QANDA WITH OBI BOARD CHAIR JUSTIN DELANEY

The following information was released by Oregon Business & Industry (OBI):

Following two years as vice chair of OBIs board of directors, Justin Delaney recently took over as board chair from Lori Olund (see her exit interview here). We asked Justin to talk about his new role, the challenges facing Oregons businesses and the value of OBI in addressing those challenges. His answers appear below.

Justin is senior vice president and associate counsel with The Standard, where he oversees external affairs, marketing and communications. He joined the company in 1997 following his graduation from Lewis and Clark Law School. He started out in the companys largest business, employee benefits, joining a team with a varied portfolio that included fraud investigations and complex claims scenarios.

Within a few years, Justin moved to the corporate side of the business as director of government and regulatory affairs. His portfolio has expanded steadily since then.

One of the things I love about The Standard is its history of encouraging people to move around and explore, he says.

Founded by Leo Samuel in 1906 as the Oregon Life Insurance Company, The Standard currently provides nearly every type of insurance except for medical, property and casualty. The companys largest insurance businesses are group life insurance, group disability insurance and ancillary products such as dental and vision insurance.

The Standard also oversees retirement plans, including pensions, 401(k) plans and pooled employer plans.

The Standard is known for its emphasis on civic engagement, paying employees for volunteer work and double-matching employee contributions of up to $5,000 in giving campaigns. The Standard also provides training to all employees interested in serving on nonprofit or civic boards. And in 2006, in recognition of its 100th anniversary, The Standard created a charitable foundation that focuses its work on people who have experienced disabilities or lost loved ones.

The Standard employs roughly 2,700 people in Oregon and 5,300 nationally.

When he isnt at work, Justin pursues his decades-long passion for baseball. During his sons younger years, he coached baseball teams for about a decade. Hes a devoted Seattle Mariners fan and has amassed what he calls a killer collection of Mariners bobbleheads.

Fun fact: As a college undergraduate, Justin became the University of Arizona mens Nintendo champion. His future wife placed among the top three on the womens side.

Q: What is something readers may not know about The Standard?

A: Probably the breadth of our businesses. We provide workplace benefits nationwide and in the U.S. territories. Life, disability, dental and vision insurance, absence and paid family and medical leave management, a wide range of voluntary benefits workers can choose from, pension and 401(k) plans, annuities and, last but not least, a large commercial mortgage business.

One fun thing? In his 1916 Oregonian obituary, our founder Leo Samuel was credited with giving Portland the name The Rose City.

Q: What motivated you to join the OBI board?

A: I was born with business in the blood, and it was my focus in law school. I believe that business is a force of good in society. I didnt actually join the OBI board, though. I was a board member at our two predecessor organizations Oregon Business Association and Associated Oregon Industries and dont remember being given an option to step off!

Q: What do you consider the most significant challenge facing businesses in Oregon?

A: Our tax system; its pushing companies and individual taxpayers away. The exodus of headquartered companies and wealthy individuals should concern everyone. Were seeing the results now in the form of local government and school district budget deficits.

Q: What are some things youd like OBI members to do over the next few years to help address this and other challenges?

A: Get to know the legislators in your district on a personal level. They represent you and your company. Tell them what your business needs to thrive, or at least stay in Oregon.

Q: Whats the best piece of leadership advice youve ever heard?

A: Talk less when you become the leader (I dont recall if it was Paul Kelly, Tom Kelly or John Russell who gave me that advice when I became the OBA board chair about 15 years ago, but it was one of them and it was wise).

Q: What, if anything, has surprised you during your time on OBIs board?

A: Not much surprises me these days. That said, the level of competition and the antics during the Oregon trivia game at each annual OBI board retreat are a spectacle not to be missed.

Q: What do you wish elected officials in Oregon understood about businesses?

A: Two things. First, a business is just a group of people voters and taxpayers. I shudder when I hear elected officials use big business or corporations as scapegoats. Second, while we all embrace our small business ecosystem in Oregon, that ecosystem cant thrive without large local companies who buy their goods and services. While we dont have many, Oregon is fortunate to have large headquartered companies like Nike, Columbia and The Standard, to name a few. Headquartered companies bring a tremendous amount of revenue into the state and have higher payrolls, all of which is taxed to the benefit of all Oregonians.

Q: What would you tell a business that was on the fence about joining OBI?

A: Just do it (sorry Nike). Even if youre entirely apolitical and dont engage in the goings-on in Salem which Id encourage you to do if youre a business leader the knowledge and network you gain by participating in OBI is worth the price of membership alone.

Q: What makes you optimistic about Oregons future as a place in which to run a business?

A: Its a clich, but this state sells itself. Natural beauty, volcanoes, skiing, beaches and great food. It takes a significant effort to screw this state up. Well come back.