Welcome to the 2024 Eastern Oregon Economic Summit!

Buy your tickets today to join us in Hermiston, Oregon (Hermiston High School 600 S First St, Hermiston, OR 97838) on June 20-21st, where we will delve into the heart of our region’s potential. This year’s focus: “Exploring Eastern Oregon’s Opportunities in Energy and the Environment.”
 
Join us for an industry tours, thought-provoking speakers, and dynamic discussion panels. Our comprehensive agenda includes regional economic updates, insightful federal and state legislative updates, as well as the latest program and industry developments. It’s an unmissable opportunity for both private and public sector leaders from across Oregon who are eager to engage with the burgeoning economic landscape of Eastern Oregon.
 
Featuring a lineup of industry experts and state and federal lawmakers, our speakers will shed light on pivotal legislation and economic trends. They’ll offer their expertise on capitalizing on Eastern Oregon’s economic upswing to build stronger, more resilient communities.
 
Hosted by the Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition, the summit is more than an event—it’s a collaborative platform designed to forge partnerships, share innovative ideas, and chart a course for sustained economic vitality in our communities.
 
 

Agenda | Thursday, June 20th

Registration Opens and Departure

Important Notice: All Tour Attendees Must (1) Wear Closed-Toed Shoes and (2) Be A US Citizen and Bring Proof of ID to Tour The Hydroelectric Dam Per Federal Requirements.

7:00 am – Registration Begins at Hermiston High School (600 S 1st St, Hermiston, OR 97838)

7:30 am – Begin Loading Buses

7:45 am – Buses Depart (Individuals will not be allowed to drive themselves.)

Morning Tours

Bus A

8:00 am – McNary Hydroelectric Dam

9:10 am – Port of Umatilla

10:00 am – Marlette Homes

11:00 am – Moorehouse

11:45 am – SAGE Center – Port of Morrow Discussion

Bus B

8:00 am – Port of Umatilla

8:45 am – Moorehouse

9:05 am – Marlette Homes

10:20 am – McNary Hydroelectric Dam 

11:45 am – SAGE Center – Port of Morrow Discussion

Bus C

8:00 am – Marlette Homes

9:10 am – McNary Hydroelectric Dam

10:20 am – Port of Umatilla 

11:05 am – Moorehouse

11:45 am – SAGE Center – Port of Morrow Discussion

Lunch

12:30 pm – Lunch at SAGE Center

Afternoon Tours

Bus A

1:45 pm – Depart SAGE Center

2:15 pm – Finley Buttes

3:30 pm – Wells Spring Trail 

4:30 pm – NextEra Energy Resources Operations Building

Bus B

1:45 pm – Depart SAGE Center

2:15 pm – Finley Buttes

3:30 pm – Wells Spring Trail 

4:30 pm – NextEra Energy Resources Operations Building

Bus C

1:45 pm – Depart SAGE Center

2:15 pm – Finley Buttes

3:30 pm – Wells Spring Trail 

4:30 pm – NextEra Energy Resources Operations Building

Reception and Dinner

Please Note: If you are attending the Dinner and reception only, you will receive an email on Wednesday with driving directions to the reception and dinner – not to be shared with the general public. 

5:15 pm – Arrive

5:30 pm – Presentation & Reception with No-Host Bar Begins

6:00 pm – Dinner (Sponsored by NextEra Energy Resources)

Return to Hermiston High School

7:00 pm – Load Buses and Depart

7:30 pm – Arrive Back to Hermiston High School

Agenda | Friday, June 21st

7:00 am | Hermiston High School (600 S 1st St, Hermiston, OR 97838)

Doors and Registration Open

7:15 am

Breakfast Served

8:00 am

Introduction to Rural Oregon Climate an Energy Landscape

Opening remarks will provide an overview of the current climate and energy landscape in rural Oregon, with a special focus on Eastern Oregon counties. We will explore the existing energy use, sources, and the carbon footprint associated with these practices, highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities that rural areas face in transitioning towards sustainable energy solutions. Attendees will gain accurate insights into Eastern Oregon’s energy output, distinguishing between renewable and non-renewable sources prevalent in the region. Through this discussion, we aim to shed light on the distinct environmental and economic factors influencing rural Oregon’s energy dynamics, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of potential paths forward in the realms of climate action and energy sustainability.

Over the last 20+ years Bobby has enthusiastically planned, designed and hosted numerous parties and events; including graduations, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, retirement and holiday parties for family and friends. Since 2006, Bobby has been planning and hosting political parties and introductions where candidates, government officials, business leaders, as well as state department directors, have come to Umatilla, Morrow and Wallowa Counties to get to know and be known by the people of Eastern Oregon. Bobby is passionate about rural Eastern Oregon and sharing information and successes with all of Oregon.

Bobby received her MBA from Portland State University in 1995, as well as an MTE from Eastern Oregon University in 1999.

She is one of the five founding members of Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition. Bobby is the past Chair of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission, serving an eight-year term on the commision. Bobby has served on numerous boards and committees and is a member of the Greater Hermiston Chamber of Commerce and the Hermiston Government Affairs Team, as well as a member of the Umatilla County Budget committee. She is a past member of the Umatilla County Housing Authority Board. In addition to her work with EOWC, Bobby also raises sheep and Large Breed Guardian dogs for predator protection for sheep producers in the Northwest. Along with her business partner Joe Benner, BJ’s LGD Spike Collars, she is producing and selling spike collars to LGD owners all over the US and Canada for predator protection.

Bobby is currently in her third term as Oregon State Representative for District 58.

Annette Price is Vice President, Government Affairs at Pacific Power, where she leads the team that oversees the company’s public policy, public affairs and strategic projects priorities, and secures positive outcomes from political activities and state government affairs engagements with Oregon, Washington and California.

Annette joined Pacific Power in August 2014 after serving eight years as State Affairs Manager at the Port of Portland, representing the Port on issues in front of the Oregon Legislature and Executive Branch. 

Annette is an expert on legislative strategy with extensive experience on a broad range of legislative and policy issues at the state legislative and federal levels, having served in key staff roles in Oregon and Washington, D.C. She served as chief of staff to four presidents of the Oregon Senate, earning the respect of both sides of the aisle for her even-handed, fair and forthright management of the legislative process.

Annette serves on the Oregon Business and Industry Association Board, Oregonians for Food and Shelter Board and on the Energy Advisory Work Group in Oregon. Previously, she served on the Association of Washington Business Board, the Center for Women’s Leadership Board, the Oregon State Capitol Foundation Board and the Oregon China Sister State Relations Council. She has served as president of the Oregon Public Ports Association, the Oregon Transportation Forum and the Oregon Capitol Club. She also served on the Governor’s Transportation Vision and Governance committees in 2007-2009 and again in 2015-2017.

 

Annette grew up in South Carolina and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She still loves good southern barbeque and collard greens and is known to drink her fair share of Starbucks double shots of expresso during legislative sessions.

8:15 am

Boosting Rural Efficiency through Energy Efficiency and Financial Strategies

How do energy efficiency, renewable energy, and housing impact economic development in rural communities? This session will focus on the efforts underway by representatives from Wallowa Resources, CTUIR Housing Authority, Seeds for the Sol and Fleet Development who are bringing strategies forward to address gaps in capacity, funding and resources to resolve housing choice and energy burden. Topics will provide valuable insights into the ways they are leveraging state and federal resources and utility incentives designed to support rural and Tribal communities in their endeavors. Attendees will learn about innovative strategies but also to surface implementation challenges and access disparities that lay ahead of them in this work. 

