PORTLAND ATTORNEY ZEHREN MOVES TO COGAN OWENS COGAN FROM STOEL RIVES

(Portland, OR) June 26, 2010 – Cogan Owens Cogan, LLC (COC), a Portland-based planning and communications consulting firm, today announced that long-time Portland attorney Jim Zehren will join COC after 25 years with the Portland law firm, Stoel Rives.

As a senior policy analyst working with COC, Zehren will focus on public policy development, public-private-nonprofit partnering and collaboration, public finance and governance, urban and regional planning, and civic engagement for existing and new clients, primarily in the Pacific Northwest.

“Jim brings to our firm a visionary understanding of how the public, private and nonprofit sectors in our communities must work together if Oregon is going to move forward in these challenging economic times,” said Kirstin Greene, COC’s managing principal.  “That, plus his proven ability to bring people together to solve problems, are real advantages for our clientele.”

“Jim Zehren has a long history of sustained and deep involvement in public issues at the state, regional and local levels, plus a multi-disciplinary approach that is a great fit for our firm and our clients,” added Arnold Cogan, founder and senior principal at COC.  Zehren joined Stoel Rives after graduating magna cum laude from Lewis & Clark Law School in 1985 and has been a partner in the Development Law Group of the firm.  He also has been heavily engaged in civic affairs during his 25 years at the firm.  In 1990–92, he was a loaned executive from Stoel Rives to the Oregon Progress Board where he helped draft the first edition of Oregon Benchmarks. From 1992 – 2002, Zehren served as a citizen member of the Metro Policy Advisory Committee during Metro’s preparation and adoption of the 2040 Regional Growth Concept.  He is a founding member of the board of the Oregon Business Association from 2000-09 and chaired that board in 2005-06.  In 2008-09, he served as president of the City Club of Portland.

“Jim Zehren has distinguished himself by his many contributions to Oregon business affairs and community issues,” said Stoel Rives managing partner, Bob Van Brocklin.  “We know that he will continue to make significant contributions through his public policy work at Cogan Owens Cogan, and wish him well in this new endeavor.”

Before attending law school, Zehren worked as a policy aide to the Mayor of Minneapolis, Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, Citizen League of the Twin Cities, and Exposition-Recreation Commission of the City of Portland.  In addition to his law degree, he holds a bachelor of science in industrial engineering from North Dakota State University and masters of arts degrees in anthropology and public affairs from the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

About Cogan Owens Cogan

Cogan Owens Cogan, LLC, established in 1975, is a Portland-based multi-disciplinary firm of planners, public process experts and other professionals providing integrated services in planning, public engagement and sustainability.  It has provided leadership in nearly every stage of Oregon’s journey to national recognition in planning and development.  Firm members were leaders in launching the Oregon land use planning system and the Metro 2040 plan and continue to lead the current renaissance in sustainable development.  COC’s experience in the areas of intergovernmental relations, mediation and facilitation allows it to meet complex and politically contentious challenges. The firm has been honored with numerous awards for leadership in the design and implementation of successful planning and public involvement programs.

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