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When John Underwood signed on with Timber Products a decade ago, it didn’t take long for him to notice he was surrounded by a graying workforce. Soon, Timber Products’ regional human resources manager was on a mission to entice future generations into the wood products industry. Not only did Underwood influence his company, and competitors, to seek and develop younger talent, but his zeal spread to other industries. He co-chairs the local Business Education Partnership, bends legislative ears and zealously pursues ways to equip tomorrow’s workforce. Underwood was honored this evening with Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc.’s Inspiration Award. “His passion is to create the workforce of the future,” said Kathy Trautman, SOREDI’s business development manager. “He saw how many people who were about to retire from Timber Products and realized they needed to develop a future workforce, but not just for Timber Products.” One thing Underwood had to do was change perceptions, said Patrick Cowan, plant manager at Timber Product’s Spectrum Division in White City. “John wanted high school and college kids to know the jobs at the mill aren’t the same as the ones their dad or grandpa had,” Cowan said. “They’re well-paid jobs that are technology-driven. It’s not just eight hours in a hot, sticky place.” Underwood works with business leaders and school administrators to explore ways to prepare youngsters he hopes will one day fill the roles of present associates. Cowan recounted a Timber Products meeting several years ago when it came to light that 30 to 40 percent of the salaried staff would be retiring within eight years. “At that point we knew we needed to start planning to grow the next wave of leadership,” Cowan said. Out of that Timber Products began its Leadership University program to develop the next generation of managers. In addition to the Inspiration Award, four other awards were given out during a gathering at Hellgate River Lodge. The Prosperity Award went to AllCare Health, which has grown from a handful of health professionals in 2005 to more than 200 employees and a 45,000-square-foot facility in Grants Pass. The organization is owned by 90 physicians and health care providers and contracts with 1,500 specialists and hospitals, serving more than 54,000 clients in Jackson, Curry and Douglas counties. For four years running, AllCare Health has been among the Oregonian/Oregon Live top 100 workplaces in Oregon and southwest Washington. Regional accounting firm Moss Adams claimed the Collaboration Award, thanks to its expansive community involvement. The business is involved in United Way, Red Cross blood drives, and quarterly Jeans Week fundraisers for local nonprofit organizations, as well as providing staff to serve on local boards. Moss Adams has sponsored angel investment conferences, Southern Oregon Edge profiles, and SOREDI’s manufacturing summit. The firm has provided free tax preparation for the Southern Oregon Angel Investment Network since 2012. Blackstone Audio of Ashland earned the Tenacity Award. Launched from a garage in 1987, Blackstone has shown flexibility to adapt to a changing consumer environment. Three decades ago, the company consisted of a small handful of family members and employees working out of their homes, building the business one paragraph at a time. Blackstone found innovative ways to produce and distribute audiobooks, collaborating with publishers, booksellers and the listening public. Its cast of voice actors has grown to 185. In 1993, the company produced 30 books: today it produces 1,200 titles annually. Blackstone launched audiobook e-commerce website Downpour.com in August 2012, providing audio titles as well as other publishers’ titles to the retail market. The project was spun off to another company, but was later bought back. The company has developed a new format of digital hybrid eBooks timestamped with the corresponding audio so audiences can hear the text and read along with it. Biomed Diagnostics of White City received the Ingenuity Award. The company supplies diagnostic tests in 50 countries. It provides the Centers for Disease Control and other global health organizations with tools for the surveillance of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in sexually transmitted disease infections. The company relocated from San Jose in the mid-2000s and its research and development facility has expanded three times. It now employs 25 people, including world-class researchers. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness or www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31.