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MEDIA ADVISORY: APRIL 16 BREAKFAST FORUM — ADDRESSING ADDICTION AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES ON OUR STREETS, RSVP NOW - 04/14/26

Contact: 

Monice Wong, Manager of Media Relations 

mwong@portlandalliance.com

 

MEDIA ADVISORY:  APRIL 16 BREAKFAST FORUM — ADDRESSING ADDICTION AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES ON OUR STREETS, RSVP NOW 

 

The Portland Metro Chamber presents its monthly Breakfast Forum, which will focus on addressing addiction and behavioral health challenges on our streets. The event will begin with a data driven overview of addiction and recovery trends in the Portland region, followed by a moderated panel of frontline providers who will share their perspectives on what it takes to support recovery and what a more coordinated and effective response could look like. 

 

Additional details are below. Media are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP with Monice Wong, Media Relations Manager, at mwong@portlandalliance.com.  

 

WHAT: Presentation and panel discussion on addiction and recovery trends in the Portland region. 

 

WHEN: Thursday, April 16th, 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. 

 

WHERE: Hilton Portland & Executive Tower, 921 SW 6th Avenue, Atrium Ballroom

 

WHO: 

  • Presenter: Amanda Risser, Chief Medical Officer, Central City Concern 
  • Panelists:   
    • Devarshi Bajpai, CEO, Fora Health
    • Beth Epps, Chief Access Officer, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare
    • Andy Mendenhall, CEO & President, CCC 
    • Tony Vezina, Executive Director, 4D Recovery  

MORE INFORMATION: 

In recent years, addiction to illicit substances has become one of the most visible and complex challenges facing Portland. The impacts are playing out not only in treatment systems but also on the streets, in neighborhoods, and among the region’s unhoused population, where behavioral health needs and substance use disorders often intersect with housing instability. 

 

For years, Portland’s response to addiction has been shaped by competing impulses: compassion and treatment, harm reduction and accountability, public health and public safety. The result has been a system of policies and programs that has often struggled to keep pace with the scale and complexity of the crisis. 

 

Now the landscape is shifting. Rising public concern about visible drug use and street level behavioral health challenges has prompted a broader regional reckoning about how Portland responds to addiction, particularly among people living outside and struggling to access stable care. This moment calls for more than cataloging what services exist. It requires a clearer understanding of what recovery actually demands and whether our current systems are equipped to deliver it. 

 

ABOUT THE PORTLAND METRO CHAMBER:

The Portland Metro Chamber was founded in 1870 and represents the largest, most diverse business network in the region. The Chamber brings together more than 2,200 members represented by dynamic and varied employers from around the region. Grounded in its mission to create opportunity and advance well-being for all who live and work in the greater Portland and SW Washington region, the Chamber envisions a healthy and resilient business ecosystem where we work together to increase collaboration in governance; engage community; increase civic leadership; and advocate for a vibrant, livable place for all. Learn more at PortlandMetroChamber.com.     

MEDIA ADVISORY: APRIL 16 BREAKFAST FORUM — ADDRESSING ADDICTION AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES ON OUR STREETS, RSVP NOW - 04/14/26

Contact: 

Monice Wong, Manager of Media Relations 

mwong@portlandalliance.com

 

MEDIA ADVISORY:  APRIL 16 BREAKFAST FORUM — ADDRESSING ADDICTION AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES ON OUR STREETS, RSVP NOW 

 

The Portland Metro Chamber presents its monthly Breakfast Forum, which will focus on addressing addiction and behavioral health challenges on our streets. The event will begin with a data driven overview of addiction and recovery trends in the Portland region, followed by a moderated panel of frontline providers who will share their perspectives on what it takes to support recovery and what a more coordinated and effective response could look like. 

 

Additional details are below. Media are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP with Monice Wong, Media Relations Manager, at mwong@portlandalliance.com.  

 

WHAT: Presentation and panel discussion on addiction and recovery trends in the Portland region. 

 

WHEN: Thursday, April 16th, 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. 

