2025 - Pac/West Lobby Group

Hermiston CTE Gets Down to Business

March 14, 2025/by George Plaven

Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series of stories highlighting Hermiston School District’s career and technical education (CTE) programs. Read the previous installments here:

As a student at Hermiston High School over a decade ago, Kim Rill said she began developing skills that laid the foundation for her career today — even if she didn’t fully realize it at the time.

Rill was drawn to classes in Business and Management, one of six career and technical education (CTE) programs offered at HHS. Not only did she learn valuable business concepts, but she said her teachers also emphasized professional qualities like time management, meeting deadlines, problem-solving, and teamwork.

“I learned many foundational skills from the business faculty at HHS that I really did not appreciate as a high school student. Then, as I look back retrospectively, I see a lot of the business principles and professionalism that I learned — I learned from them.”

— Kim Rill, Content Creator, Umatilla Electric Cooperative and HHS alum

Rill graduated from HHS in 2014 and went on to earn her degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from Eastern Oregon University. About three years ago, she was hired by the local Umatilla Electric Cooperative as a content creator, working within the public relations department. Her duties include managing the co-op’s website, social media, advertising, and writing features for the Ruralite Magazine.

Rill credits the Business and Management program for helping her succeed professionally. As the program continues to evolve, she said it will open even more doors for students in the future, especially as Hermiston keeps growing.

“I am so encouraged by the opportunities that today’s students are getting,” she said. “I’m excited to see how the continued CTE developments change the workforce of Eastern Oregon.”

Java Dawg is one of several student-run businesses at Hermiston High School.

Four Tracks

Business and Management is one of six CTE programs offered by the Hermiston School District. It is further divided into four tracks:

Business Management & Administration.
Finance.
Hospitality & Tourism.
Marketing.

For freshmen, the journey begins with a semester-long “Intro to Business” course. Teacher Tori Scott said they spend about a month on each track, along with the basics including typing, how to write a professional email, and even how to give a professional handshake.

“We really do focus on a lot of those soft skills in all of our classes,” Scott said. “I tell my students all the time, you might not go into business, and that’s fine. But you are learning real-world skills in my class that are transferrable to any career.”

Computer skills are part of the Business and Management curriculum at HHS.

Practical Experience

After getting a taste of each track, students can then choose which one(s) they want to pursue further.

In Hospitality & Tourism, that includes the fundamentals of food and travel. Students learn food prep, nutrition, sanitation, and kitchen safety, before branching out to lodging, recreation, event planning, travel and tourism. Upper level students put their skills into practice as they cater and assist with school and community events.

Teacher Angie Treadwell said students must learn how to be flexible and think on their feet.

“That’s one of the things I try to teach my students. If something doesn’t work out, don’t give up. Figure out what you can do,” Treadwell said. “In hospitality, things are constantly changing on the fly.”

Every class includes some hands-on practice. Ben Dagley, who teaches accounting, said his students complete a one-month simulation running their own business, from building the ledger to checking their work through a final audit.

“The important thing I want my students to take away from my classes is they can do hard things,” Dagley said. “They can face a challenge head on and learn from it and can speak confidently about the world around them.”

Marketing teacher Denise Thornton said her students flex their creative muscles by coming up with their own business concept, designing their own company logos, and promoting their products by designing a magazine cover.

“They think up some amazing things,” Thornton said. “I tell them, if it’s a legitimate business and you’re interested in it, we’ll make it work.”

Students studying hospitality and tourism provide catering for the skybox at Kennison Field.

Student-Run Businesses

Once they are juniors and seniors, HHS business students can put the skills they’ve learned in the classroom to the ultimate test, joining one of four completely student-run businesses.

These include:

Java Dawg (coffee and smoothies).
Dawg House (student store and apparel).
Dawg Prints (print shop).
Each of three HHS athletics concession stands:
- Boomer’s at the Stadium.
- Boomer’s at the Kennel.
- Boomer’s at the Dugout.

Each business is run with the intent to make a profit and uses state-of-the-art equipment. Maureen Crossley, who co-teaches advanced business procedures, said students are responsible for all aspects of these businesses, from hiring and scheduling to inventory.

