Key players tackle critical issues - Portland Business Journal:

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Portland will elect a new who will have to deal with a bickeringCity Council. The statd will begin tackling complicated transportation Both and state universities will come under heightened Several private companies faceserioux challenges, including , which may not survive a hostils takeover attempt. The following 20 people -- which includes the as one entithy -- will play an important role in Oregon's economyy next year. Some are prominenty names. Others have kept a low profile. All should make news in 2008.
Like her predecessorr Vicki Phillips, Carole Smith inherited a host of challenges and the probable task of asking Portland Public Schools voters to increase their tax In October, the Portland School Boar tapped the longtime administrator to lead the 47,000-student district, whic h has 4,150 employees and an annual operating budget of aboutf $440 million. Smith, whose background is weighted toward academics, said her firstf year will focus on the qualityu of instruction and the condition ofthe district'xs 85-plus buildings.
Last year, the district rolleds out its first wholesaled curriculum overhaul in a decade and that will continue this But Smith can expect to spend much of her firsyt year focusing on theliteral nuts-and-bolts of the district. Only two schoolsz have been constructed in the past20 years. Most were built in the 1920xs and 1950s. In January, the consultants from Magellan and DeJonhg will present their findings and recommendations in a seriesx of public sessions being held in every quadranr ofthe city. The school board is set to adopt a finap facilities planby May. The price tag will easilyh top $1 billion. Meeting timex are on the districtWeb site, .
"It's important for people to show upfor this," Smith In addressing the Oregon Business Plan summity earlier this month, Gov. Ted Kulongoski revealed that he'x appointed Gail Achterman as chairwoman of the OregomnTransportation Commission. "Achterman," one attendee sitting at a back table whisperedfto another. "He's getting Indeed, Kulongoski wants badlu to reachseveral big-time transportation goals. Chiefr among them is a new Interstatre5 bridge. He believes Achterman can find federa funds to makeit happen.
Her tenurd as the commission's leadert comes as Kulongoski and other lawmakers have become more committed to improving the way traffic flowsthrough Oregon. To Achterman will rely partly on the solid business acumebn developed during her 20 yeare as a Stoel RivesLLP attorney. Achterman also showed a sensr of humor that may help her deal withher challenges. At the she recommended that peopledrive less.