Director's Message

Katy Coba, DAS Director and State Chief Operating Officer

It’s an honor for me to write a final newsletter article as DAS Director and State COO. Last month I announced my retirement, effective Oct. 1, after more than 37 years with Oregon state government. I’m pleased to introduce Berri Leslie, Governor Brown’s former Deputy Chief of Staff, who will serve as Interim DAS Director. I hope you’ll get to know Berri in the article below.

Reaching this milestone apparently results in reflection, reminiscing and remembering – at least that’s what’s happening to me! I started my career at DAS as a state budget analyst (knowledge I’ve used in each of my positions) and I’m so glad I could return in 2016 to serve as Director. I also have had the honor of serving twice with the Agriculture Department, in Governor Kitzhaber’s first administration, and with Business Oregon when it was known as Oregon Economic Development. I’m reminded of the amazing people I have had the pleasure of working with and want to give a shout-out to my current extraordinary team — DAS.

I appreciate the support I’ve received as DAS Director, especially during the past two years. I hope we can look back on “the pandemic years” as a time of trial and loss, yes, and a time of triumph. We did amazing work for Oregonians during those years, implementing solutions to urgent needs. I’m not referring to DAS alone. Agencies came together as an enterprise as never before. I trust that deeper level of supporting one another, collaborating and innovating to improve the lives of the people we serve will continue.

-Katy

Berri Leslie – Interim DAS Director

Berri Leslie launched her career in state government in 1997 after graduating from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She began as a Committee Assistant during the 1997 Oregon Legislative Session and then moved on to the Oregon Department of Transportation, Department of Consumer and Business Services and the Construction Contractor’s Board, holding a variety of leadership positions. In 2017, she became Governor Brown’s Deputy Chief of Staff. Berri completed her master’s in public administration at Portland State University in 2005.

Berri lives in Salem with her husband, two children and two dogs, and in her spare time enjoys avoiding chores, nagging her children, trying to keep the dogs off the furniture and watching repeats of Curb your Enthusiasm.

You can reach Berri at Berri.L.Leslie@das.oregon.gov.

Tool Helps Agencies Lead by Example on Climate Change

In 2020, Governor Brown signed Executive Order 20-04 which, among many other initiatives, directed agencies to prioritize climate change in their planning, budgeting and policy decisions. In response, the DAS Office of Sustainability and the Oregon Sustainability Board (OSB), with support from the Oregon Department of Transportation and an Oregon-based consultant, developed a custom climate action planning tool to help agencies reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in their operations.

The tool allows agencies to lead by example in tackling climate change by taking stock of their past GHG emissions, creating reduction goals and identifying ways to reduce emissions. Agencies can choose from among strategies such as reducing building energy use, supporting renewable energy, reducing fossil fuels in the fleet, supporting reduced commuting and reducing waste.

DAS and the OSB, with the consultant’s help, conducted two workshops with agencies in early 2022 to train them on use of the tool. Agencies will use the tool to identify GHG-reducing strategies the remainder of 2022, and the DAS Office of Sustainability will compile the strategies in an enterprise-wide progress report no later than June 30, 2023.

The climate action planning tool is just one of the latest initiatives from the OSB, now chaired by Secretary of State Shemia Fagan. The OSB has also been working to address issues around equity, sustainable procurement, transportation, water and sustainable design of future state buildings. The OSB meets quarterly, and meetings are open to the public.

Be an Oregon Superhero!

2022 State Charitable Fund Drive Kicks Off Sept. 14!

Since 1989, Oregon’s Charitable Fund Drive offers access to a wide range of nonprofits through an easy, once-a-year campaign that gives state employees precise control over where their contributions are spent.

The Charitable Fund Drive can help state employees create the future they envision for Oregon. With 700 nonprofits represented through the Fund Drive, there is likely a non-profit for you to support.

In 2021, state employees pledged over $750,000 to local charities statewide. The impact of these gifts benefits countless Oregonians with a wide variety of needs. Yet in many communities, needs remain high.

You can support the nonprofit of your choice with a sustaining monthly donation using payroll deduction or a one-time gift. Please consider donating as early as Sept. 14.

Visit ecfd.oregon.gov, click on Donate in the upper left-hand corner, and Be an Oregon Superhero!

For help pledging, or for questions about the Charitable Fund Drive, email: oregoncfd@unitedwaymwv.org.