Springfield Chamber Announces 2022-23 Leadership Eugene Springfield Cohort
Since 1986, Leadership Eugene Springfield (LES) has helped create civic leaders that are well-equipped to passionately represent their communities. The newly-selected cohort will participate in monthly, day-long sessions that broaden their networks, develop their knowledge and awareness, and hone their leadership skills. LES has a long heritage of covering a broad base of topics and providing knowledge and information to developing leaders in our community. The program begins in October and ends with graduation in May. The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the 2022-23 LES cohort!
Kate Acosta
Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt
Katherine “Kate” Acosta counsels clients on a variety of employment concerns. With both state and federal trial experience, Kate is adept at the various stages of litigation. This experience, in combination with her substantive knowledge of employment law, keeps her advice practice cutting-edge. Kate recognizes that clients constantly face novel legal issues, and she helps them understand their obligations while finding practical business solutions. Prior to joining Schwabe, Kate worked at a boutique litigation firm in Portland, Oregon. Before attending law school, Kate was a professional fundraiser for nonprofit organizations.
Thomas Ball
Summit Bank
Thomas Ball is an emerging leader with a passion for helping serve his community. Thomas started his career in commercial banking after graduation in 2018 when he was hired by Summit Bank as a Credit Analyst. Now acting as a Portfolio Manager with his own client-base, he is well-versed on commercial loans and works with business owners in varying industries including commercial real estate, manufacturing, and nonprofits. Thomas is the current Associate Board President for A Family For Every Child (AFFEC), is on the board of the Eugene/Springfield RMA Chapter, and is a member of the Eugene Active 20-30 Club. During his spare time, Thomas enjoys playing/watching sports, traveling, and spending time in the outdoors.
Leilani Brewer
PacificSource Health Plans
Leilani received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon in Environmental Studies where she also participated in the Environmental Leadership Program. All throughout college, she worked full-time at Starbucks and took advantage of every community volunteer opportunity, volunteering for Food for Lane County, Eugene Marathon and Bags of Love. In 2016, Leilani was accepted into one of the first cohorts of the Lane County Centralized Internship Program where she began to learn about county-level government in the County Auditor’s Office. Shortly after, Leilani began working for Lane County Health & Human Services where she would dedicate five years to advancing health equity, behavioral health, and community building initiatives. All of these experiences have led Leilani to her current career with PacificSource in health equity and community health. In her work, Leilani has the pleasure of collaborating and partnering with various community-based organizations, health organizations and local agencies to further establish a safe, nurturing and healthy environment for all. She has volunteered for the School Garden Project, which is PacificSource’s charity of choice this year, and plans to continue in addition to the United Way Day of Caring. Leilani is a mother to a four-year-old son and a Shepherd-mix pup, married to her partner of seven years, and enjoys floating the river and food preservation practices.
Eric Carlson
Rainbow Water District
Eric Carlson is the Assistant Superintendent of the Rainbow Water District and has been in the utility industry for 20+ years. He served seven years in the Army as an enlisted soldier, noncommissioned officer, warrant officer, and a graduate of the coveted Army Ranger School. In 2009, he started working for the Rainbow Water District as a Water Operator, then Lead Operator, and was promoted to Assistant Superintendent in 2020.
He is proud to share that he and his wife Nicky are celebrating their 20th year of marriage this year. He enjoys riding motorcycles, both on- and off-road, and has traveled extensively in the western U.S., Latin America, and South America. He has logged over 60,000 miles by motorcycle, with a goal to ride in six of the seven continents.
Fatemeh Fakhraie
Northwest Community Credit Union
Fatemeh Fakhraie (pronounced: FA-te-may Fak-RA-ee) has lived in Eugene since 2016. She has worked in higher education, online media, and the financial industry. Currently, she is the Marketing Assistant Manager at Northwest Community Credit Union and sits on the Board of Directors for Ophelia’s Place. She’s an avid reader and supporter of the Eugene Public Library, and her other favorite things to do are walk along the river path system and try out new restaurants and food carts.
John Garbett
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
John Garbett was raised in the Midwest but has lived in Oregon for more than 20 years. Over the course of his career, he has worked with more than 40 nonprofits to increase membership and to boost their non-dues revenue. He has developed and produced magazines, managed large events, led a team of sales reps and created fundraising programs. Currently, he works on membership development for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, helping members connect with Chamber programs and benefits. He enjoys bringing the community together for ribbon cuttings, networking breakfasts and after-hours events.
