News

ARTICLE
Date ArticleType
10/31/2018 Member News

HBA continues to engage in advocacy work through key staffing transitions


As the HBA is in the process of identifying and hiring a Director of Policy and Government Relations, staff and members are working to ensure needed advocacy and policy work continues as normal. Former Director of Policy and Government Relations, Paul Grove, left the HBA with a strong work plan to help ease in the transition.

There are two essential parts to the transition process – identifying and hiring a replacement, and ensuring needed work gets done in the interim and through onboarding the new hire. The candidate search process is active and engaging a small group of key HBA member leaders from our Board Officers and Government Relations Committee.

In the interim, staff has reviewed Paul’s work plan extensively to ensure all parts continue to move forward. James Adkins, HBA Government Relations Manager, will continue to lead work in Washington and Clackamas Counties, two of our most active jurisdictions. James will continue to engage with Columbia, Yamhill and Hood counties as well. Dave Nielsen, HBA CEO, will focus on Metro, regional partnerships and relationships, strategic oversight and connecting with the state Association (OHBA) on the legislative issues that affect us locally. Ara Hirst, Executive/Governmental Relations Assistant will continue to provide administrative and communications support to these efforts. Key staff is meeting weekly to ensure we’re keeping our eyes on all of the current and upcoming issues in the region.

The HBA Government Relations Committee and the Portland Building and Urban Development (PBUD) Council of the HBA continues to be an active presence in many of the regions issues, where members are helping with or leading certain specific policy efforts. Advocacy work in the City of Portland was one area staff felt needed additional help through the transition. With that, we are pleased to announce that Roseann Johnson, a builder/developer with Bluestone Homes and the current Chair of our PBUD Council, has agreed to step in under a contract role for the next three months to lead our continued efforts in the City of Portland and help provide oversight for the PBUD Council. Roseann’s help in the City of Portland will ensure that all jurisdictions are covered through the transition and onboarding process.