Unemployment in Central Oregon:
What Does Our Past Portend for Our Future?
On February 18, 2010 The City Club of Central Oregon will welcome a distinguished panel of speakers to discuss Unemployment in Central Oregon: What Does Our Past Portend for Our Future?
Central Oregon's unemployment numbers, some of the highest in the state, and the ripple effect of unemployed citizens is being felt from the housing market to the healthcare system, to social service overload. The City Club will take a look at the region's unemployment history, where we stand now and what we might expect in the future.
Carolyn Eagan, Regional Economist with the Oregon Employment Department will share analysis of the current situation as it relates to her work across the tri-county area and beyond and to investigate which sectors have contributed the most to Central Oregon's unemployment.
Matt McCoy, Vice President for Administration at Central Oregon Community College, will focus on the role that COCC plays in helping individuals upgrade skills and retool to enter and advance in the Central Oregon workforce. Additionally, Mr. McCoy will provide an update on the College’s enrollment growth, program expansion and facilities development to meet community needs.
Roger Lee, Executive Director of Economic Development for Central Oregon will provide a brief history of unemployment in the tri-county area. He will help put into perspective the unemployment rates as an economic indicator and discuss the destructive and constructive sides of unemployment as it relates to future job creation. He will also provide an outlook on job growth - the ultimate remedy, and what EDCO sees on the horizon.
Pre-registration is required by February 15th at 5:00 p.m. The cost to members is $15.00 for lunch. Nonmembers pay $30.00 for lunch and program.
Preregister in one of the following ways:
1) Prepay on line with a VIsa or Mastercard.
2) Use the "contact us" link to let me know who is attending - then pay cash or check at the door.
3) Call the City Club at 541-633-7163 to provide the names of those who will attend and pay cash or check at the door.
The Forum will begin at 11:30 and conclude at 1:00 p.m. City Club Forums are conducted at St. Charles Center for Health and Learning, 2500 NE Neff Road in Bend.
Related Links
EDCO
DATA - Demographic, Expenditure and Business Workforce Information
Projected Job Growth In Central Oregon
Unemployment Trends
Oregon Emloyment Department
Labor Trends
Speaker Bios
Carolyn Eagan, has been the Central Oregon Regional Economist with the Oregon Employment Department for nearly a year. In this position, she produces and analyzes employment trends, including the unemployment rate and monthly job growth in the region’s major industries. Outside of work, she is the Board Chair for Commute Options for Central Oregon. Prior to joining the Employment Department, she worked for a Bend-based engineering as a transportation planner.
Carolyn earned her Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Math from La Salle University in Philadelphia. Her early career included positions with at the University of Pennsylvania and with a variety of community-based, non-profit organizations in both Philadelphia and Oregon.
Matt McCoy is the Vice President for Administration and has been at COCC since May of 1998. Mr. McCoy’s current areas of responsibility include Institutional Research, Institutional Assessment, Information Technology, Campus Services, strategic planning, legislative initiatives, legal issues, business and community development, regional economic development, public policy coordination, and partnerships development activity.
Prior to coming to COCC, Matt was CEO for Pacific Accent Product Group, Vice-President for Consumer Electronics Association in Washington, DC, and served as General Counsel for the Council of Institutional Investors. From 1987-1993, he served as Counsel to the United States Senate Judiciary Committee.
Mr. McCoy earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona in political science in 1982, and a juris doctorate from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1986.
Roger Lee has been the Executive Director of EDCO since September 1999. He has over 18 years of economic development experience, working in business development for the Seattle/King County Economic Development Council and economic and community development for Baker City/County in Northeast Oregon. Roger is a graduate of University of Washington in International Economics. His industry experience includes employment at Hewlett-Packard Co., and Idaho’s largest electric utility, Idaho Power.
At EDCO, Roger is responsible for the tri-county area’s economic development strategy, business recruitment, oversight of the organization and its satellite offices, and development of special projects including industrial parks, expansion of commercial air service and creation of new programs to assist the region’s traded-sector employers and improve the overall business climate.
Roger is a current board member of the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP) and is involved in several committees and advisory Boards at both state and local levels.