Members
Biographies
Benjamin Berry has been a member of the LifeWorks NW Board since September 2003 and became Chair in July 2008. He is Chief Information Officer for the Oregon Department of Transportation and has previously served in that role for Providence Health System, Multnomah County and the State of Oregon Employment Department. Ben actively serves on the Boards of Saint Andrew Nativity School, the Software Association of Oregon and the Live Your Dream Foundation. He is also on the Technology Advisory Board of OVP Venture Capital firm. Ben holds an MBA from UCLA.
Keith White, NW Natural Managing Director and Chief Strategic Officer, is an active supporter of the Portland nonprofit and arts communities. His employer, NW Natural, selected LifeWorks NW in 2004 as an organization of special focus. Keith joined the LifeWorks NW Board in September 2003, became Vice-Chair in 2008, and also chairs the Planning and Strategy Committee which provides guidance on the strategic growth of LifeWorks NW. Keith attended Oregon State University for undergraduate studies in business administration.
Nancy Bryant joined the LifeWorks NW Board in January 2007 after serving several years on our Development Committee. She earned her MBA from Eastern Michigan University with a specialization in marketing and has worked as a public relations consultant. Nancy is also on the Board of the Portland Women’s Union Foundation, Stand for Children State Advisory Board and Moonridge Homeowners’ Association. She previously served on the Jesuit High School Board of Trustees.
Ron Basile became Director of Internal Audit for Columbia Sportswear Company in 2003 after spending over 15 years with KPMG. He joined the LifeWorks NW Board in December 2005 and became Treasurer in July 2006. Ron is currently on the Board of Rebuilding Together Portland (formerly Christmas in April) as well as a member of the Audit Committee of the Archdiocese of Portland. He previously served five years on the Boards of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Anchorage and the Alaska Developmental Disabilities Resource System. Ron earned his accounting degree from Montana State University.
Scott Andrews has been President of Melvin Mark Properties in Portland since 1978. He joined the LifeWorks NW Board in July 2006 and also serves on the Board of the Portland Business Alliance, Oregon Sports Authority and Mail Management Group. An active member of the Portland community, he is a former board member of Multnomah Athletic Club, Planned Parenthood, and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Scott grew up in Portland, attended the University of Oregon and received his MBA from the Wharton Graduate School of Business.
Joe Bloom joined the LifeWorks NW Board in July 2006. He is Dean Emeritus for the School of Medicine and Professor Emeritus for the Department of Psychiatry at Oregon Health and Science University. Joseph serves on the Oregon Psychiatric Association, the Oregon Medical Association, the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, the American College of Psychiatrists and the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services. He graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in the Bronx and completed his psychiatry residency at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center.
Elise Brown joined the LifeWorks NW Board in October 2001. She is a native of Portland who attended the University of Oregon for undergraduate studies in art history. Elise is President of EBI Public Affairs, and brings strong public affairs talent to our PR and Marketing Committee. She is a former board member of Police Activities League and ASAP Treatment Services.
Rita Catapano came to the LifeWorks NW Board in September 2005 with over 15 years experience in the health care industry. Currently self-employed as a consultant, she previously worked for Intel, Regence BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente and PacifiCare. Originally from Indiana, Rita attended Portland State University for graduate studies in public administration. She is a former board member of the N.W. Pilot Project and the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Medicaid.
Dotti Cowart, retired teacher and former administrator for F.C. Portland Soccer Academy, served nine years on the Board of the Portland Women's Union. For 19 years she served as Co-Chair of the Fred Meyer Challenge Hospitality Committee and the Jeld-Wen Tradition. Dotti has served on the Women's Board at Portland Golf Club in several capacities, including President. She is currently Co-Chair of the Archive Committee and New Member Liaison. Dotti joined the LifeWorks NW Board in September 2003 and served as Chair from 2006-2008. She attended the University of Oregon for her undergraduate studies.
Roy Kim is Managing Partner of the Central Bethany Development Company in Portland. He earned his undergraduate degree in civil engineering from UC Berkeley and his Masters in civil engineering from Stanford University. He has been a member of the LifeWorks NW Board since September 2005. Roy is currently on the Board of the Vision Action Network and the Community Housing Fund. Active in the Korean community in Portland, he also serves on the Board of the Oregon Korea Foundation.
Jim Piro is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Portland General Electric Company. He has been with PGE for 28 years. Born in Lake Oswego, Jim attended Benson High School in Portland and then studied civil engineering at Oregon State University. He currently serves on the Boards of the Oregon Sports Authority and PGE Foundation as well as serving on the Governor’s Governance Subcommittee on Transportation. He is a member of the American Leadership Forum Class of 2007 and joined the LifeWorks NW Board in February 2008.
Maria Elena Ruiz has over 30 years in the nursing profession. She has earned multiple degrees in nursing and sociology, including a Ph.D. in Medical Sociology/Social Epidemiology from the University of Southern California. Maria is currently an Assistant Professor in the Masters in Public Health Program at Oregon Health and Science University. She is also a Board member of the Oregon Latino Health Coalition and President of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses-Oregon. Maria is a member of the American Leadership Forum Class of 2007 and joined the LifeWorks NW Board in August 2008.
Judy Etzel Samples is a native Oregonian who attended high school in Stayton and earned her undergraduate degree in business administration from Oregon State University. She is the Oregon Regional Director of Human Resources for Providence Health & Services, where she has worked for over 25 years. Judy is also on the board of Outside In and is very active in the St. John Fisher Catholic Church community. She joined the LifeWorks NW Board in February 2008.
Jeff Sponaugle is Chief Technology Officer of Kryptiq Corporation. After attending high school in Indiana, he received his undergraduate degree in electrical and computer engineering from Purdue University. He later returned to his native Oregon and currently serves on the Boards of the OHSU Neuropsychiatric Institute and PDXTuning Inc., a premier tuning shop specializing in Subarus and other performance vehicles. Jeff joined the LifeWorks NW Board in September 2007.
John J. Wagner is Vice President of Network Strategy Provider Operations and Dental Programs for Regence Group. He grew up in Portland, attending Lakeridge High School. John studied accounting at Oregon State University and received his MBA from the University of Portland. He is a 2006 graduate of the Leadership Portland Program offered by the Portland Business Alliance and previously served on the Board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County. John joined the LifeWorks NW Board in September 2007.
To ensure the credibility and integrity of our Board of Directors, we seek to minimize conflicts of interest by asking each member to complete our Conflict of Interest Statement annually.