“It’s thousands of dollars that goes through these kids’ hands,” Crossley said.

The Dawg House is HHS’ student-run store, offering hands-on business experience.

Crossley has been teaching in Hermiston for nearly 40 years. She has seen the program change over the decades to keep pace with industry standards, from typewriters to modern technology. The challenge, Crossley said, is maintaining investment from funding sources such as Oregon’s Secondary Career Pathway Funding program.

“If that were to go away, we would certainly feel it,” Crossley said. “However, our program is fortunate to have outstanding support from our district and community. They continue to help us provide opportunities for our students going forward.”

Dawg Prints is the student-run print shop at HHS.

Up next: Health Sciences

Agriculture, Solar Energy Need Not Be Foes

March 5, 2025/by George Plaven

From hazelnuts to hay, wine to watermelons, and pears to potatoes, Oregon farmers have rightfully earned a reputation for producing some of the highest-quality crops enjoyed around the world. Yet according to the latest USDA Census of Agriculture, our state has seen nearly 2.4 million acres of farmland taken out of production between 1997 and 2022.

It is an alarming trend with no singular cause. As a reporter covering agriculture in the Pacific Northwest for over 10 years, I’ve sat at the kitchen table across from farmers and ranchers who have told me how burdensome regulations and added costs are pushing their operations to the breaking point. Extreme weather and wildfires fueled by climate change have also made farming more unpredictable, forcing growers to adapt.

With these myriad challenges, some producers have turned to solar energy as a lifeline. While opponents argue solar development poses a threat to agriculture, others are demonstrating how these two industries can be not only compatible, but symbiotic.

This solar project in Lake County was developed in cooperation with the landowner to produce renewable energy. (Contributed by NewSun Energy)

Oregon needs to build more solar energy to meet its decarbonization goals set in House Bill 2021 and satisfy power demands for growing economic sectors, including energy-hungry data centers. Farmers and ranchers typically make between $300 and $2,000 per acre per year leasing land for solar, providing much-needed income to help them weather volatile global markets and stay in business.

As of August 2024, Oregon has about 1,815 megawatts of installed solar capacity, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). That represents a 23-fold jump over the past decade. Still, solar makes up only 4% of Oregon’s total electricity generation, showing ample room for growth as investor-owned utilities work to decarbonize retail electricity sales by 2040. Data centers like those near The Dalles and Hermiston will be particularly energy-intensive going forward, requiring 10-50 times more per square foot than commercial office buildings, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

When it comes to siting solar projects, developers must meet stringent requirements aimed at protecting communities, farming, and natural resources. Site certificates are reviewed by the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC), and projects on public land are also subject to the federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). These reviews ensure that solar projects are built in appropriate areas that avoid harming or fragmenting high-value agricultural land.

Additionally, researchers at Oregon State University are now studying ways that solar panels can be incorporated on farms to benefit crops and forage. The concept, called agrivoltaics, is now being put to the test on a research farm at OSU’s North Willamette Research and Extension Center. Chad Higgins, who is leading the project, said agrivoltaics is showing promise to not only add another revenue stream for farms, but also better manage sunlight to grow healthier plants using less water.

All of this goes to show that farms and solar panels cannot just coexist, but they can be mutually beneficially. Rather than scapegoating solar for Oregon’s declining farmland, lawmakers should be focused on improving the regulatory environment that will improve both our food and energy production together. Oregon farmers and ranchers have a long history of innovation, and solar energy should be treated as a friend, not foe, to this important industry.

The Halls of Power

February 26, 2025/by George Plaven

Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series of features by Pac/West Lobby Group Communications Director George Plaven detailing his professional development journey with REAL Oregon. To read previous installments in this series, click the links below:

Session 1: Klamath Falls
Session 2: Roseburg
Session 3: Newport

There’s something exciting about walking the halls of the Oregon State Capitol, dressed for success, passing legislators on the way to their next meeting, seeing the inner workings of government in action.

