Michael Kaplan (he/him)
Deputy Secretary
Michael Kaplan is the Deputy Secretary of State and is responsible for all day-to-day operations of the Secretary of State's Office on behalf of Secretary Read.
Michael began working for Oregon State Government in 2007. Before his appointment to the Secretary of State's Office, Michael was Oregon's Deputy Treasurer. He has also been the Director of the Oregon Department of Energy, served on Governor Kulongoski's Recovery Act Implementation team, and served as Governor Kitzhaber's Deputy Legislative Director. Michael also wrote the proposal for and led the implementation of Oregon's Hardest Hit foreclosure prevention strategy and worked as a policy and budget analyst for the Department of Administrative Services.
Michael is from New York City and grew up in Prince George's County, Maryland. He has a degree in English Literature from the University of Maryland, College Park. Away from work, Michael adores time with his wife and their two humane society rescues, cycling and reading.
Email:
michael.kaplan@sos.oregon.gov
Dmitri Palmateer (he/him)
Chief of Staff
Dmitri has been working at the intersection of public policy and politics for nearly 30 years. Raised in Roseburg, Oregon, Dmitri attended Willamette University where he got involved in student government and was engaged in campaigns for the Oregon Legislature. He left Oregon for a few years to pursue a PhD in American history at Binghamton University, focusing on social and labor history. Dmitri has served as legislative director for Speaker of the House Jeff Merkley, Caucus Director for the House Democrats, Deputy Chief of Staff for Governors John Kitzhaber and Kate Brown, and Chief of Staff for State Treasurer Tobias Read. He also worked briefly as Senator Jeff Merkley’s statewide business liaison and for a public relations firm. He lives in Salem.
Email:
dmitri.palmateer@sos.oregon.gov
Mary Krehbiel (she/her)
Chief of Strategic Initiatives
Mary Krehbiel is the Chief of Strategic Initiatives for the Oregon Secretary of State. Prior to coming to the Secretary of State, Mary was the Organizational Risk & Resiliency Manager for the Oregon State Treasury and oversaw the highest risk projects and initiatives during her 12 years there. Mary isn’t entirely new to Secretary of State as she began her career in state government as a financial auditor in the Audits Division. Mary lives in Salem with her husband and their two daughters. Outside of work, Mary enjoys spending time with family and friends and being outdoors when it’s not too cold, or too hot. Fall is her favorite season.
Email:
mary.krehbiel@sos.oregon.gov
Tess Seger (she/her)
Deputy Chief of Staff – Communications
Tess is the Deputy Chief of Staff – Communications for Secretary Read. She brings a decade of experience advising leaders in government, nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and businesses to the agency. Immediately prior to this role, she was the Communications Director for the Oregon Senate Majority Office.
Tess developed a strong background in paid, earned, and owned communications working at public affairs agencies in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. She also previously served as communications director for Senator Cory Booker’s presidential campaign in Iowa and managed Nevada Congresswoman Susie Lee’s successful, highly competitive re-election campaign in 2020.
An Oregon native, Tess got her degree in Political Science from The George Washington University. She lives in Portland, where she spends her free time hiking, exploring the city’s amazing restaurants, and agonizing over the Trail Blazers.
Email:
Tess.SEGER@sos.oregon.gov
Ricardo Luján Valerio (he/him)
Deputy Chief of Staff – Government Relations
Ricardo Luján Valerio currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff – Government Relations for Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read. Before joining the Secretary of State’s executive team, he held the position of Executive Director of Government Relations and Special Projects at Western Oregon University. Prior to this role, Ricardo contributed to the City of Portland as Policy Director in the Office of Commissioner Rubio. Ricardo held several positions at Latino Network, including Agency Advisor and Director of Advocacy, and worked as a Policy Associate at the ACLU, focused on policies pertaining to elections, immigration, criminal justice, and education. Ricardo has been a leader in the passage of various state legislative priorities, such as HB 2015 (Driver Licenses for All) and SB 1008 (Youth Sentencing Reform). Most recently, he was a co-architect of the Oregon Worker Relief Fund, a multi-million-dollar disaster relief program for Oregon’s immigrant community.
Additional experience includes serving as Legislative Director for the Oregon Student Association. Earlier legal experience includes roles as a Paralegal at The Center for Nonprofit Legal Services and Legal Assistant at Idiart Law Group LLC.
Ricardo is pursuing a Master of Business Administration at Portland State University and has obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management, alongside a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Southern Oregon University.
Email:
ricardo.lujanvalerio@sos.oregon.gov
Kierrah Byrd (she/her)
Digital Strategist and Social Media Manager
Kierrah Byrd currently serves as the Digital Strategist and Social Media Manager for the Oregon Secretary of State’s office, a role she has held since 2021. She provides communications support for both external and internal digital and print communications.
Prior to joining the agency, Kierrah was the Marketing Graphic Designer at the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government's Center for Public Service. There, she collaborated with several outreach programs, including the Executive MPA program and the Certificate in Tribal Relations program. Many of the design and marketing frameworks she created are still in use today.
Her additional experience includes brand design and strategy for non-profits and design agencies across the United States, including PERIOD., Rebellious PR, Imagine Black, HUB Collective, WVDO, and more. She believes that design and communication should be friendly, approachable, and accessible.
In her free time, Kierrah enjoys working through her booklist, volunteering, and immersing herself in the live-music scene.
Email:
kierrah.byrd@sos.oregon.gov
Maddie Cloyd (she/her)
Executive Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State and Chief of Strategic Initiatives
Maddie serves as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State and Chief of Strategic Initiatives, playing a vital role in ensuring smooth operations and strategic alignment within the Oregon Secretary of State’s office. With a career rooted in public service, Maddie began her professional journey at the Oregon State Treasury, where she honed her organization and administrative skills over a span of three years.
Known for her proactive approach, she excels at problem-solving and thrives on helping others navigate complex challenges. Whether coordinating critical initiatives or providing day-to-day support, Maddie remains dedicated to fostering efficiency and collaboration. She is a driven individual passionate about making a positive impact.
Outside the office, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Merlin, and reading a good book.
Email:
maddie.cloyd@sos.oregon.gov
Krystle Jo (KJ) Aslett (she/her)
Executive Assistant to the Oregon Secretary of State
KJ serves as the Executive Assistant to Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read. A dedicated public servant, she has worked for the State of Oregon since 2017. Her journey began at the Oregon State Hospital and continued through roles in the Governor’s Office under Governors Brown and Kotek before joining the Secretary of State’s Office.
Before embarking on her career in public service, KJ studied Food and Beverage Management in college and managed kitchens and restaurants for nearly a decade. She also worked in home lending in Virginia and Oregon. KJ is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL), and for ten years, she was a certified ASL interpreter in California. She also contributes her talents as a volunteer, including serving as Managing Editor and Layout Specialist for the digital magazine of Children of Deaf Adults, Inc., from 2020 to 2023.
An avid traveler, KJ has visited 48 out of 50 states and soon hopes to add Hawaii and Alaska to the list.
Email:
krystle.jo.aslett@sos.oregon.gov