Caryn works as the Eastern Oregon Outreach Manager for the Energy Trust of Oregon. She works in communities from Hood River to Ontario to support customers of investor owned utilities. These programs help customers access resources, technical support and incentives to offset cost for energy savings and power generation projects. It is important to her to establish and grow relationships with local leadership, organizations, businesses, customers and contractors across the region to learn about needs unique to Eastern Oregon customers and expand the benefits provided by the program.

Originally from Maryland, Caryn moved to Oregon in 2006 and began work at the InterMountain Education Service District in Pendleton, an organization dedicated to providing needed support to underserved school districts. She has worked in media, procurement, management, marketing, technical, training and outreach capacities. Directly prior to working with Energy Trust Caryn worked as a Project Manager for Wenaha Group who specializes in long range facility planning and capital construction projects for schools and municipalities.

When not working, Caryn is engaged in local civic efforts in Pendleton, where she resides, serving as a commission member for Pendleton Housing Committee, Parks and Recreation, Pendleton Planning Commission and as a board member and ceramics instructor for the Pendleton Center for the Arts. She and her husband enjoy taking long road trips via motorcycle, sight-seeing, camping and staying in small towns in out of the way places.

Joe has 35+years of electrical power generation experience beginning with the US Navy nuclear power program, then civilian nuclear, coal fired, natural gas combined cycle and renewable energy project development with various roles in maintenance, operations and management.  Joe is passionate about energy conservation, efficiency and the related cost savings particularly for rural communities as well as the environmental stewardship responsibilities shared with our parent organization, Wallowa Resources.  Joe is always looking for ways to bring new distributed energy projects into fruition for the benefit of the community and the environment. He brings a tenured and diverse blend of technical training, field experience, design/construction background as well as project and personnel management.  Current project responsibilities include the completion of a Community Energy Strategic Plan for Wallowa County, managing a local microgrid resilience project, identification of renewable project opportunities, evaluation of project feasibility, project management during licensing, permitting, and construction, consultation with a myriad of stakeholders, project proponents, natural resource organizations, city, county, regulatory agencies and others.

 

Marcus L. Luke II is a Tribal member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. As Housing Director in his 10th year, he has worked for CTUIR for 24 years. Mr. Luke is part of the Housing development team and has developed 8 duplexes called Huckleberry Street (2016), redeveloped Lucky 7 Court with 18 new units (2021), and recently completed 30 Timine Way North apartments (2023). The CTUIR adopted the resolution ‘Energy Strategy Plan,’ a long-term plan for each development to have less footprint, provide energy products for the interior/exterior, use less water, and use less electric consumption in hopes of using solar or other green building concepts. This will help tenants save on annual utility costs and help make rents affordable.

 

Julie Williams retired after 33 years of teaching at Corvallis High School.  Her concern for the impending climate crisis motivated her to create a Sustainability and Society course.

She has a certificate of completion for Climate Masters through the University of Oregon and attended 2 Climate Reality Leadership Trainings.  She participated in a Fulbright-Japan exchange for teachers of ESD thru UNESCO.  She was instrumental in the 250 KW solar array on the CHS building and participates on the Energy Action Team within the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition.

She has been an advocate for community solar since 2001, and is the founder of Seeds for the Sol, a community wealth-sharing program for energy equity, since 2012.  Seeds for the Sol has been awarded the Celebrate Corvallis: Good Steward of the Planet Award and the Benton County Environmental Award.  She now is dedicated to saving the planet and to growing the Seeds for the Sol model, providing renewable energy and energy equity funding throughout the State of Oregon.  She has a strong belief that we can and will shift together to make the planet sustainable for future generations.

 

 

 

Ryan Sheehy founded Fleet Development to build a bridge between the renewable energy and multifamily affordable housing industries.  The idea for the company’s mission came after finishing a 20-year career with the Marines, moving back to Enterprise, Oregon, and joining the top-tier affordable housing management company, Viridian Management.  While working with Viridian as an organizational leadership and structure consultant, he helped develop new methods to overcome obstacles preventing adoption of solar and its benefits for affordable properties and tenants. Since 2017 he has been an Oregon Community Solar stakeholder representing low-income and affordable multifamily housing, while developing innovative affordable housing solar projects in Oregon and other states. Ryan is currently an executive board member for the Oregon Solar and Storage Industry Association.

 

9:15 am

Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Resilient Food Systems

This segment aims to chart a course towards a future where sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems thrive in harmony with the environment. By starting with a historic perspective about agriculture in Eastern Oregon then highlighting innovative technologies that farmers and businesses have piloted, this panel will give an in-depth look into practices that ensure the longevity and health of our land while also emphasizing the importance of ag in Oregon and the far-reaching benefits of supporting local farmers.

A fifth generation farmer, Erin Hansell-Heideman, knows the value of hard work and has a passion for agriculture, in all facets, unmatched by most.

Heideman is currently the 4-H educator for Morrow County through OSU Extension after being an agriculture, science and technology instructor for twenty years. Having been raised the eldest in a very traditional farming family, she and her husband now own and operate a large dry-land wheat farm in Morrow and Gilliam Counties where they are raising the sixth generation of agriculturalists.

No stranger to board involvement, Heideman currently serves as the Morrow County President for the Oregon Wheat Grower’s League and is a board member for the Morrow County Livestock Association and Morrow County FFA Auction Committee. She is a past board member for the Morrow County Fair, BMCC Agriculture Advisory group, Morrow County Grain Growers and several youth athletic boards. Her involvement in many different aspects of agriculture is helping create a sustainable farming future for her children and grandchildren.

In her spare time, Heideman operates farm experience stays through Airbnb and Harvest Hosts, enjoys gardening, coaching basketball and youth shooting sports and being outdoors.

Melissa and her husband, Todd, operate their 5 generation family farm in Morrow County, keeping to the values instilled by the generations who came before them. They are proponents of sustainable agriculture with the goal of viable land for many generations to come.  Diversity has always been a focus of the farming operations with irrigation, dry land and energy.  

Along with running their farm, Melissa also had a successful 20-year career in banking and real estate lending.  As a Vice President for a local bank she helped build a successful Mortgage Division focused on rural lending. Following that, she next set her sights on Community service. During her six-year term as commissioner beginning in 2017, the county transitioned from a County Court form of government to a Board of Commissioners. She became the first-ever Chair of the Board of Commissioners.

Melissa serves on multiple boards and committees as she represents the community locally.  She’s also active in local civic and community organizations currently acting as President of the Heppner Community Foundation focused on economic development and livability in the Willow Creek Valley and is steadfastly dedicated to the county she’s called home for the majority of her life.

Greg Harris started at Threemile Canyon Farms in March 2000 as an Agronomist.  Today he is General Manager of Farming and oversees all the farming operations for Threemile in the Pacific Northwest.

Fred Ziari is the CEO of IRZ Engineering & Consulting, a company he founded in Hermiston, Oregon in 1984.  IRZ specializes in irrigation engineering design and water management services for large-scale farms globally. Their comprehensive engineering services include designing large pumping stations, pipelines, advanced irrigation systems, and providing expertise in hydraulic, civil, and structural engineering.  Thanks to their innovative solutions, IRZ Engineering & Consulting saves 10 billion gallons of water and 35 million kWh of energy annually. Their work is primarily focused in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho but extends its impact in over 30 countries worldwide, setting new standards in sustainable agriculture and water management. For his efforts he has been inducted into OSU’s agricultural Hall of Fame.

In addition to his professional achievements, Mr. Ziari is a dedicated philanthropist. He is the founder and board chair of Farmers Ending Hunger, a charity organization established in 2006. This organization collaborates with farmers across Oregon to donate food to the Oregon Food Bank, which then distributes it throughout Oregon and southwest Washington State. To-date Farmers Ending Hunger has donated over 35 million pounds of produce, making a significant impact in the fight against hunger in our communities.