 

WHERE: Hilton Portland & Executive Tower, 921 SW 6th Avenue, Atrium Ballroom

 

WHO: 

  • Presenter: Amanda Risser, Chief Medical Officer, Central City Concern 
  • Panelists:   
    • Devarshi Bajpai, CEO, Fora Health
    • Beth Epps, Chief Access Officer, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare
    • Andy Mendenhall, CEO & President, CCC 
    • Tony Vezina, Executive Director, 4D Recovery  

MORE INFORMATION: 

In recent years, addiction to illicit substances has become one of the most visible and complex challenges facing Portland. The impacts are playing out not only in treatment systems but also on the streets, in neighborhoods, and among the region’s unhoused population, where behavioral health needs and substance use disorders often intersect with housing instability. 

 

For years, Portland’s response to addiction has been shaped by competing impulses: compassion and treatment, harm reduction and accountability, public health and public safety. The result has been a system of policies and programs that has often struggled to keep pace with the scale and complexity of the crisis. 

 

Now the landscape is shifting. Rising public concern about visible drug use and street level behavioral health challenges has prompted a broader regional reckoning about how Portland responds to addiction, particularly among people living outside and struggling to access stable care. This moment calls for more than cataloging what services exist. It requires a clearer understanding of what recovery actually demands and whether our current systems are equipped to deliver it. 

 

ABOUT THE PORTLAND METRO CHAMBER:

The Portland Metro Chamber was founded in 1870 and represents the largest, most diverse business network in the region. The Chamber brings together more than 2,200 members represented by dynamic and varied employers from around the region. Grounded in its mission to create opportunity and advance well-being for all who live and work in the greater Portland and SW Washington region, the Chamber envisions a healthy and resilient business ecosystem where we work together to increase collaboration in governance; engage community; increase civic leadership; and advocate for a vibrant, livable place for all. Learn more at PortlandMetroChamber.com.     

Media Advisory: April 2, Roundtable Discussion With Republican Gubernatorial Candidate State Representative Ed Diehl, Hosted By The Portland Metro Chamber - 04/01/26

April 1, 2026 

 

Media Advisory: Roundtable Discussion with Republican Gubernatorial Candidate State Representative Ed Diehl, Hosted by the Portland Metro Chamber, April 2nd

 

WHAT: Lunch Roundtable Discussion with Republican Gubernatorial Candidate, State Representative Ed Diehl. 

 

WHEN: Thursday, April 2nd, 11:45 a.m – 1:00 p.m. Arrival at 11:45 a.m, discussion begins at 12:00 p.m. 

 

WHERE: Portland Metro Chamber Conference Room, World Trade Center, 121 SW Salmon St 

 

RSVP: To help us plan space, please RSVP with Monice Wong, mwong@portlandalliance.com. 

 

MORE INFORMATION:  

The Portland Metro Chamber hosts election candidates from both sides of the political aisle for roundtable discussions, which serve as opportunities for candidates to explain their campaign goals and relevant updates to the local business community.  

 

About the Portland Metro Chamber: The Portland Metro Chamber was founded in 1870 and represents the largest, most diverse business network in the region. The Chamber brings together more than 2,200 members represented by dynamic and varied employers from around the region. Grounded in its mission to create opportunity and advance well-being for all who live and work in the greater Portland and SW Washington region, the Chamber envisions a healthy and resilient business ecosystem where we work together to increase collaboration in governance; engage community; increase civic leadership; and advocate for a vibrant, livable place for all. Learn more at PortlandMetroChamber.com. 

Media Advisory: April 2, Roundtable Discussion With Republican Gubernatorial Candidate State Representative Ed Diehl, Hosted By The Portland Metro Chamber - 04/01/26

April 1, 2026 

 

Media Advisory: Roundtable Discussion with Republican Gubernatorial Candidate State Representative Ed Diehl, Hosted by the Portland Metro Chamber, April 2nd

 

WHAT: Lunch Roundtable Discussion with Republican Gubernatorial Candidate, State Representative Ed Diehl. 

 

WHEN: Thursday, April 2nd, 11:45 a.m – 1:00 p.m. Arrival at 11:45 a.m, discussion begins at 12:00 p.m. 

