The Team: Office of the Chief Operating Officer

Travis Graves, Interim Chief Operating Officer and Director of the Department of County Management

Travis Graves (he/him/his) is the Interim Chief Operating Officer and Director of the Department of County Management. Travis is dedicated to Multnomah County, as reflected in his 25 years of service. He has most recently served as the County’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Department of County Management (DCM) Deputy Director. In addition, during the beginning of the pandemic, he stepped in on an interim basis to lead DCM as the Department Director.

He started his journey with the County at the Health Department, then moved to the Department of Community Justice where he served as the department’s HR Manager. He eventually landed in DCM as the leader of the County’s human resources functions, a role he held for 16 years.

Travis is committed to continual growth and learning as he champions the work of the County's Workforce Equity Strategic Plan (WESP) promoting safety, trust, and belonging for all.

In addition to directly supervising a portfolio of programs and divisions within DCM, his responsibilities include directing the organization’s cohesive strategy toward its enterprise and internal services across departments.

Jeston Black, Deputy Chief Operating Officer

As the Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Jeston Black brings a wealth of experience navigating complex budgets, collaborating with diverse stakeholders, and effectively communicating intricate policy issues to elected officials. For the past seven years, Jeston served as Multnomah County's Director of Government Relations. In this role, he spearheaded successful efforts to secure critical funding for essential projects, including $350 million for the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge, over $12 million for the Behavioral Health Resource Center, and $10 million to bolster the County's shelter capacity.

Prior to joining Multnomah County, Jeston served as the Director of Government Relations at the Oregon Health Authority and as a Labor Liaison at Kaiser Permanente. These experiences provided him with a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare landscape and honed his skills in labor management and policy analysis.

Jeston plays a key role in supporting the County's executive leadership team and overseeing the Health Department, Department of Community Justice, and Department of Community Services. He is passionate about fostering a collaborative and supportive environment for County employees, recognizing their dedication to serving the community, especially those facing immense challenges.

Samuel Ashby, Director of Strategic Initiatives

Over the last three decades, Samuel Ashby has established a track record of strategic leadership in large, complex organizations across sectors, including the healthcare, automotive, biomedical, apparel and finance industries. As a skilled practitioner of continuous improvement strategies, including Lean and Six Sigma, Samuel has successfully led efforts to achieve meaningful, transformative changes to both processes and workforces that help organizations become more effective and efficient.

As the Director of Strategic Initiatives overseeing the newly created SPARK (Strategic Planning, Performance, Agility, Reinvention, and Knowledge) Unit, Samuel leads efforts to help Multnomah County meet the evolving and increasingly complex needs of the communities we serve. Samuel and his SPARK team foster strategic focus, continuous improvement and innovative solutions by providing project management, coordinating across departments, and offering comprehensive analyses of County operations and challenges.

Allison Don, Strategic Initiatives Manager

Allison (she/her) has served as a Strategic Initiatives Manager with the Office of the Chief Operating Officer since 2021. She supports the COO's Office by managing special projects that vary in complexity and scope, from efforts that pertain to the Department of County Management, to enterprise-wide initiatives.

Allison grew up in the Portland metro region, moved all over the country and the world, and returned to Portland in 2018 to work for the City of Gresham. Prior to that time, Allison worked for the U.S. Congress, California State Senate, and San Diego City Council. Three years in Gothenburg, Sweden (2015 - 2018) provided a beautiful respite from American politics.

Allison holds a BA from Pomona College and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. She lives with her husband, plucky dog, and equally plucky toddler.

Hayden Miller, Strategic Initiatives Manager

Hayden Miller is a strategic analyst, advisor and project manager who has worked for Multnomah County since 2016. Hayden began at Multnomah County as Constituent Relations and Policy Liaison to then-Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson when she entered office in 2017, working on climate and sustainability policy and to open a homeless shelter in southeast Portland.

During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hayden worked in the Multnomah County Emergency Operations Center assisting in the establishment of medical motel shelters for people experiencing homelessness. In 2020, Hayden was promoted to Policy Advisor; in that role he managed housing, public health, and environmental policy issues for Commissioner Vega Pederson. In 2023, Hayden joined the Office of Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, and in 2024 was promoted to Senior Policy Advisor, responsible for managing a portfolio focused on the implementation of Preschool for All, environmental health and sustainability policy, and liaising with Multnomah County's business community.

Hayden Miller is a lifelong Oregonian who was born in Portland and raised in Hood River. Hayden attended Willamette University for one year before leaving school to work in the office of then-House Speaker Tina Kotek during the 2015 and 2016 legislative sessions. During the 2016 election cycle, Hayden worked as a political organizer for a statewide ballot measure campaign. Hayden has served on the Board of Directors of the Next Up Action Fund and Basic Rights Oregon Equality PAC.

Crystal Reidy, Administrative Analyst Sr.

Crystal (she/her) has served as the Administrative Analyst Senior since November 2023. She provides administrative support, coordinates projects and meetings, develops and implements policies and procedures, prepares reports and presentations and frequently takes on other duties as assigned.

Prior to joining Multnomah County, Crystal worked with one of Oregon’s largest utility companies with an ambitious decarbonization goal for a greener future. Before that, she worked with a healthcare company who focused on providing physical, occupational and speech therapy to those in need.

A life-long Oregon resident and Portland native, Crystal now resides in Northeast Portland with her husband and dog. She is passionate about recovery work and helping others to overcome addiction and rebuild their lives.