Monday,

February 24,
2020

#mentoringmonday
@pdxbizjournals
 A Word from our Sponsor
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Sylvia Acevedo | CEO We’re the preeminent leadership development

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AGENDA

8:00 AM 8:15 AM 8:20 AM 9:45 AM

Networking & Welcome Speed Networking Closing
Registration 7-minute sessions
Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES

Maddie Andrews | INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FRIENDS OF

THE CHILDREN
Maddie stepped in as Interim Executive Director of Friends of the Children in
August of 2019, adding to her already long history with the organization, and
using her talents and enthusiasm to unify and re-energize the staff. Maddie most
recently was the Associate Director of Development at Friends of the Children
and previously worked as a Program Officer at Cambia Health Foundation.
Maddie served on the Board of Directors at Friends from 2010-2014 and prior
to that was the Chair of the Ambassador Board. Maddie is a co-founder of the
female-led non-profit, Levé, which connects philanthropists with vetted non-
profits in the Pacific Northwest.

Kate Arvidson | BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER,

ZOOM+CARE
Born and raised in the city she loves, Kate Arvidson is an experienced business
development professional with deep Portland roots. After university, Kate
landed a job at the Pacific Northwest-based restaurant group El Gaucho. During
her twelve years with El Gaucho, Kate became a Certified Sommelier, and grew
to lead the company’s internal Event & Marketing program as Event Director.
Recently, Kate accepted an offer to lead Business Development at the locally-
based healthcare innovator, ZOOM+Care. In her role at Zoom, Kate manages
the company’s sponsorships, cultivates key strategic partnerships, and builds
impactful business connections that engage with the local community.

Tiffany Austin |
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST, PUBLIC & MEDIA
RELATIONS, NUSCALE POWER
In her role at NuScale Power, Tiffany Austin leads both U.S. and international
external communications strategies, including public relations, media relations,
and public affairs. She supports all aspects of NuScale’s marketing and
communication functions, including brand, marketing, and digital experience, as
well as internal communications for the company. Tiffany has over two decades
of experience communicating with diverse audiences about science and
technology. Tiffany previously held positions at Ecotrust in Portland, Oregon
where she worked in development and fundraising and managed the Forests &
Ecosystem Services program, Portland State University where she coordinated
a national workforce development and career skills program, and the Oregon
Museum of Science & Industry as a science educator and exhibit and program
evaluator.

Ana Chaud | FOUNDER, GARDEN BAR

Ana Chaud started her career as a financial and business manager in San
Francisco Bay Area where she built a thriving consulting practice that serviced
a client base of over 80 companies, for over 10 years. As a Management
Consultant, Ana blended leadership, passion, innovation and teamwork that
specializes in developing business processes, streamlining operations and
managing all aspects of finance and accounting. In January 2014, Ana co-
founded Garden Bar, the first fast casual, salad concept restaurant in the NW.
Garden Bar was quickly recognized as the “place to go” for fast, healthy casual
meals. Just recently, Garden Bar was acquired by Evergreens, a fast casual salad
chain based in Seattle WA. The acquisition provided Ana with the full circle
experience of the life cycle of her company - from concept to exit.
Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES

Imelda Dacones, MD | PRESIDENT AND CEO, NORTHWEST

PERMANENTE
As president and CEO of Northwest Permanente, Imelda Dacones, MD, leads
more than 1,700 physicians, clinicians, and administrative staff at the largest
independent, physician-led, multispecialty medical group in the region.
Together, these physicians deliver Permanente Medicine — evidence- and value-
based health care with humanity — to more than 600,000 Kaiser Permanente
members. Dr. Dacones is a passionate advocate for addressing the social
and environmental determinants of health, and is working to transform the
culture, practice, and business of medicine. Under her leadership, Northwest
Permanente became the world’s first physician group to be certified as a B Corp
– underscoring a strong corporate commitment to use business as a force for
good.

Debra Dunn | PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, SYNERGY RESOURCES

GROUP (SRG)
Debra Dunn, president and founder of Synergy Resources Group (SRG) a multi-
disciplinary firm that specializes in organizational development with a focus on
organizational assessment; strategic planning (that includes market research
and stakeholder engagement); board governance and leadership development;
operations/process improvement; and executive coaching. The firm’s clients
include: nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government agencies that are
experiencing change, challenges or transformation. She has also held executive
level positions in nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses, and consultation
services over the last 30 years. Her education is in business, marketing and
accounting. She is a certified facilitator and certified in Hogan Assessment
Systems, a nationally recognized leadership development tool designed to
identify, grow, and support leaders. Synergy is a state certified women-
business enterprise (WBE).

