Our Team
Members
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Paula received her medical degree at the University of Toronto. She is a physician-scientist, educator, and women’s health advocate. As a professor of obstetrics & gynecology at Oregon Health & Science University, she helps patients achieve their family-building goals. Her research involves developing innovative assisted reproductive technologies for the treatment of infertility.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Basketball, soccer, aikido.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Basketball, soccer, tennis, Tour de France.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Hard to pick one… Toronto Raptors NBA Championship (2019), Italy Men’s World Cup Championship (1982, 2006), Toronto Blue Jays World Series Championship (1992-1993).
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. -Babe Ruth
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Nick is a musculoskeletal radiologist at Central Oregon Radiology Associates (CORA) in Bend, OR. He holds several leadership positions within the company and is part of the Executive, Finance, and Physician Operations Committees.
Nick’s medical training started with medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, then Intern year at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane Washington, four years of radiology residency at OHSU in Portland, OR, and finally a fellowship year at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center.
Nick played basketball at the University of Nebraska-Kearney from 2000-2004. The team had a 104-20 record during that time and made it to the Elite Eight in 2003 and the Sweet Sixteen in 2002 and 2004. During Nick’s senior year, he was named a First Team All-American, the NCAA Division II National Player of the Year and Academic All American of the Year. He went on to play professionally for a year in Lisbon, Portugal before returning to the U.S. to attend medical school.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Basketball
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Basketball and Football
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: As a player, my favorite moment was winning the Regional tournament in front of our home crowd in 2003. We beat our biggest rival in double overtime to advance to the Elite Eight. As a fan, I loved the Detroit Pistons during the Bad Boy years. My favorite moment was watching the 1989 NBA Finals with my dad when the Pistons swept the Lakers to win the championship.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Success is the peace of mind that is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming. —John Wooden
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Alex is a former All PAC-10 quarterback for Washington State University. Drafted by the Houston Texans in 2008, he played 8 years professionally in the NFL and CFL.
As a Sport Management major and member of the WSU Honors College, Alex has always been interested in the intersection of sport and business. In 2015 Alex co-founded EForce Sports, a multi-disciplinary organization focused on increasing the growth and participation in sports, through athlete skill/performance development at all levels. He is also the radio analyst for the WSU football team and an experienced broadcast media professional.
As an entrepreneur and investor, Alex is interested in areas where sport focused companies can increase access for participants, bring value to consumers and positively change the competitive landscape.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Golf! As a former 3 sport athlete in high school, golf has been a great competitive outlet following my athletic career.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Football – Go Cougs!
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Oregon High School State Championship football game 2002 – Go Irish!
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE: Promise me you will always remember – you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think. — Christopher Robin (to Winnie the Pooh)
Guido retired after 36 years in the creative business. Guido started his career as an Art Director in advertising, working on accounts like The San Diego Zoo, Toyota, HP. Later he was recruited by the Nike Brand Design team. Years later he started a full service "Branding" agency, specializing in sports, outdoor and action sports industries, with clients like Smith Sport Optics, Salomon, The North Face, adidas, Brooks, Reef, Vasque, Ashworth Golf, Alaska Airlines...
Then came some life changes and back to the corporate world. Guido spent the last 14 years at adidas, first as creative director for basketball, and later as a senior designer on the adidas FUTURE Team (innovation), creating the future of the company. Guido feels very fortunate to have had such an amazing career where he was able to be creative every day. It never felt like a job, it was just a lot of fun!
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: I love motocross, football and soccer.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: I enjoy watching hockey, motocross, basketball and of course all Olympics.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: In 1980 at Carlsbad Raceway, unknown Marty Moates underdog and privateer, WON, and became the 500cc USGP World Champion!
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Growing older is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Abby is currently the Category Director for Drinkware at Hydro Flask in Bend, Oregon. Prior to this, she has held product development and merchandising roles at Nike and Arc’teryx in footwear and apparel for over 12 years.
Abby has been an Angel Investor since 2021. She is a Board Member at Fintainium, a payments solution-based fintech. As a fifth generation shareholder and family member, Abby is a Holding Company Board Member at Bruning Bank.
Abby and her husband, Nick (also an OSA Member), live and recreate in Central Oregon with their 2 children.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Nordic (skate) skiing. I love gliding in the crisp, cool air in the beautiful, snowy landscapes. It’s such a great lung and leg burner!
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Tennis. I just started learning to play the sport and now have such an appreciation for the precision and strength of the players and the game.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Watching the “Magnificent Seven” during the 1996 Summer Olympics. I specifically recall the moment when Kerri Strug landed her vault, clinching their gold medal. I was at such an impressionable age and looked up to those young women and their incredible performances. I’ll never forget it!
