Jefferson State Forest Products becomes first Upstream Company

JEFFERSON STATE FOREST PRODUCTS OF HAYFORK, CA BECOMES FIRST TO JOIN UPSTREAM 21 FAMILY 

(December 14, 2006 – Portland, OR)  When Jim Jungwirth, CEO of Jefferson State Forest Products, told his employees and their families that the company he co-founded is becoming part of the Upstream 21 family, he said, “My wife Lynn and I had dreamed about something like Upstream 21 but assumed it didn’t exist even though we knew it needed to.  We are blessed to be part of something that we believe will change the future for communities like Hayfork.”   He went on to assure everyone that the company would stay in Hayfork and that he and Greg would continue to be involved with the company while it transitioned to its next stage. 

Jefferson State Forest Products is the first company to join the Upstream 21 family.  Jim Jungwirth, CEO, and co-founder Greg Wilson of Jefferson State Forest Products, located in Hayfork, CA, and Bryan Gooch Redd, CEO of Upstream 21, a Portland, OR company, announced the plans to employees at a holiday party held on Friday, December 8, in Hayfork.

When Bryan Redd, CEO of Upstream 21, stood to speak, he felt the emotion in the room.  “As I described who we are, what we are trying to accomplish, and our commitment to JSFP and Hayfork, the faces of the employees and spouses seemed to transition from concern, doubt, and fear back to the joy of the evening and the possibilities for the future.”

On Saturday morning, Bryan, Jim, and Greg held an informational breakfast meeting for local community leaders at the Trinity County fairgrounds.  On January 1, 2007, they will complete the transaction that will make Jefferson State Forest Products the first wholly owned subsidiary of Upstream 21. 

 “It’s about respect,” says Bryan.  “Respect for communities, the environment, and each other.  With respect at the core of Upstream’s corporate charter, it is posssible to envision and build an economy that works for everyone.” 

Upstream 21 and Jefferson State Forest Products are united in the goal of strengthening the economies of rural areas through the sensible, sustainable and respectful use of our natural resources in conjunction with the spirit and dedication of our community members.  From Bryan and Jim:   “As we explored the possibilities of this union, we discovered a seemingly unending set of opportunities to expand Jefferson State’s product range, facilitate synergistic business relationships with other companies in the greater Northwest, and to solidify the foundation for a thriving economy in Hayfork and its surrounding areas.”

About Jefferson State Forest Products

Jefferson State Forest Products, www.jeffersonstateproducts.com, designs and manufactures distinctive wood products that are made from responsibly managed forests.  The company’s specialty is display furniture and fixtures for retail use by high-quality national, regional and local stores.  For example, if you visit a Whole Foods Market store, there is a good chance you will see Jefferson State Forest Products bins, racks and tables filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. 

The company was founded in 1996 by Jim Jungwirth, a second-generation wood products entrepreneur, and Greg Wilson, a master cabinet maker and woodworker. The company has grown steadily and now employs 40 people, making it the third largest private employer in Trinity County. Jim and Greg are fervent believers in local business and are eager to continue the good work of Jefferson State Forest Products. 

Jim and his wife, Lynn, are longtime citizens of Hayfork and are committed to rebuilding a local economy that has been hit hard by the dramatic loss of businesses and jobs in the forest products sector.  Lynn founded and manages The Watershed Center, www.thewatershedcenter.com, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustainable use of forests to provide jobs and services needed by the community. 

About Upstream 21

Upstream 21 Corporation has been created to put investors’ capital to work in local communities by purchasing small, successful companies whose products and services are part of a shared vision for a sustainable future.  A founding principle of the company is that corporations should not be required to maximize wealth for shareholders at the expense of employees, the community and the environment. The company has even written its corporate charter and governance structure to focus on the multiple constituents that make companies thrive–employees, the environment, customers, suppliers, communities and shareholders.  Upstream 21 is positioned to be a catalyst for advancing local economies that build, rather than erode, natural, social and economic capital in communities. 

Based in Portland, OR, the company was formed in 2004 by Progressive Investment Management and Bryan Gooch Redd.  Progressive’s President, Leslie Christian, and its Chairman, Carsten Henningsen, serve on the Board of Upstream 21 along with Bryan Redd.  The company’s mission is to create a family of businesses by acquiring them and operating them as wholly-owned subsidiaries. These companies will be diverse in the types of products and services they offer, but will share principles and business practices designed to improve their performance as companies and as members of their communities.