Nafisa Fai | PAN AFRICAN FESTIVAL & BLACK BUSINESS SUMMIT

Nafisa Fai is a small business owner and public health expert dedicated to
improving the health and strength of our region. A twenty-two year resident
of Oregon, Nafisa was inspired by her experience as a refugee to create the
Pan African Festival and the Black Business Summit. Nafisa is running for
Washington County Commissioner, district 1. As a Commissioner, Nafisa will
prioritize tackling our affordable housing crisis, leveling the playing field so all
working families can succeed, and working to create a Washington County that
is a prosperous and inclusive place for everyone

Renee Fellman | FOUNDER, RENEE FELLMAN AND ASSOCIATES

Renee Fellman is an award-winning turnaround expert who has saved multiple
companies from the brink of disaster. She has served as Interim CEO for 19
companies in industries including, but not limited to, construction, healthcare,
manufacturing, medical devices, packaging, printing, restaurant, retail,
technology, transportation, and wholesale distribution. Fellman, a winner of the
Turnaround of the Year Award from the international Turnaround Management
Association, is a Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP) whose clients have
included companies that are publicly held, privately held, family-owned, and
employee-owned; from startups to long-established businesses; from one
location to multi-state, multi-national; union and non-union.

Jennifer Ferguson | FOUNDER & CEO/SALES, HANDFUL

Jennifer has been a group fitness instructor for over 20 years. Despite being a
busy mom of two kids, she launched Handful in November of 2006 because she
could not find a fashionable and functional bra (that also had a fabulous feel)
and was versatile enough to be worn from weekend to workout. Positive, active
and energetic, Jennifer manages Handful’s sales team and marketing operations
with a flair for fun and a stellar sense of humor. Jennifer grew up in Montana
where her Dad started muttering early on, “She’s a Handful.”
Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES

Nancy Fishman | MARKETING DIRECTOR, ZGF ARCHITECTS

Be a detective. Trust your instincts. These are two guiding principles that
have served Nancy Fishman well in her 35-year tenure with ZGF Architects.
Responsible for all things marketing, Nancy’s role as a marketing principal
involves coordinating with leadership in ZGF’s six offices, supporting specific
business development opportunities, crafting stories, and developing strategic
partnerships across the country. ith a degree in the Humanities from Indiana
University, Nancy began her career as a reporter and editor for the Daily Journal
of Commerce in Portland, covering the design and construction industry. This
background provided a natural segue into the field of architecture. She has
served on the Boards of a number of community organizations related to the
arts, education, and women’s health.

JESSICA GIES, CPM®, CCIM, LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE |

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, KIDDER MATHEWS’
Jessica Gies leads Kidder Mathews’ property management services capabilities
from the firm’s office in downtown Portland, bringing with her over 20 years
of commercial real estate experience in the Portland metro market. Jessica
is responsible for managing assets, developing and directing the Portland
property team and client development and support. Prior to her promotion
to vice president, Jessica was a senior property manager for Kidder Mathews
leading a team that managed over 4-million square feet of industrial properties
for the second largest institutional industrial real estate owner in the US.
Throughout her career, Jessica has managed over 7 million square feet of
industrial / flex, class-A office, downtown high rise, medical office, and retail
properties for her institutional and local clients.

Erin Grodem | MARKETING DIRECTOR, R&H CONSTRUCTION

Erin Grodem is the Marketing Director for R&H Construction, a northwest
based commercial general contractor with offices in both Portland and Bend,
Oregon. As a leadership team member and company shareholder, Erin is
passionate about upholding and strategically building R&H’s brand presence by
guiding corporate communications, the pursuit process, marketing collateral,
digital content and public relations strategy. With 20 years of experience in
the industry, Erin plays an active role in the company’s strategic planning
process and produces results through strong collaborations with each of R&H’s
operating departments. She is an active member of Commercial Real Estate
Women and the Society for Marketing Professional Services.

Diana Hoff |FOUNDER & PRESIDENT, NAWBO OREGON AND

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE RENAISSANCE FOUNDATION
As Executive Director of The Renaissance Foundation, Diana has helped mentor
many young people from disadvantaged families get the education they need
to succeed in life. In addition to her contributions in the education arena, Diana
founded the Oregon chapter of NAWBO in 1975. NAWBO propels women
entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide.
Decades later, NAWBO is still the only organization that solely represents the
interests of women entrepreneurs in all industries.

