Atkinson Community Roundtable (ACR)
A new initiative sponsored by the Atkinson Graduate School of Management at Willamette University.
The Atkinson Community Roundtable provides a forum where business, government, and not-for-profit leaders come together with Willamette students and community members to immerse themselves in discussions about major challenges and their solutions.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Artificial Intelligence in Oregon State Government
Thursday, October 29, Doors open at 5:00 pm, Roundtable 6:00 pm
How can the State of Oregon use artificial intelligence effectively and ethically to serve the public? Join us on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the Atkinson School of Management’s Kaneko Auditorium for a discussion of this question with Nik Blosser, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer of the State of Oregon. Blosser will present an overview of the State’s current efforts to implement AI in state government and, then, will engage with the audience in an open-ended Q&A session.
Doors will open at 5:00 pm for a networking social hour with appetizers and mocktails, and the panel discussion will run from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
The event is FREE, but space is limited so please click here to register in advance. The registration link will send you to Willamette's "online store" where you will be asked to select a free ticket (i.e. it will "cost" $0.00); then, please click "checkout" and supply your registration details. All attendees are requested to register individually. Thank you!
We look forward to seeing you join this important community discussion!
Speaker
Nik Blosser
Nik Blosser serves as the state's first Chief AI Officer, charged with crafting the strategic vision for the state's use of artificial intelligence. Nik has worked in both the private and public sectors, including as co-founder of a media technology company, as Vice President at Portland General Electric, as Chief of Staff to former Oregon Governor Kate Brown, and in the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs for President Biden. He also serves as Chair of the Board and co-owner of Sokol Blosser Winery, one of the oldest family-owned and operated wineries in Oregon.
Location and Parking
The Atkinson Community Roundtable will be held in the Kaneko Commons Auditorium, located at 1300 Mill Street SE, Salem. Parking is available in the university lots (parking permits are not required on campus after 3:00 pm), or street parking near Mill and 14th.
The Auditorium is located in Kaneko 122, and can be accessed through the double doors from the small parking lot on Mill Street, directly across the street from the Willamette Heritage Center. Look for directional signage once you arrive at the building.
PAST EVENTS
Oregon’s Tax System: Business, Nonprofit, and Public Sector Perspectives
Thursday, April 9, 2026
How does Oregon’s tax system affect the businesses that drive our state’s economy? How does the tax system and its implications affect the nonprofit and public organizations that serve Oregon’s communities? Join us on Thursday, April 9, 2026, for a community discussion about how Oregon’s tax system affects the state’s for-profit, nonprofit, and public sectors. Featuring Angela Wilhelms, President & CEO of Oregon Business & Industry, Jim White, Executive Director of the Nonprofit Association of Oregon, and Jonathan C. Thompson, Associate Professor of Economics at Willamette University, this event will explore how Oregon’s tax system affects organizations across sectors and what that impact means for Oregon’s future.