main phone: 503-823-4120
Opinion line: 503-823-4127
1221 SW 4th Ave, Room 340, Portland, OR 97204
Staff
Kristin Dennis
Chief of Staff
kristin.dennis@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: Chief of Staff
PAST: Former Policy Director and then Chief of Staff for Oregon State Treasurer Ted Wheeler. Legislative Assistant to Oregon State Senator Richard Devlin. Law Clerk for Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost. Legal Intern at San Diego Unified School District. Elected to the Lake Oswego City Council at the age of 22 from 2007 to 2010, and served as Council President in 2010. Special Projects Manager at Denton Plastics, Inc. Member of the Oregon State Bar, law degree from University of San Diego School of Law, Managing Editor of San Diego Journal of Climate and Energy Law.
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Ox
Kyle Chisek
Director of Bureau Relations
kyle.chisek@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: Igniting the bureaucracy to move the Mayor’s Agenda forward.
PAST: Mayor Potter’s Office and the Bureau of Transportation. I began my career in government as a Policy Manager in Mayor Potter’s office. By the end, my portfolio entailed the Office of Management & Finance, the budget process, infrastructure bureaus, and general problem solving. The most interesting moment was my stint as interim Chief of Staff while our Chief of Staff was on a Sister City delegation in Mutare, Zimbabwe in October 2008 and the economy began the Great Recession. I have a degree in political science and in history. And yet, I descended from the ivory tower of academia to take a stand and fight the good fight in the community.
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Shigezo Izakaya – excellent food and great atmosphere located in the heart of downtown on the South Park Blocks. Bacon wrapped quail eggs.
Jennifer Arguinzoni
Director of External Affairs
jennifer.arguinzoni@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: I serve as a key strategist, managing and cultivating external relationships, as well as coordinate community and external partnerships.
PAST: Ted Wheeler’s Transition Manager, leading policy discussions to help develop the mayor’s priority issues, Finance Director for Ted Wheeler’s mayoral campaign, and more than a decade of state and federal legislative experience in Georgia and Washington, D.C. B.A. in Political Science from Georgia State University.
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Langbaan
Eileen Park
Communications Director
eileen.park@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: I lead and manage the Mayor’s internal and external communications, as well as serve as his chief spokesperson and media contact.
PAST: KOIN 6 CBS, WNCN CBS, ABC News. Graduated from DePauw University with a major in Communications and a minor in Political Science.
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: St. Jack on NW 23rd has the best burger in town.
Elisabeth Perez
Operations Director
elisabeth.perez@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: I am the Mayor’s lead on emergency management and resiliency, Smart Cities and Community Technology, and the Operations Director for the Mayor’s Office.
PAST: Co-founded a non-profit bringing humanity and perspective to MyNew Orleans Photo Project, logistics coordinator Building Resilience Workshop bringing innovation and resiliency together. BA Language Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz. MS Disaster Resilience, Tulane University.
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Taste Tickler
Michelle Plambeck
Legislative Director
michelle.plambeck@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: I am responsible for managing and implementing the Mayor’s legislative agenda.
PAST: State Legislature: Legislative Aide for then-Rep., now Sen., Michael Dembrow – NE/SE Portland, Legislative Aid for House Speaker Tina Kotek – North Portland; Policy and Constituent Relations Liaison for Multnomah County Commissioner Judy Shiprack, District 3. University of Oregon, History
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Little Bird
Antoinette Edwards
Director of the Office of Youth Violence Prevention
antoinette.edwards@portlandoregon.gov
Antoinette served as the first Diversity and Volunteer Services Director for the Oregon Trail Chapter for the American Red Cross. She has a Bachelors in education from Portland State University. She joins Mayor Wheeler's staff from working with Mayor Adams and Mayor Hales respective administrations. Among her proudest accomplishments: the Gladys McCoy Citizen Involvement Award in 2009, Social Justice Fund Northwest’s Jeanette Rankin Award for being a tireless lifelong activist in 2013, and the Equity Foundation's “Women Who Lead“ award in 2015. Antoinette founded the first Black PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) chapter in the nation. Antoinette lives in NE Portland and enjoys being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She loves spoken word, reading, reading to children and the art of Feng Shui.
Mustafa Washington
Operations Project Manager
mustafa.washington@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: I assist in implementing the Mayor’s legislative agenda, and manage policy staff projects.
PAST: Executive Assistant to Mayor Charlie Hales. Warner Pacific University Masters of Science in Management and Organizational Leadership
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: My Kitchen
Tom Peavey
Policy Manager for the Office of Youth Violence Prevention
CURRENT ROLE: Policy Manager, Office of Youth Violence Prevention
PAST: City of Portland; Police Bureau (1973 – 2004), Office of Neighborhood Involvement (2004 – 2006), Office of Youth Violence Prevention (2006 – current). Washington State University, Bachelor’s of Science, Police Science Administration.
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Miss Delta Restaurant
Cupid Alexander
Senior Advisor
cupid.alexander@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: Policy development, engagement, oversight and implementation around housing, economic development and community involvement.
