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Jean Rosenbaum
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR A Portland native, Jean graduated with a master’s degree in counseling and has 38 years of experience in medical PR, marketing, advertising, management, and non-profit board development. In addition to founding and growing 3 successful companies, Jean was PR Director at Holladay Park Hospital and Business Development/PR consultant, then Director of Marketing for Signature Hospice. In July of 2010, she incorporated the Pacific NW Hospice Foundation to meet the unfulfilled wishes and dreams of hospice patients in the Pacific Northwest. In 2018 Jean spearheaded the change of growing the Foundation to become Gifted Wishes. |
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Paula Jordan
PRESIDENT Paula is a Portland native, Graduated with a BA in Human Development/ECE from Oregon State University, then received her teaching certification from Warner Pacific College. As she was job hunting for a permanent teaching position she was offered a job at a local insurance company that insured local banks and credit unions. She fell in love with accounting and has been working as the Accounting and Claims Manager for over 20 years. She also was on the Credit Union Women’s Association board as their Treasurer. Paula is also almost finished with her second degree in Accounting from Linfield College. She spends most of her spare time taking care of her family and enjoys traveling |
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Greg Childs, MBA
TREASURER I am a Financial Consultant with Charles Schwab. I am an MBA and a Certified Financial Planner. I am a husband and a father. Gifted Wishes champions a cause that is important to myself and my family. Both of my Grandmothers experienced Hospice. It was an emotionally challenging time for myself and my family but I will never forget that time period. As a family we were able to say goodbye and make peace with the transition ahead. For each person and each family that process of saying goodbye can be different but all people should have the opportunity to find that peace at the end of their lives. I want to do my part in helping others in this critical part of life and working with Gifted Wishes is a way for me to make a positive impact on the lives of others. |
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Gina Spanu
SECRETARY Gina is a Portland Native, with a Master of Arts in teaching degree from George Fox University and Bachelor of Science in Child Development and Family Studies from Portland State University. Gina teaches preschool and is the compliance director for an early childhood development center. She is also the speech and debate coach for a local high school. Gina has served as a volunteer on the gala committee with registration and silent auction help for two years. She will lead the registration volunteers for the 2019 gala as well as co-chair the auction. She brings 10 years of experience in auction planning and fundraising experience. Gina has been a member of the development committee since 2016. Gina brings a passion for fundraising, building connections within our communities to share the vision and presence of Gifted Wishes. |
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Carolyn Reynolds
An Oregon native Carolyn brings her passion for sharing the hospice philosophy and her career in marketing to the Foundation. Past Honor the Journey guests will have had the opportunity to see Carolyn in action as she has been an active Board Member and Gala volunteer for over four years. When she's not donating her time to the work of Gifted Wishes, she is outside enjoying the The Columbia Gorge or an afternoon downtown. |
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Tim Minks
I am a 31 year old devout husband and father of two beautiful daughters. While I originated from Lake Tahoe, CA, I have spent most of my life in Oregon and call it home. I graduated from Western Oregon University in 2010, where I found my passion to serve people and began my path into healthcare and have done so for the last 10 years. My first job out of college was a caregiving opportunity with Signature Home Care in Medford. I had been awarded the opportunity to serve the people of a lost generation and found my calling. I was blessed and given opportunities to grow within the Avamere family of companies serving in marketing roles and multiple Administrator roles, Currently serving as the Regional Director of Operations for Avamere. Throughout this time, I have found a true passion working with people at the end of their journey. The Gifted Wishes foundation has touched my heart in a way that is beyond words. I stand by the vision of such a passionate organization and am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of a great organization. |
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Joelle Osterhaus