Mr. Ziari’s dual commitment to advancing agricultural technology and combating food insecurity has made him a true pioneer and a compassionate humanitarian. 

John Burt has been the Executive Director of Farmers Ending Hunger since January 2007 and is still its sole employee. The results to date have resulted in over 35 million pounds of food products donated to Oregon Food Bank. He previously had a career as an Oregon University Extension Agent in Polk and Marion Counties for 33 years. He has degrees from UC Davis and the University of Arizona. He and his wife, Debbie, live on a small acreage just north of Dallas, OR.

Amanda is the Chief Executive Officer for the Oregon Wheat Commission (state commodity commission) and the Oregon Wheat Growers League (private growers association). She represents Oregon’s wheat industry in local, state, national, and international arenas.

 

Amanda has over a decade of executive leadership experience and a close connection to the Oregon Wheat industry, growing up on a dryland wheat farm in Wasco County. She previously served as the Executive Director for the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District. Amanda graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Degree in Economics from Whitman College. She is an alumnus of the American Leadership Forum of Oregon and was a Marshall Memorial Fellow through the German Marshall Fund. In her role as CEO, she works to strengthen the wheat industry in the state. From enhancing resources for ag research to addressing policy challenges that would otherwise hinder farm profitability/viability, the work of Oregon Wheat is critical to ensuring vibrant rural communities.

10:15 am

Networking Break

10:30 am

Rural Transportation, Electrification, and Climate-Resilient Infrastructure

This segment addresses the critical need for adapting rural infrastructure to withstand the impacts of climate change, with a focus on promoting sustainable transportation options. We will explore how rural communities are accessing federal funds, how regional associations are managing statewide mandates, and how we can build these projects in EO despite overcoming challenges such as workforce and the environment.

Tami Sinor serves as Member Services Representative and Key Account Liaison for Umatilla Electric Cooperative (UEC). UEC serves more than 15,000 member accounts and nearly 2,283 miles of power lines in about 2,000 square miles of service territory. She has been with the cooperative since 2008 where she began her career as the Executive Assistant to the CEO, moving into the Member Services Department in 2015.

Tami plays an active role in many local organizations and activities, currently the Treasurer for the Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition. In addition, she is a member of the Hermiston and Boardman Chambers, Hermiston Rotary Club and a volunteer for anything her children participate in.

She was born and raised in Eastern Washington, graduated from Deer Park High School, and attended Spokane Community College. She met her husband Steve in 2002. As an Eastern Oregon native he inspired their move back to the area. Together they have three children, a wonderful home and a thriving business. Tami is proud to be a part of this rural community.

Jana Jarvis is President & CEO of the Oregon Trucking Association and serves as their chief lobbyist in addition to her administrative role in the association.  She has over 30 years of public policy and management experience in both the corporate and trade association environment, as well as a brief stint running her own public policy firm specializing in a variety of issues, including transportation.  She has an undergraduate degree in Business and an MBA from the University of Portland.

Although she is not an Oregonian by birth, she grew up in the Northwest and has lived in Oregon for over 40 years, where she currently resides in Lake Oswego with her husband who is a native Oregonian! She has a son in Santa Monica, CA and a married daughter in Portland along with two adorable grandsons who have become her favorite pastime activity!

Lindsay Baker serves as the Assistant Director for Government and External Relations at the Oregon Department of Transportation. She joined ODOT in 2018 after serving in various positions throughout state government and within the Oregon Legislature. Originally from Texas, Ms. Baker moved to Oregon to attend Lewis & Clark Law School where she obtained her J.D. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and paddling Oregon’s waterways.

Commissioner Dan Dorran was born in Walla Walla, WA and grew up in Hermiston, OR where he attended school K-12. He spent summers and vacation time working with his Uncle Randy on Dorran Ranch in Juniper Canyon and Cold Springs. His father was deeply involved in the evolution of irrigated agriculture land as the General Manager of Umatilla Electric Co-Op. His dad was also a founding partner in the establishment of cable TV in the Hermiston area. As in all family endeavors it involved all family members from stuffing billing to answering the phone. At the same time his mother was a section editor for the Hermiston Herald for many years. Dan stayed busy with sports, 4-H, and extracurricular activities such as Key Club, Letterman’s Club and many others.

After serving and being honorably discharged from the US Army, Dan attended Blue Mountain Community College and Oregon State University. After college he moved to Alaska to go to work for long time family and personal friend and quickly was hired by Sealaska Native Corporation and stayed in Alaska for over 12 years. Upon returning home he went to work for Atlas Copco, a global manufacturing and engineering firm. This experience saw him serve in many senior executive roles such as VP of Operations, VP of Sales and VP of Mergers and Acquisitions. As an adult Dan continued his civic service serving in many roles, from Matanuska Susitna Port Commission to Umatilla County Fair Board and many experiences in between.

Commissioner Dorran is married to Terri and they have four children, Brandi (Eric), Cutter (Desere), Mitch (Kendra) and Dauson (Kate). Dan and Terri also have five grandchildren with the three granddaughters the same age for 7 months out of the year. Dan and Terri also live in the house and on the property Dan grew up on. Growing up they raised 40 feeder steers each year and the place seemed on the outskirts of town and now seems to be in the middle of town.

Jennifer Senner is the Clean Fuels Grant Program Manager with Pacific Power working across Oregon, Washington and California. Ms. Senner has more than a decade of grant management experience, including three years of experience in the energy sector. She holds a Juris Doctor from Willamette University. A lifelong Oregonian, Ms. Senner currently lives in Salem, Oregon and spend her free time backpacking in Oregon’s mountain ranges. 

11:15 am

Climate Change and Water Systems in the Umatilla Basin

Delve into the pressing issue of climate change and its impact on the water systems within the Umatilla Basin. As we face an era marked by unprecedented shifts in water availability and demand, the need for adaptive strategies has never been more critical. This session aims to explore innovative approaches to manage water resources proactively amidst the challenges posed by climate variability. Our expert speakers will provide insights into the complex dynamics of the regional basin, offering clarity on the geographical and hydrological context we operate within, and how communities planning expansion must work within the confines of a limited natural resource. The session will also highlight new programs and approaches to water sustainability with green infrastructure planning and development.

Tamra Mabbott grew up on a small dairy farm along the Rogue River in Southern Oregon, the second of four siblings. While attending University of California, Los Angeles, she worked full time and volunteered with a variety of political organizations, giving her work experience for her B.A. degree in Political Science. She continued her education in Urban Planning earning a M.A. Urban Planning, followed by completion of an advanced program in Fiscal Studies at the University of Bath, England. Tamra has worked the last 30 years as a land use planner in eastern Oregon. She has served on a number of state and local boards and advocates for a balance between development and natural resource protection.

Kurt Miller is one of the nation’s leading advocates for public power and its role in our clean and equitable energy future. His expertise in energy policy has been featured in over 50 contributed pieces across numerous regional and national news outlets, and he is a frequent commentator on T.V., radio, and policy panels. As the executive director of the Northwest Public Power Association, Kurt represents millions of public power customers across the western United States who depend on community-owned electric utilities to power their homes, businesses, and transportation. 

