"When kids ask what I do, I tell them, 'I try to help people find out what they want to do when they grow up.'”

Kristi, tell us about yourself

Although originally from Newberg, I’ve lived in Hillsboro for about 20 years. I’m a mom of two awesome girls who attend schools in the Hillsboro School District — my favorite school district!

I’m really loving the new places coming to Downtown. I can’t wait to visit Backwoods Brewing Company and then walk down to Blue Ox to throw some axes. I also like playing trivia at Noble Hop and going to Pix in the Park in the summer. 

I enjoy traveling and have been to Croatia, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, and most recently learned how to surf in Costa Rica! I’m a Green Bay Packers fan and have even had the chance to visit Lambeau Field. I love taking advantage of the mountains, rivers, and trails in Oregon. My favorite place to visit is Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve.

I proudly serve on the Portland Community College Board of Directors and recently was reelected for another term.

What led you to work for the City of Hillsboro?

After high school, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. I ended up landing a job in the City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department's Maintenance Division. It was such a great opportunity to use the skills I had from working with my dad in construction and plumbing as a teenager. It also allowed me to be able to sign up for night classes at Portland Community College and expand my skill set. This was a great foundation for my journey through several City of Hillsboro departments: Parks & Recreation, Water, Human Resources, and now Economic Development.

What is it like to spend a day doing your job?

Every day is different! Currently, most of my time is spent collaborating with external partners, including education, industry, and community partners, to build holistic workforce strategies to meet our industries' and community’s workforce needs. 

The advance manufacturing and technology sectors are where I primarily spend my time — and I am still learning about those areas. I also spend some time supporting workforce efforts in the healthcare industry. I’m an advocate for workforce equity and removing barriers to access family wage jobs, and often I lead conversations around the impacts of housing, childcare, and transportation to our workforce.

What do you like most about your work?

I like the variety. Every day is a little different and I am consistently being challenged and learning new things. 

I enjoy the innovative mindset that Hillsboro applies to workforce development and being open to new ideas and perspectives on how to improve our efforts. Even as a regional leader, we have just scratched the surface on what we can do for our community.

I also love the community outreach aspect and building strong, authentic relationships with community members and organizations.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

I love the impact that local government can make on a community. At the state and federal level, things get so complex. In Hillsboro, we are able to make things happen, and that is rewarding.

How does your job directly benefit Hillsboro community members?