 

WHERE: Portland Metro Chamber Conference Room, World Trade Center, 121 SW Salmon St 

 

RSVP: To help us plan space, please RSVP with Monice Wong, mwong@portlandalliance.com. 

 

MORE INFORMATION:  

The Portland Metro Chamber hosts election candidates from both sides of the political aisle for roundtable discussions, which serve as opportunities for candidates to explain their campaign goals and relevant updates to the local business community.  

 

About the Portland Metro Chamber: The Portland Metro Chamber was founded in 1870 and represents the largest, most diverse business network in the region. The Chamber brings together more than 2,200 members represented by dynamic and varied employers from around the region. Grounded in its mission to create opportunity and advance well-being for all who live and work in the greater Portland and SW Washington region, the Chamber envisions a healthy and resilient business ecosystem where we work together to increase collaboration in governance; engage community; increase civic leadership; and advocate for a vibrant, livable place for all. Learn more at PortlandMetroChamber.com. 

New Report Studies Portland Women’s Workforce Opportunities And Success, Finds That Portland’s Economic Challenges Compound Existing Inequities - 03/19/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

March 19, 2026   

   

MEDIA CONTACT:  

Monice Wong, Manager of Media Relations

mwong@portlandalliance.com 

 

New Report Studies Portland Women’s Workforce Opportunities and Success, Finds that Portland’s Economic Challenges Compound Existing Inequities 

The region has made some gains in outcomes for the women workforce, but more progress is needed to retain talent and productivity.  

 

Portland, OR — The Portland Metro Chamber has released its State of Women in the Portland Metro Economy report, a debut report produced by ECOnorthwest and presented by Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon.

 

The report finds that women’s workforce participation has increased meaningfully over the past decade, yet persistent disparities in earnings and leadership representation show that participation alone doesn’t guarantee economic security or advancement. As the region grapples with what “good growth” means in the Portland metro context, the analysis illuminates whose economic opportunities are expanding, whose remain constrained, and where structural barriers persist regardless of individual effort or qualification.  

 

The barriers that women face demonstrate how broader economic pressures on household costs, entrepreneurial dynamics, and workforce productivity compound existing structural inequalities. Achieving resilience and growth requires unblocking economic participation of women across all backgrounds through targeted policy measures, not only as a matter of equity, but as an economic imperative for a state that cannot afford to leave talent and productivity on the table. 

 

This report follows the release in February of the Chamber’s annual State of the Economy report and State of Downtown and the Central City report, as well as its annual State of the Electorate report on voter sentiment, which showed that the Portland metro region faces a troubling “new normal” characterized by stagnant job growth, slowed housing production, declining public economic confidence, and dropping economic competitiveness rankings. Within this challenging landscape, women’s economic participation and advancement – especially within the Portland Metro area – are not peripheral concerns but central to the region’s path forward.

 

Report at a Glance 

  • 2% increase in workforce participation for all women in the Portland metro region from 2014 to 2024. 
  • Hispanic women in the Portland metro have the greatest wage gap when compared to every dollar all men earned in the Portland metro in 2023, at $0.61. 
  • 20% of all households in the Portland metro region are headed by single women. 
  • 45% of Oregon’s state legislature is comprised of women in 2025, compared to 33% nationally. 
  • 99% of women-owned businesses are small businesses with less than 50 employees. 

Additional Takeaways 

  • Workforce participation for women with young children (under the age of 6) has increased by 10 percentage points since 2014. 
  • Educational attainment is strongly connected to workforce participation for women.
  • Women of color continue to see lower workforce participation rates than white women. 
  • Women earn less than men on the dollar, but the gender wage gap varies greatly by race and ethnicity. 
  • Women earn less than men across almost all occupations. 
  • Most occupations with higher wages for women have lower representation of women overall, and even lower representation of women of color. 
  • In households with children, single-female-headed households are more likely to face poverty or asset limitations than single-male-headed households. 
  • The number of women state legislators in Oregon has been consistently higher than the number of women state legislators nationally. 
  • Women CEO representation in publicly traded companies in Oregon increased from 1 woman in 2015 to 7 women in 2024. 
  • 99% of woman-owned businesses are small-sized businesses with less than 50 employees. 

