Staff and Board
Board
Joan R. Lewis
Chair
I have been on the 211info Board of Directors since 2007. I was the executive director of the Washington Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) HelpLine. I also served on several boards, including Washington Latino Health Network, the National Council on Aging Benefits Check-Up Advisory Board and the national State Health Insurance Counseling and Assistance Programs (SHIP) board. Previously I spent many years as a trainer and counselor for youth and adults in social service settings.
J. Michael Schultz
Vice Chair/Treasurer
I am the executive director for the Meridian Park Medical Center Foundation, Mount Hood Medical Center Foundation, and the Salmon Creek Hospital Foundation, within the The Office of Philanthropy for Legacy Health. Past positions have included serving as vice president of community impact and relations for the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, and numerous other senior management positions within nonprofit organizations whose missions focused on philanthropy and program policy development. I also serve as vice co-chair for the Oregon Volunteer Commission for Voluntary Action and Service and chair of the Oregon State Volunteer Committee. I have been a 211info board director since 2006.
Randy Blackburn
Secretary
I am the Project Director and the Legislative Coordinator for the Administrative Services Division of the Department of Human Services. Before becoming the Project Director I worked in the Director’s Office as the Federal Financial Policy manager for the Department of Human Services taking on responsibility for agency wide federal funding impact and analysis. Prior to this I worked in Child Welfare for approximately seven years responsible for federal funding and compliance.
New Board Member Theresa Connell
Member
I am the 911 Program Analyst of Technology & Response Services of the Office of Emergency management for the State of Oregon. The 911 Programs provides administration of the legislative mandate for statewide Enhanced 9-1-1 telephone services that allow uniform, prompt, and efficient access to public and private safety services for the citizens of, and visitors to, the State of Oregon.
I serve of the following boards/committees: APCO INTERNATIONAL, NENA the 9-1-1 Associations, Oregon APCO/NENA Chapter Advisory Board, and Oregon APCO/NENA Chapter Technical Committee. Previously, I worked for Qwest Communications, and was responsible for planning, organizing, managing, facilitating the implementation of complex regional Public Safety projects/PSAPS for Qwest’s Federal, State, County, and Municipal customers in OR, Washington, Idaho, Montana and New Mexico.
Vic Falgout
Member
I am retired from United Community Action Network where I served for 3 years as a Manager and the last year as a Division Director. I retired as the Juvenile Department Director in Douglas County in 2005 after a career in adult and juvenile justice which lasted about 36 years. I was very active on the Board of Directors of the Oregon Juvenile Department Director Association and helped form the juvenile justice system in Oregon today.
Mike Fieldman
Member
I have been working in the field of social services for over 35 years. I have worked for and run agencies in both the nonprofit and government sectors. Currently, I am the executive director of the United Community Action Network in Roseburg, Oregon, having served in that position since 1999. I have a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Montana State University.
Lee Girard
Member
I am the Community Services Manager at Multnomah County Aging & Disability Services Division. The agency serves seniors, people with disabilities and their families with a variety of community-based services including a 24 Hour Access Helpline. I have worked in the aging and disability services network for 23 years at nonprofit, state and local government organizations.
Leroy Patton
Member
I am the president of NW Development Center LLC. Previously, I worked for Portland Public Schools for more than 20 years as an administrator in the Office of the Superintendent. I was a specialist in organizational development and conducted trainings designed to develop cultural awareness and better relationships among teacher, administrators and students. I am also the current president of the Fair Housing Council of Oregon and I am the former President of the United Nations Association and the American Cancer Society.
Martin Taylor
Member
I am the Director of Public Policy and Member Centricity at CareOregon, where have worked since 2008. I have wide-ranging Oregon legislative and political experience, working in state legislative environment through ten regular and eight special legislative sessions. Previous posts include legislative work for Oregon Nurses Association and the Oregon Education Association.
Leadership
Liesl Wendt
Chief Executive Officer
I direct the organization’s activities internally and externally. Internally, we have a dynamic leadership team that actually does the day to day work of the organization and an amazing team of staff who manage our resource database and respond to 211 inquiries. Externally, I get to be the spokesperson for 211 which has to been one of the most fun parts of my job! In addition, I travel around Oregon talking to community leaders about how to bring 211 to their communities and how to build a truly statewide organization for Oregon and maintain partnerships in Southwest Washington. As an Oregonian, I am in love with this state and region. It is an honor to help serve the people who live here. When not supporting, talking about and building 211 for the region, I look at policy and data trends to identify ways 211 can inform our community’s approach to health and human services. Oh yes and as the CEO, I also get to fundraise and work to build a sustainable funding strategy for the 211 service!
503.416.2619
Beth McFarlin
Chief Financial Officer
I manage the financial-related aspects of the agency, including, but not limited to: preparing financial reports, invoicing, paying the bills, agency budgets, taxes, audits, insurance, and most importantly, making sure our employees get paid. I also oversee human resources, and administer employee benefits, like health, dental, life and long-term disability insurances, the agency retirement plan and paid time off.
