​With Meet LGMSD, we take you behind the scenes to introduce you to the folks who make us who we are—the Board, the Committees, the volunteers, and the staff.  Each week, we plan to introduce you to one of the many individuals who contribute so much to La Grande Main Street, ultimately making La Grande a vibrant, stable, and beautiful place to gather, shop, eat, work, live, and play
 
This week, we continue our introductions with EOU Student, Board Member and Promotion Committee member Calvin Bennett.

​Calvin Bennett is our Board’s representative from Eastern Oregon University.  He is a junior majoring in Business Leadership and Communications with a minor in Political Science.  Calvin was born in Alaska and grew up in Mitchell, Oregon.  He spent a good portion of his youth involved in student government and 4-H.  He served as president of his local 4-H club and was selected to represent Oregon as a delegate to the National 4-H conference in 2019, also serving as an Oregon State Ambassador during his senior year. 
 
Because of his desire for a small classroom size and wanting to continue a rural lifestyle, Calvin chose Eastern Oregon University to further his educational experience.  Also, while still in high school, Calvin worked with several small businesses in Mitchell, which led him to pursue opportunities as a college student to help small businesses grow and become more successful.
 
When he is not in class, Calvin works as a resident assistant and is an active member of several student-led organizations.  His interest in political science has also led him to work with multiple political campaigns in the region and throughout the state, where he manages campaign marketing and acts as a rural liaison. 
 
Calvin participated in an internship with Timothy Bishop in La Grande’s Economic Development Department, which piqued his interest in becoming a part of LGMSD.  His favorite part of being on the Board of LGMSD is organizing, planning, and running events.
 
When he is not busy with school, Calvin enjoys live music, politics, and outdoor recreation.  He loves La Grande because of its small town feel and big city amenities in an absolutely beautiful area.

​Established in 2018 by a group of six experienced realtors in Union County, Blue Summit Realty Group serves Union, Baker, Wallowa, and Umatilla counties.  These realtors are all well connected and established in the community and they are a team of the highest producers in the region with decades of proven experience.
 
Blue Summit Realty Group’s stated mission is to provide their clients with the best and most comprehensive real estate services available in Eastern Oregon.  They are full-time realtors who are energized and determined to help their clients achieve their dreams of home ownership.  They are competent, organized, and confidential in their dealings with each client.
 
On offer at Blue Summit is a wide range of services from comprehensive market analysis and listing and buying agencies for all types of real property to staging assistance, and much more.  The Blue Summit team is expert in all areas of real estate, including homes, land, commercial, farms, and ranches.
 
Ever innovative and creative, Blue Summit’s goal is to help each and every client achieve their dream of home ownership.  Toward that end, they are completely networked in the community with relationships that assist their clients.  They are on top of the latest technology in order to facilitate seamless and professional transactions.  Most importantly, the realtors at Blue Summit Realty Group are honest and confidential and will handle their clients’ real estate business with care and consideration.
 
Given Blue Summit Realty Group’s motivation, connectedness, professionalism, and ethics, they will continue to deliver the ultimate in real estate sales and service in Eastern Oregon for years to come.

 
Well, I did it!  Finishing the Shuffle was probably one of the proudest moments of my life—and this is a life that includes living in NYC, driving through a mine field in the Golan Heights, and wandering around the south of China solo.  As a person grows older, they tend to dwell in their comfort zones for longer periods of time.  I have never been a “sporty” person.  I did do a stint of competitive bodybuilding in my 40s, but only to deal with body image issues.  In my mind, it was a lot easier to train for a competition than spend years on a shrink’s couch.

So, when the Shamrock Shuffle came up, I thought, “Why not!”  It is way out of my comfort zone.  I’ve never done anything resembling this before, and it would be a show of support for LGMSD and something interesting to write about for the blog!
​
I chose the 5K, because I generally walk around 3 miles a day just navigating life.  And it was a walk.  The advertising stated it could be run, walked, skipped, danced, or any other chosen form of ambulation.  My “training” consisted of walking some errands (weather permitting), monitoring the Weather Channel (I am a bit of a weenie about bad weather), and plotting how I would stage my escape should I chicken out. 

