Oregon Chapter Staff
Andrew Asato, Executive Director
(503) 292-2280, ext. 21 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Duties: Managing and supporting overall direction of the Foundation's mission in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Friendraising and fundraising in support of wishes.
Prior experience: Director of Development and Public Relations at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon for over three years, NW Osteopathic Medical Foundation, Outside In, NW Family Services, Community Works.
Education: B.A. International Public Relations, Gonzaga University; M.P.A. - Focus in Non-Profit Management, Portland State University.
Personal accomplishment(s): Learned how to scuba dive!
Hobbies: Gardening, cooking, bodysurfing, reading a book at the end of the day with my children.
Two best things about working at Make-A-Wish®:
1) The mission
2) The mission. No two wishes are ever the same!
Other tidbits: I'm a very lucky Dad of two daughters when I leave the office at the end of the day.
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Maureen Cahill Newman, Wish Manager
(503) 292-2280, ext. 17 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Duties: Grant magical wishes!
Prior experience: Donate Life Northwest, Program Associate at Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation®
Education: University of Portland
Personal accomplishment(s): Successfully hiked to the top of Half Dome (Yosemite, CA) twice.
Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, playing with nieces and enjoying the sunshine (when it's out)
Favorite food: Artichoke
Most precious item you possess: Family photos
Two best things about working at Make-A-Wish®:
1) Being a part of magical wishes
2) Working with the incredible wish families
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Lizzie Carraro, Administrative Assistant
(503) 292-2280, ext. 10 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Duties: Making lives easier in the office.
Education: Lewis & Clark College
Personal accomplishment(s): Studied abroad and now speak Spanish fluently - and I can do a backflip
Hobbies: Rock climbing, ultimate frisbee, trying to garden
Favorite food: Fried chicken
Most precious item you possess: My grandmothers old passport
Two best things about working at Make-A-Wish®:
1) The mission
2) The people I get to work with
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Liz Clark, Development Assistant
(503) 292-2280, ext. 22 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Duties: I help students, businesses and others plan events that benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon; help coordinate the annual Food, Wine & Wishes Gala; and support other programs that help make wishes possible!
Prior experience: For nearly 30 years I’ve worked for Oregon nonprofits, most recently as PR, Resource and Volunteer Coordinator at Children’s Relief Nursery in St. Johns.
Education: 1982 graduate of Oregon State University (Go Beavs!) with a BS in Technical Journalism. I helped start the OSU Student Foundation.
Personal accomplishment(s): I’m the proud mother of two: a senior at OSU and a second-year grad student at Cornell University.
Hobbies: Reading, needle crafts, making jewelry, painting, playing piano, cooking, gardening
Favorite food: Just about anything as long as it doesn’t have tentacles
Most precious item you posses: My husband's heart
Two best things about working at Make-A-Wish®:
1) Getting to make a difference in the lives of children
2) Working with an incredibly professional, supportive team
Other tidbits: I was an exchange student to Australia in high school.
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Carynne Drake, Corporate Alliances Manager
(503) 292-2280, ext. 18 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Duties: To raise corporate resources to help make wishes come true!
Prior experience: Portland Trail Blazers, The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America
Education: B.S. Marketing, University of Arizona. Currently enrolled in the MPA program at Portland State University
Hobbies: I love to travel, cook, hike with my dog, play volleyball and volunteer!
Favorite foods: Tapas (because you get a little of everything!)
Most precious item you possess: Pictures of my family and friends
Two best things about working at Make-A-Wish®:
1) Sharing the stories from our wish families with other people to inspire them to get involved however they can.
2) Working with such wonderful and inspired people!
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Ellen Dully, Development and Communications Manager
(503) 292-2280, ext. 27 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Duties: Oversee Make-A-Wish publications: website, print and electronic newsletters; as well as manage the donor, volunteer and wish databases.
Education: B.A. Religious Studies, Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota
Hobbies: Playing Ultimate Frisbee, running, gardening, and fixing up my house.
Favorite foods: Stumptown Coffee and marionberry pie.
Two best things about working at Make-A-Wish®:
1) Seeing wishes come true.
2) Working for a mission driven organization supported by a great group of volunteers and staff members.
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Jamie Kaltenbach, Accounting Manager
(503) 292-2280, ext. 31 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Duties: Administrative and accounting support.
Education: B.S. Fashion Merchandising, Oregon State University.
Personal accomplishment(s): Twenty-five years of marriage to my wonderful husband.
Favorite food: Cookies!
Most precious item you possess: Baby pictures of my two daughters.
Two best things about working at Make-A-Wish®:
1) The wonderful staff
2) Hearing about the great wishes!
