Ron Bersin retired Monday after 17 years as executive director of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. During his tenure, the commission went from seven members to nine and from three employees, including Bersin, to 15. Last year, the agency’s jurisdiction was expanded to include the Oregon Public Meetings Law. Bersin previously worked for the Department of Revenue, for a total of 36 years of state service. The commission has promoted Susan Myers to replace him.

Jenny Smith, the Oregon Youth Authority’s chief of staff and communications director since 2021, will take over as chief of staff for Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson on Feb. 5. Smith previously worked for the state Bureau of Labor and Industries, Oregon Education Association and Our Oregon.

Coline Benson joined the Secretary of State’s Office as legislative coordinator. She previously was Metro’s tribal affairs program coordinator. She also worked for the Oregon Health Authority, Gov. Kate Brown and the city of Portland.

Along with Ray Miller being hired as executive director of the state Board of Licensed Social Workers, Cassie Kanaeholo was hired as half-time licensing assistant to help catch up on the applications backlog. Miller was an information technology portfolio manager for the state Department of Administrative Services and previously worked for the Oregon Health Authority and Department of Human Services. 

Travel Oregon made three additions to its executive team:

• Kevney Dugan, president/CEO of Visit Bend for more than seven years, moved to Travel Oregon as its vice president of destination stewardship. He will lead the Destinations Services, Stewardship Investments and Regional-based Services teams.

• Susan Bladholm was hired as chief administrative officer. After beginning her career at Travel Oregon, she worked for Travel Portland, Port of Portland, Erickson Inc. and Sunstone Marketing. Most recently, she was founder/president of Frog Ferry.

• Sarah Watson was promoted to chief of staff. She has worked for the state for more than 25 years, including 14 at Travel Oregon. 

The Common Sense Institute, which describes itself as “a nonpartisan research organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of free enterprise principles,” expanded into Oregon as its fourth state, joining Colorado, Arizona and Iowa. The Oregon board comprises former Republican gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan; Tom Gerding, Gerding Companies; Jenny Pakula, Oregon Realtors; former Oregon House Speaker Lynn Snodgrass; Dan Vannoy, Emery & Sons Construction Group; and Angela Wilhelms, Oregon Business & Industry.

Libby Provost of Portland and Randall Melton of Pendleton were appointed by Gov. Tina Kotek to four-year terms on the Oregon Heritage Commission. Provost is an architectural historian and interpretive specialist with Historical Research Associates Inc. Melton is exhibits coordinator for Tamastslikt Cultural Institute.

ODOT is recruiting for a Toll Division administrator. Applications are due Feb. 12 for the position, which carries an annual salary of $131,220 to $203,172. The job posting says, “Oregon’s program will be unique in many ways: we envision tolling as integrated into our per-mile road usage charging program, which is leading the nation in replacing the gas tax as it fades away, and it will be designed to ensure equity through deployment of a low-income toll program on opening day.”