Amber Kaatz holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southern Oregon University and a master’s degree in social work from Portland State University.  In 1994, she began her career in the criminal justice field as a probation officer for Umatilla County Community Corrections (UCCC).  At the time of her departure from UCCC in 2008 to relocate to the Salem area, Amber was the program manager responsible for overseeing drug court, monitoring all treatment contracts, ensuring quality assurance, and supervising the drug court coordinator along with other various personnel. Throughout her tenure at UCCC, Amber supervised case bank, served as an intake officer, coordinated a day reporting center, completed field work and all related caseload supervision activities, served as the agency PSI writer, was responsible for investigating release plans, supervised the SB1145 (local control) program, served as the agency hearings officer, assisted DOC and OYA with program evaluations, and wrote and managed grants for the department.  She also served as the agency representative for multiple groups such as the Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT) and the Local Alcohol and Drug Planning Committee (LADPC).  After her move to Salem, Amber worked briefly as a compliance specialist for the Oregon Board of Social Workers before accepting a position in 2009 as a program analyst for the Criminal Justice Commission. She held that position until February of 2012, at which time she began working as the grants manager tasked with grant management oversight, program development, budget preparation, and long term planning.

Term: September 2012 - September 2016