CommissionerSam.com - Meet the Team

Sam Adams

The Office — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 14:15:07 -0700

The Portland Tribune called Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams "The council’s most vocal advocate for public arts, neighborhoods, diversity, transportation, economic development, and transparency and accountability in government."

Sam’s well-known work ethic was born from childhood experiences that included public housing and public assistance. He says that these experiences fuel his passion for making government work better for people.

He gravitated to politics as a University of Oregon intern for Congressman Peter DeFazio where he stayed on staff until 1987. Sam then went to work for the Oregon House Democratic Campaign Committee and at that time the Democratic Majority Leader Carl Hosticka. Sam turned his focus to Portland in 1991, where he successfully managed Vera Katz’s first campaign for mayor. At age 29, he began the first of 11 years as the youngest mayoral chief of staff in the city’s history.

Today, Sam continues to conquer those political first ascents serving as Portland ’s first-ever openly gay City Commissioner. 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.

As a resident of the Kenton neighborhood, Sam is Portland's first member of city council from North Portland since 1972.

Sam Adams
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 220
Portland, OR 97204

Phone: (503) 823-3008
Fax: (503) 823-3017
commissionersam@ci.portland.or.us

Lisa Libby - Senior Policy Director

The Office — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 12:42:57 -0700

Livability, Sustainability and the Environment

Lisa sailing the Willamette RiverLisa Libby is the Senior Policy Director on issues relating to livability, sustainability, and the environment.

Lisa first arrived in Oregon in 1994, upon completion of her Bachelor's degree in Visual Communications at Central Michigan University and was instantly charmed by the pedestrian and bike friendly neighborhoods of Portland.

During four years as a travel consultant she visited countries throughout the world. These travels reinforced her respect for the natural environment and the importance of the relationship between people and place.

Her passion for sustainable, healthy communities led her to become actively involved as a volunteer with the City Repair Project, a local non-profit organization that helps neighborhood communities turn public spaces into places that foster community.

In 2003, Lisa returned to school at Portland State University to pursue a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree. While in school she worked as the Grants Coordinator for the Bureau for Environmental Services' Community Watershed Stewardship Program. After graduation, Lisa continued working at BES on Watershed Community Outreach and the Watershed Investment Fund.

Lisa lives in the Concordia neighborhood in Northeast Portland and when she's not working she can be found riding her bike around the neighborhood, getting dirt under her fingernails and battling invasive plants in her yard. She is currently expanding her appreciation of classical music, the acoustic guitar, and long board skateboards.

Lisa Libby
Senior Policy Director
Office of Commissioner Adams
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 220
Portland, OR 97204

Phone: (503) 823-4045
Fax: (503) 823-3017

Cevero Gonzalez - Public Advocate

The Office — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 10:30:17 -0800

Cevero Gonzalez is Sam's Public Advocate for all Transportation Issues. If you have a concern, question, suggestion, or complaint that has to do with the public right of way (streets, sidewalks, lights, traffic safety, etc.), he will serve as your advocate and will help you by navigating the web of bureaus that make up the Portland Office of Transportation - which for someone not familiar with them can sometimes be daunting to successfully negotiate.

He can be reached via email at:

Cevero.Gonzalez@ci.portland.or.us

or by phone at 503.823.1384.

Prior to joining Commissioner Adam's Team, Cevero worked as an Executive Assistant for the Global Leadership Initiative at Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts, and most recently as an Executive Legal Secretary for a downtown law firm specializing in employment and business law.

Cevero is excited to be returning to public service, having worked previously as a Public Health Advocate in both Seattle, Washington and Boston, Massachusetts; helping to develop and promote numerous health-education and risk-reduction programs affecting communities of color and the GLBT community.

A native of Walla Walla, Washington, Cevero is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington.

Maria Lynn Lim - Operations Manager

The Office — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700

Lynn in KoreaMaria Lynn Futalan Lim is Sam and Tom's scheduler and your first contact to Commissioner Sam Adams’ Office. She welcomes visitors and provides staff support. Maria helps to set the tone of our office and ensures that everything runs smoothly.

Maria immigrated to Portland from the Philippines fifteen years ago. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from La Concordia College in Manila, Philippines before coming to America . She is also a graduate of the Microcomputer Applications Program at Columbia College in Clackamas. She has a varied employment background that includes working as an Administrative Officer for Adworks Filmworks Advertising, an Imaging Specialist for Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, and six years of retail experience for Meier and Frank and Fred Meyer. She also volunteers to teach Sunday school from fall to spring.

One thing Maria finds fascinating about Portland is the rain. She loves to travel, and of all the places she’s been to, Austria is her favorite. She is passionate about her plants and cooking. As a true “working mom”, Maria’s non-working time revolves around her five children and her husband, Jim.

Maria Lynn Lim
Office of Commissioner Adams
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 220
Portland, OR 97204

Phone: (503) 823-1121 Fax: (503) 823-3017

Terry Richardson - Labor Liaison

The Office — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 22:57:32 -0700

Terry Richardson is City Hall’s first staff member dedicated to labor issues. As a thirty-one year member and officer of the Communications Workers of America, local 7901, Terry offers Commissioner Sam Adams his knowledge and experience to fair employment practices, job creation, compensation equity, and other issues related to creating and to defining a successful economy.

