Business and Leaders Luncheons
The Government Affairs Council holds monthly forums on topics pertinent to the business community and government relations. Luncheons are on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. View our Events Calendar for upcoming luncheon details.
Business and Leaders Luncheon Sponsors
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View Past Business and Leaders Luncheon Events
2023 Business & Leaders Events in the Gresham Area
February 21st, 2023
Gresham-Barlow and Centennial School District Updates with the Superintendents
James Owens, Superintendent, Centennial School District
James Hiu, Superintendent, Gresham-Barlow School District
Hear about the challenges and successes of our local schools from the Super intendents that lead them.
January 17th, 2023
Tolling & Congestion Pricing. When? Where? How Much?
Mandy Putney
Director, Strategic Initiatives, Urban Mobility Office, Oregon Department of Transportation
In this months forum, we get an update on where the state is at regarding transportation tolling. When is it going to start? Where are the tolls going to be collected? How much is it going to cost commuters? Here to answer these and many other questions is Mandy Putney, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Urban Mobility Office, Oregon Department of Transportation.
2022 Business & Leaders Events in the Gresham Area
Topic: Labor Commissioner Candidate Forum
Guest Speakers: Cheri Helt and (Christina Stephenson cancelled 10/5)
In this months forum we hear from Cheri Helt, candidate for Oregon Labor Commission otherwise known as BOLI (Bureau of Labor and Industries). See where Cheri stands on issues facing the Oregon workforce and what she will do to address those issues if elected.
Second most important statewide office holder for business!
What does BOLI do? Why should you care?
- BOLI encourages and enforces compliance of state law related to wages, hours and conditions of employment
- BOLI provides expert guidance and support to businesses
- BOLI protects workers’ rights
If you own or work for a business you will want to hear from the candidate.
Topic: Candidate Forum
Guest Speakers:
This month the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce presents a candidate forum for the upcoming general election in November.
The positions are:
State Representative, District 49
representing Troutdale, Fairview, Wood Village, Gresham and Portland.
Zach Hudson (D)
Randy Lauer (R)
State Representative, District 50,
representing Gresham.
Ricki Ruiz (D)
Amelia Salvador (R)
Mayor, City of Gresham (running unopposed)
Travis Stovall
Gresham City Council, position #2 (non-partisan)
Cathy Keathley
Eddy Morales
Gresham City Council, position #4 (non-partisan)
Jerry Hinton
Mario Palmero
Gresham City Council, position #6 (non-partisan)
Janine Gladfelter
Chair, Multnomah County Commission (non-partisan)
Dr. Sharon Meieran
Jessica Vega Pederson
Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Topic: City of Gresham Updates
Guest Speakers: Nina Vetter, City of Gresham, City Manager
Topic: World Class Water Polo Olympic Sized Pool - Update
Guest Speakers: Andrew Jackman, Director, Mt. Hood Community College Aquatics Center
Topic: Metro Councilor Shirley Craddick
Guest Speaker: Metro Councilor Shirley Craddick
Topic: Small Business Ombudsman... An Advocate, Voice, and Problem Solver
Guest Speakers: Trevor Leahy, Secretary of State's Small Business Ombudsman
Topic: Multnomah County Sheriff Candidate Forum hosted by the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center.
Guest Speakers: Multnomah County Sheriff candidates Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell, and Derrick Peterson
Topic: MHCC Business Department: The Future for Local Business Workforce:
A panel discussion from the Business Department of MHCC
Guest Speakers: Andy Wong, MBA, MA Instructor, Business, Anna Johnson, MBA, MS Instructor, Business, and Kristin Lima, Ed.D., MBA Dean, Applied Technologies, Business and Information Systems
Topic: New Leader in town. Where is the city headed? How will it get done?
Guest Speaker: Gresham City Manager - Nina Vetter
2021 Business & Leaders Events in the Gresham Area
Topic: Gresham Public Safety Update
Guest Speakers: Chief of Police Travis Gullberg, and Tommy Walker, President, Gresham Police Officers Association
Topic: The Current State of Affairs in Gresham Oregon
Guest Speakers: Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall
Topic: In a Traffic Jam? How will Toll Roads Help?
Guest Speakers from Oregon Department of Transportation Include: Brendan Finn, Director, Urban Mobility Office; Lucinda Broussard, Toll Program Director; and Megan Channell, Project Director, I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project
Topic: Oregon Legislative Session Wrap Up
Guest Speaker: Senator Chris Gorsek (D), District 25, Troutdale; Representative Anna Williams (D), District 52, Hood River; and Representative Zach Hudson (D), District 49, which includes Troutdale, Fairview, Wood Village, Gresham and Portland.
Topic: Play Ball! Bringing Major League Baseball to Gresham, Oregon
Guest Speaker: Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, President and Founder of Sports Management Worldwide
Topic: Gresham Station: Has the Future or Vision Changed?
Guest Speaker: Jay Fetherston, SVP, Retail North of Harsch Investment Properties
Topic: Tap into the Power of Women in Business
Guest Speaker: Bobbie Stewart, Women's Business Center & Education Manager, Mercy Corps Northwest
Topic: Metro's Regional Priorities Update
Guest Speaker: Lynn Peterson, Council President, Metro
Topic: The Future...or not...of Natural Gas in Oregon
Speakers: Nina Carlson, Government/Public Affairs Manager, NW Natural Gas, and Kevin Duel, Sale Engineer, NW Natural Gas
Topic: ABC's at the Local Level
Guest Speaker: Dr. A. Katrise Perera, Superintendent, Gresham Barlow School District and Jordan Ely, CFO, Gresham-Barlow School District
Topic: Start 2021 with a Diamond Speaker
Speakers: Adam O'Grady, General Manager of Element Six
If you have a topic or speaker you would like to see included in the monthly Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce Business and Leaders Forum, please share. We are always looking for new and insightful speakers and topics to share with the Gresham Area. Contact us today!