Meet ALF Oregon Class 44
JENNIFER BAGSHAW (she/her/hers)
Owner/Operator, Aspens on the Creek
Jennifer Bagshaw comes from a proud family of Oregonians, and has spent her life exploring and appreciating all different corners of our world. She grew up on a small ranch in rural southern Oregon, and knew she wanted to expose herself to different types of people, beliefs and ideas from an early age. After attending Southern Oregon University and earning a geology degree, she then proceeded to get her Masters in Teaching at Willamette University. She taught middle school science and social studies for nearly a decade (including many classes of human sexuality education, which were always her favorite), and eventually stayed home to be with her two sons in their early childhood years. She explored vastly different countries and regions of our world with her family in tow, while at the same time running a few family businesses. Currently, Jennifer is assisting with her family's photography business, and also owns and operates a community of 180 manufactured homes for senior citizens in Medford. For fun (and a pittance of a salary), she takes groups of travelers all around the world as a professional Tour Director.
The last few years have seen her doing a deep dive into educating herself in antiracist education and issues of inequity and inequality in our society. As a proud provider of affordable housing, she understands how far our state has to go in providing stable roofs over our citizens' heads, and looks forward to combining her knowledge of these issues to help be a part of making change for the greater good.
When Jennifer's not volunteering or video chatting with her sons who are going to school in Corvallis, Oregon and Fukuoka, Japan, she reads copious amounts of books and unashamedly yet predictably plays pickleball for many hours each week. She is also extremely grateful every time she wakes up each morning.
SKYLER BROCKER-KNAPP (she/her/hers)
Senior Policy Advisor, Behavioral Health, Homelessness, and Housing for Mayor Ted Wheeler
Skyler is the Senior Policy Advisor focused on behavioral health, homelessness, and housing for Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler. Skyler is instrumental in working with the Governor's office, Multnomah County, non-profits, business, and community leaders to create a unified strategy for reducing homelessness in Portland and Multnomah County.
Skyler is a graduate of University of Oregon School of Law and has a master's degree from Portland State University's Hatfield School of Government. She worked for Senator Ron Wyden in Washington D.C. She has also worked on immigration issues abroad and in the U.S. and is fluent in Spanish.
Skyler is a native Portlander. No matter where she moves for work or study, she always returns home to Portland. Above all, she believes that politics can be a force for good. Her mission and her passion are to help government solve seemingly intractable problems through policy development, collaboration, and execution, thereby enhancing government's credibility with their residents.
RICHARD BUSTAMANTE (he/him/his)
Manager of Transmission Planning, Bonneville Power Administration
Richard (Ricky) Bustamante is the Manager of Transmission Planning at the Bonneville Power Administration in Portland, Oregon where he oversees BPA’s Transmission Reliability, Expansion, and Interconnection Planning for BPA's 15,000 miles of transmission lines. Ricky has previous experience in Testing and Commissioning, Relay Design, Design and Construction Contract Management. Ricky joined BPA in 2004 and has a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Rice University. Ricky is also a board member for Oregon MESA (Math, Engineering, Science, Achievement), an organization focused on equity in STEM through hands-on invention education. Ricky was born and raised in Portland, Oregon and now lives in SW Washington with his wife, Keri, and their two wonderful children.He enjoys hiking, backpacking, woodworking, and spending time with his family.
TONY DAGUANNO (he/him/his)
Multi-Family Affordable Housing Professional, Portland, OR
Tony Daguanno is an affordable housing professional based in Portland, Oregon. He has nearly 20 years of experience in real estate, working in property and asset management, as well as underwriting and originating deals. In the course of his career, he has worked in nine states throughout the west. His first exposure to Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) came over two decades ago, income qualifying to be a resident at a Section 42 property, giving him a unique housing perspective among his peers. Most recently, Tony was a Vice President of Originations on the West team for National Equity Fund (NEF), one of the nation's largest non-profit LIHTC syndicators. In that role, he was responsible for placing several hundred million dollars of investor equity in affordable housing communities, providing homes for hundreds of families. Tony's hobbies are creating music, playing trivia, reading non-fiction, and running.
