⁄From the Editor⁄ Evergreen Thinking EVERY YEAR SINCE 2009, Oregon Business has published a list of the 100 Best Green Workplaces in Oregon (p. 33). The list is derived from results of two surveys —our 100 Best Companies to Work For list and our 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For list — which we also conduct and publish annually, and both of which contain a section about sustainable workplace practices. Planning this issue got me thinking about how the concept of sustainability — and sustainable workplaces — has changed in the past 16 years. We reached out to a few leaders in the sustainable business and environmental advocacy space to talk about those changes (“What Does It Mean to Be Green in 2025?”, p. 30). Workplace norms have shifted, and the political and economic environment seem to be shifting almost hourly, and all of our subjects shared thoughts about how their organizations are adjusting to those shifts. While many things have changed, we found, many of the core principles have stuck around. There is sometimes a downside to sticking around, particularly in the case of PFAS — “forever chemicals” historically used in some consumer products (like cookware) but also in firefighting foam, which are impossible to remove from the environment once used. This spring Garrett Andrews looked into state legislation — which passed as this issue went into production — to do away with the last of PFAS in Oregon fire departments (“Removal From Action,” p. 14). While PFAS has largely been phased out in Oregon fire departments, the bill ties up some loose ends to ensure safer firefighting practices. Also for this issue, Jason Cohen wrote about the reopening of Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation (“Springs Forward,” p. 42). The resort closed seven years ago but has been revived through a partnership between the tribe and Mt. Hood Skibowl. Cohen dove into the history of the waters and space, the reasons for the resort’s 2018 closure—and why stakeholders are hopeful this iteration of the business will succeed. VOLUME 48 ⁄ NUMBER 3 OREGON BUSINESS (ISSN 02798190) is published quarterly by MEDIAmerica Inc. at 12570 S.W. 69th Ave., Suite 102, Portland OR 97223. Subscription inquiries should be directed to 503-445-8811. Subscription charge is $15.95 per year, $27.95 for two years in the USA. Single copies and back issues available at above address and at selected newsstands. The editor is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. Copyright © 2025 by MEDIAmerica Inc. All rights reserved. All material is protected by copyright and must not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Printed in Oregon. Periodicals Postage Paid at Portland, OR. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Oregon Business, 12570 S.W. 69th Ave., Suite 102, Portland OR 97223 EDITORIAL EDITOR Christen McCurdy christenm@oregonbusiness.com ART DIRECTOR Joan McGuire joanm@oregonbusiness.com STAFF WRITER Garrett Andrews garretta@oregonbusiness.com STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Jason E. Kaplan jasonk@oregonbusiness.com COPY EDITOR Morgan Stone CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Robert “Bobbie” Brunoe, Jason Cohen, Terry Currier PUBLISHING PUBLISHER Courtney Kutzman courtneyk@oregonbusiness.com EVENTS MANAGER Craig Peebles craigp@oregonbusiness.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Evan Morehouse evanm@mediamerica.net ADVERTISING AND PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Greta Hogenstad gretah@mediamerica.net DIGITAL PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Alison Kattleman alisonk@mediamerica.net PRESIDENT AND CEO Andrew A. Insinga CONTROLLER Bill Lee BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRMAN André W. Iseli PRESIDENT Andrew A. Insinga SECRETARY William L. Mainwaring TREASURER Win McCormack 4
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