Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce
Government Affairs Committee

The Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee monitors and takes positions on local and state legislative issues, candidates for office and is an advocate on behalf of chamber member businesses. In addition to advocacy, the Government Affairs Committee educates the electorate regarding upcoming elections, including cosponsoring candidate forums and providing written questions and answers from candidates running for local office, in addition to other educational opportunities for members to stay informed. To be endorsed by the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce, candidates undergo interviews with members of the CVCC Government Affairs Committee, and must be approved by a supermajority vote in favor by the CVCC Board of Directors. Given this, candidate endorsements happen very infrequently.

The Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce is proud to cosponsor candidate forums with the Newberg City Club & George Fox University Civility Project.

Upcoming Events

Candidates for the Newberg-Dundee School Board will participate in a candidate forum on Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 1 – 4 pm at George Fox University, room Hoover 105.

The forum is intended to help members of the community directly inform themselves about the choices they have in this year’s special election. Sponsored by the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Newberg City Club, and the George Fox University Civility Project, this will be a free in-person event, open to the public. All questions will have been predetermined by the hosts. The event will be live-streamed and a recording will be made available afterward.

Government Affairs Committee Members

John BridgesAttorney, Brown, Tarlow, Bridges, & Palmer

John has been an integral part of the Newberg community for many years. He has served in a variety of leadership roles including President of the Evergreen Doe Humane Society, President of Newberg Earlybird Rotary Club, President of Newberg Earlybird Rotary Foundation, President of the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce, and President of the Providence Newberg Health Foundation Board. He has also served as Chair of the New Lawyer’s Division of the Oregon State Bar, the Oregon State Bar’s Strategic Planning Committee, on the Chief Justice’s Future of the Court Committee, and the Regional Advisory Counsel for the Oregon Community Foundation. He is a member of the Oregon State Bar Association, the Yamhill County Bar Association, the Real Estate and Land Use Section of the Oregon State Bar, and the Debtor Creditor Section of the Oregon State Bar.

Mark MoisanOwner, La Bastide Bed & Breakfast

Mark, his wife, and two children, own and operate La Bastide Bed & Breakfast, an 8-room inn located in Dundee. Prior to his time building the inn, he was a Senior Administrator with Kaiser Permanente. He is involved with our community on the Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee. He is past President of the Chamber, recent Past President of the Earlybirds Rotary Club, former board member and Chair of KaiPerm Credit Union, and current Treasurer of the Dundee Hills Winegrowers Association. Mark is passionate in his view that strong civic engagement is the foundation of a healthy democracy.

Phillip HigginsReal Estate Broker, Pacific Crest Real Estate

Philip grew up in Yamhill Oregon and moved to Newberg to attend George Fox College. After graduating with a degree in Literature, Philip worked in the wine industry and owned and operated a restaurant in Newberg before becoming a Commercial Real Estate Broker. Philip has been a Licensed Broker for 25 years. He and his wife Katrina, also a licensed Broker, founded Pacific Crest Real Estate advisors in 2013 to specifically serve Yamhill County’s Commercial Real Estate needs. Philip is active in the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce, as well as several local economic development organizations and committees.

Alyssa JohnsonExecutive Director, Yamhill Enrichment Society

Alyssa is a graduate of Linfield College with a degree in Business Management. She also holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from George Fox University. Currently she serves as Executive Director for Yamhill Enrichment Society, where she is able to combine her goal of community impact with a career in leadership, education, and the arts. Prior to her time with YES, she held positions with Austin Industries, NW Wine Company, and the Newberg School District.

Alyssa is an active member of the Newberg Community. She is a volunteer with the St. Paul Rodeo Association, serving as a committee chair for the organization. Additionally, she serves on the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Her roles within the Chamber have included positions on the Finance Committee, Government Affairs Committee, and the Executive Committee holding the role of Treasurer. Also, of note, she honors her Tigard roots by being an occasional volunteer with Just Compassion of East Washington County.