PAST: Portland Housing Bureau as a Senior Policy Analyst; Washington County Department of housing services as a program administrator of the shelter plus care program and occupancy specialist. Currently serves as National Association of Housing Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Pacific Northwest Regional Council Vice President, and President of the Urban League of Portland’s Young Professionals and Board Member. Recent Recipient of NAHRO’s National Emerging Leader award (2018). Executive Masters In Public Administration- Portland State University, Graduate Degree in Real Estate development – Portland State University, Bachelors In Business.
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Kee’s Loaded Kitchen
Nicole A. Grant
Senior Policy Advisor
nicole.grant@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: I serve as the Mayor’s Senior Policy Advisor on the arts and key public safety policy issues.
PAST: Office of Mayor Charlie Hales (Policy Analyst). Columbia Law School (J.D.), Yale University (B.A.)
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Yama Sushi and Sake Bar
Andrea Valderrama
Senior Policy Advisor
andrea.valderrama@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: Policy and administrative oversight in economic development, budget, housing, and equity issue areas.
PAST: Commissioner Novick's Office as a Policy Advisor; Voz Workers' Rights Education Project as the Development Director. Currently Vice Chair on the David Douglas School Board. Executive Masters of Public Administration, Portland State University; Bachelor of Arts, University of Oregon
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Taco truck on 122nd & Stark
Robert King
Senior Policy Advisor
robert.king@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: Senior Public Safety Advisor
PAST: After 27 years in the Portland Police Bureau, I retired in 2018 as Commander of North Precinct. Over the course of my career, I worked with community members and law enforcement colleagues to create a space for encouraging diverse groups of people to navigate their differences and work together. I worked on a variety of assignments throughout my career including serving as a patrol officer, SERT officer, detective, patrol supervisor, and as PPA President. After an eight month-long retirement, I returned to public service as a safety officer for the Bureau of Development Services. I graduated from Portland State University.
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Justa Pasta on 19th and NW Overton has the most amazing Italian food.
Khahn Tran
Administrative Assistant
CURRENT ROLE: I serve as the Executive Assistant to Deputy Chief of Staff, Kristin Dennis.
PAST: U.S. Army. B.A. in Sustainable Urban Development from University of Washington.
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Pok Pok
Aja Blair
Executive Assistant to Mayor Wheeler
CURRENT ROLE: I serve as the Mayor’s Executive Assistant
PAST: Administrator at Mayapur Academy in West Bengal, India. Scheduler and Office Manager to Commissioner Nick Fish. B.A. in Arts & Letters from Portland State University
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: My kitchen!
Seraphie Allen
Policy Advisor and Community Affairs Liaison
seraphie.allen@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: Policy and administrative oversight in homelessness, livability, housing, Portland Children’s Levy and education policy issues. I also servee as the Mayor’s liaison for issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community.
PAST: B.A. in English and Gender Studies from Lewis & Clark College.
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Mizu Sushi
Amy Rathfelder
Environmental and Sustainability Policy Advisor
amy.rathfelder@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: Oversight of environmental and sustainability policy for the Mayor’s Office, as well as any appropriate community outreach and engagement.
PAST: OLCV and Renew Oregon, State of Oregon, Joe Trippi and Associates. Portland State University (Bachelor’s of Arts, Political Science/Public Service and Policy), The American University (Master’s of Arts, Political Communication—May 2019 completion).
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Many. Right now, I’m all about brunch at Genie’s.
Amanda Watson
Policy Advisor
amanda.watson@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: I am a Hatfield Resident Fellow working on environmental and sustainability policy.
PAST: National Endowment for Democracy, on Asia Programs; Research Associate at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy. Master in Public Policy (focus on climate policy), Harvard Kennedy School; BSFS in International Politics, Georgetown University
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Toss-up between Aviv and Neza Taqueria (food truck on SE 33rd and Hawthorne)
Trevaun Myrie
Constituent Services Specialist
trevaun.myrie@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: As a Constituent Services Specialist, I support policy staff and provide services to constituents and work on various community engagement.
PAST: Mayor Hales Admin Support Specialist; Nike Creation Project Experience (NPCE); Plays soccer on a club team hosted by Timbers Army. Also known as DJ Myrie.
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Whiskey Kitchen
Sierra Ellis-Turpin
Constituent Services Specialist
sierra.ellis@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: As a Constituent Service Specialist, I have the opportunity to communicate with Portland community members and hear from them directly about their needs. I also provide support to policy staff and work on community engagement efforts.
PAST: Resource Protection Program Assistant at the Portland Water Bureau, served as a State Intern at Senator Jeff Merkley’s Office, B.S. In Geography and a minor in Geographic Information Systems at Portland State University (Completion – September 2019).
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Usually my kitchen. But, Jakes Famous Crawfish never disappoints and my newest find, Joy Bowl.
Adam Thompson
Videographer
adam.thompson@portlandoregon.gov
CURRENT ROLE: I tell visual stories that showcase how the Mayor’s values and policies impact the community.
PAST: Photojournalist at KOIN-TV here in Portland. A.A.S. – Television Production Technology – Mt. Hood Community College (2003)
FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN PORTLAND: Cubo De Cuba on SE Hawthorne