United Way Young Leaders Society

Archives of member profiles featured in the monthly YLS newsletter

---

 

Charles McGee YLS Member

Charles McGee has a unique passion: To create the ultimate community. With his passion as a driving force for his public service mission, Charles ran for Portland Public School Board in 2006. Charles is not your average young adult. Born in Monrovia, Liberia the son of a government official and a stay at home mother, Charles and his family fled to Portland, Oregon due to the bloody civil war. 

Named among the most influential African Americans in Oregon, Charles has a lot to say about leadership, education and public service. At the young age of twenty, Charles co-founded the Black Parent Initiative, an organization who focuses on parental engagement in education. Charles is a visionary with fresh, organic foresight, his passion for Black America is timeless and his contribution to this world has just begun. Charles has spoken throughout the nation and Canada on various issues and topics.

At his young age, his resume includes starting a growing successful organization, running for public office, working to pass legislation as well as working with corporations around corporate responsibility. Asked what he wants to do when he grows up, Charles says, sleep and vacation.

 

Jade Gonzales YLS Member

Jade Gonzales, otherwise known as Jade-of-all-trades, is a Graphic Designer and User Interface Designer for Cary Design Group. Her creative talent spans from fine art to the technical, with strong focus on brand and identity work.

Initially torn between her right and left brain capabilities, she entered the University of Oregon as a biology major and left as a design major. She graduated as a Presidential Scholar with honors from University of Oregon and studied with the Rhode Island School of Design’s Summer Institute of Graphic Design.

Jade is a native Oregonian, born and raised in Hillsboro on a Christmas tree farm where she spent her free time exploring the great outdoors and studying piano. Jade is thoroughly enjoying her involvement with the United Way YLS, particularly meeting an interesting mix of new people and giving back to her community through YLS service events. In addition to her involvement with YLS, Jade is currently serving as the President Elect on the YWCA’s Leadership Board.

Jade lives in the Goose Hollow in Portland with her husband Eric and large black Boxador (that’s a Boxer/Lab mix in case you were wondering).

 

Paris Powell YLS Member

One of YLS' newest members, Paris Powell, is also the Vice Chair of the Community Connection Committee.  She joined the group after getting to know the members and hearing about their goals and mission by attending a leadership event in July 2009.  Paris is excited about making long-lasting connections between young professionals and the nonprofit organizations in the area through volunteer events, leadership training and future board positions.

Paris is a Business Valuation Manager at Perkins & Company, Portland's largest local accounting firm.  She provides valuation services for business succession, litigation support, mergers and acquisitions, and estate planning purposes. She has worked in public accounting for the last twelve years, including the years where she was pursuing her degree at Washington State University. 

In addition to her volunteering with YLS, Paris also enjoys educating the public, especially young adults, about financial literacy issues through the Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants and her church in Vancouver.  She's also actively involved in the leadership for the SW Washington chapter of the WSU Alumni Association. 

As a lifelong resident of Southwest Washington, Paris spends many weekends outside enjoying what the Pacific Northwest has to offer.  She also loves to get out on the dance floor for swing, Latin, and country partner dancing.

 

Yohei Norimatsu United Way Health and Wellness Vision Council

Yohei Norimatsu grew up in Japan and moved to Australia around the age of 17. After graduating from Flinders University of South Australia with first class honors, he received a postgraduate research scholarship from the Commonwealth Government of Australia to conduct PhD research at an Australian university of his choice.

Although human health was and has always been his main interest, Yohei decided to investigate a disease of barley plants because he wanted to better understand the impact of agricultural science on human health. Yohei was fortunate enough to meet world-class scientists who were passionate about solving local agricultural problems in countries such as Peru, China and India. He found them very inspiring.

While Yohei worked on his PhD, he was given the opportunity to provide academic and pastoral care to students that resided on the campus of the university. He loved the job and learned a lot about communication skills in the process. He enjoyed seeing students flourish in academic and social settings.

After finishing his PhD, Yohei moved to Portland in 2005 and started his postdoctoral fellowship at Oregon Health & Science University in the Department of Physiology & Pharmacology. He’s also a senior research training fellow of the American Lung Association. Yohei’s specialty is biophysics, and he is currently investigating potential therapies for cholera and cystic fibrosis. His interests include drug development, disease prevention, healthcare delivery, mental health, and community health organizations. Yohei has served on the Health and Wellness Vision Council of United Way since 2008.

Chi Nguyen Chair, Marketing Committee

Chi Nguyen was introduced to United Way in 2007 by Enterprise Holdings, her employer and a dedicated Cornerstone partner. Having been the first in her family to have the opportunity to attend and graduate college, giving back is a natural thing. It did not take much persuasion for Chi to realize the benefit of giving through her workplace campaign. As a result, her contributions are taken that much further with an additional 50 percent match by her employer.

Though she was born abroad, lived abroad in Norway, and blessed with the experience of backpacking through 11 Western-European nations, she never forgets where she calls home: Oregon. Chi grew up in NE Portland and graduated from James Madison High School, proudly named "the most diverse high school in the state."

Through gracious donations that funded her Presidential Scholarship, Chi went onto college and was awarded her Honors Bachelor of Science Oregon State University's College of Business in 2005. Chi currently works to promote alternate transportation options as Enterprise Rideshare and WeCar Manager, two subsidiaries of Enterprise Holdings.

In her second year as a YLS member, Chi wanted to take her participation with YLS to another level. She now serves as Chair of the YLS Marketing Committee. One quote that sums up Chi's commitment to giving through United Way is by her favourite author, Maya Angelou, who oncewrote: "I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.