Adam Gutierrez
Willamalane Park and Recreation District
Adam is a recent transplant from Norman, Oklahoma (Go Sooners!). A graduate from the University of Oklahoma, Adam earned his Bachelors of Business Administration. He is currently employed with Willamalane Park and Recreation District as their Athletic Coordinator. Adam plans, coordinates, and implements youth athletics and recreation programs. Outside of the workplace, he has a passion for sports and the outdoors, which makes serving the community through Willamalane enjoyable and rewarding.
Brent Heller
St. Vincent De Paul
Brent Heller currently serves as the Business Development Director at St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County (SVdP), where he helps steward the planning, management and expansion of the earned income projects that fund our human services mission. Prior to his work at SVdP, he served as a satellite communications operator and logistics officer during a 20-year career in the U.S. Army, leading groups of up to 100 soldiers in a wide array of missions across the globe. A passionate enthusiast of the outdoors, he enjoys exploring the wild spaces of the Pacific Northwest, on his own or with family.
David Hill
Mereté Hotel Management
David Hill is a native Oregonian and an enrolled member of the Coquille Indian Tribe. David spent the last several years in the Portland Metro area working as a Field Services Sales Executive for FedEx Services. In 2021, David returned to the Willamette Valley and now works for Mereté Hotel Management, an award-winning hotel management company based in Springfield. As a Senior Sales Manager, David manages local and national corporate accounts for six hotels including the Hyatt Place Eugene, Residence Inn Eugene, Courtyard Springfield, Holiday Inn Express Springfield, Comfort Suites Springfield and La Quinta Springfield. David graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor’s degree in Family & Human Services, was a member of the University of Oregon Cheerleading team and was the recipient of a Diversity Building Scholar award. David is passionate about community engagement as a catalyst for economic development and growth. This passion comes from years of involvement in the hospitality and service industry as well as his experience in working with vulnerable populations. David is an active volunteer serving on the Board of Directors for Community Lending Works in Springfield, OR and on Mereté’s culture committee. David lives in Springfield with his husband Joe and their two bulldogs, Reggie and Brittany. He enjoys camping, boating, all UO sporting events and spending time with family.
Kasandra Larsen
First Interstate Bank
Kasandra’s greatest passion is bringing a sense of financial security to her clients which she has been doing since 2004. She is passionate about meeting her clients’ needs for high quality financial products and dedicated to delivering them with the highest standards of client service. She is extremely knowledgeable of financial products and services –performance-oriented, deadline-driven, quality-conscious, attentive to detail, and focused on doing it right the first time. Kasandra is also dedicated to volunteering in her community, and her favorite is Junior Achievement. Kasandra’s motto that she lives by: Don’t be afraid to fail, be afraid not to try.
Colleen Lawson
Kaiser Permanente
Colleen Lawson is a senior sales executive with Kaiser Permanente Northwest. As a University of Oregon alum, Colleen jumped at the opportunity to return to the Eugene-Springfield area and help expand Kaiser Permanente’s Connected Care model to the community. Colleen routinely worked with physicians and operational leaders to develop quality improvement, leadership, financial, marketing, and sales communications. She brings 15+ years of service in the Northwest Region. Colleen enjoys the local hiking and biking trails, golf, fly fishing, wine tasting, and Oregon sports!
Annie Leadingham-Seay
Habitat for Humanity of Central Lane
Annie Leadingham-Seay is originally from Los Angeles, and came to Eugene by way of West Virginia. She began her tenure at Habitat for Humanity of Central Lane seven years ago as a volunteer and is now the Development and Marketing Manager. She adores living in Eugene – you might find her at a concert, art gallery or recreating the perfect Jewish Deli pickle made with local cucumbers.
Leigh Manning
SAIF
Leigh Manning has been Senior Safety Management Consultant with SAIF Corporation since 2010 and has been working in occupational health and safety for over 17 years. She is an active member of the Cascade Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals, serving in many leadership roles over the years. Leigh has a BA from the University of Oregon in Journalism, Public Relations and Communications and a Master of Public Health from Portland State University. A fifth-generation Oregonian, she loves hiking with her dog and her husband and cheering on the Oregon Ducks.
Fernanda Martínez
Downtown Languages
Fernanda Martínez was born and raised in Michoacán, Mexico. She emigrated to the U.S. in 2013 and has lived in Springfield since then. Fernanda started working at Centro Latino Americano (formerly Downtown Languages) in 2018 and has become the Education Program Manager of this nonprofit organization. She works along with other administrative staff, instructors, and community partners to increase opportunities for immigrants and build respect and understanding across cultures by providing language, literacy, and other educational programs.
