Oregon Prosperity Council Names Building Industry Leaders

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has announced the inaugural members of the state’s newly formed Prosperity Council, a 16-member advisory group that includes prominent leaders from the construction, development, labor, and real estate sectors.

The council is designed to represent diverse regions of Oregon, key industry sectors, and organized labor, and will advise the governor on both short-term and long-term strategies aimed at accelerating economic growth, creating well-paying jobs, and strengthening Oregon businesses.

Among the building industry representatives named to the council are Robert Camarillo, executive secretary of the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council; Andrew Colas, president of Colas Construction; Dave Drinkward, president and CEO of Hoffman Construction; and Jordan Schnitzer, president and CEO of Schnitzer Properties. Their inclusion signals a strong focus on construction, workforce development, and private-sector investment as part of the state’s broader economic strategy.

According to a press release from the governor’s office, the Prosperity Council will hold its first meeting later this month and is expected to deliver a set of recommendations by June 30. As part of its work, the group will also establish a public engagement strategy to gather feedback from Oregonians statewide, ensuring that community input informs its policy guidance.

The council’s formation follows Kotek’s announcement of her Prosperity Roadmap last month. One of the roadmap’s central objectives is to remove barriers to economic growth while incentivizing new investment across Oregon. As part of that effort, Kotek has said she will prioritize legislation during the 2026 legislative session to create a new FastTrack Program, which would support large-scale projects with the potential to generate jobs and increase Oregon’s gross domestic product.

Construction and development stakeholders have emphasized that such initiatives could play a key role in advancing major infrastructure, housing, and commercial projects by streamlining approvals and improving coordination between the public and private sectors.

In addition to the council appointments, the governor is expected to soon announce the state’s new chief prosperity officer, a role that will help oversee and coordinate Oregon’s economic development efforts moving forward.

The establishment of the Prosperity Council underscores the administration’s intent to bring industry leaders directly into the policy conversation as Oregon seeks to balance growth, workforce needs, and long-term economic resilience.

Originally reported by Hilary Dorsey in DJC Oregon.