SEDCOR recognized 11 businesses, leaders and projects Wednesday during its 2026 Annual Awards & Membership Meeting at the Salem Convention Center, celebrating work in areas ranging from downtown development and manufacturing to agriculture, workforce training and emergency medical services.
The Sept. 30 luncheon included SEDCOR’s annual Year in Review, presented by President Erik Andersson, followed by the organization’s annual awards ceremony.
The 2026 honorees were:
Community Leadership Award: Jose Gonzalez
Business Partner of the Year: Commercial Business Furniture
Innovative Product of the Year: UrbanForm
Dynamic Development: The Forge
Entrepreneur of the Year: Lucky Crow Farms & Eatery
Community Service Award: Life Flight
Small Business of the Year: Jackman Industries
Outstanding Public/Private Partnership: Carlton Sidewalk Project
Economic Development Champion: Arthur Chaput
Agri-Business of the Year: Hazelnut Growers of Oregon
Manufacturer of the Year: Cabinetworks Group
Gonzalez, who owns Tu Casa Real Estate and was the founding board president of the Latino Business Alliance, credited his family after receiving the Community Leadership Award.
“It has been an honor working alongside SEDCOR, it means a lot to me and really the award should also have the names of my family, their support has given me the opportunity to keep volunteering,” Gonzalez told Salem Business Journal.
Naureen Khan, SEDCOR’s marketing and engagement manager, said the range of honorees reflected businesses with longstanding ties to the region as well as newer ventures investing locally.
“What stood out to me most about the SEDCOR Awards this year was how many honorees are building on their deep roots here in the Valley and investing back to where those roots are. You had a business that has been in Salem since 1869 and one that opened its doors this summer. You had a hazelnut processor that started as a student FFA project in 1986 and is now the largest in the country. You had a farmer-and-chef team turning a farmstand into a downtown restaurant. And you had a woman-owned manufacturer making a product entirely in Salem. To me, that says the Mid-Valley's economy is strongest where it stays tied to what we're already good at: agriculture, food, and making things. It also says people here are collaborating and solving practical problems together. The Carlton Sidewalk Project is a good example, with a city, workforce partners, and a contractor paying young people to learn the trades while they repair something their neighbors use every day. UrbanForm is helping our cities and counties move housing and permitting along. And Cabinetworks opened a health clinic for its employees and their families. These companies see their workers and their neighbors as part of the same community.
“It was also heartwarming to see how appreciative everyone was, of their partners and of SEDCOR. Honoree after honoree took the time to thank the people who helped them get here, and that spirit of partnership is a big part of why this region, and our work, well... works.”
Commercial Business Furniture is a longtime Salem company operated by the Mizer family, while Jackman Industries is a Salem-based manufacturer.
The Forge received the Dynamic Development award. The downtown Salem project is redeveloping the former Lipman Wolfe building and represents one of the more visible recent investments in the city's core.
The Carlton Sidewalk Project was recognized for combining infrastructure improvements with workforce development. Carlton has partnered with SEDCOR and Willamette Workforce Partnership to replace sections of sidewalk while providing paid construction training to young adults ages 16 to 24.
UrbanForm received Innovative Product of the Year. The company develops technology designed to make zoning and development information easier to access. Co-founder and CEO Quang Truong accepted the award.
Arthur Chaput, named Economic Development Champion, serves as Business Oregon’s regional development officer for Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties.
The awards also highlighted two major industries with deep roots in the region.
Hazelnut Growers of Oregon received Agri-Business of the Year, while Cabinetworks Group was named Manufacturer of the Year. Cabinetworks operates a manufacturing facility in Independence.
The annual event brings together businesses, government partners and economic development leaders from across SEDCOR’s service area.
This year’s awards reflected a mix of established employers, entrepreneurs, public-private partnerships and projects contributing to economic activity throughout the Mid-Willamette Valley.