Cory Allen
Washington Trust Bank

Current Employment: SVP, Team Leader Central Oregon, Washington Trust Bank
Past Experience: Cory J. Allen manages the commercial office in Bend as Washington Trust Bank Senior Vice President and Commercial Banking Team Leader, Central Oregon Region. He has been with Washington Trust Bank since March of 2021 and has been managing and serving business clients in Central Oregon for 20 years.  The Central Oregon Commercial Team manages business relationships including loan and deposit products while acting as a financial partner to help businesses meet their financial goals. Prior to Washington Trust Bank, Cory was with Columbia Bank as the commercial team leader where he spent over 10 years with the organization.
Civic Involvement: EDCO Board Member, Opportunity Knocks Executive Board Member – Treasurer, Northwest Business Development Association – Board and Loan Committee Member, COIC – Loan Committee Member, Humane Society of Central Oregon

Tom Barrett
BendTel

Current Employment: Founder & CEO of BendTel, Inc.
Past Experience: Tom was a flight controls design engineer at Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, before moving to Bend in 2001 to pursue his outdoor interests (including skiing, bicycling, and hiking). He founded BendTel in 2003 and has been providing Central Oregon with business-class telephone and Internet services ever since.
Civic Involvement: Tom supports a variety of civic organizations including the Bethlehem Inn, the Boys & Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, What If We Could, Shepard’s House Ministries, Saving Grace & Teen Challenge. Tom also writes and regularly contributes to telecommunications articles for industry publications.

Brian Bergler
First Interstate Bank

Current Employment: First Interstate Bank, SVP, Corporate Real Estate & Facilities
Past Experience: Brian has previously worked at the Bank of the Cascades from 2009 to 2017. He started as the Other Real Estate Owned Specialist then moved his way up to Vice President OREO Manager, Vice President Construction Manager/Commercial Loan Officer, SVP Construction Management, and finally as SVP Corporate Real Estate & Facilities.
Civic Involvement: Former President/Board Member of the Central Oregon Builders Association from 2004 to 2008.

Steve Bettis
Medline Renewal

Current Employment: Medline Renewal, VP – Operations
Past Experience: Steve has been leading manufacturing companies in Central Oregon since moving here in 1994 when SMC Corporation purchased Beaver Coaches. He spent 9 years with Beaver / SMC / Monaco eventually running 4 plants, 2 in Bend and 2 in Burns. After the plants were relocated to western Oregon in 2005, he spent 6 years with Fuqua Homes in Bend and 3 with Earth2O in Culver.
Civic Involvement: High Desert Enterprise consortium. (HiDEC) 2008-2013. He is currently serving his third term with the Redmond Economic Development Board.  Steve has taken leadership roles with REDI and has been board president twice.

Sherm Bloomer
Oregon State University – Cascades

Current Employment: Chancellor and Dean, Oregon State University – Cascades
Past Experience: Sherm took on OSU-Cascades top leadership position in 2023, continuing 30 years of service for Oregon State where he was dean of OSU’s College of Science for 11 years before stepping in to lead the university’s budget and resource planning office in 2012. Before OSU he held held faculty positions at Boston University and Duke University. He is a geologist and researcher by training.
Civic Involvement: EDCO Board member, Better Together Central Oregon

Anthony Broadman
Galanda Broadman PLLC

Current Employment: Lawyer, Galanda Broadman PLLC
Past Experience: Lawyer representing Tribal governments, businesses and Indigenous communities; Tribal court Judge; Tribal Prosecutor; past Chair of the Oregon State Bar Indian Law Section, past Chair of the Washington State Bar Association Administrative Law Section.
Civic Involvement: Bend City Councilor; COIC Vice-Chair; former Cascade Cycling Classic Youth Foundation Board of Directors; Grace First Lutheran Church Council; pro bono legal counsel to various outdoor, cycling, and other youth sports non-profit organizations.

Katy Brooks
Bend Chamber of Commerce

Current Employment: Bend Chamber of Commerce, CEO
Past Experience: Katy has served on the public affairs committee of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and the board of directors for the Washington State Business Association.
Civic Involvement: Katy is a member of the Oregon State Early Learning Council, The Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and has served on City of Bend advisory committees.

