Councilor Linda Nishioka, Salem
Her Own Wings
Linda Nishioka is the City Councilor for Ward 2 in Salem, Oregon, and currently serves as the Council President. Prior to her election, she contributed to the Salem community by serving on various city committees and as a board member for local nonprofit organizations. Linda is retired from a rewarding career in healthcare, having worked as a Registered Dental Hygienist and as the Director of Facial Plastic Services at Willamette Ear, Nose, Throat & Facial Plastic Services in Salem.
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Councilor Donna Gustafson, Forest Grove
Her Own Wings
From farm girl to executive program manager, Donna has spent her career building strong communities, relationships and empowering others. Many may remember her from Bella Donna's Bistro, but her passion extends beyond owning a successful small business. With nearly 30 years of experience leading programs for multi-million dollar organizations, Donna has championed integrity, compassion, and the courage to advocate for positive change, especially for women. Her deep roots in Washington County and extensive community service in Forest Grove has fueled her commitment to fostering a thriving,...
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Councilor Mindy Garlington, Gladstone
Her Own Wings
Mindy has lived in Gladstone for over 30 years (and grew up in North Portland), prior to moving to Gladstone along with husband Steve they spent 12 years moving across states with the US Navy. They have 2 children and 5 grandsons. Mindy has spent her career dedicated to service. Working with and for the public has enabled Mindy to form relationships with professionals from other cities in and around the area. She has been at her current job for over 30 years. Mindy has worked alongside Gladstone residents to champion parks and green-spaces and she has served on the Parks Board and the Budget...
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Re-Broadcast: Councilor Jeanette Shaw, Tigard
Her Own Wings
Jeanette Shaw is the Senior Director of Policy at Forth and a member of their leadership team. Forth is a non-profit that advances electric, smart and equitable access to clean transportation. At Forth, Jeanette is responsible for public policy and regulatory affairs at the state and federal levels. She has over three decades of extensive international, national, state and local public policy expertise in technology and association management focusing on issues such as manufacturing investment credits, economic development zones, workforce training, organizational development, and...
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Re-Broadcast: Councilor Andrea Zielinski, Roseburg
Her Own Wings
Councilor Andrea Zielinski has been serving as a Roseburg City Councilor representing Ward 2 since 2015. Initially appointed to the position, she was then elected in 2016 and again in 2020. In 2023 she served as Council President, which was only the second time a female had held that position in Roseburg’s history. She has chaired Roseburg’s Historic Resource Review Commission and currently leads the City’s Library Commission. In addition to serving on Council and working full-time as an HR Manager for FCC Commercial Furniture, Andrea is actively involved in various community...
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Re-Broadcast: Councilor Briae Lewis, Corvallis
Her Own Wings
Originally from Maryland/DC, Briae moved to Oregon in 2019 and ironically did not get into politics until the 2020 election cycle and Black Lives Matter. After that, Briae decided to run for office and was elected in 2022 as the first openly gay black woman on the Corvalils City Council where she serves as liaison to the Historic Resources Commission, the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy Advisory Board, the Home Opportunity Planning Equity (HOPE), and the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition. Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Allied Video Productions!
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Re-Broadcast: Mayor Julie Fitzgerald, Wilsonville
Her Own Wings
Mayor Julie Fitzgerald of Wilsonville is an Oregonian, having also lived in other Western states. She is a graduate of Oregon State University in the School of Agriculture. After graduating, she managed her family's 1,000 head sheep ranch in Curry County. Julie discovered her lifetime career by volunteering to lead a fundraising drive to bring NPR and OPB to the southern Oregon coast between Brookings and Gold Beach. Julie is mostly retired now after a 43 year career in non-profit leadership and philanthropy, to advance education, health care and conservation for leading Oregon charitable...
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Re-Broadcast: Mayor Melanie Kebler, Bend
Her Own Wings
Melanie Kebler grew up in Bend, graduating from Bend High, and returned to her hometown in 2018 after attending the University of Michigan and Lewis and Clark Law School. Kebler was elected as the City of Bend’s Mayor in 2022, having first been elected to the City Council in 2020. During her time on Council, Bend has approved nearly 1,000 new affordable homes, invested millions of one-time state and federal funds into solving homelessness in collaboration with Deschutes County, and won significant federal grants for transportation infrastructure that will reconnect the community in...
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Re-Broadcast: Councilor Cynthia Jacobi, Newport
Her Own Wings
First appointed to the Newport City Council for a two-year term in 2018, Cynthia then won her seat in 2020. She is currently running unopposed for another four-year term. Cynthia reflects on the fact that the City has spent six years investing in her education about the city. She wants to give back as it takes a while to learn to ask the right questions. She never thought she would be in an elected position, but friends urged her on. She says, “So, I went for it, surprising myself most of all.” Cynthia has observed that the conversation changes when more women are in policy-making roles....
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Felicita Monteblanco, Director, Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District
Her Own Wings
Felicita is an enthusiastic nonprofit professional whose passion for the community has guided her work. She joined the THPRD Board in 2017. She has lived in Washington County since age five and took her first job as a camp counselor – at THPRD – when she was 15. Felicita is the Public Affairs Manager at Northwest Health Foundation. There she supports advocacy campaigns to change public policy, often in partnership and at the direction of community-based organizations. She also manages government relations and leads NWHF’s communications, among other responsibilities. Previously, she was...
info_outlineOregon City Mayor Denyse McGriff has extensive experience in government. She was the Principal Planner for the city from 1988 to 1996. Now retired, she has has worked for a number of local governments, including the Lane Council of Governments, Columbia County, City of Tillamook, Deschutes County, City of Oregon City and rounded out her career at the Portland Development Commission. Her public service career was multifaceted with an emphasis on historic preservation/conservation, adaptive reuse and land use planning.
Denyse was first appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Commission in 2019, and then won a four-year term in 2020. She was elected to complete Mayor Lyles Smith’s term in August of 2022 before winning a full term in the next election. As the first woman of color to be elected mayor in Oregon City, she continues to champion a government and community where everyone has a voice. She has been active in the League of Oregon Cities DEI and the founding of the People of Color Caucus.
She is active in several organizations and efforts in the Portland metro area such as the Oregon City Planning Commission, the Clackamas Heritage Council, McLoughlin Memorial Association, 1000 Friends of Oregon, Bosco-Milligan Foundation/Architectural Heritage Center, National Trust for Historic Preservation among many others. In 2013, she was awarded the Ruth McBride Powers Memorial Award for Service. The award notes the following: “Denyse’s passion for preservation and love for her community is very evident. No matter what hat Denyse has worn over the years, she continuously pushes everybody she meets to try a little harder and aim a little higher”- Vicki Yates, Oregon City Historic Review Board member. In addition, in 2018, she was a member of the Rose Farm Management Committee who received the Ruth McBride Powers Memorial Award for their service.
Denyse grew up in a military family and gained an appreciation for the small older communities adjacent to the bases. She arrived in Oregon in 1975 to attend graduate school at the University of Oregon and went on to graduate with degrees in Political Science (MS) and Urban and Regional Planning (MURP). While at the University of Oregon, Denyse had a work study job with the Bureau of Governmental Research and Service/League of Oregon Cities. She has now come full circle!