On Monday, March 21st, members of KCEDA met with JELD-WEN CEO, Mr. Mark Beck. The meeting, which lasted about an hour, provided KCEDA leadership an opportunity to discuss area initiatives, learn more about JELD-WEN’s future plans for its local assets, and talk about how both organizations can work collaboratively to help strengthen Klamath County’s economy. According to KCEDA President, Lauren Jespersen, Mr. Beck described future plans for JELD-WEN by stating the company was focused on acceleration, innovation, and efficiency. During the meeting, Mr. Beck underscored the need for direct flights to Klamath Falls and offered to assist in Klamath County’s advocacy to support H.R. 4549, the Treating Small Airports with Fairness Act. The approval of this bill would allow for TSA to return to Klamath Falls Crater Lake Airport, ultimately giving the area access to commercial air transportation once again. Discussions also focused on the importance of workforce and education to companies worldwide, as Mr. Beck and KCEDA representatives talked about communities’ need to focus on acquiring talent if they want to be placed in a position for future expansions, putting emphasis on the value of higher education institutions such as Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) and Klamath Community College (KCC) when considering growth opportunities locally. KCEDA and JELD-WEN representatives concluded the meeting with a mutual understanding that JELD-WEN continues to be an important part of the local and statewide economy, with both organizations confident that by continuing to work together, each would see the return on investment they desired for this area. In Klamath County, JELD-WEN is home for thousands of manufacturing jobs. It is also the company’s headquarters for R&D, Accounting and major call center operations.