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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Drive-by shooter gets 8 years ... OSF and bookstore at odds over banned books display ... Two recent area scams promise money or demand it ... Drive-by shooter gets 8 years ... OSF and bookstore at odds over banned books display ... Two recent area scams promise money or demand it ... GOV. BROWN VISIT CEO of Quantum Innovations advocates open books, mentorships, consolidation Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Jul. 8, 2016 at 6:57 PM Updated Jul 11, 2016 at 8:48 AM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Jul. 8, 2016 at 6:57 PM Updated Jul 11, 2016 at 8:48 AM » Social News Gov. Kate Brown dropped by Quantum Innovations' Vilas Road plant Friday afternoon to talk shop, old stomping grounds and workforce development with founder Norm Kester. Brown got the inside look at Quantum's ultraviolet and anti-reflective lens coating machinery, heard about the company's unique management approach and hints about future plans. Brown and Kester have ties to Minnesota and memories of Tobies Restaurant and Bakery, something akin to Heaven on Earth, up the freeway in Douglas County. More important to Brown was Kester's involvement in local workforce development. He's a member of Rogue Workforce Partnership, Rogue Workforce board, and chairs the Southern Oregon Innovators Group. "My idea was to create a three-legged-stool approach to where we could teach the employees, have a CEO peer-to-peer relationship, then have problem solving where we would go into different businesses and solve problems," Kester said. While major metropolitan areas have programs in which experienced CEOs mentor younger executives, those opportunities have been rare in the Rogue Valley. "We have a lot of companies with maybe five or maybe 20 employees, but they don't have any experience of being a leader, being a CEO, trying to bring people up and create organizations," said Kester, who was president of the aviation and aerospace firm Satis Vacuum of America for three years before launching Quantum in 2002. "I saw that as a gap, so we're trying to curb that with mentorship opportunities." Brown heard about Quantum's unique management structure, something Kester said nearly everyone finds unusual when he explains it to executives from other companies. "I talk to businesses all over the country and they kind of go, 'What?' 'One more time?' " Kester said. "Part of that is you've got to have an open book company, so everybody sees your financials, everybody is aware of everything. The very first question: 'So they all know what you get paid?' Yeah, they do." The governor asked about workforce development efforts and heard about different initiatives and development of a demand-based education system. "We want to see results," Kester said, noting it's best to put resources where there is evidence of a bigger return. "There is a lot of overlap of effort," the entrepreneur said. "In any business that's a futility, you're wasting money. What I'm trying to do is to force consolidation of effort to try to get the maximized benefit. There are a lot of shocked faces when I say, 'Give me the data, I want to see the data.'" He pointed to a recent consolidation effort by Goodwill, Rogue Community College and the Job Council. "They all had GED programs," Kester said. "But they were all trying to go out and grab everybody." By communicating and taking advantage of what each offers, such as Goodwill's online capabilities, there is greater efficiency. "Because they are all aware of one another, they don't have overlapping effort, they can consolidate and there is not turf battle," he said. "That's what they want." As for his own firm and other tech business workforce issues, Kester said there is a lot of activity but a lack of communication between companies. "It's something we need to create awareness and get our kids educated of the opportunities here," he said. The governor said she appreciated the efforts of company's like Quantum, hiring good people with innovative ideas and paying them well. Brown also attended a groundbreaking for AllCare Health's newest facility in Grants Pass and Rogue Valley Transportation District's Medford headquarters. "What I love about the CCOs, is the collaborative, cooperative and comprehensive nature so families are getting access not only to medical care but the full ranges of services like participating in wellness programs at the local YMCA," Brown said. She was also encouraged by the voter-approved Rogue Valley Transit District bond issue to restore weekend service. "Transit helps move families out of poverty, helps people get to jobs, medical appointments and services they need," Brown said. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greg.stiles .31. By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Jul. 8, 2016 at 6:57 PM Updated Jul 11, 2016 at 8:48 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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