2025-2027 Executive Board
The union is led by an elected volunteer committee of City of Portland employees – the Executive Board. Meet the leaders that you elected:
- Kari Koch (She/They), President
- Meg Wren (She/They), Vice President
- Riley Berger (She/They), Secretary
- Chris Gustafson (He/Him) Treasurer
- Jed Arkley (He/Him), Chief Organizer
- Kevin Block (He/Him), Chief Steward
- Stacy Brewster (He/Him), Member At Large 1
- Myrna Aracely Ortiz (She/Her), Member At Large 2
- Vacant, Member At Large 3
Kari Koch (She/They), President
CPPW role: leads the Executive Board, Bargaining Team, membership meetings, and communications. Union spokesperson. Manages union staff and contractors. CPPW representative at City Labor Caucus and Citywide Labor Management Committee.
Permitting & Development, Coordinator II, Policy Coordinator
“Our union gave us power and a voice. The union gives me purpose – I am not just working my job, I am thinking about the role that workers can have in making our City great. Action is the antidote to despair and our union is my outlet for action. It brings me hope in these dark times. I see how much regular people care, how hard we work, how willing we are to fight for what we believe in, and how powerful we are when we work together.”
Reach out to Kari if you need information or support with the Executive Board, communications, bargaining, or citywide labor committees.
Meg Wren (She/They), Vice President
CPPW role: manages technology & Microsoft, dues, and bylaws.
Bureau Planning & Sustainability, Analyst I, File & Records Specialist
“I’ve always been someone who steps in when something feels broken or unjust. When I joined the City, it was immediately clear that workers needed a place where their experience actually mattered and their labor was taken seriously. CPPW felt like home from the start: worker led, honest, and committed to building real power together.”
Reach out to Meg if you need information or support with union technology (except Zoom), dues, or bylaws.
Riley Berger (She/They), Secretary
CPPW role: leads internal systems, process, and policies.
Portland Water Bureau, Program Specialist, Coordinator I
I’m excited to contribute to CPPW any way I can, whether that’s participating on the Contract Action Team, becoming a steward, acting as the “art department” or just making sure coworkers know they can ask me about anything union-related. As Executive Board Secretary, I know I can contribute my energy and skills to keep building our union.
Reach out to Riley if you need information or support with meeting notes, meeting slides, or union documents.
Chris Gustafson (He/Him) Treasurer
CPPW role: manages budgets and accounting. Chairs the Audit Committee and Ad Hoc Budget Committee.
Portland Housing Bureau, Financial Analyst III, Accounting Lead
I am a dedicated labor activist and committed to ensuring financial transparency, accountability, and equity for all members of the CPPW family. Looking forward, I would be keen to establish programs for the membership that encourage financial literacy and preparedness. Having a united membership with the resources to stay on the picket line for several weeks is the most powerful tool the Union has at our disposal in contract negotiations.
Reach out to Chris if you need information or support with budgets and accounting.
Jed Arkley (He/Him), Chief Organizer
CPPW role: leads Contract Action Team as well as union actions and events.
Portland Parks and Recreation, Coordinator II, Event Producer
“The first was the realization that, when my position was non-represented, almost all the benefits I had at the City (pay, time off, health insurance, etc.) were because of the work of the other unions at the City. Second, during Covid, it became quite apparent that our positions were at risk of layoff or wage freezes because we were non-represented.”
Reach out to Jed if you need information or support with the Contract Action Team or union actions or events.
Kevin Block (He/Him), Chief Steward
CPPW role: leads stewards and manages information requests.
Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, Coordinator II, Franchise Utility Program Permitting and Policy Coordinator
“For the past 50 years the working class in America has become weaker and the richest have taken near complete control of our institutions. When I learned about CPPW I saw and opportunity to build solidarity with my coworkers and participate in an organization that was by, for, and of the working class. In my specific role for the City, I lead our legislative and regulatory efforts to protect local control of the publicly owned right-of-way. Giant corporations such as AT&T, Comcast, and T-Mobile would love to be able to rip up our public property at will and make billions of dollars through the use of a public asset without paying their share for the services that make our City run. I don’t trust City management to properly tell the story of the importance of this service, so we will tell that story collectively through our Union.”
Reach out to Kevin if you need information about stewards or need support at work.
Stacy Brewster (He/Him), Member At Large 1
CPPW role: supports communications and lead for Core Realignment and union Zoom account.
Portland Bureau of Transportation, Coordinator II, Content Producer
“I contribute my comms and production expertise as well as my tenure at the city. But like many of our members, this is my first time in a union. I want to help more members pivot to a union mindset through continued action, advocacy, transparency, and integrity. I am focused on the city’s core realignment work, collaborating with our comms team to tell more member stories, and issues like return to office mandates.”
Reach out to Stacy if you need information or support with connecting to Zoom or Core Realignment.
Myrna Aracely Ortiz (She/Her), Member At Large 2
CPPW role: supports political collaboration and coordinates meetings with City Council and candidates.
Portland Police Bureau, Coordinator I, Victim Services Specialist / Crime Victim Advocate
“I got involved in my union because I believe in standing up for fairness and supporting my coworkers.
Through this role, I hope to contribute by being a reliable resource, strengthening communication, and helping ensure everyone feels informed, valued, and represented.”
Reach out to Myrna if you need information about union engagement with City Council or candidates.
Vacant, Member At Large 3
As of August 2026, this position is vacant due to core realignment. Election for this position coming soon!