On April 20, 2023, Eric Davis was elected as Oregon Conference vice president for finance by a joint meeting of the Oregon Conference executive and nominating committees. John Freedman, North Pacific Union president, chaired the process. Davis replaces Brent Plubell, who left Oregon Conference to begin service at NPUC on May 1.
Davis has spent the last year as Oregon Conference association treasurer, overseeing the financial management of the seven corporations that comprise the conference. Before that, he spent seven years as associate treasurer in Washington Conference, overseeing their 140 properties, preparing financial statements and drafting use agreements for local entities, among other things. He also has experience as an auditor with General Conference Auditing Service.
A third-generation Adventist, Davis grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. From kindergarten to 12th grade, he attended Tri-City Christian Academy. Through a partnership with Forest Lake Academy in Florida, Davis was able to complete his high school education on the campus of Tri-City.
He then went on to receive his bachelor of business administration in financial management from Southern Adventist University. He continued his education with a master's in financial management. Along the way, he met his wife, Ashley, and was determined to nurture that relationship. “I couldn’t let that girl go,” he recalled. “She is the best!”
It was after college that he found his calling to financial ministry. He said, “In my first interview out of college, the interviewer asked me, ‘What calls you to church work?’ That’s the first time I really thought about this line of work as a ministry. For me, I need to buy into the mission of the place I work. It can't just be a paycheck ... and there's no mission I buy into more than that of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.”
Now, he leans into a new calling. Davis will be leading a strong financial team, including Crystal Kielman, undertreasurer; Kody Hendrickson, association treasurer; and Jon Holland, associate treasurer. “God has blessed Oregon with a great team, and they will ensure a smooth transition,” Davis noted.
“Davis is a high-quality leader with a keen financial mind,” noted Dan Linrud, Oregon Conference president. “In the Adventist Church, it’s not easy to find candidates with training and experience in financial analysis and management. We’re so blessed that he has developed these skills and is already here in Oregon. Beyond that, Davis clearly has a heart devoted to God and a mind oriented toward advancing the mission of His church. I’m so excited to work alongside him on our administrative team.”
