PNCA+FIVE Idea Studio

In the Round: Collective Leadership

A PNCA+ Five Idea Studio and part of pdXPLORE with Portland Mayor Elect Sam Adams, leading elected officials and city planners address the challenges facing Portland and their vision for the future. Join some of the region’s most engaging leaders as they take a creative look at Portland’s urban landscape and ask how our unique history can inform the future. The discussion is a continuation of the dialogues that began with five designers and resulted the pdXPLORE, the interactive multi-media exhibiton on display in PNCA’s Swigert Commons.

Panelists:
Sam Adams, City Council Member and Mayor Elect of Portland is a friend of the arts, and of Portland. Described by The Portland Tribune as “The council’s most vocal advocate for public arts, neighborhoods, diversity, transportation, economic development, and transparency and accountability in government,” Adams is a versatile public leader with a strong work ethic. Adams first pursued politics as a University of Oregon intern for Congressman Peter DeFazio where he remained on staff until 1987. He then worked for the Oregon House Democratic Campaign Committee and former Democratic Majority Leader Carl Hosticka. In 1991, Adams successfully managed Vera Katz’s first campaign for mayor. At age 29, he was the youngest mayoral chief of staff in the city’s history. He is currently Commissioner in Charge of Portland’s Office of Transportation and the Bureau of Environmental Services, and council liaison to, among others: the Regional Arts & Culture Council, the Association of Portland Neighborhood Business Districts, and Worksystems, Incorporated. In a landslide victory during the primary elections on May 20, 2008, Adams won the Mayoral seat for Portland. He will take office on January 1, 2009.
David Bragdon, President of Metro has lead new initiatives to preserve natural areas and protect water quality, support thriving neighborhoods, create jobs and economic prosperity, improve our transportation network, and make Metro a more effective and accountable government. He was first elected to the Metro Council in 1998 as a district Councilor and became the Metro Council’s first regionally elected President in2003. Prior to his service on the Metro Council, Bragdon built a successful career in the private sector transportation and international marketing industry. He developed new shipping strategies at Nike, chartered freighters at Lasco Shipping Co. and represented Evergreen Airlines in the Soviet Union, India, and China. Bragdon also served as marine marketing manager at the Port of Portland for five years. In 2007, he launched the Connecting Green initiative, a call to action to create a region-wide network of parks, trails and natural areas.
Tom Hughes, Mayor of Hillsboro was born in Hillsboro and educated in the Hillsboro school system. He graduated from Hillsboro Union High School in 1961. He earned his BS in history from the University of Oregon, his MA in history from University of Arizona and his secondary teaching certificate from Portland State University. The Mayor belongs to the Hillsboro Rotary and the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the Boards of Washington County Community Action Organization, Hillsboro Hospital Authority, Oregon Economic Development District, Hillsboro Schools Foundation Advisory Board, Westside Economic Alliance, Metro Policy Advisory Committee and Metro Reserves Steering Committee. Appointed by the Governor, the Mayor also serves on the State Revenue Restructuring Task Force Committee, Transportation Vision Subcommittee and Transportation Governance Subcommittee. He is currently the President of the League of Oregon Cities and serves on the National League of Cities Finance, Administration, Insurance and Revenue Committee.
Gil Kelley is Planning Director for the City of Portland, a post he assumed in January 2000. As Planning Director, Kelley is responsible for coordinating planning and development functions among all city agencies. He also coordinates Portland’s policy development and planning activities with the regional government, along with state and federal agencies. Reinforcing Portland’s long tradition of innovative urban planning, Kelley is leading several new initiatives aimed at furthering the city’s vitality, livability and beauty including river and streams restoration, a science and technology based economy, investment in neighborhood centers, and design excellence in new building and public open spaces. From 1988 to 1999, Kelley served as Planning and Development Director for the City of Berkeley, California. Before joining the City of Berkeley as a planner in 1985, he was engaged in private consulting as an urban planner in San Francisco, preparing development plans and feasibility studies for public and private clients throughout the San Francisco Bay area. Kelley also served as a part of a planning and design team for the creation of the new town of North Bonneville, Washington, a rural community dislocated by construction of a federal hydroelectric dam on the Columbia River.

Alice Rouyer is Executive Manager for the City of Gresham, where she provides support to the City Manager, City Council and Department Directors to implement the City’s growth and development initiatives and the City Council’s Work Plan. Prior to this, she served as Director of Community Development and Public Works for the City of Milwaukie. She has 17 years experience in urban planning, community development and public works in city government and private consulting. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oregon and holds a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Colorado.

Moderated by Thom Walters.

Ticket info: Free and open to the public.