Matthew Chancellor
Pacific Power

Current Employment: Pacific Power, Regional Business Manager
Past Experience: MidAmerican Energy Company from 2001 to 2017. Starting as an AIM drafter, moving up to a Governmental Distribution Design Technician, a Distribution Operator, the Supervisor for Distribution Control, and the Manager of Key Accounts.
Civic Involvement: American Leadership Forum class 35, Bend Chamber Advocacy Council, Deschutes County Emergency Management Planning Committee, Bend Chamber Legislative Committee, Graduate of Illinois Chamber of Commerce Leadership Academy, PEDCO vice president, and REDI executive director.

Phil Chang
Deschutes County

Current Employment: Deschutes County Commissioner
Past Experience: Phil has served on the Boards of Bend 2030, the Deschutes Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and the River West Neighborhood Association
Civic Involvement: Commissioner Chang serves on the following committees: Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative, Deschutes County Investment Advisory Committee, Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project, Deschutes, and County Public Health Advisory Committee liaison.

Laurie Chesley
Central Oregon Community College

Current Employment: Central Oregon Community College, President
Past Experience: Laurie has an extensive background of leadership that spans 18 years. She served as the executive vice president for academic and student affairs at Grand Rapids Community College, interim dean of learning at Northwestern Michigan, assistant vice president for academic affairs at Ferris State University, dean of humanities at Montgomery County Community College, and associate dean and dean of arts and sciences at Grand Rapids Community College.
Civic Involvement: EDCO Board Member

Kevin Cole
Mid Oregon Credit Union

Current Employment: President of Mid Oregon Credit Union
Past Experience: Joined Mid Oregon in 2016 as the Chief Financial Officer, later obtaining the role of Executive Vice President & finally being named President in 2021
Civic Involvement: Kevin has served on industry work groups to draft new regulation. In 2019, Kevin created a loan program to increase the availability of Workforce Housing in Central Oregon with the help of the Northwest Credit Union foundation. He has also served on the board of Children’s Forest of Central Oregon and also served as Treasurer of Abiqua Academy and the Credit Union Association of Oregon

Kim Daniels
Prineville-Crook County Chamber of Commerce

Current Employment: Prineville-Crook County Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director
Past Experience: Kim has had over 13 years of experience working in marketing and advertising. 
Civic Involvement: She was a team captain and helps as a fundraiser for the Polar Plunge to help benefit the Special Olympics for the past 10 years. She is also an ECDO Board member and was previously a board member for the Prineville Crook County Chamber of Commerce.

Travis Davis
PayneWest Insurance

Current Employment: Broker and Risk Advisor, PayneWest Insurance
Past Experience: Travis is a commercial risk advisor and insurance broker at PayneWest Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Agency.  Travis has been supporting economic development for the past 6 years as a member and immediate past chair for the Bend Economic Development Advisory Board, as well as serving on several ad hoc committees.  Travis is a graduate of both Leadership Bend and Leadership Redmond and serves the insurance and risk management needs of clients both inside of Central Oregon and across the country.
Civic Involvement: Board of the American Red Cross, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue Volunteer, youth sports coach for over 10 years, and mentor of both Design Club and Lego Robotics Club at Buckingham Elementary.

Russ Deboodt
Prineville Fire Marshal

Current Employment: Division Chief of the Marshal for Crook County Fire & Rescue
Past Experience: Russ obtained his MBA from OSU, allowing him to work in various industries over the years. He was the Prineville & Crook County manager with EDCO before joining Crook County Fire & Rescue.
Civic Involvement: Russ volunteers with the Prineville Volunteer Fire Company who helps with Fire Prevention, community outreach efforts & to maintain the fleet of antique fire apparatus owned by the district. He also serves as a Reserve Police Officer with the Prineville PD.

Steve Forrester
City of Prineville, City Manager

Current Employment: City of Prineville, City Manager
Past Experience: Has spent 25 years in the Forest Products Industry, serving as a general manager of facilities in Redmond, Lakeview, White City, and Prineville Oregon.
Civic Involvement: Pioneer Memorial Hospital Board, Community Bank Board, Crooked River Roundup Board, Crook County Budget Committee, Crook County School District Facility Committee, EDCO Board, and the League of Oregon Cities.

