klampe, SHS principal.
Calling it “a wonderful company,” Tiffany Westcott, vocational specialist at SHS, pointed out that “the folks at Slayden are great at helping me with job shadowing and guest speakers.”
Helping young people who have an interest in possible future careers in the building industry is important to the folks at Slayden.
“We encourage high school students that are interested in pursuing a career in construction or engineering to come and job shadow one of our employees,” Gescher said. The company also encourages graduating seniors to apply for one of the OSU grant scholarships it offers.
Slayden employs 150 people, 80 of whom live in the Stayton region, he said. But “during the summer months we typically ramp up to 200 employees.” As a large employer, there is a strong connection to the community through its workers.
“Our most valuable resource is our employees, therefore we feel that it is our responsibility as an employer to help mentor our future workforce,” Gescher said.
One way the company offers help is through its contributions of materials and time.
“Recently we have supported the construction of the Regis High School concession stand, Habitat for Humanity projects, South Salem High School football field, Santiam Canyon Stampede Rodeo, and currently the construction of three Little League baseball field at Cascade High School,” Gescher said.
Not only does the company’s support benefit local non-profit groups, it has a broader impact.
“Setting the example by giving back to the community is just one of many ways that we hope to influence our younger generation,” Gescher said.