The day dawned not horrible in the weather department, but cold and very windy. I made my way to the course clad in my stoutest tights, the official tee-shirt, my seldom worn walking shoes, my winter coat, and a sturdy hat.  Just in case, in my typical over-planning fashion, I took a small backpack containing a pair of known comfortable orthopedic shoes and some Polartec pants.

​Angie Harris, the race organizer, had everything running like clockwork!  I was signed in and received my chip number.  It was still cold and windy, so I decided to go with the backpack.  Everyone else was dressed like they were running a race.  I was dressed like I was embarking on an Arctic expedition.  But no matter—I started out by actually running!  That pace slowed to a brisk walk, but it was quite nice.  There were lots of young moms with small children in strollers, a wonderful assortment of dogs of varied breeds, and most people were just walking.  The Shuffle took us through some old familiar neighborhoods, up a not-too-formidable hill, and even through one of the last remaining mounds of snow in La Grande.  The EOU men’s and women’s wrestling teams pointed the way in strategic locations along the route. About halfway through, when I had hit a small wall and was looking around for a cab, two young women from the team had a boom box playing a lively Justin Bieber song, inspiring me to dance a couple of steps and carry on.

​I carried on, spying a Little Free Library I had not known existed along the way, and finished in a spritely fashion.  I garnered a blue ribbon for being first (and only) in my division, had my picture taken by Josh of Beyond the Lens Photography, and went home feeling pretty darn spunky!

​Moral of the story:  From time to time, walk out of your comfort zone, no matter your age or circumstance.  You will find it incredibly empowering.  However, a word of caution—do not thoroughly clean your house the next day.  You’ll feel okay then, but, the second-day aches will manifest!

​With Meet LGMSD, we take you behind the scenes to introduce you to the folks who make us who we are—the Board, the Committees, the volunteers, and the staff.  Each week, we plan to introduce you to one of the many individuals who contribute so much to La Grande Main Street, ultimately making La Grande a vibrant, stable, and beautiful place to gather, shop, eat, work, live, and play
 
This week, we continue our introductions with Board Member and Promotion Committee member Tori Gandy.

​ 
Tori was born in Salem, Oregon and has lived in La Grande for over 30 years. She graduated from Portland State University.  Tori is a partner at Elkhorn Media Group and works with many local and regional businesses. She has served on the Union County Chamber Board, the Tiger Booster Board and the La Grande Downtown Development Board (before the name change), as well as being an active member of Soroptimist International of La Grande.  She has been in marketing for over 30 years. She began her career with an agency in Portland and, when she moved to La Grande, she went to work in radio.
 
Tori became involved with La Grande Main Street because she believes this community has the potential to have an even more thriving downtown that is inviting to locals and tourists alike.   She is currently a member of the Board of Directors and serves on the Promotions committee, as well as working on the Crazy Days Sub Commitee.
 
Tori says that the most fun thing about being involved in La Grande Main Street is that she gets to work with a great group of people who all want to see downtown La Grande be vibrant and thriving. She says that they all see the potential and are working to share that vision with the community and visitors alike.
 
Most weekends, Tori and her husband spend time with their 3 dogs, two mini-Aussie heelers (Ace and Butch) and one huge Golden Doodle (Mac), exploring Eastern Oregon’s campgrounds and lakes.  Some of their favorite camping spots include Olive Lake, Jubilee Lake and Wallowa Lake.  They also like hiking the trails at Anthony Lakes and MERA.

​“It’s not about the loans we do; it is about the hearts we change and the people we help.”
 
            Steve Jacobson, Founder and CEO,
                        Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation
 
Teri Champlin, a lifelong resident of Union County and Branch Manager of the Fairway Mortgage office for our community, exemplifies this credo.  Whether one is looking to buy, build, or refinance a home, she is there to help.  She has been in the mortgage industry for more than 20 years and has the depth of experience to explore all loan options.  She can thus help her clients achieve home ownership with the speed and service they desire, finding the right loan with great rates, terms, and costs to meet each client’s specific needs.
 
