Portland Pacesetters: March 29, 2007

Daily Journal of Commerce (Portland, OR), Mar 28, 2007 by DJC Staff

Education

Brian K. McCarthy has been named associate academic director of the Oregon Executive MBA program.

In this position, McCarthy will have responsibility for curriculum, faculty and admissions. He has taught marketing courses in the program since 2002 and has won several teaching excellence awards.

The Oregon Executive MBA is a University of Oregon degree program in partnership with Oregon State and Portland State universities that provides executive-level business education.

Public relations

The Portland office of Edelman, a public relations firm, has hired hired Charles "Chuck" Deister, Roy Kaufmann and Charlie Burr.

Deister, senior account supervisor, leads Edelman's accounts with NorthernStar Natural Gas, a privately owned energy company, and with Oregon Bridge Delivery Partners, a major statewide infrastructure client. Deister has 15 years' experience as a public relations and communications professional. He was campaign manager for Jack Roberts for governor in 2001-2002 and, most recently, from 2002 to 2006 was communications director for former Oregon Speaker of the House Karen Minnis.

Kaufmann's senior account executive position with Edelman allows him to draw upon eight years of experience in public policy, issue advocacy and legislative outreach. Kaufmann oversaw community outreach and issues management for California assembly member Cindy Montañez.

Charlie Burr, senior account executive, comes to Edelman after working as communications deputy director for Gov. Ted Kulongoski. He managed numerous winning political campaigns, including a targeted state senate victory in 2002 that changed legislative control.