Joelle Osterhaus was born in West Virginia, grew up on the east coast before attending secondary education and college in the Midwest, and has spent most of her career here in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest with her children and partner. Joelle has worked in hospice and palliative care as a social worker and bereavement counselor since 2007. She especially loves and is proud of her work within local schools and their communities when developing grief programming including trainings for teachers, support groups for families and grief camps for children. In more recent years Joelle has served as a leader in hospice and palliative care within Kaiser Permanente. As the Psychosocial Services Manager in Hospice and Palliative Care she provides support to an incredible team of over 25 field, clinic and hospital clinicians ranging from volunteer coordinators, chaplains, social workers and grief counselors. When not working to help her staff grow and provide excellent care to patients and their families, she also serves as the Chair of the National Hospice and Palliative Care’s Bereavement Professionals Committee, as well as serves as a member of the Association of Death Education and Counseling’s Credentialing Committee, helps as a stakeholder in the National Grief Strategy effort, and is secretary of her neighborhood association in her rural Oregon town just outside the Portland Metro area. Joelle’s greatest loves are her children, partner, and being outside with all the plants and animals on her small, organic farm – which is presently 164 non-human feet and counting! |
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Ken Salt
Ken Salt is the Sales & Marketing Manager for Servpro of NW Portland as well as ProBuild Contractors, and oversees four franchisees. Prior to Servpro, Ken managed two sales territories in the electronic manufacturing industry as a product distributor and a capital manufacturer’s representative. Much of Ken’s business savvy comes from time with Stanley Black + Decker as a Corporate Distributor in the Mac Tools division. He also operated his own business and built the Beaverton and Tigard territories from scratch to one million dollars in 2 years. Ken holds a Bachelor’s degree from Portland State University in Marketing. He also served in the United States Navy as a submarine mechanic and pilot on the USS La Jolla where I earned campaign medals and awards. I am happily married to Holly Salt and proud father to five children ranging from 5 to 15 years old. Ken joined Gifted Wishes to “do my duty to the community and my goal is to align my philanthropic views with and organization and create moments that matter!” |
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Morton Simon, CLU, LACP
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Mort earned a BS from Portland State University. A proud Oregonian, he is the father of two children and five grandchildren and has proudly provided professional financial services in the area for the past thirty years. Mort enjoys biking, racquetball, tennis, and golf, however, he has a true and demonstrated passion for fundraising for amazing causes. He has selflessly contributed time, community service and fundraising for the Jewish Welfare Federation of Portland, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, First Tee, United Way, and now he brings his passion for service to Gifted Wishes. |
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Jules Garza
Jules Garza has a very diverse background and has served on several committees and boards. She has been very active in Multnomah County, Washington county and other areas of Oregon doing political, social and community work. She also has experience in the private sector doing marketing, sales, and consulting for Local and International companies. Currently she’s working with an analytical company and Eunice vineyards. You can usually find her attending or supporting local Businesses, Organizations, or partaking of the many landscapes that Oregon has to offer. |
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Jae Douglas
I am a returning member of the Board, having initially served from 2011-2016. I was born and raised in Rhode Island, but found my true home in Portland over 35 years ago. Here I pursued the first leg of my formal education as a medical social worker and spent many years caring and advocating for people living with, and for many years, dying from HIV and AIDS. Here I completed my education and received my doctorate in social welfare research, and went on to complete a fellowship at OHSU studying health services research. It was also here that, in 2004, my career took an unexpected and major turn and I have spent the last 16 years working in the field of Environmental Public Health, working at the federal, state and county levels. It has been here in Portland that I have loved and raised my step, foster and bio-children, welcomed grandchildren, horses, dogs, kitties and a few other species into my home. My large and extended family/tribe is the source and light of my life and is made up of all kinds of folks who have come into my life by all kinds of paths. I believe deeply in the call to service - a clear and consistent refrain that tells me always to show up, to care, to give of myself and the abundance that I have been given - and I have been given in return the gift of deep knowing that we are all connected and we are all an expression of the divine universe revealing itself through the love we share. |
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Dr. Yolanda Suarez