Chris Miller
Habitat for Humanity of Central Lane
Chris Miller found his way to Eugene after growing up in Texas and attending college in Oklahoma. During his four years with Habitat for Humanity of Central Lane, he first worked as Donation Procurement Supervisor for the organization’s ReStore before moving to his current position overseeing the affiliate’s volunteers as Community Engagement Coordinator. He loves living in Eugene, and when not on the clock you can find him on a running trail in Oregon’s incredible natural spaces, attending a concert or continuing his lifelong quest to find the perfect Reuben sandwich.
Jason Miller
Douglas Fast Net
Jason Miller is the regional sales representative for Douglas Fast Net in Lane & Coos Counties, working with local businesses, organizations, and government entities to provide high-speed fiber internet and telephone systems. Previously, Jason served as the manager of the Digital Marketing Lab out of The Register-Guard and Commercial Producer at KMTR. He holds a degree from George Fox University in Business Economics and graduated from Thurston High School. He and his family produce a YouTube channel on cooking called “1000 Food Family.”
Jan Montry
McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center
Jan Montry is the Emergency Department manager at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center. He received his associate degree in nursing from Lane Community College in 2015 and his Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Oregon Health and Science University in 2017. Prior to his work in healthcare, Jan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the University of Oregon and worked in the newspaper industry for 10 years, including seven years at The Register-Guard. In the volunteer realm, Jan has been a court-appointed Special Advocate for five years and currently serves as a peer coordinator. Jan has a wife, who is a pediatric nurse; two children, ages 4 and 7; and four cats.
Megan Moreland
Summit Bank
Megan Moreland originates from Eagle River, Alaska and moved to Springfield/ Eugene to attend the University of Oregon where she received a degree in applied mathematics. She is currently a Business Client Advisor at Summit Bank. When attending events, she will commonly introduce you to an individual that she knows through her time volunteering with Springfield Twin Rivers Rotary Club, Kids FIRST board, or Eugene Active 20-30 Club.
Odette Oppe
Eugene Airport
Odette Oppe grew up in the Philippines and graduated from University of Santo Tomas, Manila with a Bachelor of Science Mathematics degree. She worked as a database programmer in Manila before moving to Vancouver BC, Canada in 2003. She met her husband and moved to the United States in 2009. She has lived in Texas, Washington, and Oregon.
Odette is currently working for the City of Eugene, Eugene Airport as a Financial Compliance Officer managing the day-to-day financial operations of the airport, and ensures the organization is in compliance with rules and regulations of all grants, local, state and federal. Prior to coming to the airport, Odette was part of the Housing Team of the Planning and Development Department of the City of Eugene where she managed the Housing and Urban Development grants. Working for the City of Eugene, Odette has realized the importance of partnerships between local government, businesses, and charitable institutions in creating a thriving community.
Adriel Pickar
Oregon Community Credit Union
Adriel is an Assistant Branch Manager with OCCU. When she isn’t enriching members lives by helping them reach their financial goals, she enjoys time with family and friends. Adriel is an avid runner and enjoys challenging herself to achieve new personal records. Although Adriel is a native Oregonian, she has traveled to many other states (45 to be exact) but always found her way back home to Oregon, “because there is no place like home.”
Hailey Pratt
Lane Transit District
Hailey Pratt is a Digital Marketing Specialist at Lane Transit District. She is a fourth-generation graduate of the University of Oregon, earning a degree in Advertising from the School of Journalism and Communication. A curious and pragmatic problem solver, Hailey gives structure to ideas by telling stories with data and communicating complex concepts in a simple way. She is an experienced photographer and videographer with a knack for observing her surroundings and capturing personality on camera. Hailey is passionate about education and volunteers as a classroom helper and mentor in local K-12 schools and enrichment programs.
Stephanie Robert
PIVOT Architecture
Stephanie Robert, IIDA, NCIDQ, is the most senior interior designer at PIVOT Architecture. She sees projects as a puzzle and likes to find ways to creatively move pieces around to create a cohesive solution – it’s a skill she began to develop early on, space-planning as a kid, where she frequently rearranged her room to maximize space and create different looks. She is highly organized in her work and enjoys bringing calm to the chaos. When not at work she is drawn to sports cars and anything on the water.