Other tidbits: I'm a native Oregonian!
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Kara Minkoff, Volunteer Services Manager
(503) 292-2280, ext. 26 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Duties: Recruit, train and place volunteers.
Education: B.A. Politics, Willamette University.
Personal accomplishment(s): Learning to speak in front of a crowd.
Hobbies: Sewing and crafts.
Favorite food: Mocha Frappuccino from Starbucks.
Most precious item you possess: My high school senior picture of my twin sister and myself.
Two best things about working at Make-A-Wish®:
1) The FANTASTIC volunteers
2) Watching wishes come true!
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Kelly O'Malley-McKee, Marketing and Communications Manager
(503) 292-2280, ext. 23 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Duties: Media relations, branding, marketing, and sharing powerful wish stories with the public.
Prior experience: Make-A-Wish Events Manager, The Brian Grant Foundation, Brian Berger Public Relations.
Education: B.A. Mass Communications, Linfield College.
Personal accomplishment(s): Bungy jumping and traveling solo in New Zealand.
Hobbies: Hiking, alternative team sports, book club, traveling, hanging out with my husband and my huge dog Barley.
Food: Ice cream!
Most precious item you possess: My wedding ring.
Two best things about working at Make-A-Wish®:
1) Working for the kids! Our mission is amazing.
2) Collaborating with my fellow staff members on a daily basis - the are wonderful to work with.
Other tidbits: Camping in Yosemite for Thanksgiving is my favorite family tradition. I have worked at the Foundation since 2001.
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Sam Piwonka, Wish Coordinator
(503) 292-2280, ext. 28 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Duties: Coordinating, planning and making wishes magical
Education:B.A. Political Science and Spanish, U.C. San Diego; M.A. Education, San Francisco State
Personal accomplishment(s): Raising my two boys to be independent and sensitive individuals!
Hobbies: Traveling, listening to live music, cooking, and exploring new places
Favorite food: Cheesecake
Most precious item you possess: Pictures of my family
Two best things about working at Make-A-Wish®:
1) Seeing the creativity a child has when deciding on a wish
2) The inspiring (and hilarious) people I work with
Other tidbits: I grew up in Alaska and Hawaii. I didn't live in an igloo, but I can dance a mean hula.
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Helen Rabold, Wish Manager
(503) 292-2280, ext. 25 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Duties: Making wishes happen!
Prior experience: Oregon Donor Program, OMSI
Education: B.S. Behavioral Ecology and Marine Biology, University of Michigan
Personal accomplishment(s): Traveling from Guatemala to Chile on local buses, chickens and all.
Hobbies: Cooking, gardening, photography, training my untrainable pup.
Favorite food: Mashed potatoes
Two best things about working at Make-A-Wish®:
1) The inspiring mission.
2) All the great people who make it all possible.
Other tidbits: I was an Irish Dancing prodigy as a wee tot. I even have medals to prove it.
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Laura Reunert, Finance Director
(503) 292-2280, ext. 32 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Duties: Financial Reports, Payroll & Human Resources
Education: B.A. Economics, St. Lawrence University; M.S. Accounting, Northeastern University
Personal accomplishment(s): Walked the Portland Marathon
Hobbies: Skiing, reading, playing with my girls
Favorite food: Chocolate
Two best things about working at Make-A-Wish®:
1) Magical days
2) The wonderful people who make them happen
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Kemp Shuey, Wish and Volunteer Services Director
(503) 292-2280, ext. 29 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Duties: Oversee wish and volunteer programs, and coordinate wishes
Prior experience: Metropolitan Council, St. Paul, Minnesota
Education: B.A. Politics, Willamette University.
Personal accomplishment(s): I ran the Hood-to-Coast relay last year, and I'm doing it again this year!
Hobbies: Playing soccer, gardening, anything outdoors
Favorite food: I don't like to play favorites, I love all food!
Most precious item you possess: My wedding ring.
Two best things about working at Make-A-Wish®:
1) Making wishes happen
2) Never-ending flow of chocolate in the office.
Other tidbits: I'm a Virgo, I like long walks on the beach and sunsets.
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Laila Umpleby, Development and Communications Director
(503) 292-2280, ext. 24 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Duties: To raise money and cultivate relationships to help make wishes come true.
Education: B.A. Politics, Willamette University (Go Bearcats!)
Hobbies: Volunteering, book club, supper club, and exploring Portland.
Favorite food: Coffee!
Two best things about working at Make-A-Wish®:
1) The mission is so wonderful, I have never been so motivated
2) The notes and drawings from the kids make me cry
Other tidbits: I have three godchildren who I love to spoil.
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