DR. JIM MOORE was a political analyst for over 30 years. He will present “ATIYEH: Governor Vic Atiyeh and the Transformation of Oregon.”

Governor Vic Atiyeh, who led the Oregon government from 1979-87, has sometimes been overshadowed by other major figures of the era in Oregon, such as Tom McCall and Mark Hatfield. But Atiyeh played a large and decisive role in transforming Oregon from its historical roots into the future-facing state it has become. Jim Moore’s thoroughly researched biography fills in a critical part of the Oregon story – and shows in detail how a strong public executive did his work.

Meeting Details

• Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet opens 11:45 a.m. 
• Meeting begins at 12:00 p.m./Noon 
• Meeting location at Chehalem Cultural Center 

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by September 8th to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com. 

Cost

• Attend with hot lunch meal: $15 for members & member guests $20 for nonmembers
• Attend with beverage option only: $4 for members & member guests $7 for nonmembers

Speaker Bio

Dr. Jim Moore retired as a Professor of Politics and Government at Pacific University. Dr. Moore has been a political analyst for over 30 years. He worked with a number of media outlets and was featured in live interviews over 4000 times. Jim’s detailed biography of former Oregon governor (and the last Republican to hold the post) Vic Atiyeh is his topic of this meeting.

SPENCER CRACE, Head Football Coach at George Fox University presents “Run to the Roar.” Within the culture at George Fox Football, they focus on what it means to Run to the Roar and have a Total Release Performance. Adversity will come. How we respond makes all the difference. You can apply this philosophy to anything in life. Grab your sword, your lion awaits! 

MEETING DETAILS

• Doors Open at 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet Opens at 11:45 a.m. 
• Meeting Begins at 12:00 p.m./Noon 
• Location: Chehalem Cultural Center 

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by September 29th to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com. 

COST

• Attend with hot lunch meal: $15 for members & member guests $20 for nonmembers
• Attend with beverage option only: $4 for members & member guests $7 for nonmembers

SPEAKER BIO

SPENCER CRACE is the new Head Football Coach at George Fox University in Newberg, OR. This season will be his 16th season coaching football. Spencer grew up in Wilsonville, OR where he excelled in three sports, helping the Wildcats win a state championship in Football and Baseball in 2004/2005. He then went on to play football and baseball at the University of Puget Sound. Spencer was the President of Comeback Sports, director of athletics for non-profit The Total Development Center, and served ten years with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. His experience in business, sales, and fundraising helps him bring a unique approach to the game of football. 

BRANDEN ANDERSEN, publisher and founder of Newsberg, a locally owned and operated online news outlet serving Newberg and Dundee. He will present “More Than The Moment: Preserving Newberg’s Stories.”

According to Andersen, “not every story makes the front page, but every story makes a difference in how a community remembers itself. From a city council vote to a small business milestone or a neighborhood festival, these are the moments that shape Newberg’s identity. Local journalism captures them before they fade — preserving today’s events as tomorrow’s history.” Join Newsberg founder Branden Andersen for a conversation about why these stories matter, what we stand to lose without them, and how each of us can help keep Newberg’s story alive.

MEETING DETAILS

• Doors Open at 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet Opens at 11:45 a.m. 
• Meeting Begins at 12:00 p.m./Noon 
• Location: Chehalem Cultural Center 

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by October 13th to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com. 

COST

• Attend with hot lunch meal: $15 for members & member guests $20 for nonmembers
• Attend with beverage option only: $4 for members & member guests $7 for nonmembers

SPEAKER BIO

BRANDEN ANDERSEN is the founder and publisher of Newsberg, a locally owned and operated online news outlet serving Newberg and Dundee. A journalist with experience in sales, marketing, entrepreneurship, and community storytelling, Andersen launched Newsberg to ensure neighbors have access to accurate, unbiased, and accessible information about their community. Beyond reporting, he manages everything from editing and design to the outlet’s event calendar, making Newsberg a truly neighbor-driven project. Andersen, a Newberg resident raising his two young sons, is passionate about preserving Newberg’s collective memory and believes local journalism is essential to civic life, community connection, and future generations.

