Chamber’s State of Business Program Returns with a Stellar Lineup

On Thursday, May 21, more than 150 business and community leaders will gather at the University of Oregon’s Ford Alumni Center for a program that has become essential to understanding where Oregon’s economy is headed and how our region is helping shape that trajectory. The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of Business program returns at a moment when clarity, alignment, and action are more important than ever.

From 7:00 to 9:30am, this year’s program, Innovation, Economic Competitiveness, and the Path Forward, will bring together some of the most influential economic thinkers and policy leaders shaping Oregon’s future.

Why this year matters
The conversation around Oregon’s economic future has shifted. In an increasingly competitive national landscape, it is no longer enough to simply identify challenges to the business community – but also to determine coordinated strategies for economic growth in our region. The 2026 State of Business is designed to do both.

Grounded in a clear-eyed look at current economic realities, the program will examine how the Southern Willamette Valley and the state as a whole are navigating structural pressures while working toward long-term growth. It will explore how innovation, talent development, and policy alignment intersect, and what those intersections mean for businesses operating on Main Street and in traded sectors alike.

For small businesses and Chamber members, this is not an abstract policy discussion. It is a direct look at the forces shaping workforce availability, regulatory conditions, cost structures, and opportunities for expansion.

An impressive lineup of presenters
This year’s program features a lineup that reflects both statewide influence and national perspective.

John Tapogna is president of the Oregon Business Council, a CEO-led organization representing many of Oregon’s largest employers and working to strengthen the state’s long-term economic competitiveness and prosperity. He previously served as president of ECOnorthwest and has spent nearly three decades advising governments, foundations, and business leaders on economic strategy and public policy. John currently focuses on several structural pressures shaping Oregon’s future – housing supply, education performance, wildfire management, tax competitiveness, and regulatory and land-use constraints. He also serves as board chair of Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Karl Scholz is in his third year at the University of Oregon. He previously was at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was an economics professor, directed the federally funded Institute for Research on Poverty, and served as the dean of the College of Letters & Science, provost, and briefly, as interim chancellor.  President Scholz has also served as an economic advisor in two presidential administrations, first as a senior staff member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors and then as a political appointee in the Treasury Department. His undergraduate studies were at Carleton College, Northfield Minnesota, where it dawned on him that his best future was perhaps not tied to basketball. He received his economics Ph.D. at Stanford.

Tim Knopp is the Chief Prosperity Officer for the State of Oregon. Knopp is a former small business owner and award winning legislator serving 18 years in the Oregon House and Senate. He spent 22 years at the Central Oregon Builders Association (COBA) as their Executive Vice President leading COBA to become one of the most influential associations in Oregon.

John Tapogna’s keynote presentation will explore the state’s current economic outlook, and set the stage for a moderated “armchair conversation” facilitated by Tapogna and featuring Karl Scholz and Tim Knopp, who are each playing key roles in shaping Oregon’s economic and policy priorities. This discussion will connect statewide policy efforts with regional initiatives, including the Southern Willamette Valley Innovation Corridor (SWVIC) and the Governor’s Prosperity Council. Together, these efforts are working to answer a critical question: how do we translate Oregon’s assets, from research institutions to workforce potential, into real economic growth?

Program timeline
This is a focused, fast-paced program designed to deliver insight and perspective. The morning is structured to move from a data-driven economic outlook into a forward-looking conversation on innovation, policy, and regional alignment, giving attendees a clear understanding of both where Oregon stands today and where it is headed.

• 7:00am. Networking: with decision-makers, business owners, and community leaders
• 7:30am. Welcome and sponsor remarks
• 7:45am. Economic outlook: a data-driven snapshot of where Oregon stands
• 8:15am. Featured conversation: a forward-looking discussion on innovation, policy, and regional alignment
• 9:00am. Closing perspective: grounding the conversation in local business realities
• 9:15am. Adjourn

Why you should be in the room
At a time when economic signals can feel fleeting and uncertain, the 2026 State of Business program offers an informed and forward-looking conversation. For Chamber members, the value of this program is straightforward access – to the people shaping economic policy; to the data driving their decision-making; and to a shared understanding of the economic realities and potential opportunities.

It is also one of the few places where local business perspectives are directly connected to statewide strategy. The insights shared in this room do not stay in the room. Rather, they influence advocacy, inform policy discussions, and shape how the Chamber engages on behalf of its members. Simply put: if you want to understand the business climate, and how to position your organization within it, this is where you need to be.

Thank you, sponsors and investors
This program is presented through the support of our sponsors, whose investment continues to bring these critical conversations to our region:

• Presenting Sponsor: PeaceHealth
• Table Sponsors: AIMS Mobile Nursing, Chambers Construction, Eugene Airport, Eugene Area Radio Stations (EARS), IEQ Technology, Lane County, Lane Transit District, NW Natural, Oakmont Dental, OCCU, Springfield Utility Board, Summit Bank, City of Springfield, and the University of Oregon.

In addition to sponsors, the Chamber’s State of Business program is made possible through the generous support of the Chamber’s Impact Investors and additional grant funding partners.

Be in the room
The cost to attend the 2026 State of Business is $35 for Springfield Chamber members and $55 for non-members. Chamber members interested in bringing larger groups or increasing their visibility at the event are encouraged to consider a $500 table sponsorship which includes eight seats. To learn more or reserve a space, contact the Chamber’s Programs & Events Manager, Mary Ann Reilly.

The State of Business has always been about more than information. It is about alignment, leadership, and shared direction. In a year where Oregon’s competitiveness is under the microscope, this conversation carries added weight. Registration is open – see you at the Ford Alumni Center.