Olivia Sorensen
SELCO Community Credit Union
Olivia Sorensen is a marketing professional with a sound background in (and love for) the nonprofit community. Originally from Idaho, Olivia graduated from Boise State University with a BA in Marketing and a certificate in Public Relations. Her career has meandered through a multitude of industries including transportation, nonprofits, healthcare, and finance.
Olivia is the Community Development Specialist at SELCO Community Credit Union, serves on the Marketing Committee for Springfield Education Foundation, and is the past president of Two Rivers Dos Rios Elementary PTO.
Celine Swenson Harris
Oregon Legislature
Celine Swenson Harris works at the Oregon Legislature, where she serves as Legislative Director for Senator Lee Beyer. She received her Bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Oregon in 2015. She volunteers as a member of the Lane Community College Budget Committee and on the executive committee of the Sierra Club Many Rivers Group. Celine and her husband Chris love living in Springfield with their two magnificent cats, and on the weekends you can find them enjoying coffee at the Washburne Café or walking Willamalane’s 29 miles of paths and trails.
Megan Temple
Travel Lane County
Megan Temple is the Senior Director of Partner and Community Engagement at Travel Lane County. Megan manages member benefits, trainings, and events for Travel Lane County’s 600 members. She also oversees Visitor Services and Outreach. Megan graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northwest Christian University with her BA in Teacher Education and holds a Master’s degree in Non-Profit Leadership from Bushnell University. A native Oregonian, Megan loves visiting local wineries, walking to nearby coffee shops with her dog, and trying new restaurants with friends.
Cami Thompson
University of Oregon
Cami Thompson has found purpose, connection, and opportunity for growth in her work as the Assistant Director of Neighbor Relations at the University of Oregon, forging partnerships and strengthening ties between her alma mater and the town she’s called home since childhood. Better understanding community dynamics and building trusting relationships across campus and Eugene-Springfield are the goals of the moment, but her overall goals of being part of positive change and enriching the lives of others are always at the forefront. Leaning on a background in event coordination at Kesey Enterprises, she loves logistics, to-do lists, and bringing people and ideas together.
Brad Unger
OnPoint Community Credit Union
Brad Unger is the Branch Manager of OnPoint’s Springfield location. He has been in the financial services industry for 22 years, previously serving as a Branch Manager, Assistant Branch Manager, Mortgage Loan Officer and Personal Banker. He lives in Eugene with his wife, two daughters, and two dogs. In his spare time, he loves to run, play golf, and travel with his family. He is a native Oregonian and loves to cheer on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Ducks.
Jamie Yager
Summit Bank
Jamie Yager is a young professional with over seven years’ experience in community banking. She currently works as a Relationship Banking Officer at Summit Bank, where she provides strategic insight and delivers innovative solutions to Summits business clients. Jamie is an active member of the community and a part of the United Way’s Emerging Leaders group. She is also a full-time student, caregiver, and single parent. Jamie is passionate about fostering a safe community where her family can continue to learn and thrive. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer, hiking and volunteering.
Steve Yamamori
Reveille Foundation
With a 25-year career working strategically across all sectors, Steve Yamamori brings innovation, energy, and passion to assisting the underserved. Steve has honed his skills in developing successful programs, partnerships with business, civic, and national stakeholders.
Steve has a desire to lift the community by helping individuals and families break down traditional barriers, silos, and systems. Steve serves as the Founder and CEO of the Reveille Foundation, a 501c3 that supports the underserved with a focus on transitioning military, veterans, and spouses. Steve recently relocated to Eugene, Oregon, to expand Reveille Foundation services to the Pacific Northwest. He has a wife, Aimee, and a daughter, Lilly.
Summer Young-Jelinek
Community Care Partners/BestMed
Summer (she/her) is an experienced marketing and communications professional who recently returned to the medical field after spending her daughter’s early years freelancing. She considers herself a “strategic creative” and loves developing and managing a company’s brand voice to build connection with its audiences. She is currently a marketing manager at Community Care Partners, where her focus is internal communications. Summer graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in art history and minors in architecture, landscape architecture, and business administration. She is a lifelong volunteer and currently serves as chair of the Springfield Arts Commission. She and her husband, Wade, have a daughter in second grade and two tuxedo cats. Summer is an avid organic gardener and novice pastry chef who sees just about every occasion as a good excuse to bake a cake.
Learn more about the Leadership Eugene Springfield (LES) program.
