SOREDI Honors Four Companies and One Inspirational Individual with 2018 PROSPER Awards

Medford, Oregon – At the 2018 Annual Meeting, held June 29 at the Hellgate River Lodge (formerly OK Corral), SOREDI recognized four companies and one individual with awards for their exceptional qualities.

Each year, SOREDI recognizes four companies in our region that exhibit the qualities of Collaboration, Prosperity, Tenacity and Ingenuity. These are the defining characteristics that SOREDI recognizes as vital to successful business growth in our region.

The 2018 Collaboration Award went to Moss Adams LLP, in recognition of their many years of commitment to building community in Southern Oregon. Moss Adams LLP frequently participates in fundraisers for United Way of Jackson County, American Red Cross and various other not-for-profit organizations, while their leadership and staff serve on many local boards, including SOREDI. Among their other contributions to the success of business growth in our region, they prepared tax statements for the Southern Oregon Angel Network at no charge, since its inception in 2012. They also offer the use of their conference room for meetings and their staff often serves as volunteers at SOREDI events. Any time a local company needs a space to meet or hands to help, Moss Adams LLP is swift to offer assistance.

The Ingenuity Award went to BioMed Diagnostics this year, in recognition of their constant innovation. This collaboration between two physicians on a mercy mission in Central America, led to the invention of packaging systems that provide stability and transport to aid in the collection and diagnosis of pathogens, without the need for refrigeration. Today, BioMed Diagnostics provides diagnostic tests to 50 countries, spanning every continent on the globe. Their dedication to combating health threats all over the world assists the CDC and other global health organizations in identifying tracking antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. BioMed Diagnostics is currently undertaking its third expansion in Jackson County, where it employs 25 world-class researchers. From nearby White City, OR, this robust research and development facility continues to create products that make the world a healthier place.

Grants Pass’s AllCare Health received the Prosperity Award for continuing to thrive from its beginnings in 1994 with 10 employees, to its current status of 90 physician partners and 1500 local specialists and hospital contractors. Focusing on the prevention of illness, and promotion of healthy lifestyle choices, AllCare Health now serves more than 54,000 people in Josephine, Jackson, Curry and Southern Douglas Counties, from its beautiful, new facility in downtown Grants Pass, now employing over 200 professionals.

This year’s Tenacity Award went to Blackstone Audio, born in Ashland, in order to be close to Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The OSF actors provided a population of voice talent for this burgeoning audio book producer. Over the years, they have continued to expand their talent pool and their headquarters, now accommodating 185 in their still-growing cast. Blackstone Audio has shown enormous tenacity in its ability to flex, adapt and change with the consumer environment over the last thirty years. Over this time, they have launched a direct-to-consumer audiobook resource, Downpour.com, and they sold the company, only to buy it back again. They’ve grown from producing thirty books per year, to their current production of 1,200 titles annually. Always staying current with market demand, they now work with many bestselling authors, to publish print books, e-books and audiobooks.

John Underwood was honored with SOREDI’s 2018 Inspiration Award. SOREDI, and others, have been inspired by his ability to understand and clearly articulate the “big picture” goal of demonstrating that Southern Oregon is the most business-friendly region on the west coast. John has great personal charisma and knowledge that he puts to use towards developing a strong local workforce to support the future of business and community in Southern Oregon. John always makes himself available when prospective new companies visit Southern Oregon on a variety of tours and visits. When meeting with companies that are considering relocating to Southern Oregon, John is bold about asking what it would take to move a company here to create jobs. He truly personifies collaboration and responsiveness in offering solutions to the objections or challenges faced by regional businesses. In addition, he co-chairs the regional Business Education Partnership, bringing business and education leaders together in initiatives designed to develop a strong future workforce for generations to come.

About SOREDI: SOREDI is a private, membership-based, non-profit organization, governed by a board of directors. Its eight-person staff is charged with local business expansion and new business recruitment efforts, financial assistance to start-up companies through its business loan fund, and management of Enterprise Zones in Jackson and Josephine Counties. The agency was formed as a regional economic development agency in 1987. Learn more at https://soredi.org.