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| Business Memos Local businesses are the lifeblood of our community. The Mid-county Memo offers this section to our business neighbors for news, advancements, promotions, expansions and other noteworthy events to be shared with the community at large. Business Memo submissions for the January issue are due by Thursday, Dec. 15. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com. You may also mail editorial submissions to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave., Portland, OR, 97230. To call or leave a phone message, dial 503-287-8904. The Mid-county Memo fax number is 503-249-7672. Turino celebrates milestone Jon Turino, an insurance and financial services agent for the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, says that as of Nov. 1 he moved from the Farmers career program into the full time agent category. This milestone requires a minimum of two years in business and the building of a significant book of business in auto, home and life insurance sales as well as sales of financial services products. Starting in April, 2003, after more than 25 years in the high technology marketing world, Turino has built a business here in Mid-county based on providing personal service and excellent value to his growing base of clients, both residential and commercial. “It’s been hard work,” said Turino, “but worth every hour of it. My clients are great people who appreciate having someone who will get to know them and take care of them personally, including doing business at their convenience. Farmers has just introduced some great new discounts, so now I’m able to save them even more money on premiums without sacrificing vital coverage.” Turino is a member of the Gateway Area and Parkrose business associations, the East Portland Chamber of Commerce, the Think Local First campaign, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and is active in Kiwanis. He provides auto, home, life and specialty insurance as well as financial products such as retirement and college savings plans. Turino can be reached at 503-252-5815 or via his Web site at www.turinoagency.com. And he makes house calls. Unitus upgrades Web site The Unitus Community Credit Union Web site now sports a new and improved look. With a recent first facelift, www.unitusccu.com emphasizes easy navigation and enhanced functionality, including improved site search, a product finder, and the ability to check your Unitus account and transfer funds online. The new Web site will also house a contemporary section titled uSolutions, which was built around the notion that Unitus members have different needs during different life stages. uSolutions addresses the financial need of young members to retiring members and everyone in between. “We’re very excited about the enhancements that have been made to the Unitus Web site,” said Pat Smith, president and CEO. “All of the changes were member-driven. We relied heavily on focus groups and member feedback to develop the new look and feel of unitusccu.com.” Garden gift shop opens Admirable Landscapes, LLC, beautifying landscapes since 1996, has opened Admirable Gifts and Gallery, a specialty gift store, at 11004 N.E. Marx St. Owners John and Kim Knoernschild love art, photography and gardening. Their vision for Admirable Gifts was to create a shop that specializes in indoor and outdoor garden décor. It has been Kim’s dream to own an elegant store and share her hospitality. She invites you to stop in to see her unique Spirit of the Sea collection of wall décor that captures nature’s beauty. The Knoernschilds welcome consignments from local artists. To learn more, call 503-249-1127 or visit www.admirablelandscapes.com.
In the early 1920’s, young Charles Miller learned watch repair at a jewelry store in Toledo just a few miles inland from Newport on the Oregon coast. In a few years, his brother Frank joined him in a joint retail jewelry venture. This was the beginning of what was to become Miller’s International Jewelers, a 16-store regional retail jewelry empire. Over time the business expanded, new stores were opened and another generation entered the business. By the 1970’s the company had 16 retail stores in four states and employed more than 200 people. The family business had evolved into the largest jewelry manufacturing company in the Northwest and a publicly traded company. The headquarters office was located on Northeast Halsey Street in the Gateway district. Miller’s International has been described as a fast-paced high-volume fine jewelry manufacturing facility with master bench workers, learning both mastery of design and volume manufacturing. Miller’s sold products across the nation, to resellers and large jewelry retail corporations, and insisted that its jewelers be very experienced and highly skilled. In the late ‘70’s Charles Miller retired, the business shrunk, and son Robert opened Robert Miller Fine Jewelers on Northeast 122nd Avenue and Glisan Street. A decade later, the third generation entered the family business. Doug Miller, Robert’s son, was taught to manufacture high-end custom jewelry. He says the creativity; quality and price of custom pieces he and his father designed earned a loyal following. While Robert Miller has since retired, Doug Miller continues to design and manufacture custom jewelry in downtown Portland. Generation number four has recently joined him in the family business. Miller’s son Justin studied for two years at the American Institute of Diamond Cutting in Florida. With this skill, the Miller’s are now the only jewelers in the Pacific Northwest to offer diamond cutting and original design on site. Justin Miller’s training also allows the pair to buy rough diamonds, cutting out the middleman and saving their clients money. Doug Miller says this specialty is nearly “unheard of today and it allows us to create custom jewelry with precious stones that never leave the premises.” Get in touch with Doug or Justin at Miller’s International Diamond Cutters, 534 S.W. 3rd Ave., Suite 425 in downtown Portland, for a one-of-a-kind gift that will undoubtedly become a family heirloom. Call Doug at 503-805-2087 or Justin at 503-706-0157 to make an appointment. |
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