 

J.R. Cook is Founder and Director of the Northeast Oregon Water Association (NOWA), a non-profit corporation established to protect and enhance northeastern Oregon’s value-added natural resource-based economy.  Mr. Cook also runs CL&W Consulting, LLC, specializing in water and land use permitting, project development, and property & water optimization. Over the past 23 years, Mr. Cook has worked in several capacities with a variety of stakeholders to assist in a coordinated effort to restore alluvial and basalt aquifers in the Umatilla Basin while ensuring adequate water supplies for existing water rights holders, economic growth, and environmental needs.  His work has led to over $200 million in new water supply development in the Mid-Columbia River region of Oregon, the first-ever Oregon-approved mitigated Columbia River water rights, a basalt groundwater savings effort for drought and climate change resilience and local buy-in on a long-term strategy for economic and environmental sustainability. He is an avid outdoorsman and a United States Coast Guard veteran.  Mr. Cook has a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Oregon University in Small City and Rural County Management. Still, he will proudly admit that most of his training and relationship building has come from being on the job and out in the community.

 

Laura Buhl, AICP, is the Community Green Infrastructure Program Administrator at the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, where she was previously the Code Assistance Planner for the Transportation and Growth Management Program. Laura has also been a land use planner for the City of Detroit (Michigan) Planning Commission, and for Wasco County, Oregon. She received a BA in American Studies from Mills College, a Master of Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon, and a Graduate Certificate in Urban Forestry from Oregon State University. Laura is a board member of Oregon Community Trees, the State of Oregon’s urban forestry advisory board.

 

Justin Green is the Executive Director of Water for Eastern Oregon (H2OEO), a nonprofit coalition of businesses and community organizations in Morrow and Umatilla counties supporting efforts to provide clean drinking water to every household and resident. 

Justin served as the Administrator for the Oregon DEQ Water Quality Program from 2018 to 2021. Prior to coming to Oregon, he was the Water Division Director and Air Division Director at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Justin is also the President of Justin B. Green Consulting and provides solutions-oriented consulting on water, air, and energy matters.

Justin has a Law degree from Florida State University and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin.

With 39 years of financial management experience, Mr. Tovey has worked for the Umatilla Tribes for the last 35 years.

He oversees 30 staff members, including Economic and Tax Administration, Construction Development, Land Acquisition, Farming Enterprise, and Solid Waste. He oversees the land acquisition program, which has acquired over 90,000 acres of trust and fee properties both on and off the reservation, including one of the first Tribes to sign a cooperative agreement with the Land Buy Back Program (LBBP).  The total investment in land purchases has exceeded $100M.

Up to 2002, Mr. Tovey was involved as project lead on the majority of the development of the Tribe’s Wildhorse Casino and Resort. This $60M investment includes a Casino, World-Class Museum, Golf Course, Hotel, the Tribes i, and RV Park.

Mr. Tovey completed the Coyote Business Park infrastructure that included over 200 acres of commercial and industrial land with over $7M in Tribal, federal and state funding.  Planned and developed Cayuse Technologies, Davita Dialysis, Kenworth Trucking facility, Arrowhead Travel Plaza, Umatilla Forest Service and Preparedness building totaling an additional $30M in construction.

Lead on the $28M health facility opened in 2018 and the $26M education facility including a 9-12 high school opened in 2019.  Over the last 5 years, worked on Tribal Housing needs with the opening of 100 units half as rentals and the other half as lots ready for home ownership development for a total investment of $25M.

Working on Reservation broadband with funding of $17M and energy projects mainly on wind and solar with a focus on Net Zero.

12:00 pm

Lunch and Legislative Update

​Representative Mark Owens is the Republican state representative for Oregon’s House District 60. He is a local farmer, small business owner, Crane School Board Member, and former Harney County Commissioner. 

During the 2023 interim, Mark is Vice-Chair of the House Interim Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water. He also serves on the Joint Emergency Board, and on the House Interim Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment, and as an alternate on the House Interim Committee on Conduct and the Joint Committee. He also serves as House Republican Deputy Leader. 

Eastern Oregon has been Mark’s home for over 32 years, but his history in the community goes back much farther. Although he grew up in Boring, Oregon, Mark spent his summers as a teenager working on a ranch in Harney County before moving here as a young adult, meeting his wife, and making frontier Oregon their home. He currently owns and operates an alfalfa farm and custom haying business in Harney County.

When not working on his farm, running his small businesses, or serving in public capacities, Mark enjoys traveling with his family, visiting his daughter in college, watching his son play sports, and fishing.

House District 60 encompasses all of Baker, Grant, Harney, Lake and Malheur Counties, and parts of Deschutes County. 

Legislative Committees

Local Leadership

  • Farmer and Owner, Owens Hay LLC
  • Harney County Watershed Council
  • Blue Intergovernmental Council, Co–Convener
  • Harney Community-Based Water Planning Co-Convener
  • Crane School Board, Member

I am a proud born and raised Oregonian, a family man, and a pragmatic, honest leader for Springfield.  I was born in LaGrande and lived in Wallowa until I was a junior in high school.  We had limited economic opportunities in Wallowa, so our family moved to Springfield where my dad started working at Alexander’s Department Store.  I graduated from Thurston High School, Lane Community College and the University of Oregon.  Completion of my college education was interrupted by the Vietnam War.  During this time I spent four years in the Army Security Agency.

After my service I graduated from U of O and married Tresa Brotherton.  It became very clear to us that Springfield was a special place and it still is.  People in Springfield are independent, hard-working and resilient.  It is a place where people can raise and grow a family.  Tresa and I did exactly that.  We have now been married for 50 years.  We raised our daughters here and now our four grandchildren are being raised here.  Family is always first.

I have seen many changes and improvements over the years and I’m proud to have contributed to those improvements through volunteer service. My volunteer service includes Lane Workforce Partnership, United Way, Western Rivers Girl Scout Council, Strong Schools for Springfield and many more.  Each has helped me gain knowledge about our community and what I can do to help. 

Community is what makes us strong.  It binds us together and supports us when we are in need.  I believe that service to my community is the way to make a difference.  My years of service have reinforced that only by working together can we improve.  Springfield is a community that listens, works across the aisle and is never afraid to ask the tough questions.  I always do my best to reflect this in my work at the State Legislature.  The best way to represent a community is to listen. Your view is important no matter your political party or ideology.  I will listen to all sides before making a decision.  I am proud to be a pragmatic, honest leader for Springfield.

I believe in local control and understand that one size does not fit all.  It’s why elected officials and decision makers in the region have my direct line. My career has included being Mayor of Springfield and many years working in economic development.  I’ve also worked for manufacturing companies and contact center management.  Working in the private sector has provided me first hand knowledge of the challenges of maintaining good wages and benefits for our people.  This experience has been invaluable in my ability to understand differing perspectives and approaches to problem solving.

I’ve had the privilege of serving in the State Legislature since 2013.  I believe in a bipartisan approach. My wife was a teacher at Centennial Elementary and my daughter is a teacher at Springfield High School so improving our education system has been one of my main priorities.  I believe small businesses are what keep Oregon’s economy running.  I’ve served on many different committees and currently Chair the Climate, Energy and Environment Committee.  I also serve on the Economic Development, Small Business and Trade Committee and the Higher Education Committee

I have always been proud to say I represent Springfield and I am honored to represent our citizens in Salem.

Bobby Levy was born in​ La Grande, Oregon and raised in Umatilla County. Spending her entire life in Eastern Oregon, Bobby understands why the rural way of life should be valued and protected. The fourth of six children, Bobby grew up hunting, fishing and camping and feels fortunate to have spent her time in a place so rich with outdoor beauty and bounty.

Never one to settle, Bobby follows the mantra of always asking herself “what next?” After her kids were in grade school, Bobby pursued higher education. First getting a Master’s in business administration from Portland State University, then a Master’s in teacher education from Eastern Oregon University. Bobby has had many careers ranging from licensed insurance agent, adjunct professor at BMCC,  farmer/rancher and large breed guardian dog breeder. 

