About Portland Leadership Foundation
Our Mission
Portland Leadership Foundation’s mission is to strengthen and develop leadership for the spiritual and social renewal of Portland, Oregon.
Our Vision
Portland Leadership Foundation will develop multicultural leaders and grow effective charitable organizations in order to transform and strengthen our community.
Our Values
1. Transformation of people and place
2. The vulnerable
3. The Whole Church
4. Leadership that serves
5. Relationships that bridge
6. Community
7. Generosity
8 Getting things done
Population Served
We serve marginalized individuals and families who live in Portland. We are committed to urban leaders and the faith-based and community organizations they serve.
Staff
Anthony Jordan, President
The opportunity to invest in the lives of our nation’s future leaders provides me the motivation to wake up daily ready to hit the ground running. In my role as President of the Portland Leadership Foundation, I have the privilege of coming along side our College scholarship partners to help them navigate through the challenges of serving the city and the students that come from broken stories. I oversee the financial health of our Foundation. My goal is to ensure that those that invest in our work are blessed and honored with their return. My passions include following after Jesus Christ, loving my wife and children incredibly. My joys include capturing special moments through the lens of my camera, and coaching youth sports. I’m a firm believer that we can accomplish more together than we ever could imagine on our own.
Ben Sand, CEO
At Portland Leadership Foundation, we believe healthy relationships should be the framework for addressing systemic change in our City. We are strategic about the relationships we build, and we live by a basic rule that we don’t do anything alone. Passionate about the City, my goal as the CEO of Portland Leadership Foundation is to strengthen our current initiatives while discerning what leadership, mentoring, or education initiatives might be next for our team. My role on the PLF team centers on building strategic relationships and overseeing the quality control of our organization. My joys include: Jesus Christ, my family, Gonzaga basketball, writing (speeches and the like), and the nostalgia of Friday night high school football.
Pamela Ryan, Act Six, Director
I’m excited to develop and grow the Act Six Leadership & Scholarship Initiative across our region! Every student, educator, and mentor that we work with has the opportunity to make our city more like it could be. My goal is further reconciliation in hurting communities through the development of diverse young leaders who are careered-prepared and coached in servant leadership. I am passionate about bringing excellence to every aspect of my work and believe that the Act Six model has significant growth potential. Desiring to use my gifts to lead the development of current and prospective Act Six scholars, I also enjoy mentoring and advocating for students. My guiding values are faith, family and giving back, and I see my role in PLF as a natural fit for who God designed me to be.
Chris Yarco, Center for Communities, Director
I believe that for any great and worthy endeavor to be achieved, there must be passion, desire and talents embodied in those who set out for success. My passion is to help those with desire and talent receive the support they need to truly make a difference. As Director for our Center for Communities, my role is to help synergize the needs of non-profits with the skills and expertise of business leaders in the Portland metro area. With coaching, collaboration and accountability for results, it's a joy to be a part of enhancing our partner's effectiveness, and even changing the trajectory that an organization is on. My other passions are to love and serve the Lord, share life with my husband and family, and spend time with a wonderful group of friends (generally involving food and great conversation).
Pam Pearce, Community Organizer
One person, leveraged with other like minded individuals, are better equipped to truly make a difference in our world. My passion is connecting people with the tools and resources they need to enrich their community and better their lives. Together with PLF leadership, I can utilize my talents towards helping community members heal their broken neighborhoods, and forge long lasting relationships that stand the test of time. The Lord has called me to interact with people and be a relationship builder, and I am excited for the future that PLF is helping to create.
Irene Johnson, Act Six Scholarship Coordinator
As a recent graduate of George Fox University and an Act Six scholar myself, I have seen the impact that an initiative such as this can have first hand. I am blessed to have the opportunity to serve this year as the Act Six Scholarship Coordinator and have been thrilled to use my experiences to help spread the word and grow this scholarship in the city of Portland. My passion is for the kids of our city and I am currently pursuing my Masters Degree in Teaching. I use my faith as a guide for all of my learning, and my family as my support. With those two things as my highest priorities I know I can achieve great things.
Jodi Stiegemeyer, Act Six Urban Service Track, Facilitator
Gail Grimston, Act Six, Organizer
Center for Communities Advisory Board/Consultant Team
Chris Yarco
Director of CfC, Portland Leadership Foundation
Ben Sand
CEO, Portland Leadership Foundation
Steve Gray
VP of Relationship Management, Key Bank
Lisa Prentice
CFO, InFocus
Paul Rhoads
Spiritual Director, Soul Formation
Monte Wood
President, Opus Solutions
Luke Goble
Humanities Professor, Warner Pacific College
Paul Sohn
Human Resources Analyst/Lean Expert, Boeing
Ruth Burk
Lead Writer, The Content Bureau
Jamie Snider
Owner, Snider Consulting and Grant Writing
Bleu Blakslee
Development Director, ChildFund Planned Giving
Roy Wunderlich
Senior Director, HMSHOST Corporation
Sherri Oswald
Outreach Director, Willamette Christian Church
Bruce Carpenter
VP of Distribution Services, PGE
Board of Directors
David Cleary, Chairman
CFO, Eagon Capital Ventures
Mark Walen
VP of Sales and Marketing, Columbia Distributing
Mike Fahey
President and CEO, Columbia Helicopters
Anthony Jordan
President, Portland Leadership Foundation
Ben Sand
CEO, Portland Leadership Foundation
Jerry North
Retired, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt
Kali Ladd
Education Policy Advisor, Office of Mayor Sam Adams
Strategic Advisors
Don Krahmer Jr.
Partner, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt
Kevin Palau
President, Luis Palau Association
Jim Eney
International Fellowship
Paul Rhoads
Christian Resource Ministries
Dr. Andrea Cook
President, Warner Pacific College
Dr. Robin Baker
President, George Fox University
Bill Riehl
Regional Director, Oregon/SW Washington Young Life
Pastor Mark Strong
Pastor, Life Change Christian Center
Sylvia Welch
Director of Affirmative Action and Equity, Portland Community College
Dave Hillis
President, Leadership Foundations
Ron Marrs
Professor, Western Seminary
Tim Herron
Founder and Director, Act Six
Alan O'Kain
Lawyer
H.P. Spees
Vice President, Leadership Foundations