Learn more about Newsberg at https://newsberg.org/

Work on the Newberg-Dundee Bypass Project continues! ODOT project managers IAN ROHOLT and ANDREW WALKER will present on how the bypass is progressing. This presentation will include information about the current phase (Phase 2A) and future planned phases (Phase 2B and Phase 3) as well as construction updates of what’s happening today and over the next year and a half. Come learn what’s happening with the bypass!

MEETING DETAILS

• Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet opens 11:45 a.m. 
• Meeting begins at 12:00 p.m./Noon 
• Meeting location at Chehalem Cultural Center 

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by October 27th to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com. 

COST

• Attend with hot lunch meal: $15 for members & member guests $20 for nonmembers
• Attendance only: $4 for members & member guests $7 for nonmembers

SPEAKER BIO’S

Ian Roholt, P.E., Resident Engineer, Project Manager –  Oregon Department of Transportation

After growing up in Newberg and graduating from Newberg High School, Ian attended the University of Portland where he received a B.S. in Civil Engineering. After spending three years working in engineering-related positions, he went to Oregon State University to receive an M.S. in Civil Engineering. After graduate school, he began working for ODOT in White City, for a short time, before transferring to Salem to work in the Region 2 Traffic Unit. After seven years of designing traffic control devices, he became a project manager for the Corvallis office where he now manages design and construction projects for Region 2.

Andrew Walker, PE,  Agency Bridge Reviewer – Oregon Department of Transportation

Andrew received his Bachelors and Masters in Civil Engineering at Oregon State University.  His engineering career began at Hohbach-Lewin Inc. as a structural engineer. He worked on the design of schools, subdivisions, seismic retrofits, the Eugene Airport expansion, and other vertical structures.  He later transitioned to bridge design at David Evans and Associates where he designed bridge structures in Idaho, California, and Oregon.   While at David Evans and Associates, Andrew joined the Army reserves serving as an engineering officer.   Andrew currently works at Oregon Department of Transportation as a Project Manager and bridge designer.

MARY STARRETT presents “I’m from the Government and I’m Here to Help You.” Mary is currently in her third term as a Yamhill County Commissioner, serves as liaison to five County departments and more than a dozen County – related  boards and committees. Join us as she shares a look back at the people, politics and challenges of the last 12 years. 

MEETING DETAILS

• Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet opens 11:45 a.m. 
• Meeting begins at 12:00 p.m./Noon 
• Meeting location at Chehalem Cultural Center 

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by November 10th to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com. 

COST

• Attend with hot lunch meal: $15 for members & member guests $20 for nonmembers
• Attendance only: $4 for members & member guests $7 for nonmembers

SPEAKER BIO

MARY STARRETT is serving her third term as a Yamhill County Commissioner, first elected  in May 2014, re-elected in 2018 and 2022.

Prior to that, Mary spent 25 years in broadcasting as a news anchor, investigative reporter, medical reporter, and talk show host at network affiliate TV stations on the east and west coasts, including 17 years at Portland’s KATU TV, was a radio talk show host in Portland, taught at Mount Hood Community College, and wrote an Oregon state senator’s legislative newsletter. She has worked in public relations, and marketing, in addition to being a small business owner.

Mary has lived in Oregon since 1980. She and her husband have lived on Parrett Mountain since 1994. Mary has a  daughter and two adult grandchildren. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Mary graduated with a BS cum laude from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. She received certification as an Emergency Medical Technician II / Intravenous Tech in three states.

Mary has been a long-time foster child mentor and child welfare advocate. Mary serves as liaison to various county departments and committees.

DR. ROBIN BAKER, President of George Fox University, presents “Town and Gown: An Update on George Fox University and its Strategic Partnerships in Yamhill County.”

Meeting Details

• Doors Open 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet Opens at 11:45 a.m. 
• Meeting Begins 12:00 p.m./Noon 
• Location: Chehalem Cultural Center 

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by November 24th to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com. 

• Attend with hot lunch meal: $15 for members & member guests $20 for nonmembers
• Attendance only: $4 for members & member guests $7 for nonmembers

Speaker Bio

DR. ROBIN BAKER is the longest serving college president in the Pacific Northwest. He is in his 19th year as president of George Fox University. Under his leadership, George Fox has flourished, becoming Oregon’s largest private university, with significant enrollment growth and the expansion of its academic portfolio to include professional graduate programs in healthcare and multiple character-building athletic opportunities.