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
As I get older, I pay less attention to what people say, I just watch what they do. —Andrew Carnegie
If the neighbor’s pasture is always greener, maybe you need to take better care of your own pasture. —Grandpa
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Matt is the Director of Civil Engineering and Transportation Planning for Mackenzie Inc., and has over 30 years’ experience in urban development, engineering, and construction. He leads design efforts over a variety of projects ranging from sports facilities and community infrastructure work to commercial and industrial developments.
Matt has his civil engineering degree from the University of the Pacific and earned an MBA from St. Mary’s College of California.
Matt has a habit he can’t kick. He’s entering his tenth year as an assistant softball coach at West Linn High School, having failed to retire when his kids went to college.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Baseball and basketball (retired). Middle distance dog walking (current).
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Softball and baseball at all levels, in person or on the screen.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Watching my daughters compete – specifically my oldest on her Senior Night and my youngest at the OSAA State Championships.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Never mistake activity for achievement. —John Wooden
ADVISORY BOARD: SNOWLEDGE + STRIVE
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Jim is an accomplished business leader who has held a wide range of strategic and operational roles with notable brands and retailers like Nike, The Home Depot, and Mohawk Industries. He has led teams across Product Management, Sourcing, Development, Marketing, and Sales bringing a multi-industry perspective to the Oregon Sports Angels.
He is currently the Principal of Cascade Management supporting the apparel, footwear, and equipment industries. Along with the product industries, he has also co-founded a coffee company. Jim also consults for private equity firms restructuring and scaling up brands in their portfolio.
Jim is passionate about promoting design, product management, and sustainability education. He serves on the Board of Directors for the American Apparel Producers Network and on the Advisory Board of several university business programs in the region.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Golf – I love the life lesson: only the next shot matters.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Anything related to Duke – Basketball, Football, Lacrosse, etc. The Olympics. My son’s lacrosse team.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: 1992 Olympics – All of it. And when Tiger won The Masters for his 15th Major.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Imagination has a great deal to do with winning. —Mike Krzyzewski
Kate pre-tired from an eclectic and interesting career in 2017 to start Oregon Sports Angels. She passed the OSA leadership baton in 2024, and now focuses her OSA work on helping our founders succeed.
She's also the chairperson of GRAYL, an active advisor to several women-founded companies, including Freeland Spirits,The Sports Bra, and Equipt.Women. In the whitespace, she's writing a memoir and splitting time between Portland, OR and Santa Barbara, CA.
FAVORITE SPORTS TO PLAY: I'm a somewhat broken-down runner and former triathlete who still finds plenty of joy in swimming, biking, and (now) hiking, and I'm still a total gym rat. Core is core.
FAVORITE SPORTS WATCH: That's a rhetorical question.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Another rhetorical question.
WORDS TO LIVE BY:
"Outcome over ego." —Shane Parrish, Farnam Street
Liz is a global brand expert and a podcast pioneer.
She’s been CMO at three of the most powerful brands in the world: NIKE, OWN:The Oprah Winfrey Network and National Geographic.
She also created and hosts the long-running award-winning podcast Satellite Sisters, winner of 13 Gracie Allen Awards for Excellence in Women’s Media.
Her newest podcast is an unconventional career advice show from Wondery entitled SAFE FOR WORK.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Swimming, Skiing. Does walking my dog count?
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: I’m a full-on Olympics junkie. I’ve attended 8 Winter and Summer Games, starting in Montreal 1976 and most recently Rio 2016. If I can’t be there in person, TV’s good too. I root for everyone, even in sports I know little about.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Personal moment would be finishing the NYC Marathon in 1995. Squeaked in under five hours! Global moment was seeing Joanie Benoit Samuelson win the first ever Women’s Olympic Marathon in LA 1984.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Stay noisy.
Nick focuses on the M&A industry, supporting buy and sell side transaction diligence work and company growth strategy opportunities for a wide breadth of end markets. He also has experience in real estate investing, franchise ownership, financial consulting and audit and is passionate about supporting entrepreneurial minded people in their endeavors.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Ice Hockey! I've played since the age of three. I also enjoy skiing, tennis, golf and hiking.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Ice Hockey (Detroit Red Wings), college football and any action sport
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: TJ Oshie shootout in Sochi Olympics. I was at a pond hockey tournament and watched this right before he went out for his game.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. —Wayne Gretzky (or Michael Scott)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Forrest’s career in sports business stretches back to the late 1990s, when he first interned for the US Soccer Federation. He later became the CFO of the West Coast Conference before joining Orlando City SC in 2013, where he oversaw the downtown stadium project, helped launch the team as an MLS expansion club, and served on the Board of Directors for Louisville City FC. Since co-founding Intersection Ventures in 2016, he’s been fortunate to be involved with a number of interesting projects across multiple sports and continents.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Skiing. Or Trail Running. Anything in the mountains!