Nicole Hughes | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RENEWABLE NORTHWEST

Nicole Hughes joined Renewable Northwest as Executive Director in July 2018.
Nicole has over 15 years of experience in the renewable energy industry. She
has experience in project development, construction, finance, permitting and
policy for utility-scale wind and solar energy, working for AWS Truepower,
HDR, Element Power, RES Americas, Tetra Tech and The Bonneville Power
Administration. In her previous work, Nicole engaged with Renewable NW as
a member and understands first hand the importance of the organization’s
coalition work between advocacy organizations and renewable energy
businesses in moving the region forward towards a clean energy future.
She currently serves on the boards of the Center for Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Technologies and the Renewable Hydrogen Alliance.
Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES

Laurie C. Kelley |
GROUP VP & CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER,
PROVIDENCE ST. JOSEPH HEALTH (PSJH)
Laurie Kelley serves as Group Vice President |Chief Philanthropy Officer for
Providence St. Joseph Health, the nation’s third largest non-profit health system
comprised of 51 hospitals, 829 clinics, serving over 5 million unique patients,
throughout 7 states. Her role includes fundraising for system initiatives,
strategy, oversight and collaboration with regional and local leaders throughout
PSJH, and enhancing the understanding, brand and culture of philanthropy
across this expansive health system. Kelley has spent her career in executive
roles in the non-profit sector. She served as President & Chief Development
Officer at Providence Foundations of Oregon, Vice President for University
Relations at the University of Portland and Vice President of Marketing and
Strategic Planning at Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB).

Suk Kim | SR. VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL, AIRSHIP

Suk Kim is the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Airship (previously
Urban Airship Inc.), a technology company with offices in Portland, San
Francisco, London, Paris, Munich and New Delhi. With more than 20 years
of experience as a law firm attorney and in-house counsel across a broad
range of industries including technology and media, she heads the legal team
and manages worldwide legal matters at Airship. She began her career as
a securities lawyer with the international firm of Cleary Gottlieb LLP in New
York, and then as a media and intellectual properties attorney with Paul, Weiss
LLP. After moving to Portland, she joined Perkins Coie LLC as a technology
transactions and intellectual property attorney.

Georgia Lee Hussey | FOUNDER AND CEO, MODERNIST FINANCIAL

Georgia Lee Hussey is the Founder and CEO of Modernist Financial, a B Corp
wealth management firm dedicated to helping progressive people structure
their wealth around their values. Her mission is to build a world where people
feel permission to enjoy today while providing for our common future. Georgia
and her Modernist team growing team are determined to dismantle wealth
inequality in America through their philanthropic Plan and provide actionable
resources for all communities through Modernist University, an inclusive
financial education program.

Dena Lowery | COO, OPUS AGENCY

Cobi Lewis is the Senior Vice President and Director of Community
Reinvestment Act (CRA) and Corporate Responsibility at Umpqua Bank, which
has a five-state footprint in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho and Nevada.
Cobi is also on the Umpqua Bank Charitable Foundation Board of Directors.
Prior to coming to Umpqua Bank, Cobi worked at Wells Fargo Bank, managing
Community Development and CRA for the Oregon and SW Washington
region. She also previously served as the Vice President of Programs for One
Economy Corporation, a national technology and advocacy nonprofit based in
Washington, D.C. She is a proud mother of two and an alumna of the University
of Oregon.

Cobi Lewis |
SENIOR VP AND DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY
REINVESTMENT ACT (CRA) AND CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY,
UMPQUA BANK
As Opus Agency’s COO, Dena is responsible for the agency’s operational
performance. Dena leads a tenured team of executives to individual
performance and client success. She thrives at developing teams that run with a
foundation of operational excellence and a vision and drive toward innovation.
After 20 years in the event marketing industry, Dena enjoys being active within
the industry, having formerly served on the board of CEMA (Corporate Event
Marketing Association) and several local philanthropic boards.
Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES

Anna Mackay | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, GUERILLA

DEVELOPMENT
Anna Lucey Mackay is a deeply empathetic placemaker who prioritizes equity
through her practice. She has held positions as an intern architect, carpenter,
educator, and developer. She is currently the Director of Development at
Guerrilla Development in Portland, Oregon. Anna led the first Regulation A
crowd-investing effort for new construction in the United States ($1.5M, the Fair-
Haired Dumbbell) and raised a tranche of crowd-invested equity from everyday
Oregonians for a homelessness project in just 68 hours ($300,000, Jolene’s
First Cousin). She is pioneering new models of development that emphasize
non-displacement and affordable retail (Rocket Empire Machine). As a parent
herself she is proud to lead a housing project for single-mothers, complete with
on-site daycare (Unicorn Bed).

