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!
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!
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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. |
Jim Hall, ORLA Policy Committee Chair and CEO, Independent Restaurant Concepts (IRC)
Jim Hall’s background in hospitality consultancy, with an owner-operator focus, makes him an invaluable voice on the ORLA Policy Committee. Jim has been consulting and managing Portland-area locations since 2006 and has grown to a collective of highly-regarded restaurants including Produce Row Café, Paddy’s Bar & Grill, Circa 33, Patton Maryland, Cadillac Café, North 45, The Independent, and The Station. Jim’s experience in concept development, financial management, customer service, and staffing/human resource systems provides a leadership perspective to navigate policy and advocacy decisions on behalf of the hospitality industry in Oregon. Christopher Bebo, Portland Lodging Alliance Chair, Regional GM for Provenance Hotels Chris Bebo serves as Chair of the Portland Lodging Alliance and also sits on the ORLA Board of Directors representing Provenance Hotels. Chris collaborates in a workgroup-style format that encourages members from the various sectors of the hospitality industry to share their opinions on what really matters. Chris is a Regional Hotel General Manager who cares deeply about the industry and he is honored to support ORLA and its members throughout the State of Oregon. 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. |