Government Affairs

The Government Affairs Council holds monthly forums on topics pertinent to the business community and government relations.

Click here for a full calendar of Government Affairs forums.

Business & Leaders Luncheon on April 16, 2019

Topic: Roads and Bridges... Where do we go from here?
Speaker:  John Charles, President and CEO of Cascade Policy Institute

Business & Leaders Luncheon on March 19, 2019

Topic: Interview with Mayor Bemis
Speakers:  Mayor Bemis and Lynn Snodgrass

Business & Leaders Luncheon on February 19, 2019

Topic: The Low Carbon Future
Speakers:  Kimberly Heiting, NW Natural

Business & Leaders Luncheon on December 18, 2018

Topic: Interview a Portland Icon
Speakers:  Craig Wessel, Publisher of the Portland Business Journal

Business & Leaders Luncheon on October 16, 2018

Topic: Candidate Forum
Speakers:  Local and State Candidates

Business & Leaders Luncheon on September 18, 2018

Topic: Metro Housing Bond
Speakers:  Metro Councilor, Shirley Craddick and Andy Duyck of Affordable Oregon

Business & Leaders Luncheon on August 21, 2018

Topic: If You Need the Drug, Can Your Afford It?
Speaker:  Dave Hunt, Sr. VP for Government Affairs, Strategies 360 Oregon

Business & Leaders Luncheon on July 17, 2018

Topic: Major League Baseball to PDX?
Speaker:  Dr. Lynn Lashbrook

Business & Leaders Luncheon on May 15, 2018

Speaker: Maria Pope, CEO of PGE

Business & Leaders Luncheon on April 17, 2018

Topic: What's Up With Metro

Speakers: Lynn Peterson, Metro Chair Candidate and Shirley Craddick, Metro Councilor

Business & Leaders Luncheon on January 16, 2018

Topic: Cap & Trade? Carbon Limiting? Carbon Pollution? Cap & Invest

Speakers: JL Wilson of Public Affairs Counsel and Rebecca Carey-Smith of Portland General Electric

Business & Leaders Luncheon on October 17, 2017

Topic: Transportation Package: What will it do? How much will it cost? Will East County benefit?

Speakers: Craig Campbell, Victory Group and Representative Mark Johnson, President & Chief Executive Officer, Oregon Business & Industry

Business & Leaders Luncheon on September 19, 2017

Topic: Meet the New Superintendent

Speaker: Dr. Katrise Perera

Business & Leaders Luncheon on July 18, 2017

Topic: Legislative Wrap Up

Speakers: Senators Laurie Monnes Anderson and Chuck Thomsen

Business & Leaders Luncheon on June 20, 2017

Topic: Marijuana Update

Speakers: Trista Okel, Founder/CEO of Empower Oil; Capt. Claudio Grandjean, Gresham Police Department and Amanda Borup, Policy Analyst, Oregon Liquor Control Commission

Business & Leaders Luncheon on May 16, 2017

Topic: Oregon's Economy: A Race to the Top

Speaker: Ruth Miles, Small Business Advocate for Secretary of State

Business & Leaders Luncheon on April 18, 2017

Topic: Rockwood is TAKING OFF!

Speakers: Brad Ketch, President and CEO, Rockwood CDC and Josh Fuhrer, Executive Director, Gresham Redevelopment Commission

Business & Leaders Luncheon on February 21, 2017

Topic: Port of Portland in Gresham? Yes

Speaker: Bill Wyatt, Port of Portland

Business & Leaders Luncheon on December 13, 2016

Topic: Ready...Set...Action!

Speakers: Mayor Elect Casey Ryan; Multnomah County Commissioner Elect Lori Stegmann; new Gresham Police Chief Robin Sells and Gresham City Councilman Jerry Hinton

Business & Leaders Luncheon on October 11, 2016

Topic: Politicians on Parade

Speakers: Gresham City Council: Jerry Hinton, Position 1 and David Widmark, Position 5. Troutdale Mayor & City Council: Casey Ryan, Mayor; Randy Lauer, Position 2 and Rob Canfield, Position 4. State or Oregon: Lori Chavez, District 51; Mark Johnson, District 52; Stella Armstrong, Michael Calcagno & Carla Piluso, District 50. Multnomah County: Lori Stegmann, District 4

Business & Leaders Luncheon on September 13, 2016

Topic: (We've Got Your) Back To School

Speakers: Sheriff Mike Reese, Multnomah County; Tim Nesbitt, Columnist and Advisor for Measure 98; Randy Carmony, International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 23 and Jim Schlachter, Superintendent for Gresham-Barlow School District

Business & Leaders Luncheon on August 9, 2016

Topic: The Art Movement in Gresham...Why and what's in it for you?

Speakers: Judy Han, GOPA; Sue O'Halloran, Center for the Arts Foundation; Betsy Hatton, Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra and Darren Charles, Odysseo by Cavalia

Business & Leaders Luncheon on July 12, 2016

Topic: Secretary of State

Speakers: Brad Avakian and Dennis Richardson

Business & Leaders Luncheon on June 14, 2016

Topic: Human Trafficking: Not in my back yard. Think again.

Speakers: Sgt. Mike Gallagher, Portland Police Bureau; Glen "J.R." Ujifusa, Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney; Tanell Morton, Advocate, Case Manager for the RYSE Program (SARC) and Mel Jett, Program Director, Harry's Mother

Business & Leaders Luncheon on May 10, 2016

Topic: Homelessness in our back yard. What can and is being done?

Speakers: Chief Robin Sells and Joe Walsh, City of Gresham; Marc Jolin, Multnomah County and Terry Shumway, Homeowner Advocate

Business & Leaders Luncheon on April 12, 2016

Topic: IP28...Will this Change Oregon Forever?

Speakers: Ben Unger and Emma Kallaway with Our Oregon Campaign and Jeremy Rogers with Defeat the Tax on Oregon Sales Campaign

Business & Leaders Luncheon on March 8, 2016

Topic: Why Should Gresham Care Who is Mayor of Portland?

Speakers: Ted Wheeler and Jules Bailey

State of the City Address on February 17, 2016

Business & Leaders Luncheon on January 12, 2016

Topic and Speaker: Jack Roberts, Oregon Lottery