North Bend, Oregon, is a small city on Coos Bay, four hours southwest of Portland along the rugged and scenic Pacific Coast. It's where Ziply Fiber Community Development Manager Valerie Henson has lived for most of her life.
Through her involvement with the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Valerie got to know Stephanie Wilson, a local business owner who is now the North Bend Community Development Manager. That led to a partnership between Ziply Fiber and North Bend that includes the sponsorship of a seasonal ice rink, a sip-n-stroll wine walk, a Trunk and Treat Halloween festival for children, an art walk, and a Mother's Day stroll.
That's not all: Ziply Fiber also hosts the city's live webcams, used by everyone from emergency personnel to tourists, and donated funds toward a new K-9 unit for the local police department.
"We know how much those sponsorship dollars mean," Stephanie says. "We really take it to heart. We're people doing work for the people. It's not just a handout."
Giving back to her community means a lot to Valerie, who won Volunteer of the Year from North Bend Main Street in 2024. "I'm so thankful to work for a company that allows me to sponsor these events and be so integrated in the community," she says. "We're local and grassroots and give back to the community in so many ways."
The positivity of the partnership is visible to the community, too. "The thing I love is not only the bright green bags, but also the fact that they're so involved in the community that it's recognizable," Stephanie says. "People start looking for Ziply Fiber. That's how you know you're doing a good job."
Stephanie feels a special connection to the community ice rink, which she manages and thinks of as a third place for locals to go in the winter months. "It's truly diverse and inclusive," she says. "I've seen skaters from age 3 to 80, and you see teenagers in there skating for hours at no cost, because of the sponsorship from Ziply."
Stephanie appreciates the openness that Valerie and Ziply Fiber have toward new programs. "Valerie goes all-out in everything she does," Stephanie says. Case in point: in 2024, Valerie won the spookiest trunk award at the Halloween Extravaganza.
"We're not here just to be the 'happy patrol,'" Stephanie says. "It's not just a job; it's community building. That's how I feel about Ziply Fiber. They're dependable and they're amazing."