If the goal of REAL Oregon is to grow leaders in agriculture and natural resources, then it only makes sense a tour of the Capitol would be next on the agenda for our class’s February session in Salem. Whether it is farming and ranching in Klamath Falls, logging in Roseburg, or commercial fishing in Newport, the issues affecting each industry eventually make their way here, where decisions have a lasting impact on producers and rural communities.

Our tour of the Oregon State Capitol included a stop on the floor of the House of Representatives.

On our tour, we had excellent guides in the form of two of our classmates — Austin McClister, communications director for the Oregon Farm Bureau, and Ryan Tuthill, legislative director for the Oregon House Republicans. They led us around both the House and Senate offices, where staffers explained the legislative process. We briefly chatted with a few representatives, including Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany) and Ricki Ruiz (D-Gresham), but with the 2025 Legislature in full swing they understandably had only a few minutes to spare.

Finally, we gathered in the balcony overlooking the House of Representatives as they convened for a brief floor session. During courtesies, we received a shout-out from Boshart Davis, who said REAL Oregon graduates “exemplify dedication to our state’s natural resources.”

Where Urban Meets Rural

Thinking about Western Oregon and the Willamette Valley, it is easy to think about urban hubs like Portland metro or Salem. But there is also a vast and richly abundant agricultural landscape, with tight-knit communities and farms growing diverse specialty crops including hazelnuts, hops, winegrapes, and nursery stock.

At Pearmine Farms in Gervais, fourth-generation farmer and REAL Oregon alum Molly McCargar showed us their on-farm housing for workers who come every year to pick cherries in a nearby orchard. Recently, the state Occupational Safety and Health Division updated its rules for farmworker housing that farmers like McCargar worry will further strain their budgets and operations — particularly during harvest.

Fourth-generation farmer Molly McCargar, of Pearmine Farms, discusses farmworker housing.

Land use and agritourism is another hot topic being debated this legislative session, questioning which activities should and shouldn’t be allowed on farmland. For some farms, like TMK Creamery in Canby, agritourism can help sustain the rest of their business. Visitors are invited to meet the TMK’s “cowlebrities,” as they’re called, before heading inside the farmstand for a scrumptious grilled cheese sandwich and cheese curds made using the farm’s own milk.

Meeting the ‘cowlebrities’ at TMK Creamery in Canby.

With so many environmental, regulatory, and labor challenges facing Oregon farms, it’s no surprise to see many turning to automation to cut down on costs. In the case of Canopii, the Hubbard-based company has pioneered a fully autonomous greenhouse with robotics handling every step of the growing process, from seed to harvest.

While equipment like this won’t make sense for every grower, it was eye-opening to witness the level of innovation and where it may be taking agriculture into the future.

Robots plant vegetable seedlings inside an automated greenhouse designed by Canopii.

Success Is Possible

Oregon agriculture has certainly had more than its share of legislative setbacks, but it was nice to hear about one recent success.

In 2023, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 955 creating the AgriStress Helpline, a 24/7 suicide prevention hotline for those working in agriculture, fishing, and forestry. Since its launch, the helpline has received calls from 25 of Oregon’s 36 counties, many of which were either from or on behalf of rural men over 49 years old — a group identified as “high risk” for suicide.

SB 955 allocated $300,000 from the state general fund to set up and run the helpline. Sen. Todd Nash (R-Enterprise) and Rep. Bobby Levy (R-Echo) are sponsoring legislation this session that would allocate $2 million for the helpline over the next biennium.

That bill, SB 779, has been referred to the Senate Early Childhood and Behavioral Health Committee. A public hearing was scheduled for Feb. 20. While suicide prevention for those working in agriculture should be as uncontroversial as it comes, it is still inspiring to see that common ground can be reached in the halls of power.

I can understand why some conservative farmers and ranchers bristle at Oregon politics. With Democrats holding a supermajority in both chambers of state government, it may feel pointless to speak up. What incentive does the majority have to listen, after all? Others have become so fed up they are pushing for a large chunk of rural Central and Eastern Oregon to defect entirely, joining Idaho.

