Ali Marie Koch
Executive Director
Ali Marie is a tree-hugging, nature loving outdoor