​Lisa Murphy, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff at Regence Health Plans and Treasurer of the Portland Metro Chamber Board of Directors, said, “This report reveals both the Portland metro region's successes and critical gaps in supporting its women workforce. We've made meaningful progress: workforce participation is up, wage gaps have narrowed for most racial and ethnic groups, women's business ownership has grown and Oregon leads the nation in electing women to public office. However, structural barriers persist, especially for women with young children and women of color, limiting economic access and opportunity. While we celebrate gains, we must also accelerate progress.” 

 

Andrew Hoan, President and CEO of the Portland Metro Chamber, said, “To champion our region’s wellbeing, we must also champion the success of our region’s women workforce. With the economy in recession since 2023, constraints on any parts of our community strain our ability to prosper. To achieve sustainable and inclusive growth, we must urgently fix the cracks in our economic foundation, including the structural issues that continue to limit participation and progress among women, particularly women with young children and women of color.” 

----------------------- 

 

View the full 2026 State of Women in the Portland Metro Economy Report.

 

Additional referenced and previously released material:   

 

About Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon: Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, headquartered in Portland, has served Oregonians since 1941 and now provides nearly one million people with comprehensive health insurance solutions. As a taxpaying, nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Regence is part of a family of companies dedicated to transforming health care by delivering innovative products and services that change the way consumers nationwide experience health care. For more information, please visit ​​regence.com or facebook.com/regencebluecrossblueshield.  

 

About ECOnorthwest: ECOnorthwest is an independent economic consulting firm. Since 1974, we have worked with a variety of public and private clients across the country, offering economic perspectives on issues ranging from wildfire recovery to education inequities and affordable housing. Our clients have one thing in common -- they want insightful, rigorous analyses to strengthen policy and investment decisions. Learn more at econw.com. 

 

About the Portland Metro Chamber: The Portland Metro Chamber was founded in 1870 and represents the largest, most diverse business network in the region. The Chamber brings together more than 2,200 members represented by dynamic and varied employers from around the region. Grounded in its mission to create opportunity and advance well-being for all who live and work in the greater Portland and SW Washington region, the Chamber envisions a healthy and resilient business ecosystem where we work together to increase collaboration in governance; engage community; increase civic leadership; and advocate for a vibrant, livable place for all. Learn more at PortlandMetroChamber.com. 

New Report Studies Portland Women’s Workforce Opportunities And Success, Finds That Portland’s Economic Challenges Compound Existing Inequities - 03/19/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

March 19, 2026   

   

MEDIA CONTACT:  

Monice Wong, Manager of Media Relations

mwong@portlandalliance.com 

 

New Report Studies Portland Women’s Workforce Opportunities and Success, Finds that Portland’s Economic Challenges Compound Existing Inequities 

The region has made some gains in outcomes for the women workforce, but more progress is needed to retain talent and productivity.  

 

Portland, OR — The Portland Metro Chamber has released its State of Women in the Portland Metro Economy report, a debut report produced by ECOnorthwest and presented by Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon.

 

The report finds that women’s workforce participation has increased meaningfully over the past decade, yet persistent disparities in earnings and leadership representation show that participation alone doesn’t guarantee economic security or advancement. As the region grapples with what “good growth” means in the Portland metro context, the analysis illuminates whose economic opportunities are expanding, whose remain constrained, and where structural barriers persist regardless of individual effort or qualification.  

 

The barriers that women face demonstrate how broader economic pressures on household costs, entrepreneurial dynamics, and workforce productivity compound existing structural inequalities. Achieving resilience and growth requires unblocking economic participation of women across all backgrounds through targeted policy measures, not only as a matter of equity, but as an economic imperative for a state that cannot afford to leave talent and productivity on the table. 

 

This report follows the release in February of the Chamber’s annual State of the Economy report and State of Downtown and the Central City report, as well as its annual State of the Electorate report on voter sentiment, which showed that the Portland metro region faces a troubling “new normal” characterized by stagnant job growth, slowed housing production, declining public economic confidence, and dropping economic competitiveness rankings. Within this challenging landscape, women’s economic participation and advancement – especially within the Portland Metro area – are not peripheral concerns but central to the region’s path forward.

