New administrative team at the Salem office location.

Oregon blueberry growers and related industry personnel probably didn’t notice much difference between the 2026 Oregon Blueberry Conference and that of previous years. It was, however, the first time in many years an organization other than the Ostlund Group produced the event.

The Oregon Blueberry Commission’s new administrative team, which took the reigns from Bryan and Lisa Ostlund last September, includes some familiar faces who stayed on during the transition, and several new faces, including Michelle Palacios, who is serving as administrator of the commission.

The Oregon Blueberry Commission last year selected the association management company BCI Management (BCIM) to lead the commission following the retirement of the Ostlunds on August 31. BCIM is based in Salem and is an entity of Bryant Christie Inc., a market development company that serves agriculture, food and beverage clients from offices in Seattle and Sacramento.

Palacios serves as director of association management for BCIM.

BCIM also serves as administrator of the Oregon Ryegrass Growers Seed Commission, the Oregon Tall Fescue Commission, the Oregon Fine Fescue Commission, the Oregon Clover Commission, the Oregon Mint Commission, the Oregon Hop Commission as well as other agricultural organizations, including the Mint Industry Research Council and Oregon Seed Growers League.

The new team includes two retained staff, Jeff Booth and Shawn Anderson; and new members Maureen LaGrande, Mandy Ficker and Allie Janicek. Eric Rosenberg is president of BCIM, James Christie is founder and Alicia Alder is vice president.

Palacios encouraged growers to contact her for more information on commission activities or with questions about the new management team and the full suite of services it provides.

She can be reached at 503-364-2944 or at Michelle.Palacios@bci-mgmt.com