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: University of North Carolina Basketball
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT:
Professionally: Being part of the team delegation at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan/Korea, where the US Men’s National Team advanced to the quarterfinals.
Personally: Watching close friend Anne Walker win her first national championship as head coach of the Stanford Women’s Golf team. (Sorry Mayor that I had to leave the meeting early to make it to the final round!)
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
“If the problem can be solved, why worry? If the problem cannot be solved, worrying will do you no good.” – Shantideva
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Kim’s career began in sports marketing, including time at Wunderman, Intersport and Stanford Athletics (pre NIL era). She later pivoted to philanthropy, where she has spent the past 15 years helping individuals realize their philanthropic goals and organizations execute strategic initiatives. Now at a small but dynamic high school in Sonoma County, Kim thrives on building community and discovering what drives people to make an impact.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Skiing, golf and anything in the mountains!
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Golf, American Football, College Basketball (go Tar Heels)
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Staying up all night to watch the 2002 World Cup games and cheering on the US team to the quarterfinals. And, watching the many Stanford teams win championships – Women’s Golf, Women’s Swimming, Women’s Water Polo, Men’s and Women’s Soccer – so many!
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members” – Coretta Scott King
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Hans retired from Nike after an amazing 24-year career in Product Creation and Product Merchandising. In his last role as VP Global Socks, Hans led a cross-functional team of 50+ people to create socks for athletes and consumers across all sports from the field of play to retail. Previous roles spanning 16 years in Apparel & Accessories Product Creation include NCAA/NBA, Jordan Brand, Nike Basketball, Sportswear, Tee Shirts, and Headwear; previous roles spanning 8 years in Product Merchandising include Sportswear, Cross Category, and Sporting Goods, along with Apparel Business Director for Nike de Mexico based in Guadalajara.
Hans holds a BBA in Marketing from Texas A&M University (’91). As a junior in college, Hans identified his dream to combine his passion for sports + aptitude for marketing and someday work for the world’s leading sports company, Nike. Realizing this dream took 7 years. Upon graduation he spent 2 years at Neiman Marcus at their Dallas buying office as an Assistant Buyer of Men’s Designer Tailored Suits. After earning his MBA from the University of Texas McCombs School of Business (’95), he spent 1 year at Kraft Foods at their Chicago area HQ as an Assistant Brand Manager of Mac & Cheese before parlaying these combined experiences into his first role at Nike in 1996 as an Assistant Product Line Manager for NCAA/NBA Apparel.
Hans mission in this next chapter is to help young people and young companies achieve their dreams. Toward that end, Hans also serves on the Board of Directors for Portland Tennis & Education, Advisory Board for the University of Oregon Sports Product Management Program, and Advisory Board for the Texas A&M MS Marketing Program, all of which give him the opportunity to coach and mentor young people. Hans spends his spare time staying in shape, enjoying the Pacific Northwest, and travelling the world with his wife, Selina (Aggie class of ’91) & their two daughters Veronica & Marissa, both graduates of the University of Washington in Seattle.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Tennis—my teenage boy sports dream was to be a professional tennis player, which obviously didn’t materialize. But I came close once when a young girl at the French Open thought I was a famous tennis player because I was dressed like Agassi head-to-toe—I signed her program.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: NFL—because I’m hopelessly addicted to Fantasy Football. Sundays are a hyper competitive culmination of how well I orchestrated my starting line-up. My wife pretends to be interested.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: March Madness—I grew up in small town Indiana, where basketball is religion. Our high school was always the underdog, March Madness always produces them, and I see myself as one.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
“The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances.”
Caleb has a wide range of legal and business knowledge and experience. He combines nearly a decade of private practice at two global law firms (DLA Piper and K&L Gates) with in-house experience as General Counsel for Jambb, a web3/blockchain-based tech startup.
Caleb has advised stakeholders in the sports, entertainment, and technology industries across a wide range of transactional matters/deals, e.g., mergers & acquisitions (including venture), debt financings, corporate structuring, content/IP licensing and distribution, sponsorship matters, and other general commercial work.
Prior to law school, Caleb spent a few years as a bullpen catcher for the New York Yankees and USA Baseball, coached college baseball at Northeastern and Babson and worked for the NFL Players Association.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Currently Nordic skiing and trail running (and increasingly pickleball)! Growing up I played a little bit of everything (basketball, football, baseball, swimming, skiing, etc.), but baseball was my main sport through college. I was a catcher at West Virginia University and Northeastern.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Tennis and Nordic skiing (my wife introduced me to both sports – and I can’t get enough of either). But nothing beats a World Series Game 7!
