The UO is building on the work of two key groups – one external, the other internal – to enhance the university’s presence in Portland.

The Portland Presence Focus Group, established last summer, brings together senior leaders from the Rose City to review UO plans and activities, including the university’s emerging Portland Communications Strategy. The group has already met twice, and is expected to convene four more times over the coming months.

The group’s 16 members include Columbia Sportswear Public Relations Director Kim Schamp ‘01, KGW-TV Managing Editor Joe Arndt ‘87, Waggener Edstrom Senior Vice President Corey DuBrowa ‘88, and Nike Brand Communications Senior Manager Scott Reames ‘89.

The UO Portland Task Force is an internal group, established two years ago, that includes representatives of most university offices with significant interests in Portland. Leaders from the Charles H. Lundquist College of Business, the School of Architecture and Allied Arts, Continuing Education, Development and the Portland Center are among those areas represented.

Over the past year, the group has been instrumental in coming up with the university’s first communications plan for Portland, producing a “First Thursday” event at the Portland Center and helping to launch this newsletter.

For information on either group, contact tsimmons@uoregon.edu or call Todd Simmons, communications director and Portland Task Force chair, at (541) 346-3133.