On February 9, 2026, our Forum Speaker Series welcomed Willamette Valley Vineyards‘ leadership, Jim Bernau (Founder & President) and Mike Osborn (CEO), to tell the uniquely Oregon story of their company, which is widely recognized as a pioneer in our state’s renowned wine industry.
Jim and Mike shared some of WVV’s history, philosophy, business model, and recipes for success, while also highlighting fascinating trends within the wine industry, which continue to drive evolution and innovation.
Guests at this Forum also had the chance to sample some WVV wines, and three attendees won exclusive winery experiences via a drawing at the end of the program.
In addition, the Forum included a presentation of the Salem Chamber’s monthly Spirit of Salem Award, which went to Dick Withnell’s longtime Executive Assistant, Judy Proctor, for her decades of community involvement and for helping lead philanthropic efforts on behalf of the Withnell family.
Thank you to the Salem Convention Center for providing the venue and meal, and to Allied Video Productions and Capital Community Media for their help with producing this event.
We’d also like to thank Willamette Valley Vineyards for the presentation and for providing the wine to our guests, as well as Hagan Hamilton Insurance Solutions for being our Presenting Sponsor for the entire Forum Speaker Series.
Join us again on March 9, as the Forum Speaker Series features the State of Oregon’s Chief Economist, Carl Riccadonna, to help us better understand our state’s economic landscape and what projections and trends are telling us.
Forum Speaker Series Info & Tickets: https://salemchamber.org/events/forum-speaker-series/
