• 2019 Conference Speakers

  • Keynote Speakers

  • Shari Pash

    Shari Pash

    Shari Pash is founder of Strategic Solutions for Growth, a training company headquartered in Lansing, MI. Shari works with Chambers of Commerce, non-profit organizations, and associations in 27 states and throughout Canada. Through her hands-on work she is changing the culture and way organizations approach membership recruitment, engagement, and retention. She provides a customized multi-step process and program with proven success. Client outcomes continue to excel through the implementation of foundational tools and reports that have proven success with measurements for growth. In addition to this work, Shari conducts board of director planning and goals setting sessions, and works with organizations to develop and recruit volunteers.


     

  • JL Wilson

    JL Wilson

    J.L. Wilson is the principal of Public Affairs Counsel. He comes with a 20-year history in public affairs and lobbying as past Executive Director of NFIB/Oregon and past Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Associated Oregon Industries. Wilson has been a full-time lobbyist representing primarily business interests since 2000. Prior to that, he served as Legislative Director for two Speakers of the Oregon House.


     

  • Jenny Dresler

    Jenny Dresler

    Jenny Dresler is the Director of Grassroots and lobbyist at Public Affairs Counsel. She previously served as Director of State Public Policy at the Oregon Farm Bureau, where she oversaw the execution of OFB’s statewide legislative agenda. She is also renowned as one of the state’s best advocates on natural resource issues. She began her professional career as an aide to U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) in Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in biology and a Master’s degree in environmental science with a focus on general business.


     

  • Chris Eyler

    Chris Eyler

    Chris Eyler is executive director of the Northwest Region in the Congressional and Public Affairs Division at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He represents the Chamber throughout the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming and helps develop and implement the Chamber’s grassroots, legislative, and political activities in the area. He works closely with state and local chambers and members of Congress in his region to further the legislative priorities of the Chamber.


     

  • Sue Rieke-Smith

    Sue Rieke-Smith

    Dr. Sue Rieke-Smith has served nearly 20 years as a champion for public schools. She currently serves as the superintendent for the Tigard-Tualatin School District, overseeing the daily operations of 10 Elementary Schools, two middle schools and three high school programs as well as the delivery of PreK-12 academic services to more than 12,000 students.

    In addition to her work as superintendent, she serves as adjunct faculty for the Pre-Administrator Licensure Program for the University of Oregon College of Education. In 2019, she was appointed by Governor Kate Brown to the Oregon Educators Benefits Board.


     

  • Coyte Cooper

    Coyte Cooper, PhD

    Dr. Coyte Cooper is a bestselling author, international speaker and high performance coach who is one of the premier experts in the area of leadership and maximizing human potential.  A former NCAA Division I All-American, college professor and the CEO of Ollin Leadership, Dr. Cooper has worked closely with thousands of proactive professionals the past few years to develop a unique transformational system that helps audience members radically enhance their clarity, focus, ENERGY, motivation, passion and results on a consistent daily basis. 


  • Industry Speakers

  • Jason Brandt

    Jason Brandt

    Jason Brandt is the President & CEO of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. His expertise revolves around association management and government affairs work at the state and local levels. His vision for the hospitality industry is to continue to build upon the significant tourism growth Oregon has seen over the past decade by helping lead advocacy, communication, and education efforts for restaurants and lodging establishments.

    Prior to joining Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association as President & CEO in 2015, Jason served as the CEO of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. Jason earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Communication from Pacific Lutheran University. He received a post-graduate certification in Nonprofit Organizational Management from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute Program.


     

  • Lesley Ogden

    Lesley Ogden

    Dr. Lesley Ogden has worked at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital since 2006, first as an emergency department physician and then as the assistant emergency department director.

    From September 2013 to December 2015, she served as the chief operations officer of the hospital while continuing to practice as an emergency medicine physician. In December 2015, she was promoted to chief executive officer. In July 2017, she was also named chief executive officer of Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital, after serving as interim CEO for about six months. Dr. Ogden has served for many years as the president of the medical staff of Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital and as a trustee on the North Lincoln Hospital Foundation Board.


     

  • Breakout Speakers

  • Linda Moholt

    Linda Moholt

    Linda grew up in Tillamook and Cottage Grove. After graduating from Oregon State University majoring in Business, she spent 21.5 years in the Meier & Frank Corp in purchasing. After M&F closed, she was a community volunteer helping to start the Tualatin School House Pantry, bringing the Medical Team Intl. Dental Van to Tualatin, and a free clinic, the Essential Health Clinic, to Tigard. Following the 2008 recession, she returned to work as the CEO with the Tualatin Chamber. In September, 2018 she celebrated 10 years with the Chamber. “It’s been a pleasure to lead this organization of like-minded business professionals and see that together we really make a difference!” Linda has lived in Tualatin for 31 years with husband Ron and children Lauren and Spencer. Her hobbies include gardening, reading, and volunteering.


     

  • Sara Zwicker

    Sara Zwicker

    Sara Zwicker is the Community Director for HillHub. 


     

  • Salam Noor

    Salam Noor

    Salam Noor is currently President and CEO of Education Consultants International, LLC and education consultant with Mountain West Investments working on school innovation partnerships between communities and schools. Prior to this role, he served as the Oregon Chief State Schools Officer, Director of University Policy and Education with the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. He also served as the Assistant Superintendent with Salem Keizer School District and Assistant State Superintendent for the Oregon Department of Education.


     

  • Chuck Lee

    Chuck Lee

    Chuck Lee is President of Mountain West Career Technical Institute. 

    He is leading the development of the Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) a state of the art high school capstone program in high demand, high wage career pathways. CTEC was developed through a public private partnership between Mountain West Investment Corp. and the Salem Keizer School District. 


     

  • Brenda Buratti

    Brenda Buratti

    Brenda Buratti is the Emmy award-winning marketing director for Portland’s KGW Media Group. She oversees the marketing and brand management for KGW’s television station, website, and social media.  She’s spent a career increasing audiences across all platforms by vetting and creating stories that entertain, inform, and inspire.  She’s been recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Northwest Chapter for significant contributions to the industry and has been named a Woman of Influence by the Portland Business Journal.  She has a master’s degree in Strategic Communication from the University of Oregon and is a member of the National Speakers Association.


     

  • Robert Killen

    Robert Killen

    Robert Killen is a fifth generation Oregonian with a far-reaching professional history. Over the past five years, Robert supported businesses both on the board and staff at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. During that time he designed business support programs, consulted with businesses owners on a multitude of topics, and supported the Chamber at it strengthened its impact and reputation in the community. Robert is also a passionate instructor of organizational identity, culture, communication and storytelling.

    Today, as Director of the Lane Small Business Development Center, Robert leads a team of advisors helping businesses launch, grow and thrive. 

  • Andrew Grossmann

    Andrew Grossmann

    Andrew serves as the Destination Development Manager for Travel Oregon. In this position Andrew works directly with communities across Oregon to help realize their potential for tourism and protect what makes them unique as a destination. Prior to joining Travel Oregon, Andrew served as the Director of Partnerships for Sustainable Travel International.