As frustrating as it can be, the message to our class was one of persistence. Oregon agriculture and natural resources are worth fighting for, and that’s precisely what REAL Oregon is training us to do. There will likely come a day when one or more of us are called upon to testify on a bill or meet face-to-face with those wielding a key vote. When that day comes, I am confident that we’ll be ready.

REAL Oregon Class 8 gathers for a group photo on the floor of the Oregon House of Representatives.

Oregon’s Roadmap to Lower Rental Costs Runs Through Denver and Austin

February 18, 2025/by Daniel Wattenburger

Austin, Texas and Denver were two of America’s biggest boom towns in the 2010s. Housing demand far exceeded the supply of affordable housing, and rental rates were climbing. Economists generally agreed that the path to lower housing costs would not come by artificially restricting the current supply, but by increasing it. Failing to focus on supply would only exacerbate the affordability problem.

In response, the Democrat-controlled city councils in Denver and Austin initiated an aggressive pro-development approach to build tens of thousands of new rental units as quickly as possible. Planning doors were swung wide open, red tape slashed, and developers responded. Austin has built tens of thousands of units in the past three years and Denver has added more than 21,000 rental units this past year alone. (Source)

The results: Austin has seen declining rental rates for 19 consecutive months and rental costs in Denver have dropped almost 6% in the last year.

In the summer of 2024, the Biden administration proposed capping rental rates nationwide. Colorado’s Democratic Gov. Jared Polis criticized the approach, saying the plan “would lead to less affordable housing being built and substantially increase housing costs.” The governor was seeing the impact of a supply generation approach firsthand, and the results are impressive.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has a firm grip on the economics of the state’s housing needs and has called for an ambitious annual goal of 36,000 new housing units statewide. The legislature also responded with an infusion of capital on multiple fronts in the past two years and more is on the way.

Despite these efforts, Oregon has not seen the rapid response as experienced in Austin or Denver. Kotek rightfully sees affordable housing as an emergency, but not everyone has moved with the focus and speed this emergency requires.

The state cannot create new housing stock without the commitment of local governments, as seen in Austin and Denver, to move aggressively to meet the state’s stated benchmarks. That means streamlining the permit processes, easing development codes wherever possible, and setting unit objectives and timelines to achieve those goals. Both state and local government can help incentivize builders for both market-rate and subsidized projects by reducing the time — and thus the costs — associated with getting shovels in the ground.

Success requires focusing on increasing the supply of affordable rental housing and avoiding distractions from the stated goal. Yet there is movement in the Legislature this session to sidetrack from that focus by further tightening rent caps in parts of the housing market, such as aging manufactured home parks. That approach has not only proven ineffective but could rapidly accelerate park closings as owners seek to redevelop the land for more financially stable purposes, leaving more people searching for affordable housing.

Multi-family developers, who are keys to meeting this housing emergency, may also be wary of investing large sums of capital in an environment where stifling rent control ideas are constantly looming.

As Jason Furman, the top economic advisor to former President Barack Obama, said last summer: “Rent control has been about as disgraced as any economic policy in the toolkit,” in an interview with the Washington Post. He went on to say that “it will ultimately make our housing supply problems worse, not better.”

The Legislature and local housing authorities can help those currently struggling on fixed incomes to meet housing costs by ensuring those impacted individuals are aware of all existing assistance programs and resources, and supplementing those resources wherever possible, without jeopardizing the financial viability of current housing providers.

Oregon needs more affordable housing, and on an accelerated pace to make up for lost time and escape this every-other-session Band-Aid approach to systemic issues. Gov. Kotek has identified the solution and the path forward. Time to stay focused on outcomes. If they can do it in Texas and Colorado, we can do it in Oregon.

Pac/West Welcomes James Moffitt as Winter Intern

February 6, 2025/by George Plaven

Pac/West Lobby Group is pleased to announce the addition of winter intern James Moffitt to the lobby team, continuing the firm’s commitment to help develop the next generation of business leaders.

James Moffitt

Moffitt, 24, is a student at Portland State University. He will graduate in June with a degree in political science. Moffitt said he was initially drawn into news and politics by the 2016 presidential campaigns between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

“Since 2016, it feels like politics has been in the news 24/7,” Moffitt said. “And so, I decided why not get into that?”

