The Team: Office of the Chief Operating Officer

Christopher Neal, Chief Operating Officer

Chris Neal has served as Multnomah County’s Chief Operating Officer and Director of County Management since March 2025. As the COO, Chris oversees the County’s daily operations and its workforce of over 6,000 employees, and guides and supports the County’s senior leaders to ensure effective administration, financial management and operational consistency. He also ensures the continued implementation of the Workforce Equity Strategic Plan and the ongoing development of the County’s strategic plan.

The Multnomah County COO is held to a high standard for employee and community relations, and is responsible for ensuring an organization-wide commitment to maintaining an effective, respectful and inclusive workplace. The COO collaborates with internal and external partners and stakeholders to advance equity, diversity and inclusion as a shared value throughout the organization. Chris is thrilled to bring his record of successful strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, day-to-day administration, employee relations and cultural competence to Multnomah County and his role as the COO.

Chris came to the County from the Port of Portland, where since 2020 he had been the Director and Sponsor of Operations for PDX Next, where he spearheaded all stages of a $2.1 billion capital project to renovate the beloved airport. Prior to PDX Next, Chris served as the Director of Public Safety and Security at the Port of Portland, where he oversaw the Port of Portland police, fire and airport communications center. He first became a director at age 27, leading the Transportation Security Administration’s 850-person Colorado workforce before rising to TSA roles at Ronald Reagan Washington National, Dulles International and Portland International airports.

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.

Sara Morrissey, Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Sara Morrissey (she/her) joined Multnomah County as a Deputy Chief Operating Officer in October 2025. In this role, she serves as a member of the executive leadership team and supervises the directors of the Homeless Services Department, Department of County Human Services, Emergency Management Office, and Multnomah County Library.

An experienced public administrator, Sara brings over 15 years of public sector expertise in Oregon, with an emphasis on project and team management, infrastructure development, policy implementation, and government relations. She most recently served in a series of senior leadership roles at the City of Portland, including on the leadership team that operationalized Portland’s new form of government. As the Deputy City Administrator in charge of the wide-ranging City Operations Service Area since July 2024, Sara oversaw numerous functions, including human resources, police accountability, procurement, IT, fleet and facilities, security, and PDX 311. She has also advised the Mayor and City Administrator on homelessness policies, communications, budgeting, and contract negotiations. Before taking on that role, Sara served as deputy chief of staff, and then chief of staff, for former Mayor Ted Wheeler.

Prior to her work for the City, Sara served with Travel Oregon, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and Multnomah County Drainage District No. 1. Born in Mexico and raised in Astoria, Oregon, Sara developed her interest in supporting the community through public sector work at an early age. She holds a BA in Economics and Spanish from Williams College and a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University.

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.

Kelli Gallippi, Administrative Analyst Sr.

Kelli Gallippi (she/her) has been with Multnomah County for over 27 years, in a variety of roles. She was at the Department of Community Justice for 8+ years, working in both Juvenile Detention and informal supervision of pre-adjudicated youth. She then joined the Department of County Management, working a series of positions in Central Human Resources - Labor Relations, Classification and Compensation, and ultimately on the Chief Human Resources Officer Administrative Team. Transferring in January 2025, Kelli is now an Administrative Analyst Senior for the COO / DCM Director teams, providing executive support and office management.

Kelli has lived in Oregon since falling in love with the state while attending the University of Oregon, and can’t imagine living anywhere else. Kelli enjoys reading, movies, walks in the woods, spending time with her husband, daughter and cat, and travelling with her family. 

Savannah Graf, Senior Strategic Initiatives Manager

Savannah Graf recently joined Multnomah County as a Senior Strategic Initiatives Manager in the COO’s office after working at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) for the last six years. During her time at OHA, she managed over $100 million in state and federally funded paid campaigns and contracts, and supported agency-level strategic communications, marketing governance and operational policy. She is eager to bring her operational-efficiency lens to the County to help build out cross-departmental systems and processes where work and projects overlap.

Born and raised in Oregon, Savannah has moved back and forth from the Eugene and Portland area. She currently resides in Happy Valley with her husband, toddler and dog. She graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Public Health: Healthcare Management and Policy, and is certified in Agile Project Management.

Hayden Miller, Senior 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.