Oregon Permit Technicians Association

President:  Regan Trapp, City of Ashland

Hi! I’m Regan Trapp, President of OPTA.  I have worked for the City of Ashland since 2014 and it's been quite a ride!  I had ONLY “customer service” experience when they took a chance on me. Since then, I have excelled in my career and have obtained my Permit Technician Certificate, my Residential Mechancial and Structural Inspector Certification, as well as Residential Plans Examiner Certification. In my spare time I enjoy reading, traveling, doing puzzles, camping, and spending time with my friends and family.  I have 2 sons, Mason and J.J., and have been married to my sweetheart, Jacob, since 1999.  I love having this chance to serve on OPTA with these amazing ladies! They are all something really special.  

President Elect:  Devon Linebaugh, Josephine County

Hello, I’m Devon, and I work for Josephine County as a Permit Tech and Plans Examiner. After 10 years in banking, I took a job with City of Eagle Point in the Utility and Accounting Department but soon had the opportunity to cross train in the Building Department and fell in love with it. In 2018 I accepted a position in the Community Development Department as a Permit Technician, in January of 2022 I got my ICC Permit Tech Certification, later that year I also obtained my Oregon Residential Structural Inspector and Plans Examiner Certificates. In December of 2023 I joined the team at Josephine County with an opportunity to gain experience as a plans examiner.  I am excited to learn from our exceptional leaders and contribute to the education and resources that OPTA provides to code officials throughout the State and beyond.  In my free time I enjoy spending time with my wonderful husband and 2 amazing kids (ages 15 & 9), we love to visit the Oregon coast and the kids keep us busy with sports and activities.

Treasurer:  Melany Klemmer, City of Cottage Grove

Hello! I’m Melany and I work for the City of Cottage Grove as their Community Development Manager and Residential Inspector and Plans Examiner. I’ve worked there since March 2018 and love what I do and who I work with. Before switching over into the public sector, I worked for an HVAC company for 16 years. In my free time I love spending time at home with my handsome boyfriend Kevin, cute Corgi Alley, and adorable cat Julius. I also love getting outdoors hiking, biking, paddle boarding & camping (just to list a few). 

Secretary:  Cailin Tang, Northwest Code Professionals

Hi, I’m Cailin and I work for Northwest Code Professionals as the supervising Permit Technician. I’ve been a certified Permit Technician since 2018. I graduated from the University of Oregon in 2007 with a bachelor’s in art, but never really found a career that I enjoyed until I started working as a permit technician. I was recently awarded Employee of the Year with my fantastic company and couldn’t be prouder to work for a Third-Party Building services company. I get the privilege of working with several jurisdictions around Oregon and Washington which helps me diversify my knowledge of how building departments work. I never have two days alike working for so many jurisdictions.

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Past President:  Serena Locke, Jackson County

Hello, I am Serena Locke, President for OPTA.  I have worked for Jackson County as a Permit Technician since September 2016.  This is my first foray into this kind of field, and I love it.  My first OPTA conference was in November 2016, and I really support this organization and the passion behind it.  I became an ICC Certified Permit Technician in September 2018 with a lot of help from the classes offered by OPTA.  I thought the best way to give back to an organization that helped me is to join it.  I want to encourage and empower permit technicians to continue their learning experiences.  I think that continued education leads keeping us engaged in our lives and our jobs.  When I am not at work, I am still thinking about promoting the role of the Permit Technician.  In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, in nature, watching movies, or reading.  I am also the Past President of PermitTechNation. 

Director at Large:  Katherine Denight, State Building Codes Division 

Cheers! I'm Katherine, and since 2015, I've been working as a Permit Technician with state BCD, based out of the Pendleton office. Moving here from Guam marked the beginning of a job I truly love, where every day offers new learning opportunities. I firmly believe that understanding the human element of our work is essential — we are not just a faceless entity, but a team dedicated to bringing community projects to life, contributing to the places where we live and grow with our families. Outside of work, I cherish traveling and reconnecting with friends and family around the world. What brings me joy is my daughter, my dogs, my cat, and the spicy delight of Nashville hot chicken sandwiches.

Director at Large:  Angela Keppler, City of Creswell

Director at Large:  Ashley Friesen, Douglas County