Lance Gillies
EarthCruiser Overland Vehicles

Current Employment: EarthCruiser Overland Vehicles, Founder & CEO
Past Experience: Lance’s background and experience are in the motor vehicle bodybuilding, off-roading and transport industries. He has successfully started and sold many businesses before launching EarthCruiser.
Civic Involvement: EDCO Board Member

Jeremy Groh
Combined Communications

Current Employment: Combined Communications, General Manager
Past Experience: General Sales Manager and Marketing Consultant at Alpha Broadcasting from 2009 to 2015. Marketing Consultant at Rose City Radio from 2004 to 2009 and Marketing Consultant at Clear Channel Radio from 2001 to 2004.
Civic Involvement: Opportunity Knocks Member.

Heather Hansen
Serán BioScience

Current Employment:  VP of Corporate and Legal Affairs, Seran
Past Experience: Business attorney with twenty years of experience in the Central Oregon community.  VP of Corporate and Legal for Serán BioScience located in Bend, Oregon.  Prior to joining Serán, Heather was a shareholder at the law firm of Bryant, Lovlien & Jarvis.  Previously, she was a shareholder at Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt.
Civic Involvement: Bend Chamber Board of Directors, Bend Chamber Board of Directors executive team, Chair of the Bend Chamber.  BendNEXT Board Member. Volunteer at Bend Venture Conference, Leadership Bend, CASA, and Saving Grace.

Erik Kropp
Deschutes County

Current Employment: Deputy County Administrator & Risk Manager at Deschutes County
Past Experience: Over the last 13 years he has worked in various departments such as a Deputy Public Works Director, Personnel Supervisor, Recreation Coordinator lll, Youth & Education Coordinator, Budget Analyst & Management Intern
Civic Involvement: Volunteer coach for youth & High School Sports

Greg Lambert
Mid Oregon Personnel

Current Employment: Mid Oregon Personnel, President & CEO
Past Experience: Founded Mid Oregon Personnel in 1984.
Civic Involvement: EDCO Board Member

Jennifer Letz
City of Sisters, City Councilor

Current Employment: City of Sisters, City Councilor
Past Experience: Sustainability Consultant, Letz Sustainability Consulting; Sustainable Operations Specialist, Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests; Technical Specialist, PV Powered, Backcountry Park Ranger, Grand Canyon National Park.
Civic Involvement: Current: COIC Board Member, City of Sisters Urban Forestry Board Member.  Past: The Environmental Center Vice-President / Board Member (2014-2019), City of Bend Street Maintenance Funding Committee (2016), Prineville Planning Commission (2008).

Heather Martin
COAR

Current Employment: Grassroots Advocacy Manager
Past Experience:
Civic Involvement: EDCO Board member

Wendy McGrane
U.S. Bank

Current Employment: Vice President, Business Banking Team Manager, U.S. Bank
Past Experience:  Wendy began her banking career with U.S. Bank in 2002, and has been based in Bend since 2005.  Wendy’s team of bankers supports businesses throughout Central, Eastern, and Southern Oregon, as well as the Columbia River Gorge.  Additionally, Wendy has chaired U.S. Bank’s local advisory board for Central and Eastern Oregon, and was a diversity and inclusion ambassador for the bank’s Pacific West Division for several years.  She also served on the bank’s Employer of Choice committee, which substantially changed U.S. Bank’s dress code.
Civic Involvement: Voting Member of the Oregon Growth Board, which is tasked with enhancing opportunities to leverage and attract additional capital in Oregon to support business development, while generating returns for Oregon’s Education Stability Fund.  Former board member of the Bend Economic Development Advisory Board, the Oregon Business Development Corporation, and the Growing Tree Children’s Center.

John Neilson
City of Redmond

Current Employment: Redmond City Counsel
Past Experience: 
Civic Involvement: EDCO Board Member

Josh Newton
Karnopp Petersen LLP

Current Employment: Karnopp Petersen LLP
Past Experience: Since 2000, Josh has been an attorney with Karnopp Petersen LLP. Josh concentrates on complex, civil dispute resolution, particularly involving natural resources such as land and water. He also advises clients on environmental and natural resource issues in Oregon and California. Josh’s practice includes the representation of a federally recognized Indian tribe, providing a suite of general and special counsel services.
Civic Involvement: Member of the board of trustees for the High Desert Museum (Chair 2015 – 2018); member of the Rotary Club of Greater Bend; former member of the Oregon State Bar Legal Services Program Committee (Chair 2014); former member of the Oregon New Lawyers Executive Committee (Chair 2007).