503.416.2603
Troy Hammond
Chief Operating Officer
I oversee all aspects of 211info's operations including our Community Information Center, Resource Department, Online team and Community Relations Department.
503.416.2620
Denise Swanson
Deputy Director
I am leading the statewide expansion of 211info by collaborating with local leaders on implementation, fundraising and sustainability. I work closely with our external partners in helping them to realize the many benefits of 211info services in their local area. An added bonus is that I get to travel around our beautiful state of Oregon, meeting with local community members and seeing and experiencing all of the richness and diversity that Oregon has to offer its residents.
I am also leading the organizations efforts in creating and implementing a robust and diverse resource development plan in order to create long term sustainability for 211info.
I have the good fortune of working in close partnership with the CEO and all departments at 211info which is the most innovative and exciting organization that I have worked for! When not travelling I work primarily from my office in the small community of Dallas, located in the heart of the Mid-Willamette Valley.
503-416-2612
Emily Berndt
Agency Relations Coordinator
I am responsible for building relationships with community partners and providing community feedback to 211info. I represent 211info at agency functions, meetings and on committees in the community. I also have a lead role in 211info’s expansion to every state in Oregon by 2013, initiating, implementing and following through with regional partners as each county joins the Oregon 211 Network.
503.416.2617
Deborah Willoughby
Special Projects Coordinator
I’ve got the best job at 211info. I answer the telephones, talking with callers and connecting them with the community services they need. It’s rewarding work; I appreciate the opportunity to help people who are going through hard times. The rest of the week, I do development work, communicating with funders about 211info.
Connect with me on twitter: twitter.com/deborah211info
503.416.2615
Matt Kinshella
Communications Director
I am 211info's media contact.
I manage content and strategy for all online activities (like the 211info blog I’m sure you read weekly and the twitter feed you can’t live without).
And since I was always getting in to everyone's business about new ways to do things and I'm kind of obsessed with change, the higher-ups put me in charge of cultivating innovation within 211info and the sector at large.
I also remain a part of the communications team. I pitch in with strategy, brand management and messaging where I'm needed. I am a senior advisor to the executive team and board of directors.
Connect with me on twitter: twitter.com/211info, email me or give me a call.
503.416.2649
Mandy Kubisch
Community Information Coordinator
I manage the day to day functioning, success and operation of the Community Information Center. This includes providing training, mentoring and supervision to our very talented staff, interns and volunteers that, in turn, provide exemplary service to our callers. Oftentimes, I get the opportunity to work in the Community Information Center, answering calls and connecting people in Oregon and Southwest Washington to community resources they need.
503-416-2624
Laura Kuperstein
Housing Connections Program Coordinator
I oversee all aspects of HousingConnections.org - a website that helps people find affordable housing in the Portland/Vancouver metro area. I work directly with landlords and property managers troubleshooting problems and giving direction on how to advertise their properties. I coordinate the promotion of Housing Connections to agencies and individuals in need of housing and I participate in housing related committees.
503.416.2604
Susan Salisbury
Metro Data Hub Coordinator
I manage the portion of the 211info database that covers the Portland Metro Area and Southwest Washington and am excited to be on board during a time of change and growth at 211info. I enjoy contact with our providers and am always on the hunt for new resources for our callers. I also monitor and analyze federal and state health care policy and reform developments, and dream of a day when all people will have adequate health care.
503.416.2606
Tim VanArsdale
Resource Team Coordinator
I’m an East Coast transplant, having worked previously as a firefighter and an electrician. I joined 211info as an intern answering calls for the Oregon State Influenza hotline during the H1N1 pandemic. These days, I oversee all aspects of the Resource Team’s work in Oregon and Southwest Washington. I am responsible for 211’s role in emergency management, working with partners to develop and share information about infrastructure and essential services after a disaster.
Staff
Roberto Rivera
Early Childhood Liaison
Hello! I develop and coordinate trainings and presentations to early childhood service providers, and perform other outreach activities to increase awareness and understanding of 211info, Parent HelpLine, and Project Launch.
503-416-2637
Melissa Crocker
Outreach Associate
I am actively engaged in the community providing presentations, attending fairs, events, and meetings. A benefit to my outreach is that I get to spend some time each week answering calls in the call center. I also do outreach for HousingConnections.org – a free online tools for finding affordable housing.
Connect with me on twitter: twitter.com/melissa211info
503.416.2633
Whitney Egbert
Executive Assistant
I do a lot of the administrative work for the agency. Most of my time is dedicated to managing our CEO’s scheduling and meeting prep materials. So if you need to have a meeting with her, I’m the one to contact!
503.416.2698
Rosemary Henderson
Resource Assistant
Ryan Kaufman
Resource Network Coordinator
I work directly with our statewide resource managers, by providing guidance, support and insight. I am the liaison between our call center in Portland and the resource managers around Oregon. I ensure that 211 is consistently offering quality, in-depth information across the state.
503-416-2607
Alison Lord
Information and Referral Specialist
Nickcolynn Nixon
Information and Referral Specialist
Mike Sherwood
Information and Referral Specialist
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