Recognized as the 2023 Executive of the Year by the Portland Business Journal, Dr. Baker’s tenure is distinguished by strategic leadership and a commitment to academic excellence and Christian faith formation. As a result, he has seen a 44% growth in overall enrollment since he first arrived as provost in 1999. His influence extends nationally through his current role on the executive committee of the ACE Commission on Faith-based Colleges and Universities and his previous service as a commissioner for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the regional accrediting body for higher education. He and his wife, Ruth, are proud parents of three George Fox alumni, and he maintains a personal interest in the works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.

RICK LIPINSKI, President of the Newberg Animal Shelter Friends’ Board of Directors, presents “Until They All Find A Home”. City Club members and guests are invited to learn the history of Newberg Animal Shelter, how it came about and how it serves our community and enhances the lives of both people and animals, one paw at a time.  The shelter cares for and protects lost, abandoned, or surrendered animals, reuniting them with their owners or helping them find new forever homes.  

The shelter’s mission is  “Dedicated to providing a compassionate environment for homeless pets until they find their forever homes.” The main objectives of the Newberg Animal Shelter include reducing overpopulation through spay/neuter programs, increasing awareness about responsible pet ownership, and providing medical care, shelter and socialization to prepare animals for adoption. 

EVENT DETAILS

• Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet opens 11:45 a.m. 
• Meeting begins at 12:00 p.m./Noon 
• Meeting location at Chehalem Cultural Center 

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by January 12th to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com. 

• Attend with hot lunch meal: $15 for members & member guests $20 for nonmembers
• Attendance only: $4 for members & member guests $7 for nonmembers

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

RICK LIPINSKI has been involved with Newberg Animal Shelter Friends since its beginning in 2000. He joined the board in 2004 and has held the position of President of the board twice, 2019-2022, and currently.

His professional background is in the building industry, he was a general contractor/custom home builder for over forty years and is currently semi-retired. His entire career (fifty+ years) has been spent in owning and managing several businesses, including in the fields of construction, agriculture, and real estate. His background includes customer relations, human

resource management, sales, finance and all other aspects of owning varied businesses. Rick has also served a two-year term on the Board of the Homebuilders Association of Portland.

He was a lead for Newberg Animal Shelter Friends in the construction of the new shelter and took part in the negotiations with the City of Newberg for the eventual purchase of the land and building, which is now fully owned and operated by NASF.

Rick and his wife Barbara have lived in the Dundee hills for 45 years on their Christmas tree farm. They have always had animals, both dogs and cats and have been continually interested in animal welfare. It was this interest that led them to join in the effort to achieve the vision of a new animal shelter for Newberg, Dundee and surrounding areas.

Newberg’s Mayor Bill Roscaker and City Manager Will Worthey present “State of the City” to City Club members and other visitors.

Discover the fruits of nearly four years of steady and prudent fiscal management. See how the reform era has helped Newberg become an award winning first in class town, and discover what is next for our infrastructure and other city projects.

MEETING DETAILS

• Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet :opens 11:45 a.m. 
• Meeting begins at 12:00 p.m./Noon 
• Meeting location at Chehalem Cultural Center 

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by January 12th to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com. 

COST

• Attend with hot lunch meal: $15 for members & member guests $20 for nonmembers
• Attendance only: $4 for members & member guests $7 for nonmembers

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

Mayor Bill Rosacker: Mayor Bill Rosacker was elected in November of 2022 to serve the 2023-2026 term. Mayor Rosacker has lived most of his life in Newberg and cares passionately about our community.

Mayor Rosacker is a private contractor with a history of Project Management, Construction, Real Estate, he owned and operated a trucking company and was a US Army Reconnaissance Sergeant. In the past he served on the Newberg Budget Committee and was the chairman of the Downtown Redevelopment Committee. Mayor Rosacker has been actively involved in city issues for many years, volunteering or leading when needed. 

