OREGON LATINO AGENDA FOR ACTION: Keynote Speaker Marissa Madrigal
Channel: Eric Squires
Date: 2014-10-13

Keynote Speaker Marissa Madrigal,
Multnomah County Chief Operating Officer:

Marissa Madrigal grew up in Los Angeles, Mexico City and Ridgefield, Washington. She earned credits from Clark College while still in high school and entered the University of Washington at 18 holding junior status. After graduating with a degree in zoology, she began writing and publishing a local magazine.

Since her arrival at Multnomah County in 2006, Marissa has worked to ensure all residents have access to their government.

“Access means that when people come to one of our buildings they feel safe. They feel they can give input and feel like they’re being heard. It also means we’re transparent – providing services and information in a way that is clear and accountable,” she says. “If we can’t communicate with people, we can’t serve them.”

marissaMarissa served as interim Multnomah County Chair for ten months in 2013 after an opening was declared by the Board of Commissioners following the previous chair’s resignation.

Now she is Chief Operating Officer, overseeing day-to-day operations at the county and making sure Chair Kafoury is well informed.

“What I want to provide for Chair Kafoury,” Marissa says, is “the right information at the right time with the right level of detail so that she can make the best decisions possible for the organization.”

Marissa is married with two children, a four-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl. She lives in Southeast Portland where she enjoys spending time with her family, working in her garden and writing. She also loves Mexican cooking and considers herself a “master mole maker.”