Teri is an active and involved member of the La Grande community.  She has served as the chair of the Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics Board of Trustees.  She joined the Board in 2014 and had served as vice-chair and secretary prior to becoming the chair.  During her tenure on the Board, she also served on numerous hospital committees.  Teri is also an alumnus of Eastern Oregon University.
 
Since financing a home is one of the biggest commitments one can make, Fairway Independent Mortgage’s mission is customer service.  They are dedicated to finding the best rates and loan options with some of the fastest turn-around times in the industry, especially in this ever-changing and volatile market.
 
Teri’s goal is to be a trusted advisor who provides highly personalized service to help each client through every step of the loan process, from application to closing and beyond.  She strives to exceed expectations, provide satisfaction, and earn trust.
 
With her deep roots in our community, vast experience in her profession, and dedication to service, Teri and Fairway Independent Mortgage Company are valued assets to the greater La Grande community.

​With Meet LGMSD, we take you behind the scenes to introduce you to the folks who make us who we are—the Board, the Committees, the volunteers, and the staff.  Each week, we plan to introduce you to one of the many individuals who contribute so much to La Grande Main Street, ultimately making La Grande a vibrant, stable and beautiful place to gather, shop, eat, work, live, and play.
​
This week, we continue our introductions with Board Member and Promotion Committee Member, Angie Brown Harris. 

Angie Brown Harris was born and raised in La Grande and is a lifelong resident with a career in the health and wellness industry, first as a licensed massage therapist for over 20 years.  She is currently a Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Practitioner at Be Well Studio in La Grande, providing wellness coaching with diet lifestyle modifications to supplement traditional health care practices.

As an adult community member and a business owner, Angie wants those who live and visit here to experience the assets, services, and culture that are often overlooked.  She feels that her perspective, personality and skills are serving the Board and community well.
So far, Angie’s favorite part of being a part of La Grande Main Street has been connecting and growing relationships with the other Board and committee members.  Creating fun, unique, and health-focused events has been very fulfilling to her as well.  Right now, that includes the organization of the inaugural Shamrock Shuffle 5K/10K event to be held on Saturday, March 18th.

More info:  Go to:  https://ShamrockShuffleLaGrande.itsyourrace.com/register ​
 
Angie is a passionate runner and health and fitness enthusiast. Some of her more notable achievements include finishing 35 half marathons, 9 marathons, and 2 triathlons, as well as running 40 miles on her 40th birthday.  Angie, her two teenage daughters, and her husband, Mark, enjoy hiking and mountain biking in their free time.  

​“If it fits, we deliver.”
 
When Robert Dooley started in the delivery trade back in 1994, little would he have known that in 2023, he would be the president and founder of a business that provides business-to-business deliveries in Eastern Oregon and all along the 1-84 corridor from Portland, Oregon to Boise, Idaho, I-82 to Yakima, Washington, and I-90 to Spokane.  A graduate of La Grande High School and holder of a BA and MA in Business Administration from Eastern Oregon University, Rob attributes his success to the great crew working with him.
 
From its humble origins delivering food to local customers, Rob’s Speedy Delivery has grown since its inception in 2012 from one Toyota Prius to having 20 vehicles ranging from a small Ford Focus to a 24’ box truck with a lift gate. In 2017, Rob was joined by Carolyn Thompson as co-owner and chief operations officer.  Initially based in Pendleton, Rob’s Speedy Delivery acquired a second warehouse in La Grande on Monroe Avenue at the beginning of February 2023.
 
Rob’s Speedy Delivery works with all industries and transports a wide range of items, including everything from legal documents, interoffice mail and payroll checks to LTL (less than truckload) freight and auto parts, as well as pharmaceuticals, medical and environmental testing and supplies, and raw materials.  They also offer concierge pickup for short-order items in the construction industry as well.
 
Both Rob and Carolyn are passionate about providing local jobs and great service.  They are also firmly dedicated to volunteering their services to enhance their communities.  Carolyn provided all of the transportation for the cast and crew of “Breakup Season,” an independent production filming in La Grande this February.
 