 

Report at a Glance 

  • 2% increase in workforce participation for all women in the Portland metro region from 2014 to 2024. 
  • Hispanic women in the Portland metro have the greatest wage gap when compared to every dollar all men earned in the Portland metro in 2023, at $0.61. 
  • 20% of all households in the Portland metro region are headed by single women. 
  • 45% of Oregon’s state legislature is comprised of women in 2025, compared to 33% nationally. 
  • 99% of women-owned businesses are small businesses with less than 50 employees. 

Additional Takeaways 

  • Workforce participation for women with young children (under the age of 6) has increased by 10 percentage points since 2014. 
  • Educational attainment is strongly connected to workforce participation for women.
  • Women of color continue to see lower workforce participation rates than white women. 
  • Women earn less than men on the dollar, but the gender wage gap varies greatly by race and ethnicity. 
  • Women earn less than men across almost all occupations. 
  • Most occupations with higher wages for women have lower representation of women overall, and even lower representation of women of color. 
  • In households with children, single-female-headed households are more likely to face poverty or asset limitations than single-male-headed households. 
  • The number of women state legislators in Oregon has been consistently higher than the number of women state legislators nationally. 
  • Women CEO representation in publicly traded companies in Oregon increased from 1 woman in 2015 to 7 women in 2024. 
  • 99% of woman-owned businesses are small-sized businesses with less than 50 employees. 

​Lisa Murphy, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff at Regence Health Plans and Treasurer of the Portland Metro Chamber Board of Directors, said, “This report reveals both the Portland metro region's successes and critical gaps in supporting its women workforce. We've made meaningful progress: workforce participation is up, wage gaps have narrowed for most racial and ethnic groups, women's business ownership has grown and Oregon leads the nation in electing women to public office. However, structural barriers persist, especially for women with young children and women of color, limiting economic access and opportunity. While we celebrate gains, we must also accelerate progress.” 

 

Andrew Hoan, President and CEO of the Portland Metro Chamber, said, “To champion our region’s wellbeing, we must also champion the success of our region’s women workforce. With the economy in recession since 2023, constraints on any parts of our community strain our ability to prosper. To achieve sustainable and inclusive growth, we must urgently fix the cracks in our economic foundation, including the structural issues that continue to limit participation and progress among women, particularly women with young children and women of color.” 

----------------------- 

 

View the full 2026 State of Women in the Portland Metro Economy Report.

 

Additional referenced and previously released material:   

 

About Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon: Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, headquartered in Portland, has served Oregonians since 1941 and now provides nearly one million people with comprehensive health insurance solutions. As a taxpaying, nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Regence is part of a family of companies dedicated to transforming health care by delivering innovative products and services that change the way consumers nationwide experience health care. For more information, please visit ​​regence.com or facebook.com/regencebluecrossblueshield.  

 

About ECOnorthwest: ECOnorthwest is an independent economic consulting firm. Since 1974, we have worked with a variety of public and private clients across the country, offering economic perspectives on issues ranging from wildfire recovery to education inequities and affordable housing. Our clients have one thing in common -- they want insightful, rigorous analyses to strengthen policy and investment decisions. Learn more at econw.com. 

 

About the Portland Metro Chamber: The Portland Metro Chamber was founded in 1870 and represents the largest, most diverse business network in the region. The Chamber brings together more than 2,200 members represented by dynamic and varied employers from around the region. Grounded in its mission to create opportunity and advance well-being for all who live and work in the greater Portland and SW Washington region, the Chamber envisions a healthy and resilient business ecosystem where we work together to increase collaboration in governance; engage community; increase civic leadership; and advocate for a vibrant, livable place for all. Learn more at PortlandMetroChamber.com. 

Media Advisory: 2026 Elevate Women Summit And Debut Release Of The State Of Working Women Report, March 19. RSVP Now. - 03/17/26

Media Advisory: 2026 Elevate Women Summit and Debut Release of the State of Working Women Report, March 19. RSVP Now.

