Casey Layton, an experienced educator, facilitator, and organizational leader with a background in hospitality, adult learning, and conflict resolution, currently serves as the Chief Culture and Impact Officer at Clackamas Community College. For over 15 years, she has led diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within local government agencies in the Portland Metro area.

Casey holds a B.S. in Human Development and an M.S. in Organizational Leadership from Warner Pacific University. Her professional practice is built on a foundation of mediation and coaching expertise which she has shared through conference presentations on topics such as coaching diverse teams and inclusive leadership. Additionally, Casey spent eight years as a part-time instructor at Portland Community College, where she taught management classes and mentored learners to integrate professionalism and fun in their supervisory roles. In 2025, at the 8th Annual Women in Leadership and Management awards, hosted by the North Clackamas Chamber of Commerce, Casey was the recipient of the Public Service Award. And just this past June, Casey graduated in the 47th cohort of the American Leadership Forum of Oregon.

In addition to her professional work, Casey is a dedicated volunteer. She has donated her time as a parent volunteer in multiple classrooms for North Clackamas School District (NCSD) and other local non-profit agencies. Casey has also facilitated equity conversations for both community members and employees for the City of Milwaukie. During the height of the pandemic, she volunteered as the Equity Officer for the Multnomah County Emergency Operations for five months as part of their COVID-19 response.

Casey thrives on building relationships and is known for her ability to use humor and optimism to build bridges, even in complex and serious anti-racism work, such as leading a dance break or a game of “Casey Says”. Casey developed a love for the outdoors and sports while growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area. When not working, she enjoys walking, biking, Jazzercising (if ya know, ya know!) and spending time with her family and friends in Milwaukie, Oregon. She and her spouse, a US Air Force Veteran, have lived there for over 20 years and raised their two sons, both of whom graduated from Milwaukie High School.   

All in all, Casey Layton is a dedicated and compassionate leader, committed to fostering equity and inclusion in both her professional and personal life. Her extensive experience, passion for community engagement, and ability to connect with people shine through in all she does.

Robert Phillips’ Legacy

Robert Phillips, Multnomah County Affirmative Action Officer, has worked in the area of equal employment opportunity for over 25 years and has a long history of involvement in the civil rights field. As Director of Multnomah County’s Affirmative Action Office, Robert was responsible for the development of policy initiatives, plans and programs that promoted respectful work environments for diverse employees and assisted the organization in meeting its equal employment opportunity and affirmative action obligations. Additionally, Robert served as a commissioner for the Port of Portland’s Civil Service Commission where he has served for 10 years. His community service includes appointments to the Nike Corporation’s Minority Affairs Advisory Board; Gubernatorial appointments to the State Commission on Black Affairs and the State Board to Register Clinical Social Workers; and service on the Oregon State Bar Affirmative Action Committee.

In 1996, the diversity program he managed for the City of Portland was recognized as a best practice model by People Management Resources, a division of Watson Wyatt Worldwide. Robert was also responsible for initiating the first national conference on performance measures for diversity programs, sponsored by the National Quality Institute. In addition, Robert was a recipient of the 2009 Arthur Flemming Award by the Multnomah County Managers of Color, the Oregon assembly for Black Affairs Political Development Award, the Northwest Conference of Black Elected Officials Leadership Award and the 2009 Northwest Public Employees Diversity Conference Robert Phillips Regional Diversity Award. He was the first public sector African American graduate of the Center of Creative Leadership’s African American Leadership Program.

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners proclaimed February 28, 2012, as Robert Phillips Appreciation Day in Multnomah County, Oregon. Even after retirement from Multnomah County, Robert had an encore career during which he served as a member of the NW Renal Patients Advisory Board; the Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs Political Convention Planning Committee and the Port of Portland Fire Department Civil Service Board.

This award was created to honor his many contributions in the field of equity for all.

Past Honorees

• 2025 - Percy Winters Jr., Multnomah County

• 2024 - Kenny Chen, Multnomah County

• 2023 - Alicia Sojourner, City of Vancouver

• 2022 - Geoffrey Kavulya, City of Hillsboro

• 2021 - Earleen Reimann, City of Hillsboro

• 2020 - Kelly Blixhavn, Clackamas County

• 2019 - Debbie Caselton, City of Portland

• 2018 - Sherrelle Jackson, LCSW, Multnomah County

• 2017 - Som Nath Subedi, City of Portland