Our Team - Oregon Business & Industry

EXECUTIVE

Angela Wilhelms

President and CEO

angelawilhelms@oregonbusinessindustry.com

Angela Wilhelms joined OBI as president and CEO in September 2021. Before joining OBI, Angela served as secretary to the University of Oregon’s board of trustees, where she played a critical role in establishing the university’s governing practices and operations.

Prior to joining the university, Angela had a successful career in public policy. She served as chief of staff to the former Oregon House Co-Speaker Bruce Hanna and held the same role in the House Minority Office. She also has spent time in Washington, D.C., serving as press secretary to retired Rep. Greg Walden. Angela also was of counsel in the Portland office of the law firm Dunn Carney, specializing in comprehensive government affairs services.

Paloma Sparks

Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel

palomasparks@oregonbusinessindustry.com

As chief operating officer and general counsel, Paloma Sparks oversees OBI’s compliance, operations, legal affairs and affiliate efforts. Paloma brings many years of experience working in and around state government, having served as policy advisor for former Sen. Lee Beyer, as legislative director and general counsel for the Bureau of Labor and Industries and as vice president for public policy and general counsel for OBI. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a law degree from the University of Oregon.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Scott Bruun

Vice President for Government Affairs

scottbruun@oregonbusinessindustry.com

As vice president for government affairs, Scott Bruun leads OBI’s policy team. He also spearheads OBI’s efforts on tax, fiscal and manufacturing policy. Scott has varied industry experience, including agency-level communications and public affairs, financial management and commercial construction. Scott served in the Oregon House of Representatives between 2005 and 2011 and twice was a major-party nominee for U.S. Congress.

Scott has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Oregon and an MBA from Portland State University. Scott and his wife, Alison, are the proud parents of two daughters, Natalie and Katie. The Bruuns live in West Linn.

Katie Koenig

Public Affairs Manager

katiekoenig@oregonbusinessindustry.com

Katie Koenig manages education, workforce and health care policy as well as the OBI Research and Education Foundation. Katie also serves as OBI’s board liaison. She brings a range of experience, including her previous years at Associated Oregon Industries, working in the Oregon Legislature, fundraising and event planning for a local private school. Katie holds a bachelor’s degree from Linfield College. She is a sports enthusiast and can usually be found in a set of bleachers with her husband, cheering on one of their four sons.

Sharla Moffett

Senior Policy Director

sharlamoffett@oregonbusinessindustry.com

Sharla Moffett leads OBI’s work on energy, environment, natural resources and infrastructure policy. She has extensive experience in managing natural resource policy issues at the local, state and federal levels, having worked for industry trade associations, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture. Sharla is a proud fourth generation Oregonian and an Oregon State University alumna.

Derek Sangston

Policy Director and Counsel

dereksangston@oregonbusinessindustry.com

Derek Sangston oversees employment/labor, retail and liability policy. Derek comes to OBI after several years of experience in the Oregon Legislature, where he served as legislative director to Senate President Peter Courtney and, prior to that, as a legislative aide for Sen. Mark Hass. Derek has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Southern Methodist University and a law degree from the University of Oregon.

POLITICAL AFFAIRS

Preston Mann

Political Affairs Director

prestonmann@oregonbusinessindustry.com

Preston Mann plans and executes external affairs and coalition efforts in support of OBI’s mission, which is to create a healthy and competitive economy. Preston has many years of experience with policy advocacy, communications and public relations, and political strategy. He has served as vice president of public affairs for Oregon Manufacturers and Commerce. And through his public affairs firm, Court Street Communications, he has developed and deployed strategic initiatives for several businesses, trade associations, political candidates and elected officials. Preston has a bachelor’s degree in political science from George Fox University.

COMMUNICATIONS

Erik Lukens

Communications Director

eriklukens@oregonbusinessindustry.com

Erik Lukens joined OBI in 2022 following a two-decade journalism career in Oregon with The Bulletin, where he served as editorial page editor and editor in chief, and The Oregonian, where he served as editorial page editor. In 2014, Erik’s team at The Oregonian won a Pulitzer Prize for a collection of editorials about Oregon’s public pension crisis. Immediately prior to joining OBI, Erik served as vice president for business solutions for GL Solutions, which develops database software for occupational licensing agencies. Erik has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Cornell University and a doctorate in English literature from Princeton University.

MEMBERSHIP

Joan Olivier

Member Relations Director

joanolivier@oregonbusinessindustry.com

Joan Olivier joined OBI in October 2023 to oversee member relations. She brings many years of experience in business development, member relations, career development and corporate partnerships for nonprofit organizations and universities. Before joining OBI, Joan served for six years as director of investment development, partnerships and member relations for the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

Joan has a bachelor’s degree in organizational and corporate communications from Northern Illinois University and lives in Portland.

Nancy Marquay

Senior Account Executive

nancymarquay@oregonbusinessindustry.com

Nancy Marquay joined Oregon Business & Industry in the fall of 2019 to cultivate and develop membership programs to support OBI members. She comes to OBI with extensive business-to-business experience, working most recently as senior director of strategic partnerships at the Portland Business Alliance. Prior to PBA, Nancy worked in media and advertising for the Oregonian Media Group for more than 30 years. When she is not at work, Nancy enjoys spending time with family, cooking and baking, going on Harley rides with her husband and playing with her two Labrador retrievers.

Adam Rice

Account Executive

adamrice@oregonbusinessindustry.com

Adam Rice joined Oregon Business & Industry in 2022 with more than 20 years of experience helping local and national companies grow and thrive. Prior to joining OBI, Adam managed e-commerce businesses at Amazon, where he grew sales by increasing product selection and helping brands market and advertise their products to customers. If you’ve impulse shopped more than you needed to in the last few years, you might have Adam to thank for that! Prior to Amazon, Adam worked in advertising for the Salem Statesman Journal and The Oregonian. Adam is a graduate of the University of Oregon and loves to explore the state with his family and friends.

Patti Winter

Member Retention Specialist

pattiwinter@oregonbusinessindustry.com

Patti Winter has been with OBI since 2011, greeting visitors at the front desk of the Portland office and helping with human resources, office management, membership services and finances. Patti also plays a major role in event planning. Previously, she worked in alumni relations at Central Catholic High School.

FINANCE & OPERATIONS

Katie Christensen

Director of Operations

katiechristensen@oregonbusinessindustry.com

Katie Christensen joined OBI in 2006 and manages the database for all areas of the organization as well as the day-to-day operations of the building. She enjoys the dynamic nature of her job. Katie has a bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. An avid outdoorswoman, Katie enjoys white water rafting, running and camping.

Kelly Comm

Finance Support Specialist

kellycomm@oregonbusinessindustry.com

Kelly Comm joined OBI in 2017 and supports all accounts payable and receivable functions and processes. She assists the chief financial officer with special projects and is a notary public. Kelly previously worked as an executive administrative assistant and client service manager for Blue Water Wealth, a financial planning and coordinated asset management team. Kelly appreciates the variety of landscapes and weather in Oregon. She has a passion for horses and enjoys hiking and wine tasting.

Belen Martinez

Policy and Operations Assistant

belenmartinez@oregonbusinessindustry.com

Belen Martinez assists both the operations team and the policy at OBI. You may see her when walking into the Salem OBI office. Prior to working at OBI, Belen worked in the challenging mortgage industry amid the ever-changing housing market. Belen spends most of her weekends camping in the beautiful Oregon outdoors with both friends and family. She is a foodie at heart, and you will not see her without a cup of coffee in the morning.