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Modernization

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​​​​​​​​Our Modernization project boards include both customers and service delivery partners - by working together we can first imagine and then deliver improved services to our shared customers and to one another.​

UI Modernization Engagement Board

The members representing these partners are:

      • ANDREA PALUSO | Co-Director, Child Care for Every Family Network
      • BLAKE JOHNSONCentral Services Division Administrator, Department of Consumer and Business Services
      • DEREK SANGSTON | Policy Director and Counsel, Oregon Business & Industry ​
      • ELOISA MILLER |  Corporation Division Director,  Secretary of State's Office    ​
      • JAMES WEANT | Manager Government Relations, Equifax Inc. 
      • KAREN L. COLEMANProject Executive, Department of Justice - Division of Child Support
      • KATIE LOLLEYBusiness Division Administrator, Department of RevenuE
      • COURTNEY CROWE | Staff Attorney, Legal Aid Services of Oregon  ​
      • MICHAEL KAPLAN | Deputy State Treasurer, State Treasurer's Office  
      • RANDY BLACKBURN | Chief of Staff, Department of Human Services        
      • TOM CROWLEY | Director Government Affairs, ADP
      • Vacant | Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians   
             
      • LINDSI LEAHY | Unemployment Insurance Division Director, Oregon Employment Department
      • KAREN MADDEN HUMMELBAUGH Paid Leave Oregon Director, Oregon Employment Department​
      • RENEE ROYSTON | Modernization Director, Oregon Employment Department​​

Read the UI Modernization Engagement Board Charter​. 

Click below to learn more about the board members. 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Service Delivery Partners

BLAKE JOHNSON | Central Services Division Administrator, Department of Consumer and Business Services

Blake Johnson was born and raised in rural Iowa. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a BS in Petroleum Engineering and got is MBA from University of California, Davis. Prior to working in state government, he spent 11 years of management experience in the oil and gas industry. His 18 years state government experience include California Department of Finance, Oregon Department of Administrative Services Chief Financial Office, Cover Oregon, Oregon Department of Energy, and currently Department of Consumer and Business Services Central Services Division administrator.​
       

KAREN L. COLEMAN | Project Executive, Department Of Justice - Division of Child Support

Karen Coleman is currently the Business & Technical Services Chief for the Oregon Department of Justice Division of Child Support. Karen has been with the Department of Justice since 1995, serves on the Child Support Program's Executive team, and most recently led the Oregon Child Support Program’s System Replacement project. Prior to coming to DOJ Karen spent nearly nine years working in labor relations for  Teamsters Labor Union. Karen was born and raised in Oregon, enjoys the outdoors, and is an avid hunter. ​


KATIE LOLLEY | Business Division Administrator, Department of Revenue

Bio pending.

RANDY BLACKBURN | Department of Human Services

Bio pending.        


MICHAEL KAPLAN | Deputy State Treasurer, State Treasurer's Office

Bio pending.


ELOISA MILLER | Secretary of State's Office

Eloisa is the Corporation Division Director for the Oregon Secretary of State. Her portfolio includes overseeing the Business Information Center, Office of Small Business Assistance, Uniform Commercial Code, Notary, and Business Registry. She joined the Secretary of State’s office in 2021 with 16 years of state service, of which four years included serving as Governor Brown’s Economic and Business Equity Manager where she advised on and implemented statewide contracting policies and practices to expand access and opportunities for Oregon small businesses. She served on the Governor’s Racial Justice Council, as co-chair of the council’s Economic Opportunity Committee, and Governor’s Minority Contractors Taskforce. Her professional background includes policy making, leading statewide initiatives, local and rural community engagement, economic development, advocacy for Oregon businesses, and is a seasoned diversity, equity and inclusion professional. Eloisa is committed to supporting the success of all Oregonians and is passionate about ensuring business owners have equitable access to critical resources to start, sustain, and thrive. ​

Customers

ANDREA PALUSO | Co-Director, Child Care for Every Family Network

Bio pending. 


LAURIE HOEFER | Farmworker Program Director, Legal Aid Services of Oregon   

Bio pending.        


JAMES WEANT | Manager Government Relations, Equifax Inc. 

Bio pending.​       


Position vacant | Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians


DEREK SANGSTON | ​Policy Director and Counsel, Oregon Business & Industry​


TOM CROWLEY | Director Government Affairs, ADP

Tom has served as a Director of Government Affairs for ADP since January 2015 where he is responsible for relationship management for ADP with state unemployment insurance (UI) tax agencies. He also serves as the current Chairman, Board of Trustees of the National Foundation for Unemployment Compensation and Workers' Compensation (UWC), as well as the Chairman of the UWC.

Prior to joining ADP, he served for nearly nine years as the UI Tax Chief for the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington DC, where he provided national leadership for the Office of Unemployment Insurance to fulfill Federal oversight responsibilities for the state UI tax programs.

Prior to Federal service he served for 30 years in various leadership positions for the State of Maryland in the area of UI tax administration.

He is a graduate of Loyola College in Baltimore, MD with a degree in accounting and currently resides in Apollo Beach, Florida.

Employment Department

KAREN MADDEN HUMELBAUGH | Paid Leave Oregon Director, Oregon Employment Department

Bio pending.        


LINDSI LEAHY| UI Division Director, Oregon Employment Department

Bio pending.        

