Find out why outer East Portland businesses in Brentwood-Darlington are welcomed at this area business group …
Welcoming guests and offering raffle tickets at the Annual Meeting of the Woodstock Community Business Association are Karen Montez, with KPM Business Services, and incoming WCBA President Bobbi Jo Allen of Toast PDX restaurant.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
It was a lively evening that included dining and networking at the Woodstock Community Business Association (WCBA) Annual Meeting on Wednesday evening February 11, inside the Woodstock KeyBank Branch.
Because the nearest organized neighborhood business district is the Foster Area Business Association, the WCBA is reaching out to other adjacent neighborhoods, including those in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood.
Talking informally with guests is WCBA President Chris Love.
“We’re happy to have businesspeople from our nearby neighborhoods, like Brentwood-Darlington, because we all serve the same community,” said WCBA President Chris Love of John L. Scott Real Estate.
“A highlight of the past year is that we started having regularly scheduled business ‘mixers’ for our members and guests,” Love told East Portland News, as guests dined on hot entrees and light hors d’oeuvres before the formal meeting got underway.
“These social events are a great way for people to together and talk, in a casual environment,” Love pointed out. “We’re rotating the Board’s meeting places from business to business in the area.”
Serving themselves from the buffet are Lucinda Klicker and Heather Krizanac of the Woodstock Farmers Market.
Participation in their annual “Woodstock Gives Back” event was strong last year, Love reported.
“And, we added a ‘Trunk or Treat’ area to our annual Hallowe’en promotion in the business district.”
Most encouraging to him, Love added, “is that we now have a good-sized volunteer core that provides the people-power to have successful events – that’s what makes the difference. We have the momentum now to build throughout 2026.”
By the time Love brought the WCBA annual meeting to order, the group had swelled to almost 50 attendees.
One of the many raffle prize winners is Hannah Atherton of Urban Nest Realty, who says “You can’t win if you don’t play!”
Amid reports from WCBA Board Members, neighborhood association leaders, branch library representatives, and the Woodstock Farmers Market Manager were raffle drawings – lots of them. We counted a total of 37 gift baskets, prizes or gift certificates went into the hands of lucky winners.
During the meeting, WCBA President Chris Love encourages people to participate in their business association.
The last item on the agenda was electing WCBA Board Members for their new fiscal year. After the ballots were gathered, current Board Members Bobbi Jo Allen, Scott Allen, Karen Montez, and Eric Norberg won re-election for another two year term – Chris Love continues on the Board of Directors in the second year of his two-year term. At their next meeting, Allen was chosen to serve as WCBA’s President.
All in the area are invited to participate in this expanded neighborhood business district. For more information see the official WCBA website: CLICK HERE.
© 2026 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