While teaching at BMCC, she was appointed to serve as commissioner on Oregon Department and Wildlife.  During her eight year term, she served two years as vice chair and one as chair.  It was during this time that it was becoming evident the divide between rural and urban Oregon was growing.  Bobby and her friends decided to found the non-profit Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition to advocate for rural Oregon issues. Since 2006, Bobby has been inviting legislators and industry leaders to Eastern Oregon to participate in tours and learn about industry practices, agricultural technology, and predator populations. In 2019, Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition hosted the first successful Eastern Oregon Economic Summit, bringing Oregonians from all over the state to learn about housing, water, forestry, and economic development in Eastern Oregon.

Bobby is member of the National Women in Agriculture as well as Oregon Women in Agriculture and the Umatilla County Women in Agriculture chapter. Bobby knows that the only way to preserve the rural way of life is to reach across the aisle and find common ground. ​

Bobby and her husband Bob live on their farm in Echo.  She and her husband relax by spending time with their sheep and guardian dogs.  Together they have 4 children and 14 grandchildren, who also keep them busy.  

Representative Levy serves the north side of Bend, south Redmond, Tumalo and Sisters. She serves on the Housing and Homelessness Committee, Joint Ways and Means subcommittee for Natural Resources and is the Vice Chair of Climate, Energy and the Environment.

Representative Levy is passionate about the health and safety of Oregon’s children, families and seniors. She believes that people shouldn’t just get by, they should thrive. 

She is passionate about school safety and passed new funding to cover SPAT (silent panic alarm technology) to Oregon’s K-12 schools which will start in the 2024 school year. 

Professionally, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Business and followed that with a Juris Doctorate. She is a member of the Oregon State Bar. Prior to coming to the legislature, her career focused on asset based financing, including clean energy projects.

Representative Levy lives in NE Bend with her husband and elementary school aged daughter. They love baking and gardening.Representative Levy serves the north side of Bend, south Redmond, Tumalo and Sisters. She serves on the Housing and Homelessness Committee, Joint Ways and Means subcommittee for Natural Resources and is the Vice Chair of Climate, Energy and the Environment.

Representative Levy is passionate about the health and safety of Oregon’s children, families and seniors. She believes that people shouldn’t just get by, they should thrive. 

She is passionate about school safety and passed new funding to cover SPAT (silent panic alarm technology) to Oregon’s K-12 schools which will start in the 2024 school year. 

Professionally, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Business and followed that with a Juris Doctorate. She is a member of the Oregon State Bar. Prior to coming to the legislature, her career focused on asset based financing, including clean energy projects.

Representative Levy lives in NE Bend with her husband and elementary school aged daughter. They love baking and gardening.

I’ve called Senate District 15 my home for over 30 years and raised my family here. My husband Tony and I have been married 33 years and have two grown sons, Jordan, and Matthew, and two grandchildren. As our family grew, I knew the importance of staying in a community that promotes engagement, respect, and inclusion. My two boys took different pathways through their education, and that is why I am such a proponent for career exposure at a young age. One went through the university system to become a special education teacher, and the other went the trade pathway and now has a very strong career, with room to grow, as a Utility Tree Trimmer. Both occupations are great careers, and we must continue to do everything we can as a state to promote students finding their path and encouraging them to pursue it. This is vitally important for Oregon’s economy and future workforce. 

I have worked for over 26 years for Vernier Science Education, an educational scientific technology company based in Washington County. They provide opportunities for STEM education locally, nationally, and internationally. I feel fortunate to work for a company that allows me the flexibility in my work schedule to serve my community as a legislator. 

Prior to my time as a legislator, I served on the Hillsboro School Board from 2009-2017, and continue to serve on the Career and College Pathways Steering Committee. These experiences have allowed me to be heavily involved in what I call a model for the state; showing how a school district can work with local business and industry to help students find their career path at an early age and explore it through their schooling.  When I volunteer in the community, I get a unique perspective to the challenges and successes our organizations face in Senate District 15. These experiences have given me a purpose for civic engagement and in finding solutions to better the place I call home. I am so honored to be your Senator in Senate District 15. I pride myself on being accessible and hope that you will reach out and get involved in the legislative process.

Senator Lynn Findley has deep roots in Eastern Oregon. He grew up on a small farm in Malheur County, where his family has lived for three generations. Lynn has been married to his wife, Shelley, for 44 years. 

During the 2021 Legislative Session, Lynn was elected by his colleagues to serve as the Senate Republican Assistant Leader. He is currently serving on the Joint Task Force on Student Success for Underrepresented Students in Higher Education, Emergency Board, Emergency Board Education Subcommittee, Joint Interim Committee on Gambling Regulation, Global Warming Commission, Senate Energy and Environment, Senate Finance and Revenue, Re-Build Task Force,  and Joint Transportation Committee. 

Prior to his tenure in the legislature, Lynn worked for Fire and Aviation Management within the Bureau of Land Management for 32 years, giving him extensive program management and budgeting experience developing local, regional, and national budgets with BLM.

He previously served as Vale City Manager from 2012-2017. During that time, he was able to secure funding for an $8.5 million water system upgrade to the municipal system, which brought the city water into compliance with safe drinking water standards. He has also served on the Malheur County Planning Commission, Lakeview City Planning Commission, Malheur County Rural Lands Committee, Southeast Area Commission on Transportation, and the Malheur County Economic Development Board.

Senator Findley represents Senate District 30 which encompasses Malheur, Harney, Grant, Baker, Wheeler, and Jefferson Counties, and parts of Lake, Wasco, Deschutes, Clackamas, and Marion Counties. He served as the state representative for House District 60 from 2018-2020 before being appointed to the Senate in January 2020 and elected in November 2020.​

1:30 pm

Empowering Rural Communities through Renewable Energy and Economic Diversification

This engaging segment focuses on empowering rural communities by harnessing the potential of renewable energy and economic diversification. By focusing on the educational pathway for “green jobs” in rural Oregon, we’re able to highlight the importance of continuing education, economic growth and job creation in the ever-changing climate & energy landscape.

Dr. Dana M. Young has served as the sixth and the first female president of Treasure Valley Community College since July 2010. As a first generation student, Dr. Young personally understands the challenges encountered by many students and has dedicated her career to supporting student success. Under her leadership, and with her more than 20 years of administrative experience working in higher education, she collaborated with college constituency groups and community stakeholders to create an environment of data driven decision-making and ultimately a multi-year strategic plan that connects to the mission of TVCC.

During her tenure TVCC has been successful in its application and receipt of numerous competitive federal, state, local, and private grants. Specifically, the successful acquisition of federal HEP, CAMP, and Title III grants. Dr. Young’s vision for TVCC is to continue to be the first choice and the right choice for students by offering quality and affordable academic, career, workforce training and student success programs, creating a culture of inclusiveness, and promoting safety and security on campus. Part of this vision included building state of the art facilities to enhance the student learning environment. Because of a tradition of community and state support, the Laura Moore Cunningham Science Center was built in 2012 and starting in 2020 the groundbreaking and construction of a new Career and Technical Education Center will further enhance current and future programming opportunities. Through collaborative efforts the College has made significant strides in building relationships with business and industry, K-12 schools, municipalities, agencies, and other institutions of higher education to prepare for future growth and ensure community educational needs are met.

Dr. Young is actively engaged with the TVCC Foundation to cultivate donor relations and establish on-going endowments for future generations of students. As such, in 2014, Dr. Young created an endowed scholarship in memorial to her mother who was a student in the college’s nursing program in the 1970s. In 2020, Dr. Young created the Dr. Dana M. Young Presidential Scholarship an endowed scholarship to support women pursuing a career in leadership. She continues to support and advocate for the mission of the Foundation to improve the quality of life for students by creating scholarships and enhancing the environment for student life and activities.

