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<b style=""><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><img src="cid:image002.png@01CD86CF.9EE82A60" height="88" width="272"></span></b><b style=""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"></span></b></p>
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<b style=""><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Commissioner Brad Avakian</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Bureau of Labor & Industries</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Press Release</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt">For Immediate Distribution</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:11.5pt">August 31, 2012</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt">CONTACT: Bob Estabrook, 503-709-0730</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:11.5pt"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Avakian Touts Employer Support in Run-up to Annual Conference</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style=""><span style="font-size:11.5pt">Annual conference comes early this year: November 29-30</span></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="layout-grid-mode:char; text-autospace:none"><b style=""><span style="font-size:11.5pt">PORTLAND-</span></b><span style="font-size:11.5pt"> State Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian, head of Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and
Industries (BOLI) and the state’s Technical Assistance for Employers Program (TA), is calling attention to his agency’s commitment to supporting local employers on multiple fronts, highlighting key services as well as the annual awards program that recognizes
outstanding Oregon employers.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-size:11.5pt; color:black" lang="X-NONE"></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt">“Oregon is blessed to have a very strong community of employers,” Avakian said.<span style="">
</span>“BOLI is supporting that community throughout the year through seminars around the state, our phone and email support line and other resources, but this time of year we raise it to another level with the BOLI Business Leadership Awards and our 28<sup>th</sup>
Annual Employment Law Conference.”</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt">BOLI’s Annual Employment Law Conference draws in excess of 300 participants to the Oregon Convention Center in Portland every year for two days of educational seminars with the state’s leading employment law
attorneys and experts from state law enforcement agencies.<span style=""> </span>
A finalized schedule showcases a range of brand new seminars, including a special express version of
<a href="http://cms.oregon.gov/boli/docs/08.07.12_BOLI_Release_-_New_Seminar.pdf" target="_blank">
BOLI’s newest employer seminar</a>.<span style=""> </span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt">“Our conference agenda is driven by what local employers are telling us they want and need to be successful,” said Jennifer Germundson, TA Program Manager and coordinator of the annual event for six years.<span style="">
</span>“Presenting the Business Leadership Awards adds another dose of fun to what is already a hugely popular event—and the single best investment in training that an Oregon employer can make.”</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt">The BOLI Business Leadership Awards, established by Avakian in 2009, recognize the good work that Oregon’s employers do every day for the community, their workers, and the future of Oregon’s economy.<span style="">
</span>Nominations for the awards <a href="http://cms.oregon.gov/boli/docs/08.24.12_BOLI_Release_-_Biz_Awards.pdf" target="_blank">
come from citizens around the state</a>, and have led to recognition of such diverse operations as Columbia River Bar Pilots in Astoria, Continental Mills in Pendleton, Dogs for the Deaf in Medford and Hawthorne Auto Clinic in SE Portland.<i style=""></i></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt">Visit <a href="http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI" target="_blank">
www.oregon.gov/BOLI</a> for more information about all of BOLI’s work to support employers, the workforce and a stronger economy.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoHeader" style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style="font-size:11.5pt">######</span></p>
<p class="MsoFooter" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoFooter" style="text-align:center" align="center"><i style=""><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The mission of the Bureau of Labor and Industries is to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities, and protect access to housing and public
accommodations free from discrimination.</span></i></p>
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