Terry spent twenty-nine years at Qwest Communications, dealing with customer billing issues and complaints as well as coordinating the production of the white page directories. Retired in 2003, Terry understands the valuable role a front-line employee makes in ensuring equity for customers and employees alike.

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Terry grew up in Walla Walla, Washington, and moved to Portland in 1973 to pursue his education at Portland Community College . He expresses himself with his quirky dress as he tinkers with pruning his bonsai plants. He certainly adds to the rich, colorful culture of Portland.

Terry Richardson
Office of Commissioner Adams
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 220
Portland, OR 97204

Phone: (503) 823-1124
Fax: (503) 823-3017

Jane Ames - Senior Policy Director

Administrator — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 13:43:47 -0700

Education and Public Safety

The impact of Measure 5, the 1991 property tax limitation, on Portland’s school children propelled Jane Ames into civic service. Jane believed strongly in the importance of quality public education, and was directly affected with a daughter entering elementary school that year. For the past 14 years, Jane has been an active classroom and school volunteer, and a grassroots leader and volunteer lobbyist for quality education and stable and adequate funding at the district, local and state levels. It was during this advocacy work she first met Sam Adams, then Mayor Katz’s Chief of Staff. It was her initial encounter that motivated Jane to work on his campaign. She continues to be impressed with Sam’s effectiveness, hard work, and genuine respect for citizens. As a member of Commissioner Adams’ team, Jane’s responsibilities emphasize issues regarding education, families and public safety.

Jane holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Boise State University. She has worked as a Teaching Assistant in the Portland Public School District and as an Orton-Gillingham Reading Tutor. For years, she was a stay-at-home mom who volunteered endlessly and enjoyed the luxury of scheduling her time around kids’ lives. Working in City Hall taps her same sense of civic service, but has her working on a wide variety of issues and structuring her time and life in new ways. She considers herself lucky to have been able to stay at home and now to have such an interesting and challenging opportunity.

Free time is mostly shared with her husband, Ken, and daughter Joanna. She savors time with family, friends, and her Wednesday morning coffee group. Jane grew up in Fort Bragg, a small logging and fishing town in Northern California. It was here that she gained a deep appreciation for a strong sense of place and civic responsibility. Her love of small town spirit makes Portland a good fit; it is a vibrant city full of individualized, small communities.

Jane Ames
Office of Commissioner Adams
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 220
Portland, OR 97204

Phone: (503) 823-1126
Fax: (503) 823-3017

Shoshanah E. Oppenheim - Senior Policy Analyst

The Office — Tue, 30 May 2006 16:14:07 -0700

Liaison to Portland Office of Transportation
Good Government

That is where they make your money!As liaison to the Portland Office of Transportation, Shoshanah is working to make Portland's transportation system work better. Her portfolio focuses on the myriad of transportation related concerns that Portland residents have everyday. Shoshanah works closely with Sam on supporting smart regional growth, developing options for regional transportation needs and developing a legislative agenda to further the needs of Portlanders and the businesses who have made the city a great place to live.

Shoshanah received her undergrad degree from University of Oregon and her J.D. at Willamette. A novice cyclist, she commutes on her trek from the Alberta Arts District, where she and her dog Cisco live.

Vicki Grudzinski - Public Advocate

The Office — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 13:34:32 -0700

Vicki GrudinskiAs a Portland resident for thirty years, Vicki takes pride in being a public servant, emphasizing, “It’s important for citizens to take on active roles in local government. They need to feel listened to, recognized and engaged in the community they live in.”

Vicki has worked with the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) for sixteen years and is currently a supervisor. She also serves on the Administrative Review Committee, which consists of representatives from the City and the private sector and addresses citizen concerns on rate and billing issues for sewer, stormwater, and water services. Vicki works with the BES director on citizen appeals and acts as the liaison to the Revenue Bureau, which bills sewer, stormwater and water accounts.

Married for twenty-three years now, Vicki spent nine years as stay at home mom to three children, the youngest of whom will start college this fall. As a new empty nester, she plans on spending more time volunteering in her community and working on home improvement projects. Her favorite past volunteer positions were when she traveled to Mexico to build houses and working for progressive campaigns.

Besides volunteerism, Vicki enjoys spending active time outdoors with her friends and family, including playing golf, skiing and hiking. During the past three springs she raced dragon boats on an all women’s competitive team, Broad Strokes. She currently resides in West Moreland.

Contact Vicki at vickig@bes.ci.portland.or.us or 503-823-7183.

Jesse Beason - Senior Policy Director

The Office — Mon, 18 Apr 2005 19:10:00 -0700

Arts & Culture, Housing and Planning

Jesse focuses on issues and policy relating to housing, arts & culture and planning. Jesse moved from Denver, Colorado to Portland to attend Lewis & Clark College in 1999 and has not thought of living elsewhere since. He served as Communications Director for the Phil Busse for Mayor campaign, volunteered extensively for the No on Constitutional Amendment 36 campaign, and managed publicity for community nonprofit fundraisers. Jesse worked at Metro regional government in public affairs before joining Sam’s staff. Jesse is a staunch believer in the common good and cites Barbara Jordan whenever appropriate.

