Sometimes I keep my head down and slog through the decidedly unsexy parts of my work. You know, drafting agreements, tracking budgets, connecting dots between tenants and property management… And sometimes I take a breath, I look up, and I notice the fantastic range of things that are made, decided, or first conceived of in this building. Sometimes I wish I were a fly on the wall in every office so I could take in the full range of creativity and dedication this place is so rich with.

When Daniela Caine joined the Hive, I was introduced to her freelance design work through her company the gestalter. Turns out Daniela, like nearly every Leftbanker I know, has eggs in more than one basket. She’s also part of a recently launched company designing and selling patterns for children’s clothing. While Daniela designs for a number of larger companies (including Nike, Adidas, and Columbia), Figgy’s is an inspired, personal venture. Just for fun, when you click on the link in that last sentence - see if you recognize Leftbank.

There isn’t enough time in the day to take in and fully appreciate all that Leftbankers do, but I had to share this irresistible spark. Daniela makes me wish I could sew.

Paesaggio is a professional landscape architecture firm serving needs in landscape design, planning and golf course development.

The firm emphasizes personalized service by working closely with clients and attending to each project from initial conception to final solution. This approach allows us to realistically resolve programmatic issues while providing quality design.

Combining modern technology with an old-world sense of detail, Paesaggio creates timeless landscapes unique in concept, structure and aesthetic.

Our dedication to our clients and profession is exhibited through continuous improvement in our design process, technical knowledge and the expansion of our comprehensive materials resources.

Paesaggio believes individual clients and individual sites deserve an individual design. Underlying every aspect of our work is our commitment to excellence in design, structure and aesthetic.

architecturew was founded in 2001 by partners Michel Weenick and Brian White. Known for its simple yet engaging designs, the studio is founded on the pursuit of quality, craft and a belief that the art in architecture plays an important role in the quality of our collective lives.

The Latino Network’s deep dedication to their work springs from a core belief in the right of all people to participate meaningfully in the decisions that affect their lives and the lives of their families.

In order to achieve this participation, they work tirelessly to strengthen community voice, cultivate financial, educational, and leadership skills, and build trusting, supportive relationships between community members and among service organizations.

At Context Partners we design strategies that allow you to leverage your community to drive the future of your organization. Working directly with our partners we lead them through a method of learning about who their community is and then collectively design a strategy to leverage their unique power.

From FMYI’s blog:

At a reception held last [Thursday] night, the Portland Business Journal unveiled its 2010 Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in Oregon. “Like a mighty salmon, these 100 businesses are King of the River and successfully made it upstream in this challenged economy,“ said Craig Wessel, Portland Business Journal Publisher. (more…)

Two of the Portland Business Journal’s Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in Oregon are members of the Leftbank community. Sockeye came in at 57, and FMYI ranked lucky 13. Congratulations to both! Keep swimming upstream, you kings of the river. We’re cheering you on, here from the Leftbank.

Our friendly, neighborhood Transportation Management Association invites you to discover new ways to connect.  Join them at the MAC Store on Thursday for a website launch party.

TMA does important work, and they do it better with input and participation from all of us in the district.  Stop by for a party after work, meet some neighbors, and get connected with Lloyd TMA.  If all that’s not enough, there are prizes…

Details:

Thursday, June 17th
700 NE Multnomah
4:30pm-6:00pm

On their website, Leftbank’s own Upstream Public Health says that public health policies account for 80% of the 30-year gain in life span Americans experienced in the last century.

So, working tirelessly to support public policy that benefits all of us, Upstream recently won the Shovel-Ready Policy Contest held by the Bus Project. It was their advocacy to increase funding for the Farm to Schools Program that won dollars and volunteer hours from the Bus Project team.

To kick off the collaboration, Upstream is hosting a Brewhaha! on Tuesday, June 8th. Presentations followed by open discussion will get the ball rolling. The topic is “Pizza for Breakfast: How do Portland Public School Lunches Snack Up?” Details below:

BREWHAHA: Democracy & Drinks

Pizza For Breakfast: How PDX school lunches snack up

When: Tuesday, June 8th 7 PM

Where: Backspace, 115 NW 5th Ave, Portland, OR

Who: Everyone! All Ages! Free!

Sponsors: Bus Project, Portland Mercury, Bridgetown Printing Company

Portland Business Journal and Sustainable Business Oregon invite you to the Sustainable Business Oregon Innovation Awards event.

Leftbank’s own FMYI is the small business winner!  They’re in the good company of Miller Paint and Truitt Bros., Inc. (medium and large business winners, respectively), as well as the Sustainable Vision Award winner, Zero Waste Alliance.

So next Thursday, May 27th, join the excitement at the Portland Art Museum from 11:30 to 1:00.  Bill Reinert, National Manager for Toyota’s Advanced Technology Group, will deliver a keynote address.

Minimal creates iconic, disruptive, brand-building products and experiences for today’s most recognized companies. Our work spans a diverse range of industries from technology, to sport and consumer products to fashion, furniture and environments.