Michele O’Hara
Opportunity Knocks, Executive Director

Current Employment: Opportunity Knocks, Executive Director
Past Experience: Michele’s work is grounded in the creation of connections between brands and the people they serve. Through her passion, vision and leadership, she has earned a reputation as a brand leader and change agent.
Civic Involvement: Executive Board Member for REDI, Redmond Economic Development, Executive Director for Opportunity Knocks, Central Oregon, Leadership Bend 2015 & 16, Founding Member, Board of Directors, Portland Fashion Week, Governance Committee Member, Portland Center Stage Theatre, Founder and Executive Director of BecomeX & BecomeU, Co-chair for Multiple Sclerosis Auction, Portland, Previous Member of Board of Directors, Self Enhancement Inc., Portland, Past Board Director, Executive Committee Member, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Previous Member of Young Entrepreneurs Organization, Portland, OR

Wes Price
Price, Fronk & Co. CPAs

Current Employment: Price, Fronk & Co. CPAs, Partner Emeritus
Past Experience: Over 30 years of experience with Price Fronk & Co. LLP; partner since 1989.
Civic Involvement: Wes is a very active civic volunteer.  In addition to serving as an EDCO Board member and participating in the organization’s Executive Committee, he is a past president of the Bend Chamber of Commerce and is a former board member of Rural Development Initiatives.  He is a current member of several Urban Growth Boundary technical advisory committees for the City of Bend. He is also the current chair of the Business Oregon Finance Committee, which oversees the Oregon Business Development Loan Fund and other business assistance programs for the State of Oregon.

Ron Ross
Compass Commercial

Current Employment: Principal Broker, Compass Commercial Real Estate
Past Experience: Commercial real estate broker for over 40 years, owning and managing companies along the way, and personally investing in Central Oregon real estate. Since 2008, with Compass Commercial Real Estate.
Civic Involvement:  Many years of coaching youth basketball and baseball, Served on City of Bend Urban Growth Boundary Technical Advisory Committee, Served on EDCO Membership Committee, Broker of record for City of Bend for many years, Currently Broker of record for Deschutes Public Library

Adam Smith
Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt

Current Employment: Shareholder, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt
Past Experience:
Civic Involvement:

Jordan Smith
Velox Systems

Current Employment: Velox Systems, Owner
Past Experience: After graduating from Oregon State University, Jordon started Velox Systems in 2010.  Jordan has experience in all types of enterprise level technology, has implemented and maintained dozens of networks, studied under the FBI for malware and corporate espionage prevention, and worked under several of the top-minds in the IT industry during his career.
Civic Involvement: EDCO Board member

Zak Sundsten
Summit Bank

Current Employment: Summit Bank, Vice President, Business Client Advisor
Past Experience: Zak is an Oregon native and has been in the banking industry for over 25 years.
Civic Involvement: He volunteers his labor and was a past board member for the Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity. He is currently the Financial Services level board member for EDCO.

Matt Swafford
St. Charles Health System, Inc

Current Employment: St Charles Health System, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Past Experience: Prior to joining St. Charles Health System, Matt was a partner in a healthcare advisory firm and investment banker at Morgan Stanley and UBS providing strategic advice and financing for not-for-profit hospitals and health systems nationwide.
Civic Involvement: EDCO Board Member, St. Charles Foundation Board Member

Brent ten Pas
Central Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Current Employment: Vice President of Member & Public Relations, Central Electric Cooperative
Past Experience: Previously worked as federal affairs manager for the Northern California Power Agency—a joint action agency comprised of locally owned electric utilities, special districts, and a rural electric cooperative— from 2008 to early 2019.  Before NCPA, Brent spent fifteen years working for the California State Legislature in various capacities, including press secretary, legislative director, and chief-of-staff.
Civic Involvement: EDCO Board Member, former Sisters EDCO Board Member

Julia Theisen
Visit Central Oregon

Current Employment: Visit Central Oregon, CEO
Past Experience: Julia has a background in sales and marketing. She worked as VP of Sales and Marketing with Aspen Chamber Resort Association for 10 years. Before that, she worked for PGA Tour for 6 years as a Sales and Marketing Manager.
Civic Involvement: EDCO Board member

Jennifer Townsend
Madras City Council

Current Employment: Holcomb is a Real Estate Broker in the city of Madras. She is also the treasurer for the Rotary Club Of Jefferson County. As well as being a certified Level 1 CrossFit Coach coaching at least 20 classes per month.
Past Experience: Prior to becoming a Real Estate Agent she worked for several years at Bright Wood Corporation as a supply chain manager.
Civic Involvement: She was first appointed to Madras City Council by applying and getting appointed by the existing council. Later she was elected by the community and began her second term January 2021.