RENEE ROYSTON | Modernization Director, Oregon Employment Department​

​Renee is a member of the Oregon Employment Department executive leadership team and is currently leading the agency's Modernization Program as the Modernization Director. She has been a State of Oregon employee for over 27 years, leading state programs, initiatives and projects including the Department of Revenue's Core System Replacement (CSR) project and Oregon Employment Department's Modernization Program. She invests herself into developing emerging leaders and seeing others succeed. Renee loves the outdoors. Outside of work you'll find her with her family enjoying Oregon's beautiful wilderness, lakes, and hiking trails.​

Workforce Modernization Stakeholder Board

The members representing these partners are:

      • ANGEL HALE | Director of Rehabilitation Services, Oregon Commission for the Blind 
      • BOB UHLENKOTT Workforce and Economic Research Division Director, Oregon Employment Department 
      • BRIDGET DAZEY | Executive Director, Clackamas Workforce Partnership
      • CANDI QUINTALL Employment and Training Program Manager, Oregon Department of Human Services   ​
      • DONNA LEWELLING Director, Office of Community College and Workforce Development, Higher Education Coordinating Commission
      • ERIN CARPENTER | Executive Director, Eastern Oregon Workforce Board
      • ​HEATHER STAFFORD Executive Director, Rogue Workforce Partnership     
      • JORDANA BARCLAY | Innovation Strategist, Business Oregon
      • JULIA STEINBERGER | Director, Office of Workforce Investments, Higher Education Coordinating Commission
      • KEITH OZOLS Rehabilitative Counseling Administrator, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services       
      • KURT TACKMAN Deputy Director, Office of Workforce Investments, Higher Education Coordinating Commission
      • MICHELLE SIMPSON HR Generalist, Josephine County
      • ​SAM THOMAS | Workforce Program Analyst, Higher Education Coordinating Commission 

      • JIM PFARRER | Workforce Operations Division Director, Oregon Employment Department 
      • RENEE ROYSTON | Modernization Director, Oregon Employment Department​ ​

Read the Workforce Modernization Engagement Board Charter

Click below to learn more about the board members.

​ANGEL HALE | Director of Rehabilitation Services, Commission for the Blind 

Bio pending.​

BRIDGET DAZEY | Executive Director, Clackamas Workforce Partnership 

Since joining Clackamas Workforce Partnership in 2008, and assuming the role of Executive Director in 2014, Bridget's focus has been on removing barriers to employment for all; improving WorkSource services; and building sector strategies, equity, and community engagement.

Bridget received a Master of Social Work from St. Ambrose University, as well as a Bachelor of Social Work from Loras College. Bridget's background in social services, her previous experience in education; criminal justice; substance abuse prevention; and advocacy, informs her approach to workforce development.

As the Executive Director CWP, Bridget supports the board of directors, staff, and partners in fully recognizing the role of coordination at a systems level, toward a shared goal of prosperity across Clackamas County.​

DONNA LEWELLING Director, Office of Community College and Workforce Development, Higher Education Coordinating Commission

Donna has been involved in state-level higher education policy since 2006. Donna has served as Oregon's Adult Basic Skills Director since 2018. In July, 2021 she was named Director of the Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development within the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.

Donna holds a Bachelor's Degree in Management Administration and a Master's in Leadership and Management. In her role at the state, she as the privilege of leading a team that works every day to create accessible pathways to success for all Oregon students. 

ERIN CARPENTER | Executive Director, Eastern Oregon Workforce Board

Bio pending.

​HEATHER STAFFORD Executive Director, Rogue Workforce Partnership  

Bio pending​. 

CANDI QUINTALL Employment and Training Program Manager, Oregon Department of Human Services   

Bio pending.

JULIA STEINBERGER | Director, Office of Workforce Investments, Higher Education Coordinating Commission

Bio pending.

KEITH OZOLS Rehabilitative Counseling Administrator, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Bio pending​.      

KURT TACKMAN Deputy Director, Office of Workforce Investments, Higher Education Coordinating Commission

In his 20+ years with the State of Oregon, Kurt has worked for the Oregon Employment Department, the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, and the Office of Workforce Investments. He held a variety of positions including intern, support staff, front-line service provision, program manager, policy analyst, and management. Prior to joining state government, he spent twenty years in the private sector – mostly the retail and service industries – with a focus on customer service, training, and process improvement.

MICHELLE SIMPSON HR Generalist, Josephine County 

Michelle Simpson utilized WorkSource Rogue Valley and iMatchSkills while searching for her next career in 2017. She was successful in her efforts and joined Josephine County in the Human Resource Department and now uses the iMatchSkills program in recruitment efforts to fill job openings in local government. Before Josephine County, Michelle worked 15 years in a variety of positions in the retail sector, cashier to Management, with an emphasis on customer service and a heart for employee training.  Michelle holds a Bachelor's in Business Management and the International Public Management Association for Human Resource certificate, IPMA-HR.

​SAM THOMAS | Workforce Program Analyst, Higher Education Coordinating Commission

Sam Thomas is new to the HECC as a workforce program analyst with the Office of Workforce Investments but has jumped right in, spending the last several months working on the HECC Modernization Program. He has a background in web design, software development, and network hardware testing. Before coming to the State, Sam worked as a land use manager for an architecture firm in Salem.

JIM PFARRER | Workforce Operations Division Director, Oregon Employment Department 

Jim is the Division Director for Workforce Operations Division with the Oregon Employment Department.  He has been in this position for the past 8 years.  Prior to that, he was Area Manager for the Employment Department, managing several Worksource Centers.  Jim has been with the Department for more than 28 years working in various positions within the agency.   ​

RENEE ROYSTON | Modernization Director, Oregon Employment Department​ ​

Renee is a member of the Oregon Employment Department executive leadership team and is currently leading the agency's Modernization Program as the Modernization Director. She has been a State of Oregon employee for over 27 years, leading state programs, initiatives and projects including the Department of Revenue's Core System Replacement (CSR) project and Oregon Employment Department's Modernization Program. She invests herself into developing emerging leaders and seeing others succeed. Renee loves the outdoors. Outside of work you'll find her with her family enjoying Oregon's beautiful wilderness, lakes, and hiking trails.​​

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