This post is part of OMEP’s Interview with our Sponsors Series. We love our sponsors, and we know you will too!
Representative Name: Beau Conway
Representative Title: Sr. Vice President, Equipment Finance Officer & KeyBank Manufacturing Chair
Sponsorship Level: Platinum
What is your favorite part about your job at KeyBank?
I get to work with a great group of people who are dedicated to offering “white glove” service to our customers. Each day we have the opportunity to help our customers solve some of their largest challenges. It’s a great feeling when your customer sees you as a trusted advisor and “part of the team.”
What caused you to make the decision to sponsor OMEP?
While the Apparel and Technology industries receive most of the media attention in Oregon, Manufacturing is still the most important sector to our economy producing over 50% of our Gross State Product. KeyBank has always been highly focused on the Manufacturing sector with dedicated research analysts covering Food & Bev Processing, Marine Ship Building & Repair, Metals, Building Products, Aerospace, and Automotive just to name a handful. Our partnership with OMEP allows us to develop a closer relationship with the Oregon manufacturing sector and our goal of helping it grow.
What are some of the largest challenges you see manufacturers facing?
The biggest challenge is access to skilled labor. The ability to find new talent to program a CNC, run a log optimizer or proficiently weld. This is not just an Oregon issue; we see this challenge across the country. Secondly, in recent years, State and Federal policies have also made it challenging for companies to plan and take strategic action.
How has your role as a sponsor affected the way you view manufacturing?
Manufacturing has always been a focus sector for KeyBank, and as an Equipment Finance expert I spend much of my time working with companies across all manufacturing.
Why do you believe manufacturing is important?
Oregon still produces many of the things we need in daily life; food to eat, lumber for housing, and rubber boots to keep our feet dry during our long rainy season. We make things that are important. Oregon manufacturers pay a living wage, giving the residence of our state the opportunity to feed their families and have a sense of accomplishment for an honest day’s work.
What types of services or capabilities can you offer Oregon manufacturers?
• Equipment Finance – Loans and Leases
• Real Estate Lending
• Working Capital Lines of Credit
• SBA Real Estate and Equipment
• Tax Exempt Financing (Industrial Development Bonds)
• Treasury / Cash Management
• Investment Services
• General Banking Services
• Employee Banking Services
We look forward to meeting Oregon manufacturers! Feel free to introduce yourself at a future event.