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Catching a bullpen for my childhood idol, Roger Clemens. A close second: as a die-hard Red Sox fan growing up, it has to be watching the ‘04 Red Sox win their first World Series in 86 years.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
I’m thankful that I have one leg. To limp is no disgrace. Although I can’t be number one, I still can run the race. It’s not the things you cannot do that make you what you are, it’s doing good with what you’ve got that lights the morning star. — Johnny Hart
Samantha is a Brand Manager at Reebok in Boston, MA. Previously she spent four years at adidas which brought her from New York City to Portland, OR.
She loves that working in the sports industry has given her the freedom to learn a wide variety of roles including sales, event management, talent acquisition and project management.
Samantha played college tennis and is a sports and fitness enthusiast. She is passionate about creating visibility for women in sports and is inspired by the community that sports create.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: I love to move and try new and different activities. Tennis and cross-country skiing are my favorites but pickleball, cycling, paddle boarding, running and downhill skiing are also in the mix!
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Do The Olympics count? I am an Olympics junkie and will watch any sport.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Jessie Diggins and Kikkan Randall taking home the first ever USA cross-country skiing Olympic gold medal in 2018! I will never forget the incredibly enthusiastic and iconic “Here comes Diggins!!” on the NBC broadcast.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.
— Arthur Ashe
Pat has spent decades creating content on his favorite subjects: sports, fitness and now, wine. After graduating in Journalism from the University of Oregon, Pat served 10-plus years as a sports reporter/anchor for television stations in Eugene and Portland.
He then moved to Nike’s Film & Video department where he produced videos showcasing Nike footwear, apparel and athletes. Pat worked with some of the all-time greats including Bo Jackson, Roger Federer and Michael Jordan.
Post-Nike, Pat co-managed a production studio, creating marketing content for clients such as Gatorade and Lexus. Now, as Pat The Wine Guy, he reviews wine for his website, You Tube channel and social media platforms.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Basketball – I like the team aspect and there is no better workout
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: That’s like asking which is my favorite child. Baseball in the summer…football in the fall…basketball in the winter…golf year around
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Being 30 feet away from Megan Rapinoe when she scored for the US vs. France in the 2019 World Cup in France…and shooting video of the moment on my I Phone. Our section went nuts.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Knowledge is power
Scott played College Basketball with some post collegiate experience overseas, then attended Law School at William and Mary. Scott spent some time along the way working for Adidas Basketball Product Marketing Division, interning in the front office of the Washington Wizards (NBA), working as a Basketball Agent for Octagon Basketball before going off on his own.
He took a dive into the acting side of Hollywood, scoring roles in various basketball commercials, films, and television shows. This was all prior to 2010 when life took another course, and he took the job of personal trainer for the Prime Minister of Qatar spending over 2 years traveling the world in his small entourage.
Following that stint, Scott started his own personal consulting company, SMH International Consulting, making deals happen with a large focus on Qatar leading up to the 2022 World Cup. In 2015 he entered the franchisee world, simultaneously launching F45 Training in the East Coast USA, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. He currently owns seventeen F45 Training studios in four countries, including three states in the USA.
Scott continues to dabble in and keep his feet wet in industries he started his career in. He sees Angel Investing as one of his next chapters, and a good fit to the entrepreneurial journey he’s been and will continue to be on. At some point in his journey, he decided to pick up Beach Volleyball as well, and was able to compete for Team Canada in FIVB. He continues to play Beach Volleyball and rounds out his sports hobbies with Kite Surfing and Golf. And will take an F45 class here and there ;).
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Grew up playing all sports, started micro focusing on Basketball in high school. Played at Washington and Lee University and then overseas. Over time shifted from Basketball to Beach Volleyball …. and all the while, also love to Kitesurf and play Golf.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Basketball and Beach Volleyball. Especially the Qatar Beach Volley team, Cherif and Tijan (bronze medalists in Tokyo), a bit biased though because I represent them as their agent.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Dunking every year on my birthday, still going till now at 44.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Wherever you go there you are.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Mark worked for Nike for nearly 20 years and particularly loved his role as US Director of Sales for the Equipment start-up division. Leading a 50-member sales force, battling against established competitors like Oakley, Timex, Easton, Rawlings, Wilson, Callaway and CCM, was a blast. He later served as the Equipment Sales Director in the Americas Region. Receiving Nike’s Global Equipment Maxim Award for his contributions was an honor.
Mark entered the sporting goods world with Easton Sports, working his way up from Product Manager to Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In 1992, his talented team won the industry’s Marketing Innovator Award over top-notched rivals, Nike and adidas. Three individuals he hired at Easton, went on to become Presidents of sporting goods companies. Mark also received two design patents while at Easton.
