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Ethan Benatan brings to TriMet more than 20 years of experience leading high-level IT functions and strategy. Benatan most recently worked for the State of Oregon as Modernization Director for the Oregon Employment Department for a year, and as Strategic Technology Officer for the state’s Enterprise Information Services for four years. While at the State of Oregon, Benatan led advancements in technology transformation projects and oversaw $500 million in statewide IT initiatives, governance and policy for agencies that serve more than a million Oregonians and employed more than 16,000 staff in the Health and Human Services sector.

Prior to working for the state, Benatan served in Chief Information Officer roles at Health Republic Insurance Company and at Marylhurst University. He also spent eight years as Director of Computer User Services at Reed College.

Benatan holds a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh, with a focus in artificial intelligence and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Microbology from the University of Cape Town. He is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum and a Fellow of the Leading Change Institute.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Benatan grew up in South Africa and travelled widely before coming to Oregon in 2002. Benatan is passionate about promoting equity and has volunteered at EDUCAUSE, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to using information technology to advance higher education initiatives.