Michael Held is Regional Services Manager for Business Oregon, the state’s economic development agency. Based in The Dalles, Oregon, and originally from West Virginia, Michael’s work and passion is shaped by rural living. Michael previously worked at Rural Development Initiatives, beginning as Program Manager, and later as Director of Economic and Policy Services. His prior experience includes a stint with Port of The Dalles as a planner and as a Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps worker. Michael is active in his community, currently serving on the Columbia Gorge Community Foundation Board and loves a good town hall! Michael holds a Master of Public Administration from University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Social Work from West Virginia University. In his free time, Michael can be found somewhere outside, traipsing across the beautiful Pacific Northwest landscape with his partner and their 18lb geriatric chihuahua/retriever mutt.