Chair Transition

POLISH LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND CONTRIBUTE TO OREGON'S LASTING SUCCESS

YEAR-LONG PROGRAM

The Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy is designed for Oregon’s hospitality industry professionals with executive potential. Recruits will go beyond the walls of their businesses to gain in-depth experiences and knowledge that will elevate their passion and excitement for our state’s extraordinary offerings.

The 2022 program will consist of four excursions to be completed in the year, with each excursion scheduled over three days.

BENEFITS OF OTLA PARTICIPATION:

The continued development of leadership skills, including creative team problemsolving, listening and communication skills, emotional intelligence and the development of deeper self-awareness.

Lifelong relationships and networking pathways through connection with participants, mentors and presenters.

Connections with state and national resources and networks through experiential learning in a variety of Oregon contexts. Participants who complete the courses and meet the standards set will be certified. This certification assures industry and consumers that the assessed individual has met or exceeded the standards set by the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA), Travel Oregon, Oregon Destination Association and a network of specialized facilitators.

LEARN MORE ABOUT APPLYING FOR THE 2022 CLASS

Visit OregonRLA.org/OTLA and be sure to visit the "Before You Apply" section for FAQs and criteria.

Apply Today for the 2022 Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy OregonRLA.org/OTLA

A Message from Your Association’s Volunteer Leadership Team

Your elected Board of Directors represent some of the most engaged leaders in our industry, volunteering countless hours of their time and talent to ensure our members’ business interests are a top priority. They ensure the association’s mission, goals and values are fulfilled in a responsible, ethical, legal and fiscally prudent manner. We acknowledge and appreciate the time and service provided by all of our directors, including Outgoing Chair, Masudur Khan. We also look forward to the next year of leadership from Incoming Chair John Barofsky. The following remarks recognize the “handoff” as leaders of the Board of Directors for the next fiscal year.

“During the past 12 months, the core mission of ORLA was never more salient as our industry endured the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. We scrambled to adjust to public health and safety guidelines while keeping our businesses afloat by any means possible. ORLA served our members through education, advocacy, and industry leadership. Together during the past year and a half, we have achieved much to sustain our industry by helping pass HB 3389, saving our industry tens of millions of dollars in the years ahead on unemployment insurance taxes, led the statewide effort to secure over $55 million in grants for small businesses with an emphasis on Oregon hospitality, launched a campaign to support HB 3177 and help bring equity to the business sector during the state of emergency related to Covid-19, continued launching more group deals to help protect your limited margins, promoted the industry to defend your business and finally, advancing educational opportunities to improve your business.

While we have hopefully weathered the worst of the pandemic, there are bound to be lingering effects on our industry and our businesses. The lessons learned from these past hardships will allow us to confront the next challenge with efficiency, flexibility, and poise.

As your ORLA Chair, I am grateful for the work of the ORLA Board Members, and every ORLA volunteer who engaged with the association to further our pursuits in a time of crisis. We have a tried-and-tested membership that will continue to build upon the foundation of resilience and community cultivated throughout the pandemic. As I conclude my term as ORLA Chairman, I know that we are in very good hands. John Barofsky will excel as the new Chair, and I wish him utmost success.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve this great association.”

Masudur Khan Seaside Lodging LLC

Masudur Khan, Seaside Lodging LLC

Outgoing Chair, ORLA Board of Directors

“Thank you, Masudur, for your leadership over this past year, one of the most challenging times our industry has ever faced. Together, we have persevered through this pandemic as an organization and will continue to advocate for the interests of our members.

The upcoming year will be filled with challenges but also great opportunities for our members. Supply and labor shortages will continue to weigh heavy on many of our operators.

One of the positive aspects of the last year is an awareness by the public and our elected officials of just how important our industry is to our economy and our overall quality of life.

I look forward to helping guide the associations’ emergence from the last year stronger than ever. Thank you.”

John Barofsky Beppe & Gianni’s Trattoria

John Barofsky, Beppe & Gianni’s Trattoria

Incoming Chair, ORLA Board of Directors

Interested in getting involved in a leadership role with your association? Contact President & CEO Jason Brandt at JBrandt@OregonRLA.org.  ORLA