Jeff Blaine Selected as Public Works Director

March 16, 2021 - Jeff Blaine has been hired as the new Public Works Director for the City of Corvallis, where he will begin work on July 2.

Blaine joins the organization from neighboring Albany, where he led the Community Development Department and the Engineering Division in the Public Works Department. Blaine expressed that he was interested in becoming part of a dynamic department and leadership team in Corvallis.

“I am excited about this opportunity and look forward to joining the Corvallis team as we work collaboratively to deliver on the Department’s mission of good stewardship and provision of responsive and efficient services for the entire community,” Blaine said.

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Blaine graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in civil engineering. His spouse is a public school teacher in Albany and they have two children: one in middle school and one in high school.

Blaine takes the reins from Greg Gescher, the city engineer who had served as Interim Public Works Director following the retirement last year of longtime director Mary Steckel.

“Public Works touches many components of our everyday lives in Corvallis, from street maintenance to drinking water to sustainability initiatives,” said City Manager Mark Shepard. “I knew Jeff to be an effective and inspiring leader from my time working for the City of Albany, and I am confident that he will be a great fit for the Public Works Department, the greater City organization, and the Corvallis community. I am grateful to Interim Director Gescher for his leadership during this transition period.”

As the Public Works Director, Blaine will oversee a department with 109 full-time employees. The Public Works Department provides service in several key divisions, including transportation and engineering, utilities, capital projects, and sustainability. For more information on the department, go to www.corvallisoregon.gov/publicworks.