Melinda Gross is the new director of cultural change at the state Department of Administrative Services. She was senior racial equity facilitator and consultant at the Center for Equity and Inclusion in Portland.

Gov. Tina Kotek appointed attorney Sara Collins to the Jackson County Circuit Court to replace Judge Joseph M. Charter, who retired.

The Oregon Senate on Friday confirmed Kotek’s nominations of David Gerstenfeld as director of the Oregon Employment Department and Jonna Papaefthimiou as state resilience officer, along with numerous appointments to state boards and commissions.

Willamette Week reports that former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan has returned to her previous employer, HKM Employment Attorneys LLP, but will not actually practice law until she is reinstated by a bar association.

Michael Parker, longtime executive director of Oregon Savings Network at the Oregon Treasury, is now senior vice president at Vestwell.

After four-plus years, Sam Spencer left the Oregon State Treasury, where she was an investment officer handling real estate. She’ll be joining the Alberta Investment Management Corp., which is owned by the Canadian province of Alberta.

Former Oregon House Speaker Lynn Snodgrass is stepping down as CEO of the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce, a position she has held since 2015. Small-business owner Stayce Blume takes over as CEO on July 5. A Republican state representative for six years, Snodgrass served as speaker during 1999-2000.

The Bonneville Power Administration named Marcus Harris as executive vice president and chief financial officer. He held that role on an acting basis since 2021, overseeing BPA’s approximate $1 billion annual capital budget and nearly $4 billion operating budget.