The Oregon Youth Authority filled two key positions. Jamie Pang, who is OYA’s government relations and public policy manager, previously was senior environmental health program director at the Oregon Environmental Council. William Howell, the new communications director, had been communications director and executive speechwriter for Portland Public Schools.

The Legislature’s BIPOC Caucus selected Theresa Mai as its new policy adviser. Mai has worked for Reps. Hai Pham, D-Hillsboro, and Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham.

House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, appointed Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Stayton, to the Pacific Northwest Economic Region Compact, replacing Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany.

Rep. Courtney Neron, D-Wilsonville, will serve on the Council of State Governments Education Committee.

Former legislative aide Johnmartin Sherman-Lewis moved to the University of Oregon’s Office of Government and Community Relations as its communication director. He was budget and research director at the Oregon Council of Presidents after serving state Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, as legislative assistant and communications director.

Lobbyist Lori Sattenspiel will work on contract for the Oregon School Boards Association, having retired June 30 as legislative services director. She also plans to do contract work for the Oregon Association of Education School Districts and the Oregon School Activities Association. Sattenspiel joined OSBA in 2007.

Meredith Connolly is now director of policy and strategy for Climate Solutions. She had been Oregon director for the Northwest-based organization.

Gov. Tina Kotek appointed attorney Elizabeth R. Lemoine as the 16th Washington County circuit judge, filling a judicial position created by the Legislature this year. Kotek appointed Michael J. Riedel to the Multnomah County Family Court, replacing retiring Judge Susan Svetkey. Riedel received 98% of the vote in the May primary.

Compassion & Choices on Wednesday gave retiring Congressman Earl Blumenauer, D-3rd District, an award for “exceptional and vital contributions to the end-of-life care movement” since coming to Congress in 1996. Blumenauer also recently received a lifetime achievement award from No One Left Behind for his leadership of the Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visas program.

Megan Pratt, assistant professor of practice at Oregon State University, testified Tuesday before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. Pratt leads the Oregon Child Care Research Partnership. Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, who chairs the committee, convened the hearing on “Examining the State of Child Care: How Federal Policy Solutions Can Support Families, Close Existing Gaps and Strengthen Economic Growth.”

The state’s chief information officer, Terrence Woods, moved up to board chair of Link Oregon, “the middle-mile broadband service provider for Oregon’s nonprofit and public sectors.” He was vice chair. Abhijit Pandit, vice president and chief information officer at the University of Oregon, is vice chair and chair-elect.

Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone is the new chair of the State Interoperability Executive Council, replacing Bob Cozzie, director of the Portland 911 Bureau of Emergency Communications. Michael Harman, system manager for the Lane County Radio Interoperability Group, was elected vice chair.

The Oregon Bankers Association inducted its retiring president and CEO, Linda Wilhelms Navarro, into the Oregon Bankers Hall of Fame.