Nikki Whitty, Board Chair
Coos County Commissioner, Coos County, Coquille, OR

Rural issues that are of particular interest to you:
The need for more family wage jobs and affordable worker housing.

Greg Ellis, Board Co-Chair
City Manager City of Independence, Oregon

Rural issues that are of particular interest to you:
In the more recent environment Measure 37 has the potential to have a significant impact on the economy and the environment of many rural communities. Small cities, such as Independence, work very hard to provide municipal services. Measure 37 has the potential to overtax those resources.

Doris Penwell, Secretary and Treasurer
Consultant to Association of Oregon Counties on Economic Development Issues, Salem, OR

Rural issues that are of particular interest to you:
Rural Oregon needs to have the same kind of opportunities as Urban Oregon. My interest is in making sure that programs and processes are flexible enough that rural areas are able to participate in Oregon's efforts at economic growth--however differently that needs to be done at the local level.

John Burt
Executive Director, Farmers Ending Hunger,
Salem, OR

Rural issues that are of particular interest to you:
My particular interest is in the aspects of economic development that apply to the agricultural community. Farmers, food processors, service and supply businesses and the employees of all of these are a high priority. Housing for farm workers is also of high importance to me.

Cindy Finlayson
Director of Economic Development and Regional Affairs-Umatilla
Electric Cooperative, Hermiston, Oregon

Rural issues that are of particular interest to you:
Umatilla Electric Cooperative is dedicated to serving its members with reliable energy at the most cost effective price available. UEC supports our communities and businesses and helps to promote economic stability and growth through economic diversity.

Joe Garlitz —
City Administrator, City of Elgin; Elgin, OR

Rural issues that are of particular interest to you:
There is, in our culture and economics, a disconnect between the rural folk and their city cousins. The rural folks have a fairly good understanding of the issues of the city folk because we read their newspapers and watch their TV. We shop in their malls and buy from their on-line stores. On the other hand, the City folk have only a cursory understanding of the rural folk. We are not an issue for them. We are not in their line of sight. Our numbers are small, so our political force is slight. The bright lights and the fast pace of the City occupy their time and energy. This makes it difficult for the rural folk to heard by the city folk.

Annette Johnson
Director, Rural Oregon Institute, Eastern Oregon University,
La Grande, Oregon

Rural issues that are of particular interest to you:
My particular interest is economic development. I believe it is important for communities to exercise a disciplined approach to project development and implementation to maximize success, and I practice that with communities. I believe partnerships and collaborations are keys to success.

Kathy Long-Holland
Founder/President, LongSherpa Design/Eco-D

Rural issues that are of particular interest to you:
The one issue that dominates for me is the issue of economic viability for rural communities. Having grown up on a cattle ranch in the Sandhills of Nebraska, and watching the slow deterioration of the small ranching communities, it is an issue dear to my heart. Related to this is keeping quality education for the children in these communities. Consolidation has meant these children start “urban” type commutes when they are very young. Without economic viability that provides the tax base, the communities disappear and the young leave for good.

Antone Minthorn
Chairman, Board of Trustees,
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

Scott Reed
Vice Provost, University Outreach and Engagement Director,
OSU Extension Service Oregon State University, Corvallis

Rural issues that are of particular interest to you:
The ability of rural areas to thrive depends upon access to information that influences their future. Leadership development and shared experiences help to create innovations supporting enhanced resilience and vitality. Partnerships in program development and delivery are key to utilizing the strengths of public and private sector organizations to deliver outcomes of value.

Lynn Schoessler
Oregon Housing and Community Services Dept., Salem OR,
Housing Finance Section Manager

Rural issues that are of particular interest to you:
Rural housing issues are both a professional concern as well as a RDI Board member interest. The well being of rural communities is in part, a function of their housing stock in terms of its affordability and availability. Many rural communities are at a crisis with no affordable housing for its service workers, as well as it teachers, police, and firefighters.

Greg Wolf
Director, National Consensus Center

Rural issues that are of particular interest to you:
One of the Center’s programs is Oregon Solutions. Oregon Solutions is designed to bring the public, private and civic sectors together in solving problems and seizing opportunities in communities. Examples of these projects include alternative energy facilities, down town and main street revitalization and conservation.