Before coming to TVCC, Dr. Young spent seven years as the Vice President of Student Affairs at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming. Prior to moving to Wyoming, Young worked at Blue Mountain Community College for more than 17 years. At BMCC she held several leadership positions including Vice President/Dean of Student & Enrollment Services, Associate Dean of Enrollment Services and Director of Financial Aid.

Dr. Young earned her PhD in Higher Education Leadership from Colorado State University, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Portland State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics from Eastern Oregon University. Dr. Young’s advocacy for Oregon community colleges has included meeting regularly with legislators to advocate for community colleges as well as focusing on current legislation that may impact higher education. Dr. Young currently serves as a member of the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission’s Equity Committee, the Governor appointed regional Eastern Oregon Border Economic Development Board, the Eastern Oregon Workforce Board, the Snake River Economic Development Association, the Eastern Oregon Economic Summit steering committee, the Ontario Area Chamber of Commerce, Lifeways, Inc. as well as other regional and local boards. In 2020, Dr. Young was honored and recognized for her long-standing work in higher education and received the prestigious Oregon Community College Association Howard Cherry Administrator of the Year award.

Dr. Camille (Cam) Preus is the retired Executive Director of the Oregon Community College Association, where she represented the 17 Oregon community colleges as the primary voice on legislative and regulatory issues at the state and federal level, and advocated for state-level leadership for student success and fostered partnerships to further community college interests.

She is the former President of Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) from 2013 to 2018. She serves on numerous regional/national boards that champion and advocate for increasing opportunities for post-secondary education. Cam has held other leadership roles in Oregon in community colleges & workforce development at both state and local levels.

Cam graduated from Cumberland College (TN), Middle Tennessee State University, earned an MSBA from Indiana University and received her doctorate in Community College Leadership from Oregon State University.

Dr. Benjamin Merrill, the Dean of Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC) in Ontario, Oregon, has over twenty-three years of leadership experience in education, ranging from K-12 to higher education. His career is distinguished by roles as a teacher, administrator, and college dean, reflecting his comprehensive expertise and commitment to advancing educational practices. Notably, he became one of Idaho’s youngest school district superintendents, earning the Idaho Business Review 40 Under 40 award at 30 and recognition as a ‘Digital Native’ by EdWeek Magazine.

In 2021, Dr. Merrill joined Treasure Valley Community College as the Director of the Caldwell, Idaho, outreach center. He later accepted an appointment as Interim Dean of Career and Technical Education and in 2023, the college removed the interim title. 

 

 

Dr. Merrill’s commitment to underrepresented student advancement is exemplified by his creation of the CTE Go-On Scholarship. This initiative strategically supports priority populations, providing them with opportunities to pursue high-demand, high-wage CTE careers at TVCC. The scholarship offers the financial support necessary for their educational and career aspirations. Dr. Merrill is the lead for TVCC in the development and implementation of the Renewable Energy Limited Renewable Energy Technician Apprenticeship Program. His research and coordination of the LRT will significantly upskill the current electrical apprenticeship program at TVCC. 

 

Beyond his role at TVCC, Dr. Merrill serves as the chairman of the City of Ontario Oregon Diversity Advisory Committee, a position he has held for two years.His passion for education, coupled with his dedication to workforce development and community involvement, continues to drive his work at Treasure Valley Community College and beyond.

 

Tim Seydel graduated from EOU in 1989 and serves as Vice President for University Advancement which includes government relations and public affairs, communications and marketing, and the EOU Foundation and the Alumni Association. Tim returned to his alma mater in 1999 as Director of University Relations after working in higher education in Montana and Iowa, and in 2009 he was appointed EOU’s first Advancement VP. He has been appointed by two governors to serve as chair of the Northeast Oregon Regional Solutions Advisory Committee and is active in community organizations, including the Northeast Oregon Economic Development District Board and the Union County Economic Development Corporation, and is a current member and past president of the La Grande Noon Rotary Club. Tim was born and raised in La Grande and enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. He is an active runner, cyclist, mountain biker, skier, and scuba diver.

Dr. Tricia Mooney has served as the superintendent of Hermiston School District since 2017, the largest school district in Eastern Oregon. She has extensive experience in education as an assistant superintendent, director of human resources, adjunct professor, principal of an elementary school, and principal of a middle school, as well as a teacher of Title I and sixth grade. During her 28 years in education, she has devoted herself to teaching, and learning, and is a relentless advocate for achievement for all students. The district offers various educational opportunities for students from kindergarten through grade twelve, from foundational learning skills to comprehensive vocational programs to an extensive array of postsecondary college credit-bearing programs. In a nationally recognized community that embraces its diversity, the district serves some 28,000 residents, where one-third of the population is Hispanic. Student success has driven Superintendent Mooney’s commitment to provide multiple pathways for students after graduation.

Education

Dr. Mooney’s passion for education was evident from the beginning. From the moment she stepped into a classroom as a student teacher, she knew she had found her calling. Her ability to establish a safe and respectful classroom environment played a major role in her success in the classroom, which led her to obtain a leadership role and advocate for students both inside and outside the classroom. Superintendent Mooney’s undergraduate studies were conducted at Northwestern College Orange City, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Her education was furthered at Washington State University, where she received a master’s degree in educational leadership. Moreover, she successfully defended her dissertation at Northcentral University, where she received an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. 

Community Involvement

Superintendent Mooney believes that a community that works together can provide students with the highest quality education and care. Dr. Mooney is highly regarded throughout the state and serves on the statewide Quality Education Commission. In the past to serving as president of the Oregon School Personnel Association, she is a member of Oregon’s Educator Effectiveness Group. Her responsibilities include providing expert advice on educator training and professional development to the Oregon Department of Education and other state policymakers. As a driving force in her community, Dr. Mooney serves on the Hermiston Education Foundation and Kiwanis, organizations devoted to encouraging an outward mindset and supporting our community, students, and teachers.  

Leadership 

In 2019, the HSD secured passage of an $82.7 million capital improvement bond that would replace Rocky Heights Elementary School, added a new Elementary School now known as Loma Vista Elementary School, and Annex at Hermiston High School. Furthermore, the district has installed new safety and security measures in all buildings across the district to help ensure the safety of our students and staff. Student enrollment has been at an all-time high under Dr. Mooney’s leadership. The district has strategically invested in learning with the adoption of instructional materials for K-5 reading and mathematics, giving students a guaranteed and viable curriculum. The commitment of Dr. Mooney to provide multiple pathways for students beyond graduation has established Hermiston School District as an innovative district at the 2021 Model Schools Conference. The district now has a Strategic plan to ensure equitable outcomes for students, and graduation rates have been at a steady rate under Superintendent Mooney.  As a superintendent, Dr. Mooney is committed to supporting the people who support the people who make magic happen in classrooms. She is committed to the district’s vision. Future Focused: Building Knowledge and Skills for Tomorrow.  

Business

Dr. Mooney has prior experience working as a community liaison and program manager, which equipped her with the ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Her ability to provide insight and build strong relationships with the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation has resulted in developing a social studies curriculum that is tailored to the history of the local tribe as well as adding a heritage language program at Pendleton Early Learning Center, which was successfully opened in 2015. Her experience also includes working with the district’s superintendent as well as its director of business services. The result of this was the issuance of a $50 million capital improvement bond for the replacement of two elementary schools and the construction of an educational learning center. The commitment of Dr. Mooney to provide multiple pathways for students beyond graduation has established Hermiston School District as an innovative district at the 2021 Model Schools Conference. Superintendent Mooney remains close to the business community as part of the Hermiston Kiwanis and Hermiston Education Foundation Member. 

