MEET THE COMMISSIONERS

Jeff Jobe, Portland
Term of Office: 7/01/05 - 6/30/09
Jeff Jobe has more than 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry and is the current general manager of the Heathman Hotel. Jeff arrived at the Heathman in early 1998 after a successful stint with the Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group where he most recently served as the general manager of the Hotel Vintage Plaza in Portland. Prior to his time at the Hotel Vintage Plaza, he served as the director of guest services at the Sheraton Tacoma Hotel in Tacoma, Washington. In addition, his experience includes work with Adam's Mark Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri; Embassy Suites Hotel in Tukwila, Washington; and Hyatt Hotels and Resorts in various locations. He is an active participant in various community organizations. He is a current board member of the Portland Oregon Visitor Association, Northwest Business for Culture and the Arts, the Oregon Historical Society and The American Red Cross. Jeff resides in Portland with his wife and daughter.

Hank Hickox, Bandon
Term of Office: 7/1/06 - 6/30/10
Hank was born and raised in Tualatin, Oregon (4th generation). He is currently the General Manager of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort & Vice President of Kemper Sports. Previously he spent ten years with Continental Airlines in Micronesia Resort Hotel Development; was Vice President & General Manager of Sunriver Resort; Senior Vice President of Operations - Kiawah Island, SC; Vice President & General Manager of Silverado Country Club, Napa, CA; President & CEO of Salishan Resorts; and Chief Operating Officer of Turning Stone Casino & Resort - Oneida, NY. He also developed the Governor Hotel, Salishan Lodge, and Skamania Lodge. Hank resides in Bandon with his wife. They have three grown children.

Jeff Kohnstamm, Timberline
Term of Office: 7/01/05 - 6/30/09
Jeff is President and Area Operator of Timberline Lodge and Ski Area and the current Chair of the Oregon Tourism Commission. He began his career in Hotel Administration at premiere locations in Switzerland, California and New York. In 1987, he returned to his native Oregon to work with his father, Richard, who founded R.L.K. and Company, the family-owned business that has been the stewards of Timberline Lodge and Ski Area since 1955. Jeff took over operation of the company in 1992. He is a board member of the National Ski Area Association and past Chair of the Clackamas County Tourism Development Council. He is married and has three children.

Tom Luersen, Sunriver
Term of Office: 2/01/04 - 1/31/08
Tom Luersen, who also is a partner in Sunriver Resort, was appointed to the commission in January 2004. He joined Sunriver Resort, a property of Destination Hotels & Resorts (DH&R), in February 1998. He is active with many local, regional and national organizations. He currently is serving as campaign chair for the United Way of Deschutes County, and also sits on the Three Rivers Care for Kids Foundation and Sunriver Music Festival boards. He is an active member with the American Hotel Motel Association Resort Committee (AHMA), International Association of Conference Centers, Urban Land Institute, Oregon Lodging Association, Oregon Tourism Golf Committee, Central Oregon Visitors Association and the Central Oregon Air Service Task Force. He and his wife, Stacy, have three children.

Patrick Nofield, Cannon Beach
Term of Office: 11/15/03 - 6/30/07
Patrick is president of Escape Lodging Company, a lodging and restaurant developer whose properties include The Inn at Cannon Beach and the Ocean Lodge, also in Cannon Beach. He is also co-owner of Cousins Country Inn in The Dalles and Cousins Restaurant in The Dalles. Patrick is past president of the Oregon Lodging Association and currently serves on the board of the Oregon Lodging Association and the Coaster Theater. He is married and has four children.

Dave Tovey, North Bend
Term of Office: 7/01/02-6/30/06
Dave is currently the Executive Director of the Coquille Indian Tribe in North Bend and is past Executive Director of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. He is the current president of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corporation and has previously served on the parent organization's Executive Board as Treasurer.

Kari Westlund, Eugene
Term of Office: 11/15/03-6/30/07
Kari is president and CEO of the Convention and Visitors Association of Lane County Oregon (CVALCO) in Eugene. She has more than 20 years' experience in the visitor industry, which includes serving as president of the Juneau (Alaska) Convention and Visitors Bureau and served as a volunteer on the Alaska Tourism Marketing Council. She serves on the boards of the Western Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus, Lane Economic Committee and the Oregon Track Club. She is married and has two children