His greatest learning experience came at the age of 27 when he coordinated the opening of The Gap’s first international stores, in London. This experience helped fuel his love of travel, both business and pleasure. The company’s international revenues ultimately surpassed $2B and represented 40% of sales. Mark now hosts a podcast highlighting inspirational sports game-changers, Heavy Hitter Sports.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: I played baseball from age 7 thru 40. The sport is in my DNA.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: College football (unless USC is getting beat)
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Watching my San Francisco Giants beat the Angels in games 4 & 5 of the 2002 World Series in Pac Bell Park with my son Chris, who was 10 at the time. Attending the epic 2017 Rose Bowl with Chris & witnessing USC beat Penn State 52-49 on a last second field goal is a close second.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Learning never exhausts the mind. —Leonardo da Vinci
To accomplish the grand, you have to focus on the small. —Pete Carroll
“Been there and done that” perfectly summarizes John’s deep and varied professional career. He’s worked in sales, finance, innovation strategy, entrepreneurial mentorship, and investment portfolio management. In addition, he has held board seats with multiple early-stage companies.
John’s career started in Silicon Valley with emerging growth technology companies. He later worked in venture capital and corporate strategy roles with companies such as Nike and Intel. His most recent position was managing a single-family investment firm where he gained experience in healthcare, hospitality, vineyards management and high-end real estate.
John is passionate about finding and enabling teams of doers and thinkers to help them come up with new ideas and breakthrough products.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Tennis & Road-cycling. Is Fly-Fishing a sport? Retired from indoor soccer.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: NWSL, College Football
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: 1999 Women's Soccer World Cup – the joyous group photo in front of 100K fans!
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
“Only the Paranoid Survive.” (Tip of the hat to Andy Grove)
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Currently basketball, both pick-up games and leagues. Will continue trying to play as long as knees hold up.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Football and Basketball. Originally from Detroit, MI and I remain loyal to Lions, Pistons, Tigers, and Red Wings … despite their limited success.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Watching Detroit Lions football games with my daughter.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE: Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. - Barack Obama
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Surfing. But it takes my fearless 17-year-old to coerce me into the cold Pacific. I’ll take warm water any day.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Whatever my kids are playing--currently wrestling and lacrosse.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: When I traded my lift pass for ocean sports
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE: Eddie Would Go*
*Eddie Aikau was a legendary surfer and lifeguard pulling people out of waves in Waimea Bay that no one else would dare to.
After graduating from UCLA with a Business Economics degree (summa cum laude) and co-founding an internet start-up, Jason achieved his lifelong dream of joining NIKE as an EKIN in Los Angeles.
During his 21-year career with Nike, Jason led the Sales function for North America Running and Soccer, Global Tennis, the Southeast Asia territory (based in Singapore), and Nike Women's for the Asia Pacific/Latin America geography. Jason was lauded for his people-first orientation, team leadership, strategic mindset, global perspective, and cultural curiosity.
Inspired by Bob Buford’s book, “Halftime,” Jason is excited to transition from his “first half” of success to a “second half” of significance. He’s dedicating his second half to investing in people and their potential. His most important investment is parenting his boys, Kameron and Karter. Jason also invests his time as a substitute teacher, coach (youth sports and Special Olympics), mentor, consultant, and community volunteer.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Jason stays active playing pickleball, working out at Orangetheory, and coaching his two boys in various seasonal sports.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: College football, NBA basketball, tennis grand slams, and golf majors.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Watching Roger Federer on Centre Court at Wimbledon. This bucket-list moment was followed closely by the 2014 World Cup in Brasil.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE: Do the right thing, in the right way, right away.
During his 15-year career playing Major League Baseball, Jed built a vast network in professional sports - from the clubhouse to the press box to the front office. His understanding of the sports industry and his experience competing at the highest level of his sport provide him with a valuable perspective on angel investing in sports start-ups.
Jed has a political science degree from Stanford, where he played baseball and was a two-time All American. He serves on the board of Project Béisbol, a non-profit providing baseball and softball equipment and instruction to vulnerable communities in Latin America.
Jed and his wife Milessa have invested in sports start-ups in the apparel and sports philanthropy space.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Baseball is my obsession. Golf is my passion.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Basketball (toss-up between the Trailblazers and watching my kids from the bench where I coach their youth basketball teams).
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT:
1. Making the MLB All-Star team in 2018 and sharing that moment with my young children.
2. Ending the 2008 ALDS with a walk-off base hit in Fenway Park my rookie season.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Never let the fear of striking out get in your way. — Babe Ruth
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Milessa is a former U.S. diplomat, having served at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. Diplomatic work provided her with first-hand experience engaging with diverse stakeholders on critical global political and development issues, particularly human rights.
After leaving the State Department, Milessa co-founded Athletivate, a consulting firm focused on leveraging the platforms of sports leagues, franchises, and players to further their philanthropic and policy priorities. She now serves on the board of several organizations, including the Stanford Athletics Board.
