[OBPEeNews] Message from the Board Chair

[OBPE updates]

Dear Colleagues;

As Chair of OBPE, I am sending you an update about some staffing changes in our Salem office.  As you may be aware, Becky Eklund retired as Executive Director of the Board as of Oct. 31, 2014. You may not be aware that Janelle Houston, our Operations & Policy Analyst, also resigned after being recruited for a job closer to her home in Portland. We wish them both well!

These resignations have created a significant loss of support for both OBPE and OBLPCT since our two Boards share both positions.  In addition, OBLPCT experienced the resignation of their investigator.  Both Scott Christie (Chair of OBLPCT) and I have been working with DAS to remediate these staffing situations in the following ways:

  *   We have had telephonic and personal meetings with Cyndi Smith, Client Agency Human Resources Manager; Barry Pack, Governor's office, and Enrique Sama, Executive Recruiter for DAS.  Each of these folks have offered support, availability, and extra time that has been immensely helpful.
  *   Both Boards held Special Public Meetings last week, approving an updated position description for our shared Executive Director along with a recruitment plan.
  *   Both Boards also signed an interagency agreement with the Board of Social Workers, agreeing to hire their Executive Director, Randy Harnisch, as our part-time Interim ED for limited office support.  We are most grateful to Randy and to the Board of Social Workers.
  *   Once hired, the new ED will begin recruitment for the new Program Analyst.
  *   The OBLPCT is actively recruiting a new investigator, even as they work with a temporary hire in that role. (Note:  OBPE's investigator is not involved in OBLPCT investigations, so there should be no disruption in our investigative services).
You can be assured that our OBPE staff,  LaRee Felton, Ashlie Rios and Karen Berry are doing their usual exemplary job making sure that our compliance and licensing standards remain a priority.  I am grateful to them for offering to pick up extra responsibilities during this interim.  I also want to acknowledge Warren Foote, our Legal Counsel, for guiding us through the legal aspects of this process, and Dr. Scott Christie, Chair of OBLPCT, for being a hard-working and collaborative Chair.  Finally, I am especially grateful to all of our Board members as they have made themselves available, and will continue to do so, for extra executive and public meetings as recruiting, interviewing, hiring and training new personnel goes forward.

As you might expect, while staff works to prioritize its work, you might experience brief delays in responses to emails or phone calls.  We ask for your patience as we make this transition. Thanks to each of you for the mental health care you provide to the citizens of Oregon.

Sincerely,

Fran Ferder, Ph.D.
Chair, Oregon Board of Psychologist Examiners
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