With their belief in hometown values, a drive for excellence, and working with the credo that each package is personal, Rob’s Speedy Delivery is building relationships throughout the region that will shape their success for years to come. 

​With Meet LGMSD, we take you behind the scenes to introduce you to the folks that make us who we are—the Board, the Committees, the volunteers, and the staff.  Each week, we plan to introduce you to one of the many individuals who contribute so much to La Grande Main Street, ultimately making La Grande a vibrant, stable, and beautiful place to gather, shop, eat, work, live and play.
 
This week, we continue our introductions with Board Member and Chair of the Outreach Committee, Nicole Felty.

​There is a vibrant and enthusiastic new face on our Board—Nicole Felty. 
 
Nicole grew up in Albion, Indiana and attended Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.  She has also done graduate work at Missouri State.  Nicole, her husband, Blaise, and their young son, Harrison (Harry) recently relocated to La Grande from Southern California, along with their 5-year-old cocker spaniel, Murphy. She holds a remote position in Human Resources and Business Administration. 
 
Nicole and her family are excited to be starting a new chapter here along with exploring what Eastern Oregon has to offer. In her free time, she enjoys decorating, crafts, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.
 
Nicole is looking forward to meeting new people and getting involved in the community. She chose LGMSD because she felt she could impact La Grande’s future in a positive way by serving on our Board and as the Chair of the Outreach Committee.
 

​Founded by Scott Fletcher in 1993, Scott’s Heating & Air Conditioning has been the gold standard for HVAC services in Eastern Oregon for almost 30 years.  Their mission is to provide reliable and quality comfort for residents and businesses of Eastern Oregon.  Their company ethos is constructed around the values of honesty, professionalism, and dependability.
 
Though their business philosophy is rooted in these traditional values, their knowledge and products are based in the future.  They employ the latest technology and the most up-to-date and innovative solutions and equipment for every job they do, from working on a residential system to a large commercial project.  Scott’s Heating and Air has gained many certifications and ratings, showcasing their proficiency due to their commitment to their craft.
 
Scott’s goal is to offer the ideal product for each customer that fits their needs and space.  From building from the ground up to remodeling, they will provide an estimate based on room-to-room calculations to come up with the best plan for each customer’s particular needs.  With their vast arsenal of experience, skill, and knowledge of HVAC, they can handle any existing system—natural gas, propane, or electric—and come up with the optimum plan for each customer’s unique situation.
 
The folks at Scott’s Heating & Air Conditioning look forward to keeping the citizens of La Grande and the surrounding communities cozy and comfortable by continuing to carry out their mission of providing reliable and quality HVAC services for the residents and businesses of Eastern Oregon.
 

​With Meet LGMSD, we take you behind the scenes to introduce you to the folks that make us who we are—the Board, the Committees, the volunteers, and the staff.  Each week, we plan to introduce you to one of the many individuals who contribute so much to La Grande Main Street, ultimately making La Grande a vibrant, stable, and beautiful place to gather, shop, eat, work, live, and play.
 
This week, we are featuring Carol Summers, community member and dedicated volunteer.

​Carol has served on the LGMSD Board since 2009, when La Grande Main Street began, and has participated on numerous committees throughout her tenure.  Presently, along with serving on our Board, she sits on the Outreach Committee and the Design Committee, as well as the steering committee for the Eastern Oregon Beer Fest.
 
Born in and raised in La Grande on a farm, Carol can trace her lineage on both sides of her family back to original Oregon Trail settlers.  She graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in music education.  Carol moved to San Jose, California where she taught middle school music, social studies, language arts and choir for 40 years.  Upon retiring, she and her family moved back to La Grande to be near all of her family and enjoy small town life.
 
Carol has been involved in supporting La Grande businesses and local activities for many years.  She wants to help give La Grande the vibrancy and cohesiveness she remembers our town having when she was growing up here.  Carol even remembers a time not so long ago when there was a “passeggita” in La Grande, which is a traditional evening stroll in a central plaza or a main street by a town’s residents.
 
When Carol is not volunteering to help make La Grande a lovelier place, she enjoys golf, gardening, and playing bridge.