Moffitt will assist projects and track bills affecting Pac/West clients in the 2025 Legislature. He is particularly interested in issues affecting affordable housing, homelessness, small businesses, and redevelopment from his vantage point in downtown Portland.

“I look forward to contributing my skills and passion while supporting our organizational goals and growing within a company that values commitment and teamwork,” Moffitt said. “With my proactive approach and readiness to learn, I am confident I can make a meaningful impact.”

Moffitt graduated from Southridge High School in Beaverton in 2018. When not at work, he enjoys gaming and thrift shopping. He is also a fan of the Portland Trail Blazers and WWE.

Ryan Tribbett, president of Pac/West Lobby Group, said professional development and helping people start their careers is part of the company’s DNA. The intern program provides students with hands-on job training as they prepare for future careers.

“James comes to us from PSU’s Political Science Internship Program, which also provided my first entry into politics. We are excited to have him on the team,” Tribbett said. “His knowledge and enthusiasm are a natural fit for what we do and will add tremendous value for our clients.”

The team at Pac/West Lobby Group has decades of experience advocating for diverse groups before the legislature, state agencies, and the relevant boards and commissions. We cover industries including health care, organized labor, agriculture, transportation, local governments, and more.

Legislative Lives of McLane, Starr are Reborn

January 29, 2025/by Rick Metsger

“You can’t go home again,” observed the famed novelist Thomas Wolfe in his iconic book by the same name. Life experiences and growth as a person forever change us, prohibiting the past from being relived the same way we remember it.

Sens. Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) and Mike McLane (R-Powell Butte) are putting that theory to the test as they return to the Oregon Legislature after a prolonged absence. Both are poised for the challenge.

While both Starr and McLane share similar conservative perspectives, they are also attuned to recognizing the value of opposing views in striving for the greater global good.

Back from the Bench

Mike McLane left the Legislature in 2019 to pursue a new career as a circuit court judge. He had served as the House Minority Leader. During his tenure in that role, he earned a reputation for fiercely defending his eastern Oregon district, while working collaboratively with the Democratic majority on areas of mutual concern.

His return to Salem evolved from contrasting his own life experiences.

“I enjoyed my role on the bench,” McLane said, “but I missed the legislative process. My wife told me I should decide to choose either my voice or my robe.”

He didn’t deliberate long. Calling balls and strikes in a courtroom gave way to returning to the pitcher’s mound where the law is decided and he could have a role in the outcome.

What have the two experiences taught him?

“It is imperative to ask the right questions. When we do that, it helps us all get there together,” he said.

McLane, who also is a Colonel in The Oregon Air National Guard, believes getting the right answers and fulfilling the mission begins and ends with a sincere effort to bridge the political divide.

“This is a relationship business. It is foundational to having true and genuine conversations take place,” he observed. “I don’t believe in ‘cancel culture’, where people are cancelled because they have a different view.”

McLane noted that when he started in the Legislature in 2011 it was in the throes of the Great Recession. “We were having to cut budgets, something many legislators have not experienced.”

He sees clouds on the horizon as billions of dollars of federal spending, prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, disappears from state coffers.

“There is going to a reckoning soon and I believe my experience can help provide a reasoned approach to addressing that challenge.”

Starr Shooting for Collaboration

Bruce Starr left the Oregon Senate a decade ago. He returns to a new, more agricultural-based district than the greater Hillsboro community he once served.

Like McLane, he yearns for a return to a place where legislators are committed to more collaboration.

“It used to be way more collegial,” Starr said. “It is really tough losing someone like Peter Courtney who understood that the legislative process benefits from really listening to expertise from both sides of an issue.”

He is, however, optimistic that goal can be restored.

“I spent an hour and half with (Senate President) Rob (Wagner) and we just talked. Building relationships is so important.”

He laments that ongoing construction at the Capitol has impeded building those relationships.

“I am concerned we don’t have a legislative lounge where you can sit down and have lunch with a state representative. We need to find ways to break down the barriers,” he said.

Starr is excited about the work ahead, especially in his primary wheelhouse — transportation.

