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Board & Staff
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kelly brings more than two decades of non-profit marketing and fundraising experience to the Executive Director role at the Stevenson Downtown Association. Living in Stevenson since 2015, she finds immense joy in leveraging her skills to promote and enhance the vitality of our downtown and working with dedicated volunteers who share her passion for community development.
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Kelly's journey in the non-profit sector began with the Brian Grant Foundation in the late 90s, where she worked alongside former Portland Trail Blazer Brian Grant to build his community involvement. Following this, she dedicated twelve years to managing fundraising events, media relations, design, and communications at Make-A-Wish Oregon, where she made significant contributions to the organization's growth in granting wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Subsequently, Kelly spent seven years on the robust marketing team at Oregon Food Bank, where she oversaw digital marketing initiatives and branding efforts, further honing her expertise in promoting a heartfelt non-profit mission.
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Outside of her professional endeavors, Kelly spends her time with local family and close friends, her husband Joel (a fourth-generation Skamanian), and their beloved dogs, Reggie and Raven. Together, they enjoy outdoor excursions, exploring local wines, and expressing gratitude for residing in this most beautiful region of the Columbia River Gorge.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
Dawn is a dynamic professional deeply intertwined with art and community. She brings a wealth of experience to her role as Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives.
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With an extensive background as a graphic designer spanning over three decades, Dawn's skills are diverse and refined. Her entrepreneurial spirit shines through as she has successfully owned, operated, and sold three businesses. In the last 14 years, Dawn has made significant contributions in her previous roles in fundraising at her alma mater, Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, OR, and Skyline Health Foundation in White Salmon, WA.
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Dawn is also an active artist within the community. Her artistic endeavors unfold at KamanÄ— Studio, a creative space nestled on her property. Beyond her professional and artistic pursuits, Dawn finds joy in outdoor activities, including kayaking, cycling, and exploring the unique charm of small communities in the Pacific Northwest.
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Born and raised in Chicago, she spent 26 years in Arizona before relocating to Stevenson with her husband and two sons in 2003. Dawn is a dedicated artist and community enthusiast, seamlessly blending her diverse experiences to make a positive impact in her professional and personal spheres. She absolutely loves where she lives.
FARMERS MARKET MANAGER
Dana's favorite thing about managing the Farmers Market is that she gets to work on improving our food systems while building community at the same time.
She originally got hooked on the magic of working with volunteers on community projects while leading trail crews on the Appalachian Trail. Later, after earning a graduate degree at the University of Oregon, she moved to Stevenson in 2007 to head up a new branch of the Pacific Crest Trail Association.
One of our staple volunteers during the 2023 market season, Dana joins our staff with her extensive non-profit management experience and as founding/lead volunteer of the Green Team initiative at Carson Elementary, which empowers students to reduce cafeteria food waste by donating or composting.
She and husband Paul are proud parents of Gus, who recently became the youngest vendor to operate an independent booth at the Farmers Market.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Denise is the friendly face at the forefront of both the Stevenson Downtown Association and the Skamania Chamber of Commerce offices, where she holds a shared administrative role. With a warm smile and a knack for organization, Denise ensures that visitors receive a warm welcome, maintains office operations, and administrative tasks are efficiently managed.
Drawing from her extensive background in customer and retail service, Denise brings a wealth of experience to her role, assisting with tasks ranging from organizing office operations to working with our constituent database and volunteer signups. Her passion for the Gorge shines through as she actively supports initiatives such as the Farmers Market and various downtown programs, contributing to the vibrancy of the community.
Originally from Salinas, CA, Denise made Stevenson her home at the age of 15. After exploring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, she made the heartfelt decision to return to Skamania County in 2012, seeking to provide her daughter Danica with the same enriching environment she experienced. Danica also volunteers at Stevenson Downtown Association community events and contributes to the Stevenson High School Ruff Cutts team. Together, they embody a commitment to enhancing the community they proudly call home.