Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson on Friday, Jan. 19, announced staffing changes to help her office and team actualize many critical plans to move the work of Multnomah County forward, especially in addressing the duel crises of homelessness and illicit substance use that have been her priority since taking office one year ago.
Effective Feb. 5, former Chief of Staff Chris Fick, who has led Chair Vega Pederson’s office since she was sworn in as Commissioner for District 3 in January 2017, will begin a new role as Director of the Homelessness Response System.
A critical architect of the joint city-county work to execute a newly expanded three-year intergovernmental agreement for the Joint Office of Homeless Services this year, Fick is well-positioned to lead the implementation of a comprehensive, collaborative plan to optimize County and Supportive Housing Services funding; execute an urgent expansion of daytime services, shelter beds, recovery housing and stabilization services; and strategize across departments and jurisdictions the necessary response to address our homelessness crisis.
Jenny Smith, who has served as the Oregon Youth Authority’s Chief of Staff and Communications Director since 2021, will succeed Fick as Chief of Staff starting Feb. 5. Before her work at the Youth Authority, Smith was Communications Director for the Bureau of Labor and Industries, and brings with her a wealth of leadership experience and a solid communications background that will serve her well in her new role.
Stacy Borke, a Senior Policy Advisor who has successfully headed up Housing and Homelessness efforts for the Chair’s office since joining Vega Pederson’s team in December 2022, will take over as Deputy Chief of Staff. Borke, a former longtime Senior Director of Programs with Transition Projects, brings two decades of experience working alongside and in service to people experiencing homelessness and housing instability, with past work including strategic planning, vision-setting, executive-level leadership and community engagement.
Tabitha Jensen, who has been the Deputy Chief of Staff, will be the Chair’s Office Budget & Strategic Projects Director, a role created to lead the office’s ongoing work to streamline budget initiatives and timelines, and collaborate with the Office of Community Involvement, increasing the community’s input into the budgeting process.
The office has also recently added a new Executive Assistant, Diana Gabaldón, who joins this office with over 20 years experience supporting the Executive Director of the Oregon Humane Society.
“This is a time of great promise and responsibility as we work together to fulfill Multnomah County’s mission as Oregon’s largest safety-net government, providing services to many of the state’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Chair Vega Pederson. “I am grateful for the continued leadership of longtime and newer staff members and look forward to what we will accomplish together on behalf of the many people who need our support and partnership the most.”