On the start-up front, Milessa is an investor and board member of Pledge It, a fundraising platform harnessing the power of sport for social good. She’s looking forward to applying that experience to the angel investing space.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: As a former competitive gymnast and collegiate pole vaulter, I’m looking for my “forever” sport. So far, I’m enjoying learning to golf and ski.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Baseball (toss-up between my husband’s MLB games & my kids’ Little League games), Basketball, Synchronized Swimming (newfound passion thanks to my daughter).
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Setting the New Mexico state pole vault record in 2002.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. –Amelia Earhart
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Highlights? Chris says that highlights are for the retired Hall of Famers. With almost two decades in, he’s just getting started.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: My attention is fixed on the most competitive sport I know, winning in the financial markets. As for physical movements, I mostly stick with walking, spinning, HIITs workouts and stretching.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: My wife and I split time between Seattle and Las Vegas during football season. Some say we are obsessed; we prefer to call ourselves dedicated fans.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Toss-up between going to Japan to watch Ichiro Suzuki swing the bat for the last time as a professional or attending Super Bowl XLVII to watch the Seahawks crush the Broncos.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Go get it Mijo! —My Dad
Advisor: Handful
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Nancy is a Brand Marketing executive with extensive experience developing strategy and leading creative development of integrated campaigns and experiences for Nike over the course of 27+ years.
As Director of Advertising in Nike’s Asia Pacific and US regions, she oversaw some of the brands most memorable campaigns. She was an early advocate for women’s issues through her work on women’s sports and the “If you let me play” and “Athlete” campaigns.
She led global marketing efforts for Nike’s Women’s Training and Young Athletes (Kids) categories, in addition to overseeing Nike’s Sustainable Business Innovation and Access to Sport marketing strategy.
Nancy is a Brand Consultant and sits on the Board of Directors for the non-profit PERIOD. The Menstrual Movement.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: A day Skiing with my family.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: The Olympics, both Summer and Winter. I love the mix of sports, the number of countries competing and all the personal stories.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: 1999 Women’s World Cup Final when the US beat China in front of a 90,000+ crowd. The largest crowd ever to watch a women’s sporting event.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Just Do It.
Advisory Board: Looptworks
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Steve is an experienced sales leader, with a proven sales and customer background in account strategy development, managing senior level relationships, developing high performing sales teams and consistently delivering mutual sales growth and profitability during his 36-year career at Nike.
After starting in customer service, Steve spent most of his Nike career in sales managing and leading the strategic account business in North America. He was a pioneer in many areas in the early, entrepreneurial days at Nike. From becoming the company’s first account executive in New York City to developing a customer centric pre-line process; to planning and executing “top to top” summits with key customers as well as building cross-functional account teams to service Nike’s biggest customers. Steve’s last chapter at Nike was spent in Global Sales leading, connecting and “consulting” for Nike’s strategic account business around the world.
Since leaving Nike in November 2017, Steve is now focused on developing his consulting and event business. He’s a founding member of Oregon Sports Angels, an advisory board member for the Oregon SPM Program, volunteers in the local community and tries to schedule in fly fishing whenever possible.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Was: Basketball. Absolutely love the game. Is: Fly Fishing…great retirement sport.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Basketball and Football — both college and professional, both men’s and women’s.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Watching my kids play all sports from kindergarten through high school and college. And, attending my first Oregon college football game with my Dad, opening day of Autzen Stadium.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is not a path and leave a trail. —Ralph Waldo Emerson
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Jinky is an accomplished global executive, coach and mentor with over 20 years of international experience in general management, merchandising, strategy, brand and product creation at Nike. She’s managed businesses across Asia, Latin America, U.S. and Europe, in country, regional and global roles.
Jinky started her career with the Nike Distributor in the Philippines as an Apparel Line Manager and culminated her Nike stint as the VP/GM for the Women’s business in Emerging Markets. In this role, she led the launch of the Women’s offense in Asia (except China & Japan), Latin America and Africa, that started a sports movement for tens of thousands of young women in these growing markets.
While at Nike, Jinky was also a huge proponent of Diversity and Inclusion and was an active coach and mentor for both the Asia Pacific Network and the Women of Nike.
Jinky is currently a mentor to start-up founders, for the SPM Program at the University of Oregon and for the Built Oregon Accelerator Program. In addition, her consulting business helps diverse women-owned / led companies grow.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Yoga, every day at 9am.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Basketball, and my heart is with the home team. Go Blazers!
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Tiger Woods staging the greatest comeback in sports at the 2019 Masters.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
There are times when it is better to be kind than be right. —Dad
Diane is SVP/GM of NBC Sports Northwest, the exclusive network of the Portland Trail Blazers where she oversees the day-to-day operations of the network, including production, digital, ad sales, operations, marketing and the relationship with the Trail Blazers.
