Bio

Nick is a graduate of the University of Oregon, where he studied planning, public policy and management, with a focus on urban planning. For the past two years, he worked for Metro, the government for the Portland metropolitan region. In his time at Metro, Nick worked closely with the Metro Council on ongoing projects including the Oregon Convention Center Headquarters Hotel, creation of urban and rural reserves, and analysis of purchasing renewable energy for Metro facilities.

Currently Nick is a policy analyst for the transportation and land use division of ECONorthwest. ECONorthwest is a consulting firm that provides research, analysis, and technical expertise to address complex problems, issues, and opportunities. Nick's work is focused on economic development and public sector finance.

On a more personal note ...

Nick Popenuk was born in 1983 at Bess Kaiser Hospital in North Portland. Nick grew up in the Richmond Neighborhood in Southeast Portland and attended Franklin High School. Currently, he lives in Northeast Portland near Grant Park. During his 23 years in Portland, Nick has forged lifelong connections with many families throughout the City.

Nick is an avid sports fan, and long time supporter of the Oregon Ducks and Portland Trailblazers (even before they drafted Oden). Last March, when the Ducks basketball team made it to the Sweet 16 in St. Louis, Nick bought tickets the day before the game and drove across eight states in less than 30 hours to watch the Ducks defeat UNLV.

Nick also appreciates the great cultural amenities in Portland. Whether it's a restaurant on NE Broadway, a bar on NW 23rd, or an independent movie theater on Burnside showing classic films, Nick can frequently be found supporting local businesses.