Mar 30, 2021
Lori Olund is the President of Miles Fiberglass and Composites, a family-owned business founded by her father, Lowell Miles, in 1963. Lori began her career with the company at the bottom of the ladder and worked her way up. Now, as President, she oversees the company’s business strategy, marketing, public relations, and environmental and government regulations. Lori is also the President of Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership, an organization that works alongside Oregon manufacturers to implement business strategies, remove obstacles, create solutions, and support growth.
Born and raised in Oregon, Lori is active in the community and a board member of Oregon Business & Industry, Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition, and Clackamas Academy of Industrial Sciences. Previously, Lori served as President for the American Composites Manufacturers Association, the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Society of the Plastics Industry, and the North Clackamas County Chamber of Commerce. Lori is a Certified Composites Technician.
In this episode…
When demands shift, businesses often find themselves rushing to stay ahead of the curve or falling behind it. Succeeding in business long-term means being able to adjust to the changes in your industry when they occur. However, figuring out how to anticipate what’s coming next can help avoid a lot of unnecessary scrambling.
For Lori Olund, keeping the family business running has required ingenuity and flexibility. Fortunately, she has a lot of both. And, while the manufacturing industry has been through many transformations since the ‘80s when Lori started at the company, she’s figured out a way to hold onto employees, prioritize happiness, and keep the business growing.
In this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, Carl J. Cox sits down with Lori Olund, President of Miles Fiberglass and Composites, to discuss what it’s like to run a family business that started back in the ’60s. Lori talks about a program that’s helped motivate employees to learn new skills, what the current pandemic doesn’t have in common with the 2008 recession, and why health and harmony remain two of her most important goals. Stay tuned.