Vernier News
We were thrilled and honored to have Senator Barack Obama visit Vernier today. It was a private event for Vernier employees and the press. Senator Obama’s comments were about the economy. He then answered our questions about NCLB, how to better fund education, how to make college more affordable, etc. It was exciting from the moment the secret service arrived to the time he and the press left.
Christine got a phone call on Wednesday night, May 7th, asking if we would be interested in hosting Obama at Vernier. Well, yes, we would! The Obama advance staff came out to the office an hour later and looked over the office. They said we were in the running and that they would call that night. No call. The next morning, they called and said we were it. We had 24 hours to get ready. The staff came out with a Secret Service guy dressed in a black suit and looking like the Secret Service. He walked the office with our newly-appointed Head of Security (David Vernier) and all the plans were made. We were not allowed to tell anyone, not even our employees. (Of course some suspected something, especially when the fancy flagpoles and six large American flags arrived.). About a dozen Obama staff arrived at 4:30 pm Thursday and they worked until 8:30 pm, setting up seating, special lighting, and a powerful sound system. They set up two stages with drapery and flags for the press to conduct interviews.
Sound and lighting equipment setup.
Press stage in the gym.
The morning of the event, 10 Secret Service people and the Obama staff arrived, along with a ton of police officers. They kicked us all out of the building for an hour so they could check it with dogs. The press were milling around outside asking us questions. (Amazingly, it wasn’t raining.) There were about five huge press satellite trucks in our parking lot and some people lining up on the street. The word had gotten out.
Setting up a satellite signal from our parking lot.
We had to evacuate the building for an hour and had sniffer dogs search the building.
We filed back into the office through a metal detector–employees only. We were all set up in the main lobby of our building. The press were then allowed in–about 7 big cameras and 75 press people. (It was pretty crowded in our lobby!) Senator Obama arrived on a bus and chatted with both of us for a little while. We also met his brother-in-law, who is the new basketball coach for Oregon State University. We talked about our company, our basketball court (Barack likes basketball), our green building, the company culture, etc. Then we walked in with him to where all the employees were sitting.
Only one entrance was opened, with security guards and a metal detector.
The press surrounded us with their microphones, cameras, and camcorders.
One of our tech support people, Verle Walters, introduced him, and then Senator Obama gave a 20 minute speech about the economy. Our employees asked some really good questions–about education, health care, his running mate, etc. Obama was just as we expected: smart, funny, and so gracious to our employees. He shook hands, signed autographs, and had pictures taken with everyone who wanted to do so.
Vernier tech support specialist Verle Walters introduced Senator Barack Obama.
Obama spoke about current issues and answered our questions.
Obama finished his visit with us by shaking hands, signing autographs, and taking pictures.
He then went into our small conference room (set up with flags and a backdrop) for individual press interviews. He was here for another hour or so doing those. Again, the press were milling around interviewing us and getting statements. He thanked the two of us again as he left and we had our picture taken with him. We even got him to sign a LabQuest.
Wow, what a day!
Christine & Dave Vernier
Read more about Obama’s vist:
13979 SW Millikan Way
Beaverton, OR 97005-2886