After 50 years of lobbying at the Oregon State Capitol, Robert “Ozzie” Rose is retiring June 30. The state Senate and House honored him during this year’s legislative session. Hired in 1974 as executive director of the newly formed Confederation of Oregon School Administrators, Rose lobbied on education-related issues, including school funding. He retired in 2003 from COSA (now known as the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators) and figured he was done lobbying. Instead, he became an independent lobbyist, primarily serving education organizations. 

Meliah Masabi, legislative director at the Department of Administrative Services, on Monday began a six-month rotation to the Governor’s Office. DAS has not yet named someone to fill her previous role. Masabi will report to Gov. Tina Kotek’s acting chief of staff, Chris Warner, the deputy chief of staff for public administration. Friday is Chief of Staff Andrea Cooper’s last day. Special adviser Abby Tibbs is returning to OHSU as of March 31. Lindsey O’Brien, deputy chief of staff for public engagement, is going on leave as of April 5.

Steve Nelson is the new chief procurement officer at DAS following the retirement of Kelly Mix, who had worked for the department since 2013. Nelson previously held that role at Oregon State University after working for the cities of Eugene and Hillsboro, Lane County and various companies. 

With Ashley Thirstrup being promoted to Oregon Health Authority chief of staff, Philip Schmidt will fill her previous position, serving as interim government relations director. He has been on the OHA government relations team for two years, handling Medicaid and health policy topics including the public health emergency unwinding and the basic health plan.

Crystal Weston, who was OHA’s Lower Umatilla Basin Program coordinator, now is executive director at Aliento Silicosis Resources.

On April 1, Behavioral Health will become a separate division within OHA. Three deputy director positions are being created:

• Service delivery deputy director, Christa Jones, who will oversee Child & Family, Adult Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder, and Crisis Response/988.

• Operations and strategy deputy director, Jon Collins, who will oversee Contracts, Behavioral Health Investments Team (formerly known as Social Determinants of Health), Licensing & Certification-Mental Health, and Workforce.

• Equity, community partnerships and quality assurance deputy director (currently vacant). When hired, that person will handle Equity & Community Partnerships, Office of Recovery & Resilience, Behavioral Health Metrics and Behavioral Health Quality Assurance. Deputy Director Jackie Fabrick resigned March 22.

Alexis Hammer was promoted to legislative and policy manager at the Department of Land Conservation and Development. 

Shauneen Scott, who has worked for several state agencies, was promoted to human resources director at the Department of Forestry. Meanwhile, legislative aide Emily Sorce is moving to Forestry after four sessions working for Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland. Cameron Quackenbush, an intern for Frederick since last year, has been hired to replace her.

Columbia County Circuit Judge Cathleen B. Callahan is retiring May 31. Gov. Kotek is accepting applications to fill the vacancy until 5 p.m. April 17. 

Jason Holland, executive director of the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts, and Jenny R. Stadler, executive director of PHAME Academy, have been appointed to the Oregon Arts Commission by Kotek. 

The nine-member Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission welcomed three new members this month: Tamiko Warren, real estate broker; Mary Ellen Glynn, senior director of corporate communications, Columbia Sportswear Co.; and Nik Chourey, deputy general counsel, Oregon State Bar.

Marion County Sheriff Nicholas Hunter will give the keynote address, “Policing with Compassion During the Addiction Crisis,” at the League of Oregon Cities’ Local Government Spring Conference next month in Klamath Falls.