A Message From Our Chair

A Message from Our Chair, Dietrich Wieland, Principal and President at Mackenzie 

Last week, Greater Portland Inc’s Board Chair Dietrich Wieland, Principal and President at Mackenzie, joined GPI and Oregon partners at SEMICON West in Phoenix, the leading global conference for the semiconductor industry. The Oregon delegation included Oregon State Rep. Daniel Nguyen, Business Oregon, City of Hillsboro, City of Gresham, Oregon State University, Silicon Forest Partnership, and HP, Inc. and spent 4 days in Phoenix meeting with companies, attending panels, and connecting with peers from across the country.  

This was Dietrich's first time attending and he came away with a deeper appreciation for the complexity of the semiconductor ecosystem and Oregon’s unique role within it. 

A few of his key takeaways: 

1. The semiconductor ecosystem is vast and deeply interconnected. 
The industry spans materials science, software development, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies like clean tech. Experiencing it firsthand reinforced how global this sector truly is and how success depends on cross-border collaboration for both materials and talent, which can be a complex balance in today’s political climate. 

2. Other states are competing aggressively. 
Delegations from New York, Ohio, Arizona, Sacramento, and Texas arrived with large teams, unified messaging, and clear strategies. Oregon’s presence was strong, and one statistic shared by Business Oregon resonated across the event: Oregon is home to 15% of the nation’s semiconductor jobs but only 1% of its population. That is a powerful reminder that Oregon is a major player, but remaining competitive will require coordination, visibility, and sustained investment. 

3. Global partnerships are key to Oregon’s next phase. 
Future success will depend on building reciprocal relationships with markets that complement Oregon’s strengths. Countries such as Germany and The Netherlands stood out as strong potential partners, offering models of collaboration that align well with Oregon’s innovation economy. 

4. Workforce development is Oregon’s defining advantage.
Workforce development was a primary topic at the conference, and Oregon should continue to strengthen programs alongside industry partners and the higher education system. Greater Portland is a national leader in the semiconductor workforce, ranking second nationally behind Silicon Valley and ahead of Dallas (#3), Phoenix (#4), and Boston (#5). This workforce is the foundation of the sector, and businesses will follow a robust and growing talent base that we can retain within our region.

SEMICON West served as both a reality check and a call to action. Oregon’s semiconductor foundation is strong, but continued leadership will require focus, collaboration, and a collective effort to match the scale and strategy of other regions. 

Dietrich Wieland 
Board Chair, Greater Portland Inc 
Principal, Mackenzie