“My goal this session is developing a strong transportation package, one that is balanced and really addresses our needs,” he said.

Starr was instrumental in the passage of multiple renditions of the Oregon Transportation Investment Acts during his initial Senate service. He will play an influential role in working with transportation co-chairs, Sen. Chris Gorsek (D-Gresham) and Rep. Susan McLain (D-Forest Grove) to secure Republican votes for the final work product.

The return of McLane and Starr bolsters the collective experience of the Legislature on both sides of the political aisle. Considering the myriad critical issues facing the state, that experience, along with the infusion of fresh ideas and energy from younger members, can be a blueprint for a successful session.

Both men served in a pre-pandemic capitol, and now they are adapting to a post-pandemic process with a plethora of newer legislators. They have seen it from both sides. McLane has found his lane and a Starr is reborn.

Careers By Design

January 29, 2025/by George Plaven

Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of stories highlighting Hermiston School District’s career and technical education (CTE) programs. Read the previous installments here:

Is your car making a funny noise? Having trouble starting? Displaying a warning light and you’re not sure what to do? There’s an app for that.

Fix My Car was developed by Hermiston High School senior Yahir Conejo-Garcia. By typing in a few prompts, the app can quickly diagnose issues and recommend repairs. For those who aren’t handy with vehicles, Fix My Car points users to their nearest mechanic.

Hermiston High School Senior Yahir Conejo-Garcia discusses his app, Fix My Car, which won the 2023 Congressional App Challenge for Oregon’s 2nd District.

Conejo-Garcia won the 2023 Congressional App Challenge for Oregon’s 2^nd Congressional District, applying skills he learned through the school’s Computer Science program. The classes, taught by Robert Theriault, run the gamut from basic word processing and photo editing to more complex coding and website design.

Computer Science is one of two career and technical education (CTE) programs offered under the Arts, Information, and Communications pathway in Hermiston. The other is Art & Design, which includes both traditional drawing and painting along with digital design and media production.

The programs allow students to flex their creative muscle while creating tangible, useful products for their friends and community like building an app, filming a short news report, or designing a new logo for a local business.

Digital design and computer programming are skills taught in Hermiston School District’s Arts, Information, and Communications CTE pathway.

‘Tech Is Everywhere’

Theriault has been teaching computer science at HHS since 2016. He earned his master’s degree in cybersecurity from Western Governors University in 2020.

“A lot of what we do is programming and web development,” Theriault said. “One of the things they need to learn is how to lay out a web page or app, so how do you add images, how do you add buttons, how do you add input boxes … all the stuff that makes it usable.”

In his freshman-level introductory class, Theriault begins by covering the basics — things like word processing, photo editing, and simple coding. By the end of the semester, students will have learned enough to build their own computer game, which they can share online with their friends.

Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles gets more into cybersecurity and big data. Instead of a computer game, students design apps. Past entries by HHS students in the Congressional App Challenge have included the Basic App to Notify Authorities of Non-Authorized Abductions (B.A.N.A.N.A.), a facial recognition tool to help find suspected missing persons, and Touch and Talk, an app for students who have difficulty speaking.

Advance Computer Technology gets into the nitty-gritty of programming and building entire websites from scratch. Theriault said learning these skills will help prepare students for increasingly in-demand jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of computer and information research scientists is projected to grow 26% from 2023 to 2033, or about 3,400 new job openings per year over the decade.

Digital Media

Sitting at the Bulldog Media anchor desk, HHS seniors Johnny Avila-Munoz and Isaac Arceo delivered the school announcements for Jan. 15, covering classroom schedule changes, upcoming events, club fundraisers, and sports highlights.

HHS seniors Johnny Avila-Munoz, left, and Isaac Arceo deliver the weekly announcements on Jan. 15.

In addition to weekly live announcements, the Bulldog Media team also produces a monthly news show called the Bulldog Rundown. Students learn what it takes to report, film, and edit their own features, ranging from sports and weather updates to local community events.

Shannon Snyder, who teaches media productions at the high school, said they have discussed career opportunities in media from Hollywood to marketing. Her program also helps students gain confidence working both on camera and behind the scenes.