 

 

WHAT: 2026 Elevate Women Summit, debut release of the State of Working Women report, awarding of the 2026 Sandra K. McDonough Leadership Award. 

 

WHEN: Thursday, March 19 at 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. 

 

 

WHERE: Tiffany Center, 1410 SW Morrison St, Portland, OR 97205 

 

WHO:  

  • Event hosted by the Portland Metro Chamber and presented by Regence.  
  • Report developed by the Portland Metro Chamber and ECOnorthwest.  
  • Candace Beeke, President and Publisher of the Portland Business Journal, to receive the 2026 Sandra K. McDonough Leadership Award. 
  • Reaction Panelists: 
    • Liz Fuller, President & CEO, GARD Communications 
    • Kristin Watkins, Vice President, Donor Engagement & Chief Marketing Officer, Oregon State University Foundation 
    • Dr. Robin Beavers, Senior Vice President of Community and Social Impact, Portland Timbers 
  • Moderator: 
    • Graciela Gomez Cowger, CEO Emeritus, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt 
  • Emcee: 
    • Victoria Lara, CEO, Lara Media 

MORE INFORMATION:  

Join us for the Portland Metro Chamber’s revamped signature event celebrating women professionals in Portland. This dynamic brunch-time program brings together hundreds of the region’s most influential women leaders for connection, insight, and inspiration. 

 

The centerpiece of the event is the debut of the State of Working Women report, developed in partnership with ECOnorthwest. The first report of its kind in over a decade, it offers a timely, data-driven look at the current landscape for women in the workplace. 

 

Following the report presentation, a reaction panel will explore key findings, implications for our region, and opportunities for meaningful action. 

 

We are also honored to present Candace Beeke, President and Publisher of the Portland Business Journal, with the 2026 Sandra K. McDonough Leadership Award, recognizing her outstanding leadership and impact. 

 

Find more details at the event webpage. 

 

Media Advisory: 2026 Elevate Women Summit And Debut Release Of The State Of Working Women Report, March 19. RSVP Now. - 03/17/26

Media Advisory: 2026 Elevate Women Summit and Debut Release of the State of Working Women Report, March 19. RSVP Now.

 

 

WHAT: 2026 Elevate Women Summit, debut release of the State of Working Women report, awarding of the 2026 Sandra K. McDonough Leadership Award. 

 

WHEN: Thursday, March 19 at 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. 

 

 

WHERE: Tiffany Center, 1410 SW Morrison St, Portland, OR 97205 

 

WHO:  

  • Event hosted by the Portland Metro Chamber and presented by Regence.  
  • Report developed by the Portland Metro Chamber and ECOnorthwest.  
  • Candace Beeke, President and Publisher of the Portland Business Journal, to receive the 2026 Sandra K. McDonough Leadership Award. 
  • Reaction Panelists: 
    • Liz Fuller, President & CEO, GARD Communications 
    • Kristin Watkins, Vice President, Donor Engagement & Chief Marketing Officer, Oregon State University Foundation 
    • Dr. Robin Beavers, Senior Vice President of Community and Social Impact, Portland Timbers 
  • Moderator: 
    • Graciela Gomez Cowger, CEO Emeritus, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt 
  • Emcee: 
    • Victoria Lara, CEO, Lara Media 

MORE INFORMATION:  

Join us for the Portland Metro Chamber’s revamped signature event celebrating women professionals in Portland. This dynamic brunch-time program brings together hundreds of the region’s most influential women leaders for connection, insight, and inspiration. 

 

The centerpiece of the event is the debut of the State of Working Women report, developed in partnership with ECOnorthwest. The first report of its kind in over a decade, it offers a timely, data-driven look at the current landscape for women in the workplace. 

 

Following the report presentation, a reaction panel will explore key findings, implications for our region, and opportunities for meaningful action. 

 

We are also honored to present Candace Beeke, President and Publisher of the Portland Business Journal, with the 2026 Sandra K. McDonough Leadership Award, recognizing her outstanding leadership and impact. 

 

Find more details at the event webpage.