Anna Madill | FOUNDER AND CEO, AVENUE

Anna Madill is the Founder and CEO of Avenue, a digital marketing agency
that amplifies the impact growth-minded and purpose-driven companies have
in the world through results-led digital marketing. Avenue’s proprietary suite
of marketing products and custom services help brands and businesses of all
sizes grow sustainably and successfully. Prior to founding Avenue, Madill held a
variety of executive leadership roles at regional digital and full-service agencies.
Madill helped build a startup agency from the ground up to $1M and merged the
company with its sister agency in the fall of 2013. Over the past 12 years, Madill’s
responsibilities have spanned digital marketing leadership, agency operations,
sales, account services, talent recruitment and mentorship.

Allie Magyar | FOUNDER AND CEO, HUBB

Allie is a serial entrepreneur and thrives in conceptualizing, building & scaling
successful companies, both in the services as well as in technology industries.
With over 20 years of experience, Allie has bootstrapped and grown 3 different
companies, raised over $10M in venture capital, been on the Inc. 5000 list 3
times and has been recognized for driving positive corporate culture at scale.
She is passionate around changing the conversation as it relates to women in
technology and venture capital, as well as exploring what balance means in
today’s world as a female leader.

Julie Mancini | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COLLEGE POSSIBLE

OREGON
Julie Mancini is the executive director of College Possible Oregon, a nonprofit
organization making college admissions and success possible for students
from low-income backgrounds through an intensive curriculum of coaching and
support. Julie’s experience is extensive and diverse, both in the nonprofit sector,
as a business consultant and as an educator. Prior to College Possible, she was
the executive director of Mercy Corps Action Center, Caldera and Literary Arts.
On the private-sector side, she was vice president at a public relations firm and
founded a booking agency to represent world-famous literary artists.

Amanda Mann | SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL

MANAGER, THE ROSE QUARTER
Amanda Mann, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Rose Quarter,
is in her fourth season with Rip City Management and the Trail Blazers. Amanda
oversees all Facility Operations, Event Sales, Content Booking, Guest Experience,
Security, Levy Restaurants, Event Management and Parking for the Moda Center,
Veterans Memorial Coliseum and Rose Quarter campus. Prior to joining the
organization, Amanda served as Assistant General Manager, VP of Booking
& Event Operations at Toyota Center in Houston, TX as well as VP of Booking
for Clear Channel Entertainment, Texas. Amanda graduated with a bachelor’s
degree in computer science and mathematics from the School of Engineering at
Vanderbilt University. Amanda, along with her husband Austin, two daughters
London and Hayden and family mutt, Athena, reside in NE Portland.
Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES

Melanie Marconi | FOUNDER, VIDA

Melanie Marconi is the founder of VIDA, a coworking community designed by
and for working women with demanding careers and personal lives. In addition
to workspaces and productivity tools, the facility offers its members a range
of amenities, including fitness and wellness classes, childcare, family happy
hours, and an onsite concierge. A serial entrepreneur, Marconi was just 23
years old when co-founded her first business, BDI Development Group, which
provides event planning and consulting for nonprofits around the country, and
she founded The Modern Concierge at age 28. “If you know what is important
to you and where you want to go in life, there are people and services that can
help make that a reality for you,” says Marconi.

Brianne Mees | CO-OWNER/DIRECTOR, TENDER LOVING EMPIRE

Brianne Mees is an entrepreneur, arts enthusiast and mother living in beautiful
Portland, Oregon. Brianne has devoted the last 13 years to creating and
growing Tender Loving Empire from a small mom and pop retail operation and
hobby record label into a multi-million dollar company with 5 locations and
50+ employees. She has been involved in shaping almost every aspect of TLE,
including buying, visual merchandising, operations management, bookkeeping,
branding, product development, HR/hiring, administration, marketing and
growth. Prior to founding TLE with her husband, Jared, she earned a BA in
Psychology in California and spent the early years of her career working with
children and families in the social work field.