His focus during his term is to bring leadership and accountability to City Hall, demanding utility billing funds are responsibly spent, restoring fiscal responsibility, reducing and restructuring fees and system development charges, prioritizing growth and reducing housing costs. He wants to prohibit houseless camping in Newberg, instead making sure that those who are responsible for housing the homeless take care of the few who live in our community while not attracting others.

Newberg City Manager Will Worthey: The City Manager is the Chief Executive Officer of the City and responsible for the overall management of its operations. Will Worthey became interim City Manager in 2021. After six months as an interim he was persuaded by junior staff to compete for the permanent position six months later. Worthey worked for more that 30 years in school and public libraries and is still a children’s librarian at heart! He has brought the value of care and organizational skills from his former profession to apply to his new role as City Manager. Worthey (the first person in his family to attend a university) has a baccalaureate degree in History, a master’s degree in library science, and in 2024 completed his executive master’s degree in public administration from Portland State University. Worthey was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi national honor society in 2024. 

The City Manager works in close partnership with the Mayor and City Councilors who are responsible for setting the policy direction for the City organization. The City Manager strives to operationalize the councils’ goals and aspirations See the City’s 2025 Goals. Worthey leads the employees of the city to accomplish the goals and priorities set by City Council, always encouraging staff to embody our shared STRIVE values.

MaryJo McCloskey, Head Coach of George Fox University’s Women’s Golf, presents “Think Big to Win Big – A Game-Changer for Sports, Business, and Life” for Newberg City Club.

What happens when you don’t have the most experience, the top recruits, or the biggest advantages—but still want to win at the highest level?

In this energizing, story-driven talk, Coach MaryJo McCloskey shares how the George Fox University women’s golf team defied expectations and climbed to the top—earning 9 NCAA trophies in 13 seasons, including the 2023 National Championship—by thinking big, embracing innovation, and building a culture rooted in teamwork and trust.

The secret wasn’t luck. It was mental toughness, innovative thinking, and daily habits that compound over time.

Because winning isn’t just about talent—it’s about mindset, how teams respond under pressure, and how boldly they believe in what’s possible!

MEETING DETAILS

• Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet opens 11:45 a.m. 
• Meeting begins at 12:00 p.m./Noon 
• Meeting location at Chehalem Cultural Center 

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by January 26th to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com. 

COST DETAILS

• Attend with hot lunch meal: $15 for members & member guests $20 for nonmembers
• Attendance only: $4 for members & member guests $7 for nonmembers

SPEAKER BIO

MaryJo McCloskey is the Head Women’s Golf Coach at George Fox University, where she has led the program to 9 NCAA trophies in the last 13 seasons, including the 2023 National Championship. Under her leadership, the team has produced 2 individual National champions, 4 National Players of the Year, 2 Freshman Players of the year, 33 All Americans, 28 All-American scholars, 37 All-West Region players and 61 All-Conference players. McCloskey has been named Region Coach of the Year 8 times and 10 times NW Conference Coach of the Year.

Known for her innovative approach to building winning cultures, she was inducted into the Women’s Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame in December and is the author of When Girls Win, a book sharing championship lessons on mindset, leadership, and performing under pressure

She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon and an MBA from the University of Portland.

Travis Williams, Executive Director of the Willamette River Preservation Trust, presents “Wildflowers and Water: Conserving Key Habitat in the Mid to Northern Willamette Valley.”

According to Williams, land trusts hold a special place in conservation efforts. They utilize the purchase of land for long-term protection, and receive donations of conservation land. Land trusts then own, and steward the land in perpetuity. They also utilize conservation easements on private lands as another tool. These 501c3 non profits can make significant progress in identifying special places, and purchasing them. Land trusts also work to endow their properties to ensure that the ability to manage them, and protect them remains for decades in order to sustain staffing and management work over the years.

Travis Williams, the Executive Director of the Willamette River Preservation Trust will talk about the newish land trust he formed a year and a half ago, and their approach to conserving our waterways, wildflower-filled meadows, oak woodlands, bird habitat, pollinator habitat and more. He will also cover the nexus between people and the outdoors, in urban and rural areas.

MEETING DETAILS

• Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet opens 11:45 a.m.
• Meeting begins at 12:00 p.m./Noon
• Meeting location at Chehalem Cultural Center

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by February 9th to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com.

