Makers Hub: What Portland Manufacturers Need From Our City

Portland is home to many iconic maker companies - business that have been innovating and crafting high-quality products for decades. As 2025 is shaping up to be another challenging year for manufacturers, these makers respond with resilience and ingenuity. It's important for Portland as a city to have them succeed. When we get together on April 3rd, we'll explore what support local manufacturers need and want from their city right now. Join us for an afternoon of connection, collaboration, and ideas that can shape the future of making in Portland.

On the panel:

• Britt Howard, Founder & Creative Director at Portland Garment Factory, Owner of Oregon Natural Fiber Mill
• Phil Nemeth, Engineering Manager at Chris King Precision Components
• Alex Silleck, Senior Manufacturing Manager at Leatherman Tool Group

Chris King Precision Components is a performance bicycle component manufacturer based in Portland, OR. Since 1976, we have been domestically producing bicycle parts of the highest quality. We choose to source our raw materials from domestic mills because of the consistent quality and integrity of production that they offer. Throughout our production history, we have made the choice to enact environmentally sound manufacturing practices and have worked to apply eco-friendly principles to every part of our business.

Kinesis is a Portland-based growth studio for owner-run businesses. We work with established businesses from an inside-out approach to leverage their remarkability in business development and sales, brand and marketing, culture, and employee engagement. Our methodology has been rooted in strategy and creativity, ever since we opened our doors 25 years ago. We pursue high-leverage opportunities for growth that resonate far beyond the bottom line: we realize lasting impact for businesses, teams, and the communities in which they are rooted.

Host or Publisher Kinesis