Vanessa Miller | GROUP BRAND DIRECTOR, WIEDEN+KENNEDY

Vanessa Miller has spent 15 years in client service—and over a decade at
Wieden+Kennedy Portland—helping a wide range of brands strategically
position and reposition themselves. From large to small companies, from
public to private, and from start-ups to well-established corporations,
Vanessa’s strategic business approach, creative problem-solving ability, and
entrepreneurial spirit have garnered big results. Perhaps due to her dual degree
in communications and mathematics, Vanessa is a rare right-brain/left-brain
talent who has contributed immensely to global brands such as Nike and
Amazon, iconic American brands such as Fisher-Price and TurboTax, and even
local Portland start-ups that have reached the national stage, like Wildfang and
Union Wine Co.

Bonnie Morales |
CHEF AND CO-OWNER, KACHKA, KACHINKA
AND KACHKA LAVKA
The first-generation American daughter of Belarusian immigrants, chef
Bonnie Morales grew up in Chicago in a large family that brought with them
the distinctive culture of food and drink of the former Soviet Union. She
trained at the Culinary Institute of America, and top kitchens in New York and
Chicago. Kachka opened in Portland in 2014, inspired by the food of the former
Soviet republics. Kachka’s received myriad accolades, including Eater’s Best
Restaurants in America from 2015-2018. Morales was named Rising Star Chef
by StarChefs, and was a finalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef:
Northwest. Morales’ first cookbook, Kachka: A Return to Russian Cooking, was
released in 2017.

Nicole Mouton | CO-OWNER, SCREEN DOOR

Nicole’s entire working career has been devoted to the hospitality industry. She
spent her first eight years as a line cook, then as a Manager, General manager,
and Catering Director in Manhattan, New York. She was the restaurant manager
of Tuscany Grill in NW Portland for five years prior to the opening of Screen
Door in 2006. Currently, she is overseeing a massive business expansion with
a new store opening in downtown Portland this summer and another store
opening in the Portland Airport in 2021.
Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES

Charu Nair | FOUNDER, KEYS2DEI CONSULTING

Charu Nair, Founder of Keys2DEI Consulting, brings three decades of insights
and experience in private and public sectors to her work. Whether providing
leadership, strategy and diversity initiatives to the Fortune 500, launching
the World Trade Center Portland with the executive team and leading a trade
mission, teaching original curricula as Marylhurst University faculty for a
decade, or launching the first laptop in India, foresight is her source. Her impact
contributions include the Boards of the Urban League, United Nations and
Fulbright, and as Commissioner of Human Rights, Multnomah County, and Civil
Rights, BOLI. Recently she curated a five city equity summit. With three degrees
spanning three countries and travels to seventy more, Ms. Nair’s work is uniquely
informed by her significant local expertise bridged with her wide-ranging
worldwide acumen.

Jennifer O’Bryan |
SVP OF REVENUE & DEVELOPMENT,
CHILDREN’S CANCER ASSOCIATION
Jenny O’Bryan joined CCA in 2009 and currently serves as the Senior Vice
President of Revenue & Development. She leads a sophisticated fundraising
team that creates and executes against annual revenue goals. Prior to CCA
she led world class events for the Portland Rose Festival Foundation including
award winning parades, art festivals and fundraising events.

Kate Othus | PRESIDENT, DATADX

Kate is recognized in the healthcare industry as a leader in establishing best
practices for practice administration. As both a practice administrator and a
healthcare consultant, Kate has witnessed first-hand the struggles clinics are up
against when it comes to data management. She has seen time and again the
challenges of making smart decisions with disconnected and sometimes old
data. It was this need that drove Kate to launch DataDx™ with a group of other
healthcare and engineering experts.

Linda M. Pearce | EXECUTIVE VP & CFO, TILLAMOOK

Linda Pearce is Chief Financial Officer at the Tillamook County Creamery
Association (TCCA), leading the 111-year-old multi-category dairy cooperative’s
strategic growth initiatives. Since joining TCCA in 2013, she partnered with
the CEO to lead the sixth consecutive year of double-digit growth in sales and
earnings. The results of executing on the strategic plan have been increased
returns to farmer-owners each year. Prior to joining Tillamook, Ms. Pearce served
as a CFO and a member of the executive team at Nautilus, Inc., strategically
growing the company to new levels of profitability. Revenues increased 7.5
percent and operating income grew 121 percent over prior year. The stock price
increased a multiple of 5X.