COST DETAILS

• Attend with hot lunch meal: $15 for members & member guests $20 for nonmembers
• Attendance only: $4 for members & member guests $7 for nonmembers

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

Travis Williams is a long-tenured Willamette Valley conservationist who led Willamette Riverkeeper for 24 years. He grew up in Milwaukie, OR. He has authored two books about the Willamette River system, and holds a B.A. from Portland State University, and an M.S. in Environmental Science from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He has taken a keen interest in long-lived freshwater mussel populations in the Willamette system, and via his work, three key studies were conducted on the Willamette assessing their health and distribution. He also authored three Water Trail guides for traveling the Willamette River by canoe, and other human powered craft. He has also been a key proponent of sustaining and growing the Willamette River Greenway system.

When he is not traveling the valley, managing land and researching new opportunities, he and his wife spend time at their rural property near Scotts Mills, OR or are traveling rivers and lakes by canoe or raft with their Border Collie and Aussie pups.

CLAY DOWNING, Superintendent for Chehalem Park and Recreation District (CPRD), will present “State of Play with Chehalem Park and Recreation District.”

When was the last time you swam at the aquatic center or played a round of golf at Chehalem Glenn Golf Course? Did you hike a trail at Ewing Young Park or the on the Gettman Loop this weekend? How was your kid’s experience when you picked them up from daycare, lacrosse practice, or the skate park? What is happening with the tennis and pickleball courts at Jaquith Park?

CPRD provides parks and programs throughout the Newberg and Dundee area, and each of us use those spaces and services in different ways. CPRD’s Superintendent will provide insights into the state of Newberg and Dundee’s many parks and recreational programs. He will provide a glimpse into CPRD’s strategic priorities for connecting and enriching our community through parks, recreation, open space, natural resources, and educational opportunities.

MEETING DETAILS

• Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet opens 11:45 a.m. 
• Meeting begins at 12:00 p.m./Noon 
• Meeting location at Chehalem Cultural Center 

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by February 23, 2026 to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com. 

COST DETAILS

• Attend with hot lunch meal: $15 for members & member guests $20 for nonmembers
• Attendance only: $4 for members & member guests $7 for nonmembers

SPEAKER BIO

Clay Downing and his wife, Sarah, moved to the Newberg area in 2022 when Clay accepted a position with the City of Newberg. In 2025, he joined CPRD as the first new Superintendent for the special district in more than 35 years.

Before joining CPRD, Clay worked in local government, nonprofit and private organizations for more than 20 years and had the opportunity to work in long-range planning, land use and development, outdoor recreation and education, conservation, and management for organizations including City of Newberg, County of Ventura, The Nature Conservancy, and Channel Islands Outfitters. Mr. Downing is also a returned Peace Corps volunteer who served in rural Nicaragua from 2003 to 2005.

In his free-time, Clay is a member of Newberg City Club’s Board of Directors and an active Rotarian with Newberg Earlybird Rotary. He loves spending his free time exploring through travel, cooking with his wife, and pursuing any number of outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, canoeing, and kayaking.

SAM ELLIOTT, Yamhill County Sheriff, will present “Understanding the Role of the Sheriff’s Office in Combating Drug Issues in the County” . Sheriff Elliott will provide a brief presentation on the responsibilities of the Office of Sheriff as outlined in the Oregon Constitution and ORS 206.010. In addition, he will be highlighting the work of the Street Crimes and Narcotics (SCAN) Team. He will have time available for Q&A.

MEETING DETAILS

• Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet opens at 11:45 a.m.
• Meeting begins at 12:00 p.m./noon
• Meeting location at Chehalem Cultural Center

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by March 9, 2026 to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com.

COST DETAILS

• Attend with hot lunch: $15 for members & member guests, $20 for non-members.
• Attendance only: $4 for members & member guests, $7 for non-members.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

SHERIFF SAMUEL J. “SAM” ELLIOTT was appointed as the 31st Sheriff of Yamhill County on November 30, 2023, and sworn in on December 21, 2023. He was elected to his first full term in November 2024 and sworn in on January 2025.

Elliott grew up in Carlton, Oregon, and he attended Pierce Community College, where he earned an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree. He began his law enforcement career in 2001 as an officer with the McMinnville (OR) Police Department, where he served for 15 years as a patrol officer, field training officer, detective, and interim detective sergeant. He was hired by the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy in October 2016.