Diane started her career working as a Producer at Good Morning America, Lifetime Television and CNN. While at ABC, in addition to breaking news, she produced major events coverage live on-location, including the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, ESPN Winter X Games, National Finals Rodeo and Country Music Awards. She also served as a Senior Producer/Marketing/Advertising Director for OregonLive.com.
She spent 13 years in leadership positions at Learfield IMG College. A couple of highlights included VP/GM of Beaver Sports Properties overseeing the multi-media rights of the Oregon State University Athletics partnership, VP for Digital and Television and GM of San Diego State’s Aztec Sports Properties.
Diane is a Founding Board Member of WISE Portland Chapter, and serves on the boards of the Oregon Sports Authority and Playworks Northwest.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Skiing - it is the perfect combination of outdoors meets sport meets socializing.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: College Basketball - exciting, fast action played with unbridled passion, heart and soul.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: 1989 Final Four in Seattle - my senior year cheering for the Illini culminating in one of the greatest basketball season’s and team, the Flying Illini, in U of Illinois history.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Don’t tell people how to do things. Tell then what to do and let them surprise you —Phil Knight
Advisory Board: Looptworks
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Sandy is a proven leader with 35 years of experience in the Sport and Fitness Industry, the last 29 with the iconic brand, Nike. Her first role with Nike was in Visual Merchandising as the company was beginning to establish a strong and more demanding retail footprint. Over the course of her time at Nike Sandy advanced to hold Vice Presidential leadership positions in Geography General Management, Marketplace Transformation, Product and Merchandising, and Women’s Category.
Never afraid of a new challenge or opportunity to learn and grow, Sandy readily accepted opportunities to live abroad and gain global business and cultural experiences. She held leadership positions in Asia Pacific in Retail Development and in Europe as the Vice President of Product and Merchandising.
One of the things Sandy enjoys most is leading and working with diverse teams to help individuals succeed and teams win. She continues to be a mentor to up-and-coming talent in the Sport and Fitness Industry. Additionally, and regardless of where she lives, Sandy involves herself in her community. She currently serves as a Board Member for p:ear, a non-profit organization devoted to working with, and providing for, homeless youth in the Portland area.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Sandy is a fitness enthusiast! She loves riding hard on her Peloton bike to achieve personal best performance and, when off the bike, running to stay in 5K shape.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Women’s Gymnastics! I was a gymnast growing up and I’m amazed at the level of today’s performance.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Watching the Olympics – Summer and Winter. I love to hear the athlete’s personal stories and watch them reach their dreams.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Trust your gut! It is usually right.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Casey started his career at Arthur Anderson/KPMG as a tax and audit consultant with an emphasis on compensation and benefits. Currently at Structured Communications Systems, he manages both the Legal and Human Resources functions for the organization, as well as a sales team of 20 spread across the Western United States.
Casey earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Puget Sound, where he was a finance major with a minor in economics. He earned his JD at the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College with an emphasis in tax law.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Running road, biking, and swimming prep for another triathlon. Plus, lifting weights and dabbling in MMA.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: NFL football and March Madness basketball. Learning to be a University of Arizona fan since my kids are now Wildcats.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: As a lifelong Seattle Seahawks fan, watching them win the Super Bowl for the first time in 2014!
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE: “Achieve one task to start off every day (mine is making the bed).” — Admiral William McRaven
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Kate is the Chief Talent Officer at WE Communications, one of the largest independent communications agencies in the world. She’s responsible for delivering on the agency’s global vision to be the employer of choice among professionals who want to use the gift of communications to move people to positive action.
Kate leads a global Human Resources team in North America, EMEA and APAC and sets the pace for the energetic, and collaborative company culture that values employee engagement and development, diversity, and inclusion, along with talent management strategies that put people first.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: I grew up golfing and playing softball. Today I enjoy yoga, walking the dog and fitness classes.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Watching my daughter’s team reach the state semifinals of the 6A high school soccer playoffs and my son qualify for the district finals in the 400m.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Serving a perfect game on my freshman year volleyball team, underhanded.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE: “There’s zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.” ― Susan Cain, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Brad is an entrepreneurial leader with over 25 years of experience in technology and consumer product companies in the health & fitness industry, leading divisions of large companies as well as helping build several start-ups.
Brad graduated from Stanford University and started his career at McKinsey & Company in Chicago. After receiving his MBA from Harvard Business School, Brad spent nearly 10 years at Nike in brand marketing and general management roles, including as the General Manager for Nike+, Nike’s digital business and community. He later led a large consumer business for Nokia and worked for multiple start-ups in the Bay Area, including as President of Spire Health, a remote patient monitoring company with a unique technology for measuring respiration.