Heidi Pozzo | HEIDI POZZO CONSULTING

Heidi Pozzo is a leadership and high-performance expert, as well as the author
of Leading the High-Performing Company. She helps C-suite leaders and boards
dramatically increase their organizations’ value. With more than 20 years of
strategic, financial, and operational experience in her role as trusted advisor
and expert, Heidi has a unique background that allows her to quickly grasp
both the strategic and the operational. She helped engineer the turnaround
of an $800-million organization, which Deutsche Bank analyst Mark Wilde
called “the best turnaround case study we have seen in…25 years.” Portland
Business Journal recognized Heidi’s work, naming her “CFO of the Year—Large
Company.”
Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES

Jan Robertson | NORRIS, BEGGS & SIMPSON COMPANIES, LLC

Jan Robertson is the Chief Operating Officer and a principal of Norris, Beggs
& Simpson Companies, LLC, a diversified commercial real estate services firm
serving as the holding company for four wholly owned operating subsidiaries:
Norris, Beggs & Simpson Financial Services, Morrison Street Capital, NBS Real
Estate Consulting, and The REFF Group. Jan has been with NBS since 1981,
and is directly responsible for the day to day operations of the NBS companies
and supervises the administrative functions of the companies. She became
the firm’s first female partner in 1993, CFO in 2005 and CEO in 2011. When the
company reorganized in 2015, she subsequently negotiated the sale of their
brokerage and property management divisions before stepping into her current
position.

Theresa Sanchez Schnetz |

MARKET EXECUTIVE FOR THE
OREGON MARKET, MERRILL LYNCH WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Theresa Sanchez Schnetz is the Market Executive for the Oregon Market at
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Passionate in her desire to help others
pursue their financial, professional, and personal goals, Theresa is a veteran
executive who draws on significant experience as an advisor, mentor, and
champion of others. She leads a talented team of Advisors and Associates in six
offices throughout the Market, connecting them to resources and capabilities
designed to empower clients to live their best financial lives. Prior to her current
role, Theresa was the Interim Market Executive for the Seattle Cascades and
Nevada Markets, where she fostered a culture of collaboration, communication,
diversity, and inclusiveness. She has worked at the firm since 2010, taking on
successive leadership roles in markets spanned over eight states.

Sarah Shipe |
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, GIRL SCOUTS OF
OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON
Sarah Shipe is the Director of Communications for Girl Scouts of Oregon and
Southwest Washington. A lifetime member of Girl Scouts, Sarah has more
than a decade of experience in effective, impactful nonprofit communications,
public relations and brand management. She currently serves on the MarComm
Advisory Committee for Girl Scouts of the USA, helping to shape the future
of the globally-recognized Girl Scout brand. Sarah holds a BA in English from
Willamette University, and an MBA from Willamette University’s Atkinson
Graduate School of Management. She welcomed a son in September 2019, and
is joyfully learning to navigate life as a working mom.

Cara Snow | CHIEF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICER AND

CHIEF OF STAFF, TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION OF OREGON’S (TAO)
Cara Snow, the Technology Association of Oregon’s (TAO) Chief Community
Engagement Officer and Chief of Staff, is a high energy, civically minded
executive and a native of Atlanta, Georgia. In her role with TAO, she manages
internal operations as an external portfolio that includes regional executive
engagement, cyber security programming, tech advocacy and workforce
development with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in technology. She
began her career in tech before it was cool leading human resources, sales
and software development teams. In working with startups to large enterprise
organizations, Cara has navigated high growth, rebuilding, acquisition and
the occasional misstep. In 2016, she shifted into non-profit leadership, joining
the Technology Association of Georgia as the first Chief Development Officer,
leading community engagement and membership growth efforts before
claiming Portland as her new home.
Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES

Tichelle Sorensen |
ACADEMIC DIRECTOR OF MBA AND MASTER
OF INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, PORTLAND STATE
UNIVERSITY
Tichelle Sorensen received her undergraduate degree in Communications from
Brigham Young University, her MIM from Portland State University, and her JD
from the Indiana University School of Law. Prior to joining PSU as an Academic
Director in 2013, she worked as an attorney, practicing in the areas of intellectual
property, marketing and employment law. Tichelle’s prior business experience
includes entertainment industry marketing and consulting, predominantly in
music and gaming; strategic marketing consulting for both privately owned
companies and state-owned enterprises in China; and export marketing.