ELIZABETH EDWARDS (she/her/hers)
Director of Government Relations, Northwest Region, Kaiser Permanente
Elizabeth Edwards joined Kaiser Permanente as Director of Government Relations for the Northwest Region in October 2021, where she leads state advocacy for Oregon and SW Washington. She is also currently serving as interim Executive Director of Community Health & External Affairs for Kaiser Permanente since April 2023. Elizabeth is well-known in Oregon’s political circles, having worked for many years in the Office of Government Relations for the City of Portland. While leading Portland’s government relations, Elizabeth directed regional, state, federal, tribal, and international affairs for the City, including developing and implementing state and federal legislative agendas to achieve and balance intergovernmental priorities. Throughout her career, Elizabeth has covered almost every area of policy, including: health care, transportation, climate, land use, housing and homelessness, equity, public safety, and general government. Elizabeth’s educational background includes a BA degree from Georgetown University and a Juris Doctorate from The George Washington Law School. While in Washington D.C., she served as a policy advisor to U.S. Senator Gordon H. Smith. She was born and raised in Oregon and loves exploring the state with her wife and dog.
JOY FOWLER (she/her/hers)
Chief Diversity and Equity Officer, Multnomah County
Joy Fowler currently serves as Multnomah County’s Chief Diversity and Equity Officer. As an advisor to Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and a member of the County leadership team, Joy ensures that equity and inclusion is infused in the County’s culture, strategies, and goals. In addition, she is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for the County’s equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts, both those related to internal systems and culture as well as community facing policies and programs.
Joy has an extensive background in designing, implementing, and sustaining diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. In past roles she was responsible for developing, implementing, and managing the strategic framework for internal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Joy earned her MBA from Portland State University and a bachelor’s degree from Bernard M. Baruch College, C.U.N.Y. in New York. She is also a Certified Diversity Executive.
On a personal note, Joy a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., volunteers with Portland Workforce Alliance, is the immediate Past Chair of Caldera Arts, and serves on the Portland Leadership Council of the United Negro College Fund. She is dedicated to spending time with her 3 grandsons, traveling, and serving as Co-founder of A MIRacle Foundation, Inc., a foundation that supports children with special needs along with the families/caregivers and organizations that care for them.
CAROL GABRIELLI (she/her/hers)
Director of Student Success, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Portland State University
Carol Gabrielli graduated with a degree in English and Religious Studies the same year that Tracy Chapman was named Best New Artist for "Fast Car" and Bobby McFerrin won Record of the Year for “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” While Carol refrains from telling anyone how to feel, she does reduce worry and promote happiness in her daily efforts at Portland State University, in her summer adventures with the US State Department's Middle East Partnership Initiative's Student Leaders Program, and in her own consulting business, cgWorks, llc. Carol brings 30+ years of facilitation, mediation, and experiential education expertise to her endeavors. Carol has worked in private and public institutions as both a faculty member and an administrator. Her rich history with community-based processes, experiential practice, and rigorous reflection has roots with the Devereux Foundation, Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest, Portland State University, and cgWorks, llc. She and her partner live in a little purple house in NE Portland. Carol hopes you'll come visit sometime.
ROSA GILBERT (ella/she/her)
Director of Student and Family Support Services, Northwest Regional Education Services District
Rosa Gilbert has nearly 20 years of experience working directly with Latinxa/o/x/e families, students, community partners, private and public agencies in the education, recovery, social services and mental health fields. Since 2003, Gilbert has worked to improve access to education, community services, job training and resources to prepare and position Latinxa/o/x/e students and families for responsible citizenship, lifelong learning, productive employment and financial wellbeing. Gilbert believes that developing and nurturing authentic partnerships with communities, students and families can strengthen the home-to-school connection and has seen it improve attendance, build a sense of student and family belonging in the school setting and encourage participation. Gilbert’s background is in social and behavioral sciences. She holds a B.A in Human Development with an emphasis in Early Childhood Development from California State University, East Bay and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership at the University of Oregon.
