When I think of all the things about Oregon that are wonderful and positive it is easy to become overwhelmed. If our company is the seed, Oregon is the water and the soil. Tec Laboratories, Inc., simply could not have grown to become the success it is without our bond with Oregon. We are a true-blue Oregon success story because we are fortunate to have been based in Oregon from the beginning.

My father started our company many years ago with a product called Tecnu, a special skin cleanser for people who suffer from the rash of poison oak and ivy. He originally developed it during the Cold War to remove radioactive fallout dust. Dad figured that every home would have a bomb shelter and each shelter needed a product like Tecnu. Thankfully, the “bomb shelter for every home” notion never materialized, so Dad’s special cleanser was all dressed up with nowhere to go. It was my family’s move to Oregon in 1963 that allowed my mother, Evelyn, to discover that Tecnu removed the rash-causing oils of poison oak and ivy from the skin. That discovery was the genesis of our company. Thankfully, Oregon was the place Mom and Dad had come to dream.

Oregonians are prideful in a very humbling way. I see it in the eyes of citizens I meet from all over the state. That sense of pride helps create an incredible workforce. Our current employee roster glows with top-notch Oregonians who have the qualities and warm personalities that our competition can only dream about. At Tec Laboratories we are highly protective of our positive work culture, and I believe that our culture can only exist because we are located in Oregon.

I also sincerely appreciate the climate and weather in Oregon. Our manufacturing plant and corporate offices are located in the lush Willamette Valley and my immediate thought is that we don’t have to worry about snow and paying for snow removal during the winter. The winters are very mild here so our energy costs don’t go through the roof during the six months of fall and winter. Our breathtaking summer is also very special. There is something about breathing in crisp, clean air on a beautiful summer day in Oregon that leaves one endlessly inspired.

Oregon’s history of generosity motivates our employees to reach for greatness in other areas of their lives. Something that has been widely embraced by our employees is our “Volunteer for Pay” program in which they receive their normal pay for doing 40 hours a year of volunteer work. As Oregonians we feel that desire to give back to our community, so we brainstormed and came up with the Volunteer for Pay program.

I could go on and on about the wonders of this amazing state and never bestow enough praise. The only thing that’s greater than living in a place like Oregon, is realizing that fact.