Friday, August 12, 2022
News & Notes
Mazzara Myers joins WEA as next executive director
   Westside Economic Alliance has announced Elizabeth Mazzara Myers has been selected as the next executive director of the organization.
   Mazzara Myers started in her new role this week and attended Wednesday's Transportation Committee meeting.
   She was hired after a three month search process with more than 40 applicants.
   The new WEA executive director has more than 15 years of experience in Oregon politics.
   To read more about her, visit the WEA website.
Howorth is new chair of the WEA Transportation Committee
   3J Consulting President John Howorth is the new chair of the WEA Transportation Committee.
   Howorth hosted and facilitated his first meeting in his new role this week.
   He replaces Frank Angelo, who was chair of the committee for more than 20 years, and most likely more - Angelo's time goes back before the Sunset Corridor Association and Tualatin Valley Economic Development Corporation merged to create WEA in 1998.
   Howorth will be helping WEA's new executive director develop meeting topics, facilitate the committee's discussions, and provide Transportation Committee reports and recommendations to the WEA Board of Directors.
   To learn more about Howorth in his new role, visit 3J Consulting's website.
Transportation Committee gets an update on MSTIP
   Members of the WEA Transportation Committee met in-person this week at 3J Consulting - it was the first time the committee had met in-person since March of 2020.
   Some members also joined the meeting via Zoom.
   Committee members heard from Washington County's Chris Deffebach and Jessica Pelz.
   The two talked about the next funding cycle of the MSTIP (Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program) and provided an update on the program.
   When it comes to community engagement efforts, Deffebach said it has been refreshing to be back in-person and to have conversations with community members face to face again.
   This was also apparent in the Transportation Committee meeting, as the discussion around the table seemed more engaging than those in the last two years, plus members stayed after the meeting to have side conversations to catch up on work and home.
   To see the slide deck from Wednesday's meeting, click here.
This newsletter writer's bittersweet goodbye
   It is bittersweet to share with this audience that I will be leaving Westside Economic Alliance - my final day as WEA's marketing and communications manager will be next Friday (August 19).
   I want to share my appreciation for all of you who read this newsletter.
   Former executive director Pam Treece once told me that I was the voice of the organization, and I have held that honor close to my heart and have been protective of it.
   I have spent nearly every Friday for more than nine years writing this newsletter -sometimes running later into the afternoon or evening after a story has dropped.
   It's been a labor of love.
   I've enjoyed highlighting WEA's members and shining a light on what WEA does for its membership.
   I want to thank the WEA Board and my past executive directors, Pam Treece and Gail Greenman, for allowing me the freedom to write it.
   Of course, I've written event invitations, scripts, testimony, columns, social media posts, and annual reports.
   Plus, I've planned a lot of events - I think I've missed one forum during my time with WEA.
   It's been a lot of projects to juggle over the years, but at the heart of it, I'm most grateful for all of the friendships and connections made.
   A big thanks goes to Jonathan Schlueter for hiring this mom of three boys 15 years ago and for giving me the flexibility to run our children to baseball, basketball, football, golf, hockey, swimming, and water polo practices - even booking me on a flight and running me to the airport the morning after our 2009 Westside Golf Scramble, so I could catch up with my family at a regional championship baseball game in Pullman, WA, where our oldest son was pitching.
   There have been great memories made during my time with WEA.
   One story that has stuck with me during these divisive times comes from former Washington County Chair Tom Brian.
   When he was serving in the Oregon Legislature, he said there were times when he and other legislators disagreed on issues on the floor, but in the end, they would set those differences aside and sit down for lunch together.
   My hope is that you will continue to be the collaborative voice of WEA - don't be afraid to question things, but find common ground, encourage one another to find solutions that help this region thrive,...and invite others to sit down to break bread with you.

Thank you again,
Teresa R. Dunham
Odds & Ends
  • Washington County is looking for input on what transportation projects should be funded in the next MSTIP funding cycle. To weigh in, check out the online open house for MSTIP.


  • Beaverton is hosting its Night Market tomorrow (Sat. 8/13) at the Round. The event runs from 5 - 10pm with a number of food vendors and musicians. Click here to learn more.

  • If you need other weekend activity ideas, the Washington County Visitors Association has plenty. Check out its website.

  • Lastly, happy anniversary to WEA. The organization started 24 years ago this month (possibly on August 11). Below is a photo from the kickoff party in August of 1998 at The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club. Pictured: Dennis Tooley, Delna Jones, Gina Cole, and Annette Price. Cole now serves on the WEA Board of Directors.

  • Fun fact: the Westside Golf Scramble is 36 years old. It started with the Sunset Corridor Association and continued on with WEA in 1998.
Events coming up
Wed. 8/17 The WEA Land Use & Housing Committee is canceled for this month. Enjoy the last splash of summer.

Wed. 8/24 at 7:30 a.m. the WEA Board of Directors will meet.

Wed. 9/14 at 7:30 a.m. The WEA Transportation Committee will meet. All members are welcome to attend.