Oregon insiders: Who’s who in and around state government

Published 3:00 pm Thursday, May 2, 2024

The 2024 Legislature substantially increased the staff of the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development. Among the new hires and promotions:

Josh Hardage was hired for the new position of assistant director/ chief operating officer. He has worked for state agencies since 2003, most recently as policy, rules and contracts manager for Business Oregon.

Palmer Mason, who was senior policy adviser, was promoted to the new role of interagency policy coordinator.

Alexis Hammer was promoted to legislative and policy manager from legislative coordinator.

Legislative intern Aurora Dziadul was hired as a legislative and policy analyst.

Tyler Potter was hired as human resources manager, moving from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. He replaces Taylor Sorgenfrie, who went to the Department of Administrative Services as senior statewide HR management consultant.

Allison Daniel is filling a limited duration position as interim legislative director at DAS while Meliah Masiba is on a job rotation to work with first lady Aimee Kotek Wilson in the Governor’s Office. Daniel has been policy and legislative analyst at the Department of State Lands for two years.

The new administrator at the Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots is Kim Oster, the longtime compliance coordinator at the Oregon Board of Pharmacy.

Bryan Hockaday, who was one of Gov. Kate Brown’s press secretaries, joined the Oregon Department of Energy as public affairs specialist. His duties will include hosting DOE’s “Grounded” podcast. Since leaving Brown’s staff in 2018, Hockaday has worked for Lyft, Seattle’s mayor, the Oregon Legislature and Clackamas County.

Two state executives received national information technology awards this week from Scoop News Group. Terrence Woods, state chief information officer, was among recipients of the GoldenGov: State Executive of the Year Award. Jennifer Bjerke, deputy state chief information officer, was a winner of the State Leadership of the Year Award.

The Civics Learning Project honored former Gov. Barbara Roberts as its 2024 Legal Citizen of the Year.

Benton County Circuit Judge Locke A. Williams is retiring July 1. Gov. Tina Kotek, who will appoint his successor, is accepting applications until May 22.

Thomas Baker is joining Crosswater Strategies next week as vice president. He has been at the Oregon Environmental Council, where he was the legislative director and lead state lobbyist; was vice president of government and regulatory affairs at Comcast; and was a top aide for Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland.

Susan Allen, who was a government relations specialist for the Oregon School Employees Association, moved to Oregon AFSCME Council 75 as a political coordinator.

Alex Cuyler retired this week as Lane County’s intergovernmental relations manager. For 15 years, he represented Lane County before the Legislature.

After more than six years as deputy director of the Oregon Family Support Network, the largest family peer organization in the state, Tammi Paul was promoted to executive director.

Pacific Power appointed Ryan Flynn of Lake Oswego as its new president. As chief legal officer and senior vice president, Flynn oversaw the legal, communications and government affairs teams.