The City of Hillsboro's Economic Development Staff

The City of Hillsboro’s Economic Development Staff represents decades of experience in the public and private sectors. The team's depth and breadth of industry knowledge allows for more ideas and viable project solutions.

Dan Dias

Economic & Community Development Director

Dan Dias has over 10 years’ experience in economic development, real estate developments, land use planning, public policy, and land use entitlements. Dan is currently the Director of Economic and Community Development departments for the City of Hillsboro. In his role, Dan manages the North Hillsboro Industrial Renewal Area, the Downtown Urban Renewal Area, and strategic real estate and infrastructure development projects for the City. Dan also plays a primary role in assisting on various business expansions, recruitments, and Downtown redevelopment projects.

Dan has been the City’s lead on key industrial projects including the Intel Ronler Acre MOD2 Fab expansion and seven-story office building, Adobe Systems Data Center, First Tech Regional Office Campus, Reser’s Fine Foods 300,000-square-foot processing facility, and numerous mixed-use projects.

Before becoming Director, Dan spent four years as the Development Services Manager for the Hillsboro Planning Department 9now the Community Development Department's Planning Division). Prior to joining the City in 2006, Dan spent two years working as a Legislative Assistant in the Oregon Senate and two years working for a small-scale home builder.  

Jim Riley

Senior Economic Development Manager

Jim Riley has over 30 years of experience in business development, technical marketing, and sales. In Hillsboro, Jim focuses much of his time on the attraction of high technology firms into the City. He is also the Client Service Manager for the Japanese companies located in the City of Hillsboro.

Prior to Hillsboro, Mr. Riley has spent 25 years working on high technology project marketing for CH2M. Jim worked on projects for companies such as Fujitsu Semiconductor, Motorola, Tesla, TOK America, Kanto Chemical, Apple, Micron Memory, Komatsu Electronic Metals, and Honda Motors in locations including Oregon, the United States, Mexico and Japan. Jim also managed a Joint Venture company between CH2M and Ishimoto Architects and Engineers headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. He has traveled extensively in Japan and Asia. Before his time at CH2M, Jim worked at the Allegheny Conference on Community Development in Pittsburgh, PA. There he was involved in Regional Economic Development attraction and retention for an area covering 9 counties of western Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh.

Val Okada

Economic Development Manager

Val Okada joined the City of Hillsboro Economic Development Department in 1999 and currently serves as Economic Development Manager.  In this role, her responsibilities include managing marketing initiatives that position Hillsboro as a premier location for business investment, overseeing site readiness projects to facilitate timely development for new or expanding business, and administering the Hillsboro Enterprise Zone program, a property tax exemption for qualifying companies.    

Val also manages the North Hillsboro Industrial (Urban) Renewal program and projects which successfully acquired over 100 acres of industrial land, significantly increasing the city’s ability to attract and support new industries within the North Hillsboro Industrial Renewal Area.  In addition, Val oversees consultant teams engaged in a range of economic development initiatives.  Prior to joining the city, she spent nine years working in international business development at Business Oregon and continues to support international engagement through her involvement with the Japan America Society of Oregon. 

Karla Antonini

Project Manager 

Karla began her career in urban planning, spending six years with the City of Saskatoon before joining the City of Hillsboro Planning Department (now the Community Development Department's Planning Division) in 1999. She continued with the City as an urban planner for nine years before moving to the Economic Development Department in 2008.

During her tenure, Karla has completed the Downtown Framework Plan, completed rezoning for the Downtown Station Community District, completed an urban renewal plan, successfully implemented an economic improvement district, and created a new Downtown development organization. She sits on several local boards, and has earned awards for multiple Downtown projects.

Justin DeMello

Senior Project Manager

Justin DeMello joined the City of Hillsboro in 2015 and has served in the Economic Development Department since 2021. As a Senior Project Manager, he leads site redevelopment efforts, manages public-private partnerships and development agreements, and oversees projects that advance site readiness and infrastructure planning. His work includes coordinating property rights, design processes, and electrical transmission and distribution needs for strategic development sites. 

A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Justin also manages consultant teams and supports a range of initiatives that contribute to Hillsboro’s economic growth. 

Before joining the City, Justin spent a decade in civil engineering consulting at David Evans and Associates, with a focus on transportation infrastructure projects. 

Claudia Rizo Mendoza

Workforce Development Manager

Claudia Rizo Mendoza serves as the Workforce Development Manager for the City of Hillsboro. A Hillsboro native, she brings a diverse background in healthcare, nonprofit leadership, and education to her role. Growing up in the community she now serves has shaped her strong commitment to ensuring that workforce initiatives reflect the needs of Hillsboro’s diverse residents while also addressing the evolving demands of industry. 

In her position, Claudia leads efforts to expand access to training opportunities, strengthen career pathways, and foster equitable economic growth. She is recognized for her collaborative approach in building partnerships across education, industry, and community organizations. Most recently, she played a key role in developing the Hillsboro Registered Youth Apprenticeship Program in advanced manufacturing, the first of its kind in Oregon, which provides high school students with early hands-on learning and career exploration in high-demand fields. 

Claudia’s career began in healthcare and the nonprofit sector, where she focused on advancing equity and access for underserved communities. This foundation continues to guide her work and her dedication to creating systems that open doors for people of all backgrounds. 

Ken Christian

Business Development Liaison

Ken Christian has served the City of Hillsboro since 2003, bringing over two decades of public service experience to his current role in the Economic Development Department. As the City’s Business Development Liaison, he focuses on business recruitment, retention, and expansion strategies that strengthen Hillsboro’s traded-sector industries. Ken also works closely with entrepreneurs and small businesses, supporting growth through partnerships with organizations contracted by the City to provide targeted resources and services to the small business community.

Over the course of his career, Ken has built a diverse background of roles and responsibilities, including financial analysis and budget development; business process improvement and project management; team leadership, data and technology management; and consulting with small and medium-sized businesses. This broad experience allows him to bring both analytical and strategic perspectives to his work.