Jesse Beason
Office of Commissioner Adams
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 220
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (503) 823-4128
Fax: (503) 823-3017

Kimberly Schneider - Senior Policy Director

The Office — Mon, 18 Apr 2005 19:00:00 -0700

Economic Development and Workforce Training

Summer in the CityKimberly is a third generation Portlander and graduate of Grant High School. After completing an English B.A. at Colby College, in Maine, she joined the Peace Corps in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Her work focused on education, public health and community development in a rural village. Kimberly remained in West Africa to serve as a project manager for an international development organization. She worked with multiple stakeholders to foster infrastructure development, elementary education and strategic partnerships.

Her interest in economic and political development led Kimberly to Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, where she earned a Master's in Public Policy. While in school she consulted to the US Treasury on the strengthening of targeted public/private partnerships and spent her summer working in Congressman Earl Blumenauer's office.

Kimberly's particular commitment to Portland began through her family's long-term involvement with its diverse communities, non-profit organizations, public initiatives and local businesses. Her experiences outside the region only increased her interest in returning and contributing to the dynamic future of this unique city.

Office of Commissioner Adams
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 220
Portland, OR 97204

Phone: (503) 823-4541
Fax: (503) 823-3017
Email: KimberlyLia.Schneider@ci.portland.or.us

Greg Leiher - Public Liaison

The Office — Mon, 18 Apr 2005 18:39:14 -0700

Visitors, Tourism and Hospitality

After a twenty-nine year career with Hilton Hotels in seven different cities, Greg is serving on Commissioner Sam Adams’s staff as liaison to the convention, tourism and hospitality industry. Greg was the senior catering manager at the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower for several years, focusing on banquet sales and service.

Raised in the New York/New Jersey area, he graduated from Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts with a degree in history and pursued graduate study in Balkan and East European history at Indiana University. He has been a Portland resident since 1987 and recently moved to the Overlook Neighborhood in North Portland.

To serve his community, Greg joined Sam’s primary campaign in early 2004 as a volunteer. After the general election, Greg accepted a position as Public Liaison to Portland’s hospitality industry.

Greg is also training as a docent at the Portland Art Museum during the 2004-2005 school year. He hopes to start his full-fledged commitment in leading tours of the exhibits in summer of 2005.

Greg Leiher
Office of Commissioner Adams
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 220
Portland, OR 97204

Phone: (503) 823-1125
Fax: (503) 823-3017

Tom Miller - Chief of Staff

The Office — Sun, 17 Apr 2005 19:45:53 -0700

Chief of Staff

Tom Miller is Chief-of-Staff for Commissioner Sam Adams. He manages Sam’s diverse team of talent, leads office policy direction, and steps in for Sam when necessary. Raised in Arizona, Tom earned undergraduate degrees in Colorado including a two-year sojourn to Central America. He then joined the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic before relocating to Portland to attend Lewis & Clark Law School.

Upon graduation, he became Lewis & Clark’s first graduate to be selected by Equal Justice Works for a public interest legal fellowship, where he served as a policy analyst for environmental justice at the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. Following the fellowship, Tom worked briefly as staff attorney for Dreamland Skateparks, LLC, a global leader in skateboard park design and construction, and then joined Sam’s campaign to shake up city hall.

He and his wife, Dr. Rebecca Akin, are an urban family, raising their daughter, Alma - along with their vocal and sometimes poetic cat, Hank Williams - in a Goose Hollow condominium.

Tom Miller
Office of Commissioner Adams
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 220
Portland, OR 97204

Phone: (503) 823-1121
Fax: (503) 823-3017

Diane Walton - Policy Cartographer

The Office — Sun, 17 Apr 2005 17:14:00 -0700

and Friend of the Office

Diane Walton is the point person for the Dashboard – the physical representation of Commissioner Adam’s commitment to a healthy economy. She doesn’t spend much time in the office but can be found in various and sundry places on Sam’s behalf, on a quest for partners in action, meaningful numbers and the appropriate policy levers to make a difference in our economy. Her professional background includes working in Gov. Barbara Roberts’ office (kids and legislators), teaching (Montessori in Portland Public Schools), directing the State Commission on Children and Families, running a skunkworks operation at worksystems, inc. and working with high growth, high demand business and industry through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Regional Office in San Francisco.

…But then, once in a lifetime
The longed-for tidal wave
Of justice can rise up
And hope and history rhyme.

- The Cure at Troy, Seamus Heaney

Diane Walton
Office of Commissioner Adams
1221 SW Fourth Avenue, Room 220
Portland ,OR97204

Michael Richardson

The Office — Sun, 16 Jan 2005 23:26:59 -0800

Michael was Sam's Technology Innovation Director until late October, 2006. He continues volunteering his time to help with the blog and other technology issues. He can be reached at michael@andaio.com.