Travis Graves, Interim Chief Operating Officer and Director of the Department of County Management
Travis Graves (he/him/his) is the Interim Chief Operating Officer and Director of the Department of County Management. Travis is dedicated to Multnomah County, as reflected in his 25 years of service. He has most recently served as the County’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Department of County Management (DCM) Deputy Director. In addition, during the beginning of the pandemic, he stepped in on an interim basis to lead DCM as the Department Director.
He started his journey with the County at the Health Department, then moved to the Department of Community Justice where he served as the department’s HR Manager. He eventually landed in DCM as the leader of the County’s human resources functions, a role he held for 16 years.
Travis is committed to continual growth and learning as he champions the work of the County's Workforce Equity Strategic Plan (WESP) promoting safety, trust, and belonging for all.
In addition to directly supervising a portfolio of programs and divisions within DCM, his responsibilities include directing the organization’s cohesive strategy toward its enterprise and internal services across departments.
Samuel Ashby, Director of Strategic Initiatives
Over the last three decades, Samuel Ashby has established a track record of strategic leadership in large, complex organizations across sectors, including the healthcare, automotive, biomedical, apparel and finance industries. As a skilled practitioner of continuous improvement strategies, including Lean and Six Sigma, Samuel has successfully led efforts to achieve meaningful, transformative changes to both processes and workforces that help organizations become more effective and efficient.
As the Director of Strategic Initiatives overseeing the newly created SPARK (Strategic Planning, Performance, Agility, Reinvention, and Knowledge) Unit, Samuel leads efforts to help Multnomah County meet the evolving and increasingly complex needs of the communities we serve. Samuel and his SPARK team foster strategic focus, continuous improvement and innovative solutions by providing project management, coordinating across departments, and offering comprehensive analyses of County operations and challenges.
Allison Don, Strategic Initiatives Manager
Allison (she/her) has served as a Strategic Initiatives Manager with the Office of the Chief Operating Officer since 2021. She supports the COO's Office by managing special projects that vary in complexity and scope, from efforts that pertain to the Department of County Management, to enterprise-wide initiatives.
Allison grew up in the Portland metro region, moved all over the country and the world, and returned to Portland in 2018 to work for the City of Gresham. Prior to that time, Allison worked for the U.S. Congress, California State Senate, and San Diego City Council. Three years in Gothenburg, Sweden (2015 - 2018) provided a beautiful respite from American politics.
Allison holds a BA from Pomona College and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. She lives with her husband, plucky dog, and equally plucky toddler.
Crystal Reidy, Administrative Analyst Sr.
Crystal (she/her) has served as the Administrative Analyst Senior since November 2023. She provides administrative support, coordinates projects and meetings, develops and implements policies and procedures, prepares reports and presentations and frequently takes on other duties as assigned.
Prior to joining Multnomah County, Crystal worked with one of Oregon’s largest utility companies with an ambitious decarbonization goal for a greener future. Before that, she worked with a healthcare company who focused on providing physical, occupational and speech therapy to those in need.
A life-long Oregon resident and Portland native, Crystal now resides in Northeast Portland with her husband and dog. She is passionate about recovery work and helping others to overcome addiction and rebuild their lives.