Scott McConnell, Ph.D.,was named Dean of the College of Business at Eastern Oregon University In April 2024, and has taught business and economics at EOU since 2012. Scott received his master’s and doctorate in economics from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and holds a bachelor’s in economics from Portland State University. Scott is also founder and co-owner of Side A Brewing in La Grande, Oregon and is active in the local community. With a background in both academia and the business sector, Scott is committed to applying theoretical knowledge to practical challenges and extends that philosophy to research interests, including macroeconomic theory, environmental economics, and public policy. When he is not in the classroom or managing a brew pub, Scott enjoys spending time with family, all things economics, sports, fly fishing, music, and motorcycles.  

2:30 pm

Integrating Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge with Climate-Smart Technology

This segment focuses on the pivotal role of traditional and Indigenous knowledge in shaping sustainable futures, particularly through its integration with climate-smart technologies. We will focus on what it means for river vision, restoring native plants, and prescribed burns while emphasizing that the nexus of any future planning centers on prioritizing any environmental impact.

Monica Paradise is a Business Development & Tax Project Manager for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).

Monica is an enrolled CTUIR tribal member. She has worked for CTUIR for six years in various financial capacities allowing her to work with multiple CTUIR departments and external grant agencies. This experience has led her to develop an excellent knowledge base of grant management, compliance, and target budgets while adhering to federal, state, and tribal rules and regulations. She has a well-rounded educational background in business, accounting, and law. Monica holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration-Accounting Concentration and a Master Legal Studies-Indigenous People’s Law. Monica is an individual who is committed and detail-oriented, adheres to policy, and reaches benchmarks to achieve goals and objectives. She is passionate about the tribal, local, and regional communities and welcomes the opportunity to deliver economic growth and strengthen tribal sovereignty and sufficiency.

Justin Northern is the Director of Public Works for the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation. Justin has served the CTUIR for two years in his role as Director and member of the tribe’s Energy Strategy Team, Capital Improvements Committee, Housing Development Team and Tribal Representative for O.D.O.T Northeast Area Commission on Transportation. He brings an extensive background in civil construction with over 10 years of experience in the development and implementation of municipal infrastructure. Justin is a civil engineering technician holding licensure in water distribution and the treatment and collection of wastewater. Justin has attained a well-rounded subject matter expertise in his career field focused primarily on the replacement, rehabilitation, operations, and maintenance of dilapidated infrastructure that serves municipal communities. Justin is a passionate leader in promoting and implementing renewable and energy-efficient infrastructure to sustain and foster continued progress by strengthening tribal sovereignty through ecologically responsible and resilient economic and community development.

With 39 years of financial management experience, Mr. Tovey has worked for the Umatilla Tribes for the last 35 years.

He oversees 30 staff members, including Economic and Tax Administration, Construction Development, Land Acquisition, Farming Enterprise, and Solid Waste. He oversees the land acquisition program, which has acquired over 90,000 acres of trust and fee properties both on and off the reservation, including one of the first Tribes to sign a cooperative agreement with the Land Buy Back Program (LBBP).  The total investment in land purchases has exceeded $100M.

Up to 2002, Mr. Tovey was involved as project lead on the majority of the development of the Tribe’s Wildhorse Casino and Resort. This $60M investment includes a Casino, World-Class Museum, Golf Course, Hotel, the Tribes i, and RV Park.

Mr. Tovey completed the Coyote Business Park infrastructure that included over 200 acres of commercial and industrial land with over $7M in Tribal, federal and state funding.  Planned and developed Cayuse Technologies, Davita Dialysis, Kenworth Trucking facility, Arrowhead Travel Plaza, Umatilla Forest Service and Preparedness building totaling an additional $30M in construction.

Lead on the $28M health facility opened in 2018 and the $26M education facility including a 9-12 high school opened in 2019.  Over the last 5 years, worked on Tribal Housing needs with the opening of 100 units half as rentals and the other half as lots ready for home ownership development for a total investment of $25M.

Working on Reservation broadband with funding of $17M and energy projects mainly on wind and solar with a focus on Net Zero.

  Professional Experience 

 

Eric Quaempts has served as the Director for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) Department of Natural Resources (DNR) since 2004. Prior to working for CTUIR, Eric spent eight years as a Wildlife Biologist in the CTUIR DNR’s Wildlife Program and eight years on the Umatilla National Forest where his career development included inter-disciplinary rotations in Forestry, Wildlife, Range, Reforestation, Fisheries, and Fire Management Programs on the Walla Walla Ranger District.                              

 

 

As the CTUIR’s DNR Director, he developed and implemented the First Foods management approach in 2006/07 and has since directed the implementation of the CTUIR DNR’s River and Upland Visions to facilitate First Foods. In implementing the mission, he oversees Administration, Cultural Resources Protection, Water Resources, Fisheries, Wildlife, Range/Ag, Forestry, Energy and Environmental Sciences, and First Foods Policy programs, who work throughout a geographically extensive and diverse area of Tribal rights and interests. 

Eric has served on the Oregon Water Resources Commission for about seven years, and currently serves as Commission Chair. 

In August of 2023, the Ecological Society of America recognized Eric with its ’s 2023 “Regional Policy Award,” which “recognizes an elected or appointed policymaker with an outstanding record of informing decision-making with ecological science.” The CTUIR is the first Tribal organization, and Eric the first Tribal member, to receive the award in its 16-year history.  He has been recognized by the Potlatch Foundation (2011) Billy Frank Jr. award) and Eco Trust (2014) for Indigenous leadership. 

Education

 

Eric earned his Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science from Oregon State University in 1990 and has a professional certification in Fire and Land Management with graduate level credits from Colorado State University.

Personal

 

An enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Eric has spent most of his life living on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, where his cultural and personal experiences contributed to the development of the CTUIR’s First Foods management approach. 

Eric’s personal interests include family (his daughter, Sascha, is 14), fly-fishing, photography, biking, traveling, cooking, and eating.  

 

3:30 pm

Networking Break

3:45 pm

Tourism and Recreation in Sustainable Rural Oregon

This session focuses on encouraging eco-tourism and sustainable recreational activities in rural areas. It highlights the economic advantages of projecting a green and environmentally conscious image for rural regions. By promoting eco-friendly tourism and emphasizing the value of preserving natural resources, this segment aims to showcase how rural Oregon can harness its scenic beauty and sustainable practices to attract visitors and boost its local economy, all while preserving its natural charm and resources.

Susan Bower grew up in a small town in Ohio and moved with her husband and two children to the Pacific Northwest in 2002 to begin a career teaching at the college level for Whitworth University.    

 

Susan works for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in the Economic and Community Development department recruiting new business and industry to the region.  She is a former small business owner (2006-2023) through which she was a strategic business advisor for organizations of all sizes, non-profits, and governments.  Susan has held leadership roles in Ohio, Washington, and Oregon and has served on numerous boards that promote family, business, and community.  She was as an executive leader for Bank One Corporation for 13 years.  

 

Susan graduated from Otterbein College (OH), earned an MBA from John Carroll University (OH) and is currently taking economic and community development classes at The University of Oklahoma.

Born in John Day, Oregon, she moved to Pendleton, Oregon in 1988, where most of her father’s family is from. Her heritage to the Pendleton community goes back well over 100 years. Cheri serves as your Chief Executive Officer for the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce, where she is dedicated to improving workforce development, housing, economic vitality, tourism and other crucial areas. Cheri works closely with business owners, city, county, and state officials, as well as both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Her experience and expertise have made her an asset to her community, and she is committed to promoting growth and development in the area. With her leadership and vision, the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce has become a vital hub for the community, fostering connections between businesses and individuals, and promoting economic growth and prosperity.

