MEET THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM

Industry members working hard on your behalf every day.

Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association's Government Affairs team consists of a group of professionals dedicated to promoting and protecting the food service and lodging industry. Whether it is in Salem at the State Capitol, at regulatory agency meetings, or on the local level ... the team is working on behalf of the hospitality industry in Oregon!
Jason Brandt, ORLA President & CEO, ORLA
Jason Brandt’s expertise revolves around association management and government affairs work at the state and local levels. His vision for the hospitality industry is to continue to build upon the significant tourism growth Oregon has seen over the past decade by helping lead advocacy, communication, and education efforts for restaurants and lodging establishments. Prior to joining ORLA as President & CEO in 2015, Jason served as the CEO of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. Jason earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Communication from Pacific Lutheran University. He received a post-graduate certification in Nonprofit Organizational Management from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute Program.

Greg Astley, Director of Government Affairs, ORLA
Greg came to the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association with almost twenty years of experience in media, marketing, strategic communications, association management and political consulting. He has established a proven track record of results that will benefit ORLA for years to come. In partnership with our government affairs team and chief lobbyist, Greg works to strengthen the prominence of ORLA’s advocacy program and foster broader engagement of both restaurant and lodging members on local, regional, statewide, and federal hospitality issues.

Nicole Peterson, Government Affairs Coordinator
Nicole serves as the steward of the Portland Kitchen Cabinet and its steering committee. She will be focused on grassroots engagement with restaurateurs and supporting their community building efforts. With a background in Oregon local government, she concentrates on local regulatory issues. She previously worked as a Research Assistant for a state and local government affairs team in Illinois. Nicole received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Policy from Northwestern University.

Glenda Hamstreet, ORLA Executive Coordinator, ORLA
Glenda is responsible for tracking the issues in Salem in order to provide up-to-date information to ORLA members that contact the Wilsonville office with questions, concerns or comments. She assists the Government Affairs team, as well as ORLA’s governance boards and committees. After serving as a legislative staffer for several years in Salem, Glenda has a list of resources available to all ORLA members for the asking.

Bill Perry, Contract Lobbyist, Balance Point Strategies
Bill has been involved in the Oregon legislative and political system since 1989. From his earliest post as a legislative intern for now Congressman Greg Walden to his nearly 19 years with ORLA, Bill’s experience includes interaction with all levels of government. He negotiates deals like no one else in the Capitol and is successful because he builds genuine relationships with people, stands behind his word, and advocates for common sense solutions. Bill’s affiliation with ORLA provides him insider’s access to participate in campaign strategy development, agency advocacy, and the legislative process.
T.J. Birkel, Manager of State and Local Government Relations, Darden Restaurants, Inc.
ORLA Government Affairs Committee Co-Chair
T.J. was previously President of Upland Strategies, a government relations firm in the Nation’s Capital. Prior to that, he served as Director of Federal Government Affairs for Mastercard, helping manage the company’s relations with Congress and the Executive Branch, and managed Mastercard’s Political Action Committee (PAC). Before Mastercard, he served for four years in a similar role for Darden Restaurants, leading the company’s day-to-day interaction and lobbying efforts with U.S. House and Senate offices and managing the PAC. Before joining the private sector, T.J.'s career included service as the Legislative Assistant and Speechwriter for former U.S. Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE), Political Director on the successful Johanns for Senate campaign, and served for three years in the office of former U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE).

Nick Pearson, General Manager, Jupiter Hotel
ORLA Government Affairs Committee Co-Chair
Nick has worked in all aspects of the restaurant and lodging industries since moving to Oregon after graduating from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 2008 with a microbiology degree. Starting his hospitality career at Timberline Lodge as a housekeeper, Nick spent most of the next 6 years working in nearly every line level, administrative and managerial role in both Timberline Lodge and it's various F&B outlets. Since joining the Jupiter Hotel in 2015, Nick assisted in project managing the construction and opening of Jupiter NEXT and took over as General Manager of both Jupiter properties in January of 2019. As a Co-Chair on the ORLA Government Affairs Committee, Nick will look for ways to engage lodging members and solicit their feedback to help shape ORLA's stance on upcoming policy issues.

Michael Mills, Attorney, D. Michael Mills Lawyer, PC
Michael has spent his entire career representing our industry, and is highly-regarded as an authority in his field. His excellent advice, strong counsel and his ability to testify on short notice with a close proximity to the Capitol make his involvement in ORLA crucial to our success. Michael has the unique ability to take a complicated issue and break it down to the points that matter most … which is an effective strategy for testimony before any legislative committee.

Duke Tufty, Attorney, Northwest Alcohol Law
Duke Tufty is a partner at Northwest Alcohol Law, a law firm in Portland, Oregon. He is licensed to practice in both Oregon and Washington. His practice focuses on alcohol regulatory law and he regularly helps businesses in the Pacific Northwest to understand and navigate the alcohol regulatory landscape. He serves in an advisory position for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association.