Visit the Bulldog Media YouTube channel here

“Just having the skills alone in being able to edit on Adobe Premiere Pro is huge for their resume,” Snyder said. “Many businesses can’t hire out a media team, or they can’t hire a videographer. But they could hire somebody in-house who knows how to edit photos or video.”

Nathaniel Scott said he sees similar development in his digital arts classes where students learn how to design graphics and logos using programs like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. These graphics might find their way onto T-shirts, stickers, banners, and other items proudly worn or displayed in the school.

Students’ designs have also been used by local businesses in and around Hermiston, including Umatilla County Master Gardeners, the Umatilla County Housing Authority, and Bikers Against Child Abuse.

Scott said being able to see their work live on after the assignment is complete creates a sense of pride and friendly competition among students in his classes.

“When you realize 500 people are going to be wearing this design, or people from all over the country will see this logo, there are real stakes,” Scott said. “I think there is a lot of value in knowing how good design works. That can be a skill used in business.”

Students work behind the camera filming the HHS live announcements.

Up next: Business & Management

Farmers of the Sea

January 15, 2025/by George Plaven

Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of features by Pac/West Lobby Group Communications Director George Plaven detailing his professional development journey with REAL Oregon. To read previous installments in this series, click the links below:

Session 1: Klamath Falls
Session 2: Roseburg

Anyone who knows me knows I love seafood. That’s one of the many reasons I love living in Oregon — getting to enjoy fish, crab, shrimp, and oysters harvested right here along the coast. So, when I saw that REAL Oregon would be visiting Local Ocean for lunch during our January session in Newport, I was ecstatic.

Somehow, it was even better than I expected.

Albacore tuna skewers! Coho salmon sliders! Dungeness crab cakes! I was in heaven. As I loaded my plate, I could see dozens of commercial fishing boats docked in Yaquina Bay through the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows. It reminded me to pause and appreciate the families who made this delicious meal possible. “Farmers of the sea,” we used to call them when I was still reporting at the Capital Press.

Dungeness crab cakes were on the menu at Local Ocean in Newport.

Though lunch was a treat, the real reason we were there was to learn about Oregon’s commercial fishing and seafood industries. According to the State Employment Department, an estimated 1,212 commercial fishers worked in Oregon on an annual average basis in 2023, landing 301 million pounds of seafood worth $178 million.

Setting Sail

Our first tour stop was at the Port of Toledo shipyard, where we stepped inside a large warehouse to find the F/V Collier Brothers undergoing several renovations. The ship’s engineer, Jonas McKinley, said they typically catch 6-8 million pounds of pollack per year along the West Coast, primarily up in Alaska.

The F/V Collier Brothers is a trawler, a type of commercial fishing vessel that drags a large net through the water to catch fish. McKinley said their net is about the size of a football field when fully opened.

Staring up at the F/V Collier Brothers at the Port of Toledo shipyard.

Trawling isn’t the only way to catch fish. Walking along the pier at Dock 5 in Newport, we saw all different kinds of fishing vessels, including seiners, longliners, and salmon trollers. They are uniquely equipped to catch a variety of species, from Pacific whiting (also called hake, used in products like fish sticks and imitation crab) to salmon and tuna.

In 2019, data shows there were 331 commercial fishing vessels that made 4,788 deliveries in the Newport area. The total value of that harvest was $59.3 million. Dungeness crab accounts for the highest overall value of products (42%), while groundfish accounted for the highest overall volume (31%).

A vessel docked in Newport is loaded with Dungeness crab pots.

Catch of the Day

Just a short walk from Dock 5, our class was able to tour seafood processing plants operated by Pacific Seafood. With Dungeness crab season underway, John Moody, facilities manager, gave us a look at their equipment bringing fresh crabs off the boat and preparing them for seafood markets and restaurants.

John Moody, Newport facilities manager for Pacific Seafood, shows how Dungeness crab is processed.

We also had the chance to check out the Yaquina Lab, part of the Central Coast Food Web, providing processing space and facilities for small and independent producers.

