5 FUSION & SUSHI BAR, Asian Fusion
Since opening, 5 Fusion & Sushi Bar has held a reputation as the best sushi place in Bend, but the menu doesn’t stop there. Their renowned chef creates gourmet twists on Asian and American fare.
821 NW Wall St., Bend | 541.323.2328
G5’s Co-Founder and CEO discusses his company’s recent success
and the importance of maintaining local connectedness
Interview by Kelly Kearsley
When it comes to starting and growing technology companies in Bend, you could say Dan Hobin was an early adopter. Hobin moved here in 2002, after working with tech companies in the Bay Area for more than a decade. Betting on the value and lifestyle benefits offered by his new hometown, Hobin founded G5 three years later. The company, which provides a digital marketing platform for the property management sector across multiple industries, has since grown to employ nearly 200 people. We caught up with Hobin to learn about recent changes at the company, the challenges he has faced and what the future holds for our growing technology industry.
Last year, your company announced a $76 million investment led by Pennsylvania-based Peak Equity Partners, which took a majority stake in G5. How has that investment had an impact on the company?
We chose Peak because they have a ton of operating experience. I believe that most people on our team, at least our executive team, would agree that we are all learning how to be a better company. We have been looking at everything from lead generation to sale to developing scientific models for how to scale more efficiently. We are a good company, but we all know we can be a lot better. The capital from that investment is helping us to do so.
What challenges did you encounter as your business grew here, and do you believe those issues are at play now?
Hiring software developers was a challenge early on and it is still an issue, though it’s not a problem unique to Bend. We are lucky in that we tend to attract a different type of engineer, typically one who loves the outdoors and wants to be in Bend for quality of life. We have some amazing talent and it seems like our options keep growing.
What do you consider to be the most important factor in supporting Bend’s technology industry and growth?
I think we can do a better job of networking and promoting the companies that are here. Many people who move here have networks from where they came from that they continue to use. Better networking will help us be more efficient in hiring or recruiting new people.
G5 prioritizes community involvement through charitable giving and volunteer work. Why do you think that is important?
I believe that like many cities, Bend is changing from a local GDP to an imported GDP, meaning more of our companies have customers outside of the region. As this happens, we have to make sure we maintain the community connectedness that has made Bend such a great place to live. Many of the people who contributed to making Bend so great had local businesses and did business with each other. As more traded sector companies move here, we have to continue to drive this local connectedness, even though we may not do business with each other.
What do the next few years hold for G5?
We plan to continue to grow G5 in Bend. We have amazing people who appreciate the opportunity to be in the game and live in this beautiful playground. A company is only as good as its culture and the level of engagement of its people. We seem to be very lucky on both fronts. We have close to 200 incredible people today. I don’t see why that can’t double in the next five years.
The Education Foundation encourages innovative curriculum and increases educational and extra-curricular opportunities in Bend, Sunriver and La Pine.
It’s been three decades since Oregon leveled the playing field for school dollars by shifting the burden of funding K-12 education from local communities to Salem. That move helped standardize funding for all Oregon schools, eliminating the haves and have-nots of the past. It also created a whole new set of questions about how to fund non-core activities like sports and extracurriculars and even the arts.
It’s a vacuum that has been filled by bake sales and car wash fundraisers in many places. Here in Deschutes County, a dedicated group has taken a more deliberate approach that has raised more than $1.5 million in private donations to fund athletic scholarships and classroom teaching grants that have enhanced the experience of thousands of students.
Now celebrating its thirtieth anniversary, the Bend-based Education Foundation awarded almost $90,000 in classroom grants this school year that will help bolster arts, language and science curriculums.
“It would be great if all the resources were available and there wasn’t a need for the Education Foundation, but there is a need,” said Executive Director Michelle Johnson.
The Education Foundation’s oldest program is the activity fee scholarship, financial aid that goes toward participation fees associated with after-school sports. With Mt. Bachelor’s donations from its annual Ski4Schools event and the support of former recipient and Olympic athlete Ashton Eaton, this program has aided nearly 4,000 middle and high school students.
The Foundation also provides classroom grants to innovative STEM programs, art and music, life skills and wellness programs. Although there is a focus on high-need schools, grants are awarded throughout the entire Bend-La Pine district.
“These are teachers that are going outside the box,” said Johnson. “We might have a teacher in the language arts area who will have MOsley WOtta come and show students how the spoken word of poetry can relate into a career. We just funded a grant for an elective course in zoology.”
For the 2018-2019 school year, the Foundation awarded $89,000 in fifty-three classroom grants, which is $30,000 more than its previous record in honor of its thirtieth anniversary.
Most recently, the Education Foundation has adopted two new programs: perseverance awards and Latino scholarships, both awarded to graduating seniors. Thanks to the continued support from grant partners, individual and corporate donors and the Bend community, the Education Foundation is able to help meet the demands of the growing Central Oregon population.