Since joining the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office, he has continued serving the community as he advanced through the ranks. Elliott has worked as an enforcement deputy, rural patrol enforcement sergeant, administrative sergeant, and enforcement captain. He has served as a field training officer, fleet manager, FTEP coordinator, contract city supervisor, marine program supervisor, woods program supervisor, crime response supervisor, and illegal marijuana market enforcement program supervisor. He has also served as the Public Information Officer (PIO).

Sheriff Elliott resides in rural Carlton with his wife and three children.

Nathan Wildfire will present “Attainable Housing for our Workforce Through Innovation.”  Wildfire, the Co-Founder and CEO for Missing Middle Housing Fund (MMHF) will describe how Newberg’s largest employers have supported projects to support more middle income housing opportunities for their workforce, including the HIVE project, a 10-unit for-sale cottage cluster that is the first of its kind in the country. Selling for middle income prices, the homes will feature six different builders’ technologies and innovations.

MEETING DETAILS

• Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet opens 11:45 a.m.
• Meeting begins at 12:00 p.m./Noon
• Meeting location at Chehalem Cultural Center

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by March 30, 2026 to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com.

COST DETAILS

• Attend with hot lunch meal: $15 for members & member guests $20 for nonmembers
• Attendance only: $4 for members & member guests $7 for nonmembers

SPEAKER BIO

Nathan Wildfire, MMHF’s co-founder and CEO, has worked in community and economic development for more than 20 years, in Pittsburgh, Vermont, and Oregon. He’s passionate about the grassroots and personal connections of community building, and the macro changes possible through creative, data-driven public policy. Nathan is privileged to have learned from incredible mentors through every step of his career. He is a choir leader, occasional runner, and outdoor explorer of the incredible Pacific Northwest.

Deb Bridges and Dave Parker will present ‘ The Math Behind the May Levey: What Newberg-Dundee Schools Need and Why.” Newberg-Dundee Public Schools has eliminated nearly 77 positions, shortened the school year by 13 days, and still faces a $4.5 million gap for 2026-27. This presentation walks through the district’s fiscal reality, what the proposed Local Option Levy would fund, and what happens if it does not pass.

MEETING DETAILS

• Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet opens 11:45 a.m.
• Meeting begins at 12:00 p.m./Noon
• Meeting location at Chehalem Cultural Center

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by April 13, 2026 to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com.

COST DETAILS

• Attend with hot lunch meal: $15 for members & member guests $20 for nonmembers
• Attendance only: $4 for members & member guests $7 for nonmembers

SPEAKER BIO’S

Dave Parker is the Superintendent of Newberg-Dundee Public Schools. He previously served as Superintendent in Forest Grove and held the Asst. Superintendent in Newberg before returning to serve the district during a period of significant financial and operational challenges. He brings decades of experience in Oregon public education and a steady, student-centered approach to leading the district through its current recovery and stabilization effort.

Deb Bridges is the Board Chair of Newberg-Dundee Public School District. The school district has an enrollment of approximately 4,150 students at 10 schools plus the Chahalem Online Academy. She is also active with Juliet’s House and Child Abuse Assessment Center.

DAVID KRIER will present “Enriching Lives Throughout the World.” David plans to share some insights from his experiences, observations, discoveries, and lessons learned through 38 years of volunteering internationally on humanitarian projects. His intent has been to enrich the lives of people in need and those of his volunteers. Krier will explore the driving forces behind volunteering and ways we might begin to understand the impact his work has on others—and on ourselves.

MEETING DETAILS

• Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet opens 11:45 a.m. 
• Meeting begins at 12:00 p.m./Noon 
• Meeting location at Chehalem Cultural Center 

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by April 27, 2026 to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com. 

COST DETAILS

• Attend with hot lunch meal: $15 for members & member guests $20 for nonmembers
• Attendance only: $4 for members & member guests $7 for nonmembers

SPEAKER BIO

DAVID KRIER, MD, MSPH, is from St Paul, Oregon, and lives with his wife of over fifty years. He’s the father of four grown daughters, with eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

David has spent most of his professional life practicing family medicine in a wide variety of locations across Oregon. He’s taken some forays into administrative and research positions, but has always been drawn back to his first love—direct patient care. 

