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.
Go to Top
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
Go to Top
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.
Go to Top
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!
Go to Top
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.
Go to Top
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!
Go to Top
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!
Go to Top
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.
Go to Top
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.
Go to Top
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.
Go to Top
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
Go to Top
Erin Russell, Wish Manager
(503) 292-2280, ext. 17 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Duties: Coordinate Wishes
Education: B.A. Speech Communication, Chapman University, Orange, CA
Personal accomplishment(s): Training for the Portland Marathon last year and joining a Dragon boat team for the 2007 Rose Festival
Hobbies: Reading, riding dirt bikes with my family, long walks, attending car shows and historic races at PIR, travel and photography.
Favorite food: Any breakfast foods: waffles, pancakes, etc.
Most precious item you possess: My digital camera - it helps me capture memories and gives me a creative outlet.
Two best things about working at Make-A-Wish®:
1) The rewarding and meaningful mission
2) The people
Other tidbits: Ceasar Millan is my modern day hero and I've been known to country line dance when the situation calls for it.
Go to Top
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.
Go to Top
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.
Go to Top
