Herburger brings smiles to the Sisters Country

"I hope the next decade is better than this last one," said Melvin Herburger. "But whether it is or not it'll be what it is. You just got to make the best of it...smile through the whole thing, good or bad, it's all part of the adventure."

Anyone who's had the good fortune to encounter Melvin Herburger knows he believes what he espouses.

According to authors Rodd Wagner and James K. Harter in their book "12, The Elements of Great Managing," "...ask them why they do this, what motivates them, and you get the most non-financial of root causes...Their impact transcends mere business. For many it is an almost spiritual issue, no matter their particular beliefs. Their motivation stems from deeply held beliefs about their responsibility to those around them...they understand viscerally the scientific truth that what they do will have a large effect -maybe a lifelong effect - on their colleagues."

That's Melvin Herburger. He likes to make people smile.

Herburger started with Ray's Food Place in 1979 in Rogue River during his senior year in high school. Ray's only had three stores back then, now they have 59. He began in the meat department. The manager there taught him how to cut meat and eventually become his father-in-law when he married his high school sweetheart, Sandee.

As the years passed Herburger became a meat department manager for Ray's Food Place in the Rogue Valley, and for years he often traveled to new store openings to lend a hand. In 1996, when Rays purchased the Pioneer Sentry Market, Herburger moved his family over the mountains to become the meat department manager in Sisters.

That's when he started to learn about the community of Sisters. He's been a willing student ever since.

With the voice of entrepreneurship calling, Herburger bought an empty building on Spruce Street and became his own boss with the creation of The Harvest Basket natural foods store. Then came Outlaw Coffee and his real estate license. Now he's back at Ray's in the meat department.

And his mantra followed him: "From roasts to real estate it seems fitting that customer service and honesty be the number-one thing," says Herburger.

Ask Herburger how he's doing and you'll most likely get this kind of reply, "Oh I'm perfect but I should be better by tomorrow." This is why he says it: "I like a positive attitude. I like to make people smile. The world can fall apart whether I'm happy or sad. So I choose happy."

The Hawaiian shirt craze that became a "Melvinism" started back at Ray's in the Rogue Valley during their week-long Hawaiian Days event. His mom made him two shirts that he wore that week. Those shirts came out of the closet when he started The Harvest Basket, and soon his customers started bringing him shirts in the Hawaiian motif.

"My customers put the Hawaiian shirt craze on me. People around here are nice, unique, and collectively a great bunch," said Herburger who now owns enough shirts he could open his own Hawaiian shirt store.

Humor is another trademark. He's got a bunch of food jokes that are recorded and play over the intercom at Ray's, where Herburger has been the meat department manager since September 2009: "Hey shoppers, did you hear the meat cutter that backed into the grinder? He got a little behind in his work. And, we're having a special on ground beef today."

Former Harvest Basket employee Rose Slavkovsky recalls, "Melvin has such a great sense of humor. He tells lots of jokes, and he even has some that are funny."

Throughout the years, Herburger has become part of the fabric of the community. He's an avid, maybe rabid, Outlaws fan. He goes to any function a kid asks him to attend, he's a judge for the Mr. SHS contest, he never misses a home football game, and he coaches track.

Principal Bob Macauley once called for a "Melvin Herburger" night at a basketball game and all the cheerleaders came out wearing Hawaiian shirts - his very own Hawaiian shirts from his very own closet.

The community of Sisters has responded to Herburger. He's a sought-after Master of Ceremonies. His emcee venues include Sisters Act, the Green and Gold Gala, Sisters High School softball fundraiser, and numerous sportsmen's banquets.

Sisters Act coordinator, Theresa Slavkovsky, said, "Melvin is an invaluable member to our community. He brings his wit and humor to each Sisters Act."

Sisters Parent Teacher Community coordinator, Peyton Griffin, agrees, "Melvin is a Sisters Country treasure! Melanie Petterson (the chair of the Sisters Elementary School auction committee) and I can't thank Melvin enough for all his help as an auctioneer. He has been so instrumental in helping us grow the Sisters Elementary School Green and Gold Gala Auction. He volunteers his considerable skills and time to help many, many Sisters organizations. Melvin does it all with a big smile on his face and some great one-liners. He even makes a trip to Ray's more enjoyable."

Ray's meat department employee Heidi Whipps said, "Melvin is incredibly fun and sometimes goofy. That's the atmosphere he provides us."