Friday, April 8, 2022
News & Notes
Upcoming forums feature candidates for Metro President and Washington County Chair
   WEA will be hosting two in-person Breakfast Forums this month.
  On Monday, the organization will host its first in-person forum since the pandemic began more than two years ago.
   Lynn Peterson and Alisa Pyszka will be sharing their views and expertise in the race for Metro President.
   Later this month, on April 28, Kathryn Harrington and Beach Pace will be joining WEA members and guests to talk about their campaigns for Washington County Chair.
   Harrington is the current Washington County Chair, and Pace is a Hillsboro City Councilor.
   Registration will be open next week for the April 28 forum.
Three Westside cities delivered "State of the City" addresses recently
   Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty, North Plains Mayor Teri Lenahan, and Wilsonville Mayor Julie Fitzgerald gave their "State of the City" addresses at the end of March.
   Housing, jobs, and infrastructure were common themes among the three.
   Beaty's address included changes in Beaverton's city management and City Council structures.
   Fitzgerald recognized Councilor Charlotte Lehan, who will soon be retiring.
   North Plain's Lenahan's address was in-person, and she shared how the city is evolving, while honoring its history.
   To view these "State of the City" addresses, please see one or more of these links: Beaverton, North Plains, and Willsonville.
PCC hires first female president
   Dr. Adrien Bennings will be Portland Community College's (PCC) next president after Mark Mitsui retires at the end of June, making her the first female permanent president of the higher education institution.
   PCC did have a female interim president prior to Mitsui's hiring, when former Executive Vice President Sylvia Kelley served in the temporary role.
   Bennings is currently the president of Kellogg Community College (KCC) in Michigan.
   “Dr. Bennings brings demonstrated strengths as a strategic thinker and transparent decision maker; as a skilled and collaborative communicator, relationship builder and fundraiser; and as a strong advocate for equitable student success," said Mohamed Alyajouri, chair of PCC’s Board of Directors.
   The future PCC president has taught courses in human resources development, academic development and retention, and small business development.
   Before joining KCC, Bennings was the vice president of administration and finance and chief financial officer at Clovis Community College in New Mexico.
   She has also served as the regional director of small business development at Texas Tech University, where she advanced economic development initiatives spanning a 16-county area.
   Bennings earned a Doctorate in Philosophy in Higher Education Administration from Texas Tech University; a Master of Science in Business Administration with a Human Resources concentration from Wayland Baptist University; and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Development from Texas A&M University.
   To learn more about the search process and/or Dr. Bennings, visit PCC's website.
Odds & Ends
  • Workforce Analysts Brandon Schrader and Lynn Wallis have released their local economic data for the month of February. To see the health of the local economy, visit their Washington County and/or Clackamas County reports.

  • Congratulations to Dunn Carney for being recognized as one of Portland's most diverse law firms by the Portland Business Journal.


  • Wilsonville is looking for community members to participate in focus groups or to take a survey in regards to the city's Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan.

Events coming up
Mon. 4/11 at 7:30 a.m. - An in-person Breakfast Forum with Metro President candidates Lynn Peterson and Alisa Pyszka.

Wed. 4/13 - The Transportation Committee has been canceled.

Th. 4/14 at 7:30 a.m. - The Government Relations Committee will meet virtually. The Committee will be meeting with the Beaverton School Board's Becky Tymchuk and learning about the district's upcoming bond measure. For information, please contact Teresa Dunham.

Fri. 4/15 at 12:00 p.m. - The Golf/Fundraising Committee will meet to talk about sponsorships and the upcoming Westside Golf Scramble, which is on Monday, July 25 at Langdon Farms Golf Club. If you'd like more information about the annual fundraiser, please contact Teresa Dunham.

Wed. 4/20 at 12:00 p.m. - The Land Use & Housing Committee will meet in North Plains to learn more about the city's economic development activities and urban growth boundary. For more information, contact Teresa Dunham.

Wed. 4/27 at 7:30 a.m. - The WEA Board of Directors will meet.

Th. 4/28 at 7:30 a.m. - An in-person Breakfast Forum with the candidates for Washington County Chair. Registration information will be coming soon.