| Senator Jason Atkinson
R-Central Point
District 2
Biography
Jason Atkinson has developed a reputation as leader, public speaker, author and creative businessman. His breadth of experience in business and government combines with a passion for service notable in its force and clarity of vision. As a past candidate for Governor of Oregon, Atkinson showed an intense work ethic, the fortitude to handle extreme personal pressure and the ability to organize and mobilize people with an upbeat, positive, energetic campaign that grabbed national attention.
Business
Jason Atkinson is an executive, motivator and strategist with the ability to create and complete complex projects. He is a people-oriented problem solver and a skilled negotiator who builds confidence in others. He has a diverse background in international business, property development, media, marketing, coalition building, and has used his background in government and international politics to understand multifaceted business interests in order to help clients make the best financial and business decisions. Jason has founded several entrepreneurial ventures, including Allmand Tree Creative, which specializes in corporate marketing strategies and has assisted clients from high technology, venture capital and humanitarian. Recently, Allmand Tree expanded its product offerings to include assisting a corporation develop a non-profit foundation created to train business leaders, non-profit managers and executives serving on corporate boards in the areas of corporate ethics and servant leadership.
Writing
With the recent publication of his book, What We All Wish Politicians Understood, Jason has inspired readers not to delegate a better society to anyone else. The book, along with Jason’s personal style of combining humor with “straight talk” on topics of leadership, principled service and the direction of America has made Jason a sought after speaker. He is currently working on a new book on leadership called Don’t Kill the Cowboy.
Public Service
Jason Atkinson has served as an elected official for 13 years in both chambers of the Oregon Legislature. He was originally elected to the Oregon Legislature in 1998, after being outspent four to one, where he served his first term in the House of Representatives and was immediately appointed Assistant Majority Leader. Two years later, outspent again, Jason successfully ran for the Senate, where he has since served as Deputy Majority Leader, Majority Whip and Committee Chair.
Jason Atkinson’s leadership in the areas of trade and diplomacy have been strengthened with responsibilities to serve as a representative of the United States to Egypt and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where he was able to have an audience with His Majesty King Abdullah. Trade missions, critical to Oregon's economy, have sent him to both Taiwan and the Peoples' Republic of China.
Jason co-authored one of the most progressive new energy siting bills in America, discussed tax policy at the White House with President Bush and with his interest in high technology policy, was named co-chair of Oregon's committee on Information, Management and Technology.
Jason has a tremendous interest in the Middle East and has worked through politics, business and the non-profit sectors for the people of Kurdistan.
Leadership and Non-Profit
In addition to his service in elected government, Senator Atkinson has been privileged to be distinguished in the inaugural two-year class of the Aspen-Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership, of the Aspen Institute, designed to bring together “the very best of the nation's emerging leaders” to discuss broad issues of democratic governance and effective public service. He has attended seminars at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and the Council of State Governments Toll Fellowship. Atkinson continues to serve proudly on the Boards of the Crater Lake National Park Trust, the Peter R. Marsh Foundation, Be a Fit Kid, United Christian Broadcasters and the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee based in Washington DC.
Personal
Jason, his wife Stephanie and son, Perry “Pomp,” currently live in Southern Oregon. They enjoy international travel and pursuing steelhead with fly rods.
Jason earned a Master of Management degree from the Atkinson Graduate School of Management at Willamette University, which combined the disciplines of both a MBA and MPA. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Oregon University double majoring in History and Political Science. Jason's diverse background also includes professional alpine skiing, coordinating one of the West's most popular ski schools, as well as mountain and road bike racing in the US and Europe. Growing up in the radio business, Jason was an on air personality and has written and produced a top rated morning radio talk show.
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