OHCA Staff

James Carlson
OHCA Executive Director
503-726-5255

Carlson has almost twenty years experience in health policy and association management. He is a 1982 graduate of the University of Oregon. Following college he worked as a legislative assistant for the U.S. House of Representatives before joining the Oregon Medical Association in 1987 as associate director of government affairs. Carlson joined OHCA in 1994, first as director of government affairs, before assuming his current position as Executive Director in 1997.

Carlson is widely recognized as one of the leading long term care policy resources in Oregon by state and federal elected officials, members of the media and consumer advocates. Mr. Carlson currently serves on the board of directors of the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) and is vice chairman of the American Society of Health Care Association Executives (ASHCAE).

Linda Kirschbaum
Director of Assisted Living, Residential
Care & Quality
503-726-5228

Linda Kirschbaum has been involved in the long term care profession for over 25 years. Prior to coming to OHCA in 1998 she was a director of operations for a multi-service long term care campus featuring skilled care, residential care, assisted living and independent senior housing. In addition to her nursing home license Kirschbaum has an assisted living administrator certificate. As the Director of Assisted Living, Residential Care & Quality, her work includes public policy, education development & training, providing technical assistance to members, and directing quality initiatives and programs for the Association. Linda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Administration and a Certificate in Gerontology from Oregon State University.

Lauren Rhoades, J.D.
Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs
503-726-5230

In addition to monitoring legal and regulatory developments related to long term care, Lauren works to implement OHCA’s legislative strategy as a lobbyist before the Oregon Legislative Assembly. Lauren represents OHCA on a variety of task forces and work groups and communicates regularly with OHCA members about local, state and national matters. Prior to joining OHCA in 2004, Lauren served on the staff of Oregon Senator Ron Wyden in Washington, D.C. and in the Government and Community Affairs Department of Continuum Health Partners, a system of teaching hospitals in New York City. Lauren received her undergraduate degree from Claremont McKenna College and her law degree from Willamette University College of Law. She has been a member of the Oregon State Bar since 2004.

Joe Greenman, J.D.
Legal Counsel
503-726-5229

Prior to joining OHCA in February 2007, Joe worked for the legal department of Regence BlueCross BlueShield. Before attending law school, he worked for the United States House of Representatives for five years. During his final two years in Congress, he was Professional Majority Staff for the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce. In that capacity, he planned and implemented Congressional oversight of the Medicare program. Joe received his undergraduate degree from Lewis & Clark College and his law degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law.

Rob Johnson
Government Affairs Representative
503-726-5234

Rob serves as OHCA’s government affairs representative and works with the Oregon State legislature to advocate for improvements in Oregon’s long term care industry. Rob meets regularly with legislators in Salem to discuss issues pertinent to Oregon’s seniors, and is involved in the functioning of OHCA’s political action committee.

Rob is a graduate of Linfield College and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication and Political Science. Rob has been an avid volunteer for numerous political campaigns across the state and was an intern in the Washington, D.C. office of U.S. Senator Gordon Smith during the 109th Congress.

Melodie King
Director of Education
503-726-5227

Melodie King joined the OHCA team in 2002 as the representative of the Oregon Assisted Living Facilities Association (OALFA). A graduate from Oregon State University, Melodie has a background in speech communications and psychology. She focuses on developing educational programming as well as organizing & coordinating the OHCA Annual Convention, Spring Expo, Food show and other conferences/meetings put on by the Association.

Jill Bilka
Director of Marketing & Communications
503-726-5226

Jill’s role at OHCA is to help provide opportunities for businesses to open their market in long term care, as well as provide quality communications to the members of the association. Since joining the OHCA team in July 2005 she has taken on the role of managing member communications & publications, marketing OHCA’s programs/services, coordinating sponsorship opportunities & trade show events, being the business partner liaison, recruiting new members, and managing OHCA's website.

Her previous experience included: providing instruction on memory enhancing activities in long term care facilities, as well as developing, promoting, and implementing programs both with the Oregon Judicial Department’s Family Court Program and Chemeketa Community College’s Work Experience Program

Pamela Ruona
Director of Policy & Programs
503-726-5235

Pamela Ruona, MHR joined OHCA in June of 2007. Her focus as the Policy & Programs Director is in the following areas: workforce, in-home care, retirement housing including CCRCs, and Alzheimer Care Units. Previous to coming to OHCA, Pamela Ruona has 15 years of experience in long-term care public policy in Oregon. She has worked in areas as diverse as long-term care financing and housing, to chronic disease prevention and management. In 2002 she staffed the Governor’s Task Force on the Future of Services to Seniors and People with Disabilities. Ruona further served as the legislative coordinator for the Department of Human Services, Seniors and People with Disabilities during the 2003 Legislative Session. She has served as a board member for the Oregon Gerontological Association. Pamela holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Human Relations degree from the University of Oklahoma.

 
Carol Grebin
Office Manager
503-726-5222

Carol Grebin joined OHCA in 1999 after several years of working for Portland area associations. She first worked for the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland, then with the Oregon Medical Association, where she worked as assistant to the director of government affairs. Carol has a long history of volunteerism, including hospice, hospital E.R. and ICU and is currently a volunteer member of the Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT) for Clackamas County. Carol manages the front office systems and is OHCA’s executive board liaison.

Cynthia Maylath
Administrative Assistant
503-726-5221

Cynthia joined OHCA in February of 2006. She is often the first person that OHCA members will talk to or see when they call or visit our office. Cynthia enjoys her role of providing quality customer service to OHCA members as well as coordinating education registrations and class materials for OHCA’s regular monthly workshops. 

Ruth Bernard
Controller
503-726-5224

Ruth joined OHCA in August 2002. She relocated to Oregon from Illinois, where she owned and operated a public accounting firm. Ruth has a MBA in Accounting and manages the Accounting Department at OHCA.

Yvonne McGuinness
Assistant Controller
503-726-5223

Yvonne joined OHCA in February 2006. She has numerous years of accounting experience in both job-related and volunteer positions. Yvonne manages the financial portion of OHCA event registrations and sponsorships. Other responsibilities include A/R, A/P and assistant to the controller. Give her a call regarding questions on your account.

Becky Gelinas
Payroll Clerk
(503) 726-5243

Becky joined OHCA in October 2004. She has an MBA and a Certificate of Accounting. She relocated to Oregon from New Hampshire where she worked in the accounting department for various organizations.