Founded by Laura Anderson, who also founded Local Ocean, the Central Coast Food Web (CCFW) aims to knock down barriers for locally caught seafood. According to the CCFW, 90% of seafood sold in Oregon does not actually come from our own shores.

If we could retain just 10% more seafood to sell locally, it would translate into $90 million more per year for coastal communities.

Offshore Wind

Getting into commercial fishing isn’t easy. The equipment and permits are a huge investment, and the work is inherently dangerous. It isn’t an exaggeration to say each boat on the water represents its own small business.

That’s why the subject of offshore wind development is so touchy for the industry.

The federal government identified two areas off the southern Oregon coast for floating offshore wind turbines. Last year, an auction for developers in those two areas was postponed by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).

We heard from Heather Mann, executive director of the Newport-based Midwater Trawlers Cooperative, and Cari Brandberg, treasurer of the Newport Fishermen’s Wives. They discussed their concerns over how offshore wind could impact fisheries, and joined a chorus of voices from both sides of the issue criticizing BOEM’s process as opaque — “A black box of unknowns,” says Mann.

Last year, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 4080, directing the Department of Land Conservation and Development to come up with an “Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap.” Meetings began in November, and a report is due back to lawmakers by June.

How this issue is handled going forward will be critical to the future of Oregon’s coastal communities.

Supplies are lowered into a fishing vessel outside Pacific Seafood in Newport.

A Message to Legislative Staff: Believe in Yourself

January 12, 2025/by Ryan Tribbett

Twenty years ago, in my first session as a Legislative Assistant, I learned a valuable lesson that has shaped my approach to public service: the power of perseverance.

As we open the 2025 Oregon Legislative Session, I want to fire up the Wayback Machine and share this story in hopes that it will inspire new and returning staffers. No matter what life experiences you bring with you to the Capitol, you have the potential to make an impact on behalf of your legislator and your state.

My first session was in 2005. I was fresh out of school with a B.A. in B.S. (i.e. Political Science). I was 24 years old, working for my new boss, State Sen. Rick Metsger. His philosophy was the best way to learn the legislative process was by doing, allowing staffers to introduce a bill on any topic we chose. He would then bring it forward as Chief Sponsor.

The only catch was that we had to do all the work — research, drafting, testifying, lobbying, vote counting, everything. It seemed overwhelming. Metsger offered me three words of advice: Believe in yourself.

For context, this was only the second session since the 9/11 attacks and there was a lot of public scrutiny on the disjointed communications systems used by the various emergency response agencies in New York City. I knew Oregon was unlikely to experience such an attack, but integrated communications are key for any coordinated emergency response, whether it’s an earthquake, tsunami, wildfire, or other natural disaster.

In my research, I was surprised to find out Oregon had the same disjointed system that hampered emergency responders in New York City. With that, I had identified my bill concept.

I began meeting with legislators, and while no one disputed the rationale or objective, they struggled to understand why such a significant bill was being presented by a staffer without backing from any organization or lobby group. It felt like the system just did not know how to react to truly organic ideas, much less one from a 24-year-old staffer.

As the session grinded on, my bill moved unanimously from policy committee to Ways & Means, where it languished. By the final weeks, it remained stuck with leadership doubting it had the votes needed to pass. Undeterred, I worked backwards meeting again with legislators and asked them, one by one, to solidify their support by signing on as a co-sponsor. I hit 45 co-sponsors, including the majority of the Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee, and both chambers.

Then something unexpected happened. Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown came around our office and told me to stop working on the bill. Figuring it was bad news, I immediately launched in my spiel which she interrupted mid-retort to tell me that she had included by bill language in the negotiated end-of-session bill.

My jaw dropped, and I swear I almost collapsed as the cumulative mental and emotional exhaustion washed over me.

I didn’t know it at the time, but that session taught me the basic foundations of lobbying and policy work. Perhaps most importantly, it ignited my passion for public service. It’s a passion that has stayed with me ever since.

To every staff member starting this session, don’t underestimate what you can do. The work you do today matters. It shapes our state’s future in ways you may not fully realize until years later. You are a vital part of this process, and your contributions, big or small, can make all the difference.

Believe in yourself!

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