Livability series forum closes with focus on the economic environment
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, April 8th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON — (News release from Blue Mountain Community College) The Eastern Oregon Forum will conclude its 2025–2026 Livability series with its final discussion, Economic Environment, on Tuesday, April 14 at 5:30 p.m. in the Blue Mountain Community College Library, Pioneer Hall.
This closing forum will explore the broader economic forces shaping Eastern Oregon, including business growth, workforce development, and long-term sustainability. As the final installment in a series that has examined emergency response, food insecurity, and housing, this conversation brings those themes together through the lens of economic opportunity and regional resilience.
The discussion will feature two regional leaders with extensive experience in economic development and community investment:
- Steve Chrisman, Economic Development and Airport Director for the City of Pendleton
- Bill Tovey, Director of Economic & Community Development for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Chrisman has led business recruitment, enterprise zone development, and the nationally recognized Pendleton UAS (drone) Range, helping generate significant investment and high-quality job opportunities in the region. Tovey brings more than four decades of financial and development leadership, overseeing large-scale projects in housing, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic expansion for the Umatilla Tribes.
Together, they will address key questions facing Eastern Oregon communities, including how to define a healthy economy, the challenges and opportunities for local businesses, workforce gaps, and the barriers to sustainable economic growth.
The Eastern Oregon Forum is a collaborative effort between Blue Mountain Community College, the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Kathryn Brown, and Harriet Isom, a former United States ambassador who also serves on the committee.
Photo collage of Bill Tovey and Steve Chrisman provided by BMCC