Pamela Weatherspoon Membership Vice Chair

Pamela Weatherspoon was born in Southern California and moved to Southern Oregon just before turning thirteen. She moved to Portland in 2003 to finish her undergraduate degree at Portland State University. She completed her schooling in 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and a minor in Black Studies. Pamela worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest as Co-Community Relations Director and African American Mentoring Programs Director for almost 4 years. Her passion lead her to work at Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) not just because the organization does great things, or that she is a mentor to two Little Sisters herself, but because she can personally identify with many of the children in which the organization serves. Pamela recently moved on to a challenging role as a Community Relations Coordinator of Legacy Emanuel and The Children’s Hospital. In this new and exciting role, Pamela is able to make a larger impact, and it also offers her room to grow professionally.

Pamela always knew she wanted to go into a career where she could make an impact. Pamela’s commitment to the community helped found the BBBS African American mentoring program. She also sits on various boards including the Young Professionals of Portland, Advisory Board for Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs, Urban Leagues Young Professionals, and African American Mentoring Program Advisory Board and was just recently selected to participate in a Leadership program through the Nation Urban League. Pamela is committed to her community and strives to work hard everyday to make it a better place for all.

Katie Dahlstrom Marketing Committee

Katie Dahlstrom is a Northwest native, having lived most of her life
in Portland.  She joined YLS one year ago, and currently serves on the YLS Marketing Committee.   Katie is a student at Portland Community College Cascade, working on her degree in Communications and Spanish specializing in Intercultural Communications.  When not at school, Katie works in Commercial Loan Servicing with Riverview Community Bank in Vancouver.  She has been with the bank for 3 years and is in her her first year working with mortgage and consumer loans.  

Reflecting on her time as a YLS member, Katie remarks, "I joined YLS because I, along with the rest of the group, believe young people have a responsibility to create change in our community.  Nobody else is going to do it for us.  YLS has reconnected me to people outside my immediate circle, and has been a great experience."

---

Aubré Dickson Membership Chair

Aubré Dickson, a native Oregonian, graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in Finance & Management in 1998 and received his M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix in 2005.  He joined YLS over a year ago, and currently serves as the Chair of the YLS Membership Committee.  Aubré has spent that last 4 ½ years working for Homestead Capital, a nonprofit real estate finance company that invests in low-income rental housing in OR, WA, ID, and UT, serving as the Director of Equity Investments. 

In addition to his responsibilities at work, Aubré serves on the board of directors for InnerCity Sports Ministries (ISM) and the Portland State Alumni Association, as well as advisory committees for Big Brothers Big Sisters and Portland Housing Center.  He is a devoted husband and father, and spends his downtime hanging with his family and close friends.

When asked why he joined YLS, Aubré stated “YLS is unique in that it combines the true spirit of humanitarianism with leadership development, under the umbrella of United Way.  The core values of leadership and community are embodied in the mission, and the opportunity to work with like-minded young professionals that understand our social and civic responsibilities to make a difference in our community all the while learning from leaders within our community is invaluable.  Here at YLS, one has the opportunity to grow both professionally and personally by participating in various events and activities.  In the words of our President ‘We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.’ YLS gives us a vehicle to be that change and inspire for greatness”

---

Eric Gonzales YLS Vice Chair

Eric Gonzales is a recovering cyclist looking forward to starting his training again this fall. He is not averse to a challenge. Once, he ran with the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain in his boat shoes after his luggage was stolen in Switzerland. 

A native Oregonian, Eric is proud to be born and raised in Beaverton. Currently, he is the Portfolio Manager for the Dental Banking Portfolio at Pacific Continental Bank, analyzing and managing portfolio risk in the Seattle, Portland and Eugene markets. 

Eric earned his Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics at the University of Oregon, where in addition to academics, he served as captain of the Triathlon team as well as competing with the Oregon Cycling team. He started his career in Eugene as a Research Analyst before moving into the Portland Market with Sterling Savings Bank as a Corporate Credit Analyst.

Eric enjoys hiking with his wife Jade and their new Boxer/Lab puppy, barbecuing with family, and exploring new tastes at the many breweries in Portland. Eric and Jade live in the Goose Hollow in Southwest Portland.

Eric is looking forward to working with the United Way Young Leaders Society on the Leadership Development Committee.

---

David Blackorby Community Connection Chair

David Blackorby is a native Oregonian who grew up enjoying the outdoors and is an avid skier.  He attended Oregon State University and following college, he was commissioned as an Officer in the United States Air Force.  He was selected for pilot training and graduated in 2003; his flying career included multiple deployments for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.  While on active duty, he held various operational leadership positions culminating in becoming his squadron's executive officer. 

Before leaving active duty, David completed his M.B.A. Returning to the West Coast, he accepted an offer with Wells Fargo's corporate development program in San Francisco.  After completing the program, David return to Portland joining Wells Fargo's Commercial Real Estate Group, were he currently is a Vice President and oversees a diverse construction and acquisitions portfolio.

David joined the United Way Young Leaders Society in 2008 and enjoys the benefit of serving the Portland community with a great group of young professionals from all aspects of the city's private and public sector industries.  His goal for 2010 with United Way is to help build on the continuing success the volunteer committee has had over the past year.

During his free time, David enjoys hiking in the Columbia River Gorge, downhill and kite skiing along with enjoying the coast with friends and family.