Portland's Best Boss

Let's hear it for the "Big Dog."

MIKE WIENICK, PRESIDENT OF QUALITYSMITH.COM
By RUTH BROWN

Sunday, Oct. 16, is National Boss Day. Why does such a thing exist? Could it be that there are bosses out there who, unlike our own cruel and capricious overseer, are so beloved by their underlings that an entire day is set aside in their honor? Intrigued, we seized the opportunity of a rare respite between brow-beatings and Maoist self-criticism sessions to ask readers to find Portland's best boss.

We received a surprisingly enthusiastic response, and none more so than for Mike Wienick—referred to as "Big Dog" by many of his employees—the president of QualitySmith.com, a website that "connects homeowners with contractors." Nine of Wienick's 14-person marketing team in Northeast Portland wrote in to rave about their boss. Here are a few endorsements:

"A year and a half ago, the future of the company was unsure, and losing money daily. Mike was hired as the sole member of the marketing team and turned it around—we now have 14 employees and counting, and Mike has been promoted to the president of the company."

"We get to bring dogs in the office.... We get to play Halo, ride razor scooters, watch TV and have pizza parties. He also has a good heart and he makes work very enjoyable."

"One of the initial questions he had for me in my interview was "What is your stance on video games?"…. He also helped me pay to take some night classes, because he knew how much my learning would help the company. That's pretty damn sweet."

Well, we’re sold. Mike “Big Dog” Wienick, we salute you. 

Here are some other beloved bosses who were nominated: Woody Adams from Underdog Sports Leagues, Amy Schlager from AXA Advisors, Teri Lorenzen from Raphael House, Daniel Boggs from InFocus, Sherri Griffin from Pastini Pastaria, Dee Walsh from REACH Community Development, Robert Parsons from the University Club of Portland, Steve Pishko from ADP, Jessica Stevens from SEIU Oregon State Council, Jill Nelson from Ruby Receptionists, and Don Spear from OpenSesame.com.



Headout Picks

THURSDAY OCT. 13

[THEATER] THE PAIN AND THE ITCH
Third Rail Rep’s first production of the season is a brutal comedy by Bruce Norris about a very unpleasant Thanksgiving dinner with a family of self-righteous NPR-listener types. Winningstad Theatre, Portland Center for the Performing Arts, 1111 SW Broadway, 235-1011. 7:30 pm Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 pm Sundays. Closes Oct. 30. $29.50-$38.50, $14.50 students and rush tickets.
[MUSIC] MISS MARTHA REEVES WITH THE MEL BROWN B3 GROUP
If you missed Motown legend Martha Reeves last time through town, you don’t know what you’re missing. Make up for it this time around. Jimmy Mak’s, 221 NW 10th Ave., 295-6542. 7:30 pm (all ages) and 10 pm (21+). $20-$25.

FRIDAY OCT. 14

[ART] PORTLAND ART MUSEUM: SHINE A LIGHT
The Portland Art Museum’s annual “make art fun” event this year includes: the opportunity to get a haircut or tattoo inspired by museum artwork, along with art-inspired recipes by Portland chefs, dance (and square dancing), pentanque and more. Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave. 226-2811, portlandartmuseum.org. 10 am-midnight. $15, free for members. 
[MUSIC] ST. VINCENT
Annie Clark’s latest record, Strange Mercy, achieves the perfect balance of porcelain elegance and distorted ugliness she’s spent three albums working to achieve. It’s one of the best records of the year. Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W. Burnside St., 225-0047. 9 pm. $16 advance, $19 day of show. All ages.

SATURDAY OCT. 15

[MOVIES] EN ROUTE WITH TODD HAYNES
The Portland director introduces two of his favorite films: Performance and Vertigo. Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd.,

281-4215. 7 pm. $10 for both movies.
[PUPPETS] SEVEN DEADLY SINS PUPPET SLAM
Short puppet-theater pieces about wrath, gluttony, etc. It’ll be funny. Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave., 248-1030. 7 pm. $8. 21+.

SUNDAY OCT. 16

[THEATER] NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: THE KITCHEN
A screening of the National’s new revival of Arnold Wesker’s play about life in the kitchen of a busy West End restaurant. Presented locally by Third Rail Rep. World Trade Center Theater, 121 SW Salmon St., 235-1101. 1 and 5 pm. $20, $15 students.

WWeek 2015

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