Wade Underwood 
Three Creeks Brewing Company

Current Employment: Three Creeks Brewing Company, Owner & General Manager
Past Experience: Prior to Three Creeks, Wade was part of a startup in Phoenix Arizona called E-buyer where he was the General Manager of a $50M e-commerce company.
Civic Involvement: EDCO Board member, Former Board Member of the Sisters Chamber of Commerce, Current Board Member with Sisters Circle of Friends, Co-Founded Sisters Fresh Hop Festival.

Jeremy Vandehey
PacificSource

Current Employment: PacificSource Oregon Market President
Past Experience: Prior to joining PacificSource, Jeremy served as an executive leader with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), where he was responsible for leading the state’s health reform efforts across Medicaid, the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace and public employee health plans. Prior to that role, Jeremy served as health care policy advisor for Governor Kate Brown and as the government relations manager for Kaiser Permanente Northwest Region.
Civic Involvement: EDCO Board Member

Greg Watkins
Cascade Natural Gas

Current Employment: Cascade Natural Gas – Region Director
Past Experience: Greg began his utility career in 1988 with Pacific Gas & Electric. In 1993, after relocating to Boise, ID, he started with Intermountain Gas Company. Greg’s current role is region director of Cascade Natural Gas Corporation’s central and eastern Oregon service territory and Intermountain Gas Company’s western Idaho service territory. Prior to his current role, he’s been an equipment operator, construction inspector, district operations manager and manager of policy and procedure.
Civic Involvement: Family Advocates board of directors (2014 -2020), EDCO board

Mandy Weidman
COBA

Current Employment: Central Oregon Builders Association, SVP Operations & Sales Manager
Past Experience: 15 years in the financial industry
Civic Involvement: Mandy is heavily involved in the local building industry from education to resources for the contractors. She plays a key role in every aspect of the organization and outreach to the community.

Melanie Widmer
City of Madras

Current Employment: Madras Sanitary Service – President, Co-owner
Past Experience: Mayor – City of Madras; Madras Airport and Industrial Site Committee; Madras City Council; Madras Redevelopment Commission; Madras Public Safety Commission; Madras Sister City Committee
Current Civic Involvement: Madras Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce board; Airshow of the Cascades Committee; Madras Public Arts Commission; SMART; Living Hope Christian Center Board

Keith Witcosky
City of Redmond

Current Employment: City of Redmond, City Manager
Past Experience: Keith was a deputy Director for PDC as well as the Director of Government Relations and Project Coordinator before becoming the City Manager of Redmond. He was also the Policy Director/Manager for the City of Portland.
Civic Involvement: EDCO Board member

Mark Wunsch
Jefferson County

Current Employment: Owner/ Operator Wunsch Angus Ranch LLC., Operations Manager C-Lazy-K Ranch Inc.
Past Experience: Mark Wunsch is a 4th generation cattle rancher in Jefferson County, President of the Jefferson County Livestock Association (JCLA) for 5 years and Chair for the JCLA 4-H & FFA Auction Committee for 6 years.
Civic Involvement: Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, EDCO Board Member

Amber Yates
Sensiba

Current Employment: Sensiba
Past Experience: Amber has been in accounting for over 25 years. She is a Tax Partner at SSF and has work experience in tax, accounting, and financial consulting fields.
Civic Involvement: EDCO Board Member and Board President, St. Charles Foundation Board, Central Oregon Estate Planning Council, Central Oregon Chapter of Women for Winesense, Family Access Network, Oregon Society of CPA’s Education Foundation, Union County Oregon CASA, P.E.O., Opportunity Knocks, and the Union County Ambassadors.

Cat Zwicker
Redmond City Council

Current Employment: Cat is currently the Managing Principal Broker & owner of Desert Sky Estate, LLC. who opened their doors in 2008.
Past Experience: She was first licensed in Northern Virginia in May of 1994 & has been a full time broker since.
Civic Involvement: She was appointed to the Redmond City Council in December of 2001 & was the former Vice Chair of the Redmond Urban Area Planning Commission. She is now the current 2022 President of the Central Oregon Association of REALTORS. She is chair of the Oregon REALTORS Safety Committee & is also involved with the Central Oregon Childcare Task Force.