Now back in Portland, Brad spends much of his time with his wife and tennis-obsessed kids and is excited to continue working with start-ups as an investor and advisor through OSA.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Sand volleyball has long been my passion but these days I’ve added tennis & pickleball into the mix.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Tennis, both professional as well as cheering on my kids in their matches, as nerve-wracking as that can be!
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Sleeping on the concrete, night after night, outside Maples Pavilion with a group of friends to be the first in line to cheer on Stanford basketball en route to an amazing Final Four run.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
“I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious.” — Vince Lombardi
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Nathan spent over 20 years at JP Morgan in the Asset and Wealth Management business in various investment and executive leadership roles across New York, Philadelphia, Singapore, and Florida. While at JP Morgan, he was responsible for building growth strategies across new markets and for executing turn-around strategies for legacy markets.
He has extensive experience managing and advising large and complex family office clients. He is an articulate and impactful communicator who has wide ranging public speaking experience, including as a frequent guest host on CNBC Asia while living in Singapore.
In 2017 he left JP Morgan to form SixBells Capital, a family investing entity focused on early-stage Venture Capital backed companies. Since founding SixBells, he has made investments in 25 portfolio companies, primarily in Pre-Seed, Seed, and Bridge to A rounds. His investing has been focused on companies in Sports/Health Tech and Human Optimization but being an opportunistic investor, he has allocated to other industries such as Cyber Security and eSports among others. He enjoys taking an active role as a board member or advisor to many of his portfolio companies.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Avid cyclist (mountain bike, gravel, and road), skier (resort and backcountry) and anything outside that gets the adrenalin pumping! Played soccer and lacrosse until college and club rugby in college.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: NFL (Eagles, because I am a long-suffering Philadelphia sports fan!), Soccer and any extreme sports.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Being at the 2023 Superbowl (Eagles vs. Chiefs) with my 12 yr. old son. Although not the outcome we wanted, it was an experience he will never forget and therefore neither will I.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
“Focus on what YOU want, not on what others have.” — Someone insightful (I try to impart this on my kids)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
David is an experienced executive, consultant and advisor. In Hong Kong and Shanghai for almost 9 years, he helped transform adidas in Greater China, holding senior executive positions in Business Development, Concept to Consumer, Planning and Marketing Operations. Wrapping up his career at adidas, David held the role of Vice President of Business Development and Chief Transformation Officer at adidas North America, focusing on strategic planning, strategy execution, operational transformation and leading the COVID crisis response and recovery.
After over 20 years at adidas, he made the decision to strike out on his own and form Thiebes Consulting, following his passion to help companies build and execute strategic growth plans and achieve new levels of operational maturity. David has a diverse range of experiences in general management, strategy, business development, marketing, sales, finance and operations. His client list includes well-known apparel and footwear brands like lululemon as well as many small- to medium-sized companies ready to scale.
In addition to his consulting business, David is an investor and advisor in the start-up community. He serves on the board of Project 48 (a non-profit that supports foster youth by providing brand new essential items and life skills), and he stays active with his wife and three children.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: You name it, I love playing it! If I’m forced to pick one it’s basketball.
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: My go-to sports are men’s and women’s college basketball (go Zags!), NFL, college football, MLB, NBA and WNBA.
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: No brainer: attending the 2017 Final Four to cheer my Zags on to the championship game.
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. —Dalai Lama XIV
Lance served 25 years in various local & regional healthcare leadership roles starting in Oklahoma, but with the vast majority in S.W. WA & Portland, OR. His career focused on Inpatient & Outpatient Service Line Development (Orthopedics/Sports Medicine, PT/OT, Cardiac Rehab, Oncology, Marketing VP) emphasizing new program development and performance turnaround. Recently Lance transitioned to project consulting by starting his own strategy & leadership performance enhancement practice.
He has also served his community in various volunteer board roles such as United Way, YMCA and Chamber of Commerce (Board President for 3 years). Lance is looking forward to his new role with OSA.
FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY: Cardio gym rat, tennis, racquetball & lots of dog walking!
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH: Season tickets to Blazers, Timbers (“Army”) & attend many OSU Beaver games. Enjoy March Madness, Tennis Grand Slams, Olympics, pro & college football/basketball and everything Oklahoma State (Go Pokes!).
FAVORITE SPORT MOMENT: Attending Olympics in 2016 (Rio - Opening Ceremony), 2010 (Vancouver), 1996 (Atlanta); Seattle’s 1995 Final Four; 2015 & 2019 Timber’s MLS Cups
WORDS TO LIVE BY OR FAVORITE QUOTE:
Comparison Is The Thief of Joy —Theodore Roosevelt, 1898
The Len Bergstein Internship Program
Len Bergstein was a civic leader, political force, avid sports fan, and beloved member of Oregon Sports Angels.
Len was OSA’s MVP.
The Len Bergstein OSA Internship Program honors his legacy.