Dr. Suarez, already a civil engineer, attended Western University of Health Sciences in California, then went on to complete a Family Medicine Residency at USC. It was at the end of her final year in residency that she discovered hospice. It was a transformative moment that led her to redesign curriculum at USC, making hospice a core rotation rather than an elective one. Later, her hospice training came from the talented nurses with whom she had the privilege of working and that exceptional education made it possible to become board certified in Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine. In 2017 she took a year off to pursue a fellowship in geriatric medicine at UNR School of Medicine in Reno, becoming board certified in Geriatric Medicine. Being a hospice physician has spoiled it for other jobs. As medical director of Signature Hospice, she and her leadership team are exploring ways to help people in need. She feels blessed to be on a team that shares similar visions and the determination to find creative alternatives to care for patients. |
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Kimber Cavendish
I was raised in Reno, Nevada. My father owned a variety casinos and motels. I left after high school and danced professionally at the Moulin Rouge in Paris, attended cooking school and worked for Club Med. Three years later, I moved to Eugene and after sustaining a running injury, I returned to college and received my master’s degree in physical therapy from Pacific University. After graduating, I moved to Austin, Texas and opened a physical therapy clinic. My specialty was working with women with breast cancer. During the 20 years in Austin, my partner and I had a lovely daughter, built and remodeled a variety of real estate projects, including designing and building an award-winning modern boutique hotel called Kimber Modern. My goal was to return to Portland and after I lost my younger brother to colon cancer, I moved back to be near my mom and live in this amazing city. I’ve lost several young family members to cancer. Seeing first-hand how precious those last few months of life are, became the impetus for me to join Gifted Wishes. |
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Marylyn John
I have lived in Portland since 1962 after moving here with my family from the East Coast. I earned my master’s degree in social work from Portland State University and have 20 years’ experience working with students and families in the educational setting. I was a school counselor, teacher, and administrator before retiring in 2019 from Portland Public Schools. Prior to working in education, I owned my own business for 22 years. I experienced hospice for the first time with my mother in 1986 and understand on a personal level the emotional toll it takes on a family. I am honored to be a part of Gifted Wishes where I can contribute to the ongoing commitment of easing end of life for patients and families. I have a daughter, grandson, and a golden retriever and enjoy spending time outdoors camping, riding my Harley, kayaking, and gardening. |
Advisory Board:
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Kathy Davis-Weiner
Kathy, a retired Licensed Clinical Social Worker, was in private practice, and specialized in widowhood adjustment and adult counseling. She also worked at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center for over 25 years, serving as director of various departments and as Assistant Director. Giving back to the community is important to Kathy, who has been on the boards of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, Congregation Beth Israel, Mittleman Jewish Community Center and Vision Northwest. |
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Shanna Hancock, RN, BSN
Shanna is a Bachelor’s educated Nurse, and an Oregon Native with a background in Logistics, Warehousing, Process Improvement, Corporate Training and most recently Nursing of Geriatric and Hospice populations. She is passionate about increasing awareness of the Hospice benefit with the goal of “more hospice for more people” and increasing the average length of stay for hospice patients which allows for more Final Wishes to be fulfilled by organizations like the PNW Hospice Foundation and others. This is the second Board of Directors on which she has served. |
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Christina Sigwart
Christina settled in Portland 18 years ago while pursuing a successful career as a regional sales manager. She is not new to the non-profit world, as she was previously Vice President/President of PABA. Christina brings to the PNW Hospice Foundation her passion for fundraising and art. She was recently selected to be co-chair of the Honor the Journey Gala, 2016, where she will be unveiling some exciting new ideas for our attendees. |
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Sheda Dikeman
Sheda Dikeman is the Administrator of Serenity Home Care which is a family owned and operated comprehensive in-home care agency. Building off of her family's 12 years of experience in the Caregiving industry, Sheda founded Serenity Home Care in 2014 and continues to manage the daily operations. Sheda believes that Caregiving is a true life calling for herself and her family as they have invested their whole lives to the growth and well-being of their family, Clients, and Caregivers. Sheda's motto is "The harder I work, the more efficiently I work, the more I can provide not only to my family but the more I can provide to my Clients, and the more I can provide to my Caregivers and their families." Sheda is honored and extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with Gifted Wishes and continue to make a difference in the lives of hospice patients by being an active participant in the change she wants to see in the world. |