The Oregon Business Council named John Tapogna its new president Tuesday, hiring the prominent Portland economist to oversee the 40-year-old organization’s efforts to shape the state’s future.
Formerly president of the research firm ECOnorthwest, Tapogna will succeed Duncan Wyse, 72, who has led the nonprofit Business Council for 30 years and helped make it one of the state’s most influential voices in public policy.
“John brings strategic clarity, deep policy expertise, and the credibility to unite business leaders and policymakers around Oregon’s most pressing economic challenges,” said David Drinkward, CEO of Hoffman Construction and chair of the Business Council’s board.
The Business Council hosts the Oregon Leadership Summit each December, attracting the state’s top elected officials from both political parties to speak alongside corporate leaders. It’s also an occasion for the council to promote the Oregon Business Plan, a set of policy recommendations aimed at boosting employment and economic opportunity.
Tapogna, 61, starts work at the Business Council on March 1. Wyse will run the OBC Action Lab, an arm of the Business Council focused on implementing its policy recommendations.