In 1987, his life abruptly changed when he discovered the magic of international volunteering. Since then, he has spent much of his free time working to reach new groups in need of assistance internationally and to continue supporting and developing existing projects. A major thrust of his work in this regard is to greatly expand public awareness of these volunteer experiences and to enhance the experiences of volunteers who join him on these adventures. He frequently partners with other organizations, such as Rotary Clubs, universities, and even the Peruvian Air Force.

According to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

City Club members and guests are invited to learn about the motivations, successes, challenges and other issues of local community service. Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Chehalem Valley will lead a guest speaker panel about community service in the area. Join Newberg City Club for “Serving Community, Voices of Service” as we here from multiple perspectives on community service from:

• GARY STEWART, former president and active member of Newberg Earlybird Rotary Club;
• CHRISTOPHER WHITE, Executive Director of Love Inc.; and
• SHANNON SELAH, Executive Director of Newberg Area Habitat for Humanity

The guest speaker panel will respond to questions from Leadership Chehalem Valley facilitators before taking questions from City Club members.

MEETING DETAILS

• Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet opens 11:45 a.m. 
• Meeting begins at 12:00 p.m./Noon 
• Meeting location at Chehalem Cultural Center 

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by May 11th to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com. 

COST DETAILS  

• Attend with hot lunch meal: $15 for members & member guests $20 for nonmembers
• Attendance only: $4 for members & member guests $7 for nonmembers

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES & SPECIAL GUEST INFORMATION

SHANNON SELAH is Executive Director of Newberg Area Habitat for Humanity and has served in that role since June 2023. Newberg Area Habitat for Humanity seeks to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.

Find more information at newberghabitat.org

GARY STEWART representing Newberg Earlybird Rotary Club. Mr. Stewart is a longtime club member and former president of the Newberg Earlybird Rotary Club. Rotary is a global network of more than 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Find more information at newbergrotaryearlybirds.org

CHRISTOPHER WHITE representing Love Inc. Mr. White is the Executive Director for Love Inc. in Newberg. Love Inc Newberg is one of more than a hundred Love Inc locations across the United States and Kenya, who partner with over 7,800 Christian churches to serve hundreds of thousands of people in need.

Find more information at loveincnewberg.org

Special guests from LEADERSHIP CHEHALEM VALLEY will be present during this event. Leadership Chehalem Valley is a two-year program facilitated by the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce to develop educated, informed and motivated civic-oriented leaders who are interested in helping direct the future of the Chehalem Valley and Yamhill County.

Find more information at chehalemvalley.org/leadership-chehalem-valley

JAMES GURGANUS, Chief Information Officer for George Fox University, will provide a presentation on how  George Fox University is leveraging and responding to Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Artificial intelligence and data science are transforming the way we solve problems, make decisions, and serve communities. The computer science major equips students with the technical expertise and ethical foundation to harness AI and data for meaningful impact.

MEETING DETAILS

• Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
• Buffet opens 11:45 a.m.
• Meeting begins at 12:00 p.m./Noon
• Meeting location at Chehalem Cultural Center

Email your RSVP for hot lunch by May 25, 2026 to cityclubofnewberg@gmail.com.

COST DETAILS

• Attend with hot lunch meal: $15 for members & member guests $20 for nonmembers
• Attendance only: $4 for members & member guests $7 for nonmembers

SPEAKER DETAILS

JAMES GURGANUS is the Chief Information Officer for George Fox University. With over 35 years of industry experience, James has developed a wealth of expertise in IT leadership and technology strategy. His diverse background spans healthcare, academia, high-tech manufacturing, advanced research, consumer electronics, and new business incubators. Prior to joining George Fox University, James served in numerous technology leadership roles, including positions at Oregon Health & Science University, Biotronik, and Intel Corporation. As a passionate technologist, James’s career has kept him close to academia and R&D, including 12 years of empowering long-range fundamental research in Intel’s global academic/industrial hybrid R&D division, Intel Research. James holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and has enjoyed post-graduate studies in Artificial Intelligence.