Mary Dakin, a leader within the Oregon Health Care Association, was elected to the PWA Board of Directors in June 2025. 

Dakin is the Workforce Development Manager for OHCA. She has over 20 years experience in higher education management, education and workforce development leadership. Her work experience spans a healthcare non-profit, a multinational engineering firm, and 6 higher ed institutions, including 3 major research universities, liberal arts colleges, a state university and a community college. She is currently engaged in workforce development programs in the senior care industry, following three years managing grants for career and technical education at secondary school level.

Below are some insights from Dakin: 

Best career advice: “Your work life (and the work world) will evolve in directions you cannot even imagine at the moment. Be flexible and open to new roles and skills, because the things you learn in each job will be transferable to future work.” 

Most memorable job as a teenager: “I bused tables at a well-known local German restaurant - but it was more than table work.  We were all singing waiters, in traditional German costume, singing Broadway numbers and German drinking songs in between serving.  I learned a lot about customer service, interacting with the public, and working past self-consciousness!” 

Something I learned in high school about work:  “You won't necessarily enjoy every aspect of any given job- but you can take pleasure and satisfaction in the work and in a job well done.” 

What draws me to serve PWA: “From my experiences working with teens as teacher, coach, volunteer and parent, I see how much we need to widen students' perspectives on what is possible for them in their work lives. It's so important to expose our youth to the many many options out there, unknown even to their teachers and parents.  The first time I attended a PWA Expo, I was blown away by the range and scope!! I'm so excited to be a part of it.”