KARINA GUZMAN ORTIZ (ella/she/her)
Partner Engagement Specialist, Department of Early Learning and Care, State of Oregon
Karina Guzman Ortiz (ella/she/her) is the proud daughter of parents from Hidalgo, Mexico. Raised in Salem, Oregon, Karina finds herself at home in the ever-evolving communities and landscape of the Willamette Valley.
A mother of two (14,8), Karina has navigated the complex responsibilities of being a mother, student, professional and more since the age of 16. Her lived experiences and the relationships and shared stories of families she worked with early in her career encouraged her to continue learning from people, leading and advocating in her community.
Experienced in community engagement, program management, policy advocacy, training, facilitation, mental and behavioral health Karina has extended her value of collective leadership into the non-profit and healthcare, public education and government sectors. Today, Karina serves as Partner Engagement Specialist and Interim Equity Fund Program Manager at the Department of Early Learning and Care. She knows firsthand the importance of early learning, especially that which is linguistically and culturally responsive. Therefore, every day she ensures community voices are heard to improve systems and policies for young children and families.
Karina earned her Master of Social Work from Portland State University. In 2021, she was elected to the Board of Directors for Salem-Keizer Public Schools. Her preferred grounding activities include reading, sipping tea, long nature walks and hikes.
JASON HOLLAND (he/him/his)
Executive Director, Oregon Coast Council for the Arts
Jason has worked in non-profit arts and culture management for 20 years. He is a passionate and innovative non-profit executive leader with broad-based operational and programmatic leadership at both large and small non-profit arts organizations. Areas of principal responsibilities include program development, impact measurement, fundraising, organizational strategy, staff development, artistic programming, and expertise in community engagement. Previously Jason served as the Vice President of Community Engagement for Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Southern California. Jason currently serves as the co-chair of the Coastal Equity and Inclusion Committee and serves as a board member for Newport Oregon Pride and the Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County. Jason earned a degree in Education from the University of Kansas. During the pandemic, he made the move to the Oregon Coast, with his husband Marc and their two rescue dogs, to start this new chapter in his career. When he’s not working, he loves to be outdoors (hiking enthusiast and wanna-be gardener), under the water (scuba diver), on something going fast (motorcycles and roller coasters are among his favorites), directing theater, or traveling.
MARC JOLIN (he/him/his)
Senior Consultant, Focus Strategies
Marc has spent more than 30 years working with people experiencing homelessness. He has worked in direct services, as the staff attorney for a homeless law project, and as the director of a local homeless outreach and housing non-profit. Until 2022, he directed the office of homeless services for Multnomah County and the City of Portland. Marc now works with local jurisdictions around the country to help them improve their homeless response systems.
Raised in Portland, Marc has always felt deeply connected to the people and natural beauty of this place. He lives in Northeast Portland with his wife, where they raised their daughter, who recently left for school in the Philadelphia area. When not working he is happiest outside, on a walk, a run, or a hike, watching a soccer game, or exploring the city with family and friends.
IVY MAJOR-McDOWALL (she/her/hers)
Policy & Advocacy Director, Our Children Oregon
Ivy Major-McDowall serves as the Policy & Advocacy Director for Our Children Oregon. Throughout her career, Ivy has worked in grassroots organizations, beginning with APANO. She then moved to Texas and joined a youth advocacy group called Texas Rising, working with young people of color to fight for the issues they care about in their local communities and at the ballot box. Ivy is passionate about advancing justice and building the power of underrepresented groups through organizing and advocacy. Ivy grew up in Oregon and enjoys spending time outdoors, eating at new places, and being with family.
AMY MILLER (she/her/hers)
Asst. Deputy State Court Administrator, Court Programs & Innovation, Oregon Justice Dept.
Since 2022, Amy Miller (she/her) has served as the Asst. Deputy State Court Administrator for Court Programs & Innovation. In this role, she provides management, oversight and coordination of services and programs consistent with the needs and business requirements of OJD statewide. Her legal career has been guided by her commitment to improving services, outcomes, and access to justice for underserved community members. She’s worked as a juvenile public defender, the Acting Deputy Director of the Office of Public Defense Services, and the Executive Director of Youth, Rights & Justice, and is thrilled to have an opportunity to work collaboratively with judges, court staff, and system partners. When not at work, you’ll find her on a surfboard, snowboard, or the side of a mountain.
