Eastern Oregon Border Economic Development Board

The Eastern Oregon Border Economic Development Board has seven voting members and one nonvoting member appointed by the Governor. Voting members serve four-year terms and are eligible for reappointment for a total of two consecutive terms.

Dana Young

Board Chair

Appointed Dec 2017
Term expires 2024

Dana M. Young has served as president of Treasure Valley Community College since July 2010 when she became TVCC’s first female president. With more than 30 years of community college administrative experience, President Young has dedicated her career to increasing access for students and building quality services to meet student needs. Before coming to TVCC, Young spent seven years as the Vice President of Student Affairs at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming. Prior to moving to Wyoming, Young worked at Blue Mountain Community College for more than 17 years. At BMCC she held several leadership positions including Vice President/Dean of Student & Enrollment Services, Associate Dean of Enrollment Services and Director of Financial Aid.

Young earned her PhD in Higher Education Leadership from Colorado State University, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Portland State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics from Eastern Oregon University.

Andrew Maeda

Appointed March 2022
Term expires 2026

Andrew Maeda is the Executive Director for the Ontario Recreation District. He returned to his hometown in August of 2019 after a career in collegiate Strength and Conditioning at Illinois State University. His career in health and wellness began in the gym and weight room at the Ontario High School where he graduated from in 2011. He then finished a four-year sports performance internship and undergraduate degree at Western Oregon University before moving on to a graduate assistantship in sports performance and master’s degree in biomechanics from Illinois State.

Andrew has a passion for coaching in all capacities and helping improve our community. He loves spending time traveling and outdoors with his family, camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and playing sports.

Ron Haidle

Appointed January 2022
Term expires 2026

Ron Haidle retired as President/CEO of Malheur Credit Union and subsequently joined the Treasure Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC) part-time as an advisor for business start-up and expansion (state, federal, accounting regulations, entity selection, financial strategy, business planning, and risk management).  He has been on numerous boards and committees; like Malheur County budget committee, Oregon Workforce Investment, and legislative precinct.

Haidle has a Bachelor of Science from Montana State University, and completed Western CU Management at Pomona College, Claremont, California.  Prior to CU management, Haidle held multiple positions throughout the northwest at Farm Credit Services, and obtained real-life education growing up on a Montana farm/ranch.

Nickie Shira

Appointed May 2023
Term expires 2027

Nickie Shira is the Director of the Frontier STEM Hub – Malheur Education Service District where she supports the school districts, educators, and families of Malheur County, Oregon to provide quality Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) learning experiences and opportunities for all students of the region. She is continuously seeking innovative ways to engage and inspire students, empowering them with the skills and mindsets necessary to fully contribute to an increasingly complex and technologically rich society. Before joining the Frontier STEM Hub, Shira taught 5th grade for 13 years at Nyssa Elementary School. Prior to that, she worked side-by-side with her husband, Nolan, on their family farm along the Snake River south of Adrian. She is a founding member of the grass-roots community improvement organization, Adrian 2040. 

Shira earned her Bachelor of  Business Administration: Marketing from Boise State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Eastern Oregon University.

Montessa Young

Appointed May 2023
Term expires 2027

Taylor Rembowski

Appointed May 2023
Term expires 2027

Taylor Rembowski grew up in the Treasure Valley. After attending college, he moved to Bend, Oregon
and used his Turf Science degree to work in the golf industry. He eventually became an Assistant
Superintendent. In 2009 Taylor switched careers and became a General Contractor for a large
commercial development in Bend which spanned 9 acres and 180,000 square feet of building space.
While doing the job he also dealt regularly with the City of Bend to handle development issues
concerning “planned growth”. In 2015 he was approved by the State of Oregon to open a Cannabis
Dispensary which he owned and operated before selling it in 2018. Upon moving back to Vale, Taylor
was appointed to the Vale School District Budget Committee as well as the City of Vale Planning and
Zoning Committee.

Rembowski currently works as a Freight Broker moving produce throughout the country as well as being
appointed to a Type 2 fire team in the summer. On the fire team he handles receiving, distribution and
inventory management.

Cheri Hung

Appointed February 2024
Term expires 2028

Cheri Hung currently works as the chief financial officer for Valley Family Health Care, Inc. She has worked in financial roles for various organizations in the Treasure Valley over the past 30 years, including Nichols Accounting, Orchard Bank, Ontario School District, Intermountain Community Bank and Campo & Poole Distributing. In her current position with Valley Family Health Care, she oversees the financial operations including the revenue cycle, facilities, and grants writing.

Hung grew up on a ranch in rural Malheur County. She attended school in Brogan, Willowcreek and Vale. She has an undergraduate degree in accounting from Boise State University and a masters degree in business from Northwest Nazarene University.

Melisa Drugge

Oregon Business Development Department Designee / Non-Voting Member

Melisa Drugge joined the Oregon Business Development Department (Business Oregon) team in 2012 as regional development officer serving Eastern Oregon.  Melisa was promoted to regional development manager in 2018 and currently manages a regional development team of 19 staff. Melisa and her regional development team live and work throughout the state of Oregon.

Prior to joining Business Oregon, Drugge served 12 years as the Executive Director of the Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation (GEODC), a nonprofit Economic Development District serving Eastern Oregon. She was responsible for fundraising, business retention activities and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organization.  Before moving to Oregon, Drugge was employed with Bear Paw Development Corporation, a nonprofit Economic Development District located in Northern Montana.

Drugge holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Montana State University with an emphasis in business finance and economics.  She also completed the National Development Council’s Finance Professional Certification in 1994 and holds a certificate as an Economic Development Finance Professional.

Shawna Peterson

Executive Director

Shawna Peterson is the attorney owner of S Peterson Law, LLC in Ontario, Oregon. Her practice is focused on advising businesses and estate planning, with special expertise in serving farm and ranch clients. Her legal career began in 2002 in Omaha, Nebraska, where she also gained experience in business transactions and civil litigation. Peterson is involved in a number of local and regional organizations and is a frequent guest speaker on topics within her professional expertise.

Peterson received her law degree from Lewis & Clark College Northwestern School of Law, is a graduate of Gonzaga University, and is licensed to practice in Oregon, Idaho, and formerly Nebraska.