Travel Oregon Executive Search Updates
The Oregon Tourism Commission is responsible for hiring the Executive Director of Travel Oregon pursuant to ORS. 284.142. Upon notification of the current CEO’s intent to retire, the Commission began organizing with the guidance from the Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) and Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) to ensure the search process for the next Executive Director follows state best practices and Oregon’s public meetings and records laws.
This page is intended to provide status updates for those interested in this process, which will be updated as the process advances. All past Commission meetings and minutes where decisions were made about the process are available below and will also be updated throughout this process.
Current Status
- The Executive Director position is open for recruitment:
- Travel Oregon is seeking a dynamic, mission-driven Executive Director to serve as the agency’s chief executive, supporting Oregon’s $14+ billion tourism economy. As the chief executive of this agency, the Executive Director will provide strategic and operational leadership over Travel Oregon’s programs, resources, and relationships across the state, propelling the state as a top tourist destination and driving economic, social, and environmental value for all Oregonians.
- Review of candidates will begin immediately, and the application window will close at midnight PST on Monday, March 30, 2026. Applications, inquiries, and nominations should be sent to: TravelOregon@heidrick.com. Travel Oregon is a public entity, and the recruitment process and applications may be subject to disclosure under applicable requirements of Oregon laws governing public records and public meetings.
- More information about this opportunity can be found here.
Anticipated Timeline (subject to change):
- January and February 2026
- Adopt hiring standards, criteria and policy directives
- Announce the job vacancy
- Public engagement sessions
- Screen candidate applications
- Spring 2026
- Interview candidates
- Announce the hire
Commission Actions and Decisions:
October 8, 2025 – Oregon Tourism Commission Meeting, virtual
- Commission holds a public meeting to welcome Heather Miller and Nick Pearson as new Commission members and establish a CEO Search Subcommittee
November 14, 2025 – Oregon Tourism Commission Meeting, virtual
- CEO Search Subcommittee holds a public meeting to outline the Intermediate RFP process for a qualified executive search firm and votes to recommend Heidrick & Struggles search firm to a full Commission vote.
December 3, 2025 – Oregon Tourism Commission Meeting, Corvallis
- Commission holds a public meeting that includes an update that the contracting process with Heidrick & Struggles search firm is underway and a CEO compensation study is underway via a third-party firm
January 29, 2026 – Oregon Tourism Commission Meeting, virtual
- Commission holds a public meeting to review the hiring standards, policy directives, and hiring plan from executive search firm Heidrick &Struggles. Public comment on the documents is received by the Commission.
January 30, 2026 – Oregon Tourism Commission Meeting, virtual
- Commission holds a public meeting to consider the public comments received on January 29 and deliberate and adopt the hiring standards, policy directives and hiring plan. The compensation range is deliberated, voted and adopted.