HEATHER OHTA (she/her/hers)
Donor Relations Officer, Oregon Community Foundation
Heather Ohta currently works as a Donor Relations Officer at Oregon Community Foundation. Heather was born and raised in Oregon and is a lifelong west coaster. She graduated from Santa Clara University and holds a master’s degree in public administration from Portland State University.
She has spent her career working in nonprofits, primarily as a fundraiser and administrator. As a philanthropic professional, Heather is deeply interested in relationship building, understanding how values translate into behaviors, and questions around resource distribution as well as the power and limitations of monetary capital.
ANTIONETTE PAYNE (she/her/hers)
Finance Director at Multnomah County Health Department
Bio Forthcoming…
CIARA PRESSLER (any pronouns)
Founder, Pregame
Ciara Pressler is the founder of Pregame and author of Game Plan: Achieve Your Goals in Life, Career, and Business. She has partnered with thousands of entrepreneurs, executives, managers, and creative professionals to create their Game Plan for success.
PATRICK PRIEST (he/him/his)
Executive Director, Community Insurance Solutions
Executive Director Patrick Priest came to Oregon in 2018 to lead CIS. CIS was formed by and for Oregon’s cities and counties to provide property, casualty and employee benefit solutions tailored to their needs. He has worked in public risk pooling since 1998. Prior to CIS, he served as assistant director and long-time chief financial officer at the Colorado Intergovernmental Risk Sharing Agency (CIRSA).
He currently serves on the Board of the National League of Cities Mutual Insurance Company and the Oregon Society of CPA’s Group Health Trust and is Co-Chair of Oregon’s Workers’ Compensation Management Labor Advisory Committee. He is a certified public accountant (CPA), holds an associate in risk management for public entities, and is a graduate of the University of Colorado.
Patrick enjoys exploring Oregon in both his professional and personal travels and wishes he had more time for tennis.
ALISA PYSZKA (she/her/hers)
President, Bridge Economic Development
Alisa Pyszka is President of Bridge Economic Development: a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) consulting firm that works with cities, counties and regional organizations to deliver inclusive economic development strategies and action plans. Pyszka has over 20 years of experience in urban planning, real estate and economic development. Over the course of her career, she worked as manager of the economic development department at the City of Vancouver, Washington (2008-2013). In that role she worked across multiple agencies to implement programs and projects to encourage private investment and sustainably grow the economic base. In addition to her consulting practice, she is an Adjunct Professor at the College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland State University.
Pyszka holds a bachelor's degree in History from Miami University at Oxford, Ohio and graduate degree in Urban Planning from University of Kansas.
JORDAN ROOKLYN (she/her/hers)
City Manager, Talent, OR
Jordan is the City Manager of Talent, a small town hit by wildfire in September 2020. Her focus is on helping the Talent community recover and rebuild by stabilizing staff, prioritizing affordable housing, and bringing the community back together post-pandemic. Prior to her role as City Manager, Jordan’s work focused on helping the City of Portland use data to shift organizational culture and to measure if program impacts matched their intent. When not at work, Jordan is most likely out sailing, coaxing her husband to go on a hike, or catering to her dog’s demands.
TERRALYN WILEY (she/her/hers)
Senior Equity & Inclusion Policy Analyst, Multnomah County Office of Diversity and Equity
Terralyn Wiley is a seasoned community builder and advocate with over 15 years of experience working with local government and nonprofit organizations. She has lived in Oregon for the last 20 years. She currently serves as senior equity and inclusion policy analyst for Multnomah County and Board chair for Women's Foundation of Oregon. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. Her community driven work has afforded her a wealth of knowledge, skills, and abilities in establishing sustainable partnerships with community stakeholders and positively cultivating community relationships. Her advocacy efforts within different organizations have warranted a particular expertise in assessing needs for inclusion, equity and diversity within various systems. Her managerial experiences and scholastic endeavors have given her tools and confidence for empowering members within those systems to work collectively to meet those needs.