“I love Pendleton, Oregon. I believe it’s “the last best place” left. I’m happiest on a horse but my role in tourism is fascinating. I am committed to Pendleton’s future in tourism.” 

 

Pendleton Convention Center Manager and Vert Theater 2017 – 2018

 

Market and sell the Pendleton Convention Center to event planners, organizations, associations and promoters. I manage the day to day operations of the two facilities and hands on with events planners during the events they host at the Convention Center and Vert. Part of the responsibility of hosting events here is then marketing the attractions, lodging, shopping and restaurants of our community. I am committed to making Pendleton a tourism centric community. I partner with the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce, Pendleton Downtown Association, Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon as well as other community organizations to bring more events here.   The Convention Center is home to over 500. events annually. 

 

Event Recruiter – Travel Pendleton/Pendleton Chamber of Commerce. November 2013 – 2017

 

Create and recruit new events to Pendleton that will increase overnight stays. Additionally promoting tourism and marketing Pendleton as a destination. The brightest spot on Pendleton’s economic future is tourism and helping others understand the importance of tourism energizes me. I have helped create or work on many of Pendleton’s significant events. 

 

General Manager – Hamley and Company. January 2005 – March of 2011

 

Managing the sales and creative team for a legacy western store and leather shop. The shop welcomed guests from across the US and internationally. There was a team of 12 bespoke craftsmen creating custom items from leather and silver. 

 

Arena King Sports, LLC – Owner and manager.  2000 – 2008

 

Arena King Sports, LLC produced events including bull ridings, horse sales and corporate entertainment. I produced up to 20 events per year and prepared high quality geldings for sales in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana

 

Grant Director/Head Rodeo Coach – Walla Walla Community College 1992 – 2000

 

I directed a US Department of Education grant that mandated alcohol and drug abuse prevention for the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. The NIRA has over 100 college rodeos per year, 3,500 student members and 137 member colleges and universities. I developed alternative events during rodeos to create an option to bars and partying and created healthy lifestyle choice plans that I marketed to the athletes and their coaches. I was the head coach of WWCC’s nationally ranked rodeo team. I recruited athletes and traveled with the varsity teams for 8 years. We qualified for the NIRA National Finals each of my years and I coached several national champions.

Partner – Beard Rodeo Company 1980 – 2008

Partner in a Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association stock contracting firm that produced 40 plus events annually across the western United States. We produced large events including the Pendleton Round-Up from 1987- 2008.  

 

 

 

Bobbie is the director of Tamástslikt (Tah-MAHST-slickt) Cultural Institute, the 45,000 square foot tribally-owned museum on the Umatilla Reservation near Pendleton, Oregon, which opened in 1998.  The Institute serves three goals:  to accurately present the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla peoples’ history, to perpetuate knowledge of their history and culture, and to contribute to the Tribal economy.

 

Bobbie is Cayuse, Umatilla, and Nez Perce, is enrolled at the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla, and is a graduate of the University of Oregon and Willamette University’s Graduate School of Management.

 

She co-authored a chapter in As Days Go By (2006), the CTUIR history book; penned a chapter in Lewis and Clark through Indian Eyes (2006, editor Alvin Josephy); authored an introduction for Pendleton Round-Up at 100 (2009); wrote the introduction to the Treaty Edition of The Cayuse Indians Imperial Tribesmen of Old Oregon (2005); and was an editor and contributor to Cáw Pawá Láakni, They Are Not Forgotten, the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla native place names atlas published in October 2015.

 

She serves on the Oregon Historical Society Board of Trustees and the Ecotrust, Oregon Community Foundation, and Nixyáawii Community Financial Services Boards of Directors. 

 

She chaired the Board of Trustees for the National Museum of the American Indian for two years during service from 2008 to 2014 and served on the Board of Directors for the American Alliance of Museums simultaneously.

Nastassja ‘Staj’ Olson joined Travel Oregon in 2013. In her role as Destination Services Manager, Staj supports the agency’s development and stewardship of outdoor recreation visitor experiences across the state. By inspiring and facilitating communities’ engagement in Travel Oregon programming, such as Destination Ready, Oregon Trails Fund, Oregon Recreation Maps and more, Staj’s work helps Oregon remain a competitive, accessible, and regenerative travel destination for generations to come. Staj received her Bachelor of Arts from Lewis & Clark College, a Leadership in Sustainability Certification from the University of Oregon and is a graduate member of AmeriCorps. When not working, Staj can be found doing house projects or adventuring with her two young kids, dog and husband.

 

Maryelizabeth Garcia is the daughter of French immigrants; her mother, aunt, and grandmother emigrated from France in the 1960s, and she is very proud of her heritage. Maryelizabeth was born and raised, for the most part, in the Walla Walla Valley. She graduated from Wa-Hi in 2005 and graduated from Walla Walla University with a Bachelor of Social Work degree in 2015. Maryelizabeth is a US Navy Veteran where she decommissioned a ship, and commissioned a ship, which makes her a Plankowner and a Golden Shellback, which are high honors in Naval traditions. Maryelizabeth has an 11-year-old son and two darling cats.

 

4:45 pm

Closing: Envisioning a Sustainable and Prosperous Rural Oregon

As we draw our summit to a close, this segment will serve as a reflective recap of the pivotal discussions, innovative strategies, and collective insights shared throughout our journey together. We will revisit the key themes addressed in each segment, from advancing sustainable agriculture and renewable energy to fostering resilient infrastructure, eco-tourism, and the integration of traditional knowledge with modern technology. This closing session is an opportunity to synthesize the wealth of knowledge and inspiration we’ve garnered, setting the stage for actionable steps forward. Attendees will leave with a cohesive vision of how rural Oregon can navigate the challenges and opportunities of sustainability and prosperity. Join us as we consolidate our learnings and commitment to transforming rural Oregon into a model of sustainable development, resilience, and community empowerment for the future.

Over the last 20+ years Bobby has enthusiastically planned, designed and hosted numerous parties and events; including graduations, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, retirement and holiday parties for family and friends. Since 2006, Bobby has been planning and hosting political parties and introductions where candidates, government officials, business leaders, as well as state department directors, have come to Umatilla, Morrow and Wallowa Counties to get to know and be known by the people of Eastern Oregon. Bobby is passionate about rural Eastern Oregon and sharing information and successes with all of Oregon.

Bobby received her MBA from Portland State University in 1995, as well as an MTE from Eastern Oregon University in 1999.

She is one of the five founding members of Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition. Bobby is the past Chair of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission, serving an eight-year term on the commision. Bobby has served on numerous boards and committees and is a member of the Greater Hermiston Chamber of Commerce and the Hermiston Government Affairs Team, as well as a member of the Umatilla County Budget committee. She is a past member of the Umatilla County Housing Authority Board. In addition to her work with EOWC, Bobby also raises sheep and Large Breed Guardian dogs for predator protection for sheep producers in the Northwest. Along with her business partner Joe Benner, BJ’s LGD Spike Collars, she is producing and selling spike collars to LGD owners all over the US and Canada for predator protection.

Bobby is currently in her third term as Oregon State Representative for District 58.

Lodging Options

Oxford Suites Hermiston

1050 N 1st St, Hermiston, OR 97838

541-564-8000
Cut-Off Date: June 7th
Book by calling directly and ask for a room in the Eastern Oregon Economic Summit Block.

Comfort Inn Hermiston

77514 S Hwy 207, Hermiston, OR 97838

541-564-9511
Cut Off Date: June 1st
Group Name: Eastern Oregon Economic Summit
Group Number: CR97F4

Holiday Inn Express & Suites

241 N 1st St, Hermiston, OR 97838

541-585-5656
Cut-Off Date: June 19th
Call to books directly and reference the Eastern Oregon Economic Summit.

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