Melissa Spain | PARTNER, MOSS ADAMS

Melissa has been in public accounting since 1997, including four years with
a Big Four firm. She has been involved in engagement for both public and
private companies throughout her career, specializing in manufacturing and
distribution, and food and beverage companies. Her focus has included helping
clients in the food processing and distribution as well as manufacturing and
consumer products industries identify areas for improvement. She provides
accounting and auditing services as well as business consulting, preparation of
accounting policies, technical accounting standards, and procedures manuals,
systems control and operations risk evaluations with recommendations for
system improvements, and business planning.

Julissa Vasquez |
GLOBAL TALENT ACQUISITION DIVERSITY
MANAGER, INTEL CORPORATION
Julissa Vasquez is currently the Global Talent Acquisition Diversity Manager at
Intel Corporation. While Julissa has been at Intel for 17 years, she is currently
in her 8th job. Her career path started in Accounting and has been able to
successfully navigate through various roles by leveraging her strengths and
continuous learning. As a working mother, Julissa strives for work-life harmony
that allows her to be present for her family including three children. Julissa is
also actively involved in the community as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and Board
Member for the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber. Julissa was recently recognized
in the Portland Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 Class of 2019 for her career
leadership and compelling community involvement.

Yvonne Wassenaar | CEO, PUPPET

Yvonne Wassenaar is the CEO of Puppet, a trusted enterprise provider of
pervasive automation across traditional and cloud-native environments. She
has 30 years of experience scaling companies globally and driving enterprise
transformation with technology. Prior to Puppet, Yvonne served as CEO of
Airware, CIO at New Relic, and she held multiple leadership roles at VMware and
Accenture. Yvonne is currently a board member of Anaplan (PLAN), Forrester
(FORR), Harvey Mudd College and an advisor to SNYK (a DevSecOps start-
up). Yvonne is a passionate supporter of diversity in tech and amidst growing
concerns with how modern technology might be used, Yvonne is championing it
to drive a safer, more efficient and innovative planet.
Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES

Linda Williams Favero | CAREER COUNSEL AND CONSULTANT,

O+I DEVELOP
As founder of O+I Develop, Linda brings 20 years of curiosity about multiple
generations in the workplace to help develop the full potential of organizations
and individuals who seek greater meaning in their work and lives. Her goal is to
enhance workplace culture and performance by bringing greater understanding
and appreciation for the generations that came before us and those that come
after us. Ultimately, she believes we can bridge the (mis)understanding gap
among the different generations and improve workplace communication,
trust and employee engagement. Linda’s 30-year career journey includes
marketing professional services, and most recently, as a management consultant
at Coraggio Group, collaborating with a variety of clients including higher
education institutions, government agencies, nonprofits, and professional
services’ firms.

Kate Winkler | RUBY RECEPTIONIST

Kate is the CEO of Ruby Receptionist. She has been in the technology sector
for over 25 years having been a three-time CEO as well as a technology
investment banker. Kate joined 15-year old Ruby this past September as the
first CEO to take over leadership of the company from its founder, Jill Nelson.
Prior to joining Ruby, Kate lead two high-growth, venture backed businesses
to successful exits and also served as a senior technology investment banker
at both Houlihan Lokey an Piper Jaffray where she helped over 75 companies
build and capture over $4Bn in enterprise value. Kate holds a B.S. in Business
Administration from the University of Michigan. Kate also holds FINRA Series 7,
63 and 79 licenses and started her career as a CPA.

Kristel Wissel |
VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS,
THE PORTLAND TIMBERS AND THORNS
In her current role as Vice President of Community Relations for the Portland
Timbers and Thorns, Kristel oversees the club’s community partnerships,
programs, and philanthropic activities under the Stand Together platform,
including the Portland Timbers Community Fund and Fields For All, the local
field building initiative. Kristel transitioned into the position after managing
the day-to-day marketing, creative development, media buying, outreach
and grassroots programming as the team’s Hispanic Business Development
Manager. Prior to joining the Portland Timbers, Kristel ran her own advertising
firm, Picante Solutions, Inc. and created the Familia, Salud, y Vida Latino Health
Fair in Portland. In addition, Kristel has worked with KUNP Univision and
Comcast Spotlight in advertising sales, as well as the J.R. Simplot Company in
Boise.
Thank you

NATIONAL SPONSOR

NATIONAL PARTNERS

LOCAL SPONSORS