Portland-based Keen Footwear CEO James Curleigh was part of a group of business leaders who met with President Obama to discuss keeping jobs in America.

"These are CEOs who take pride in hiring people here in America," Obama said from the East Room in the White House as Curleigh, chief executive of Portland-based Keen Footwear, joined him along with executives from 13 other companies as large as Intel and as small Lincolnton Furniture of North Carolina. Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber also attended in the day-long session to create and refine ideas on keeping jobs in the United States.

"Not just because it's increasingly the right thing to do for their bottom line -- but because it's the right thing to do for their workers, for our communities, and for our country. They are leading by example," Obama said.

Curleigh said his company, which makes clothes and footwear, including work boots and distinctive sandals, has been growing by more than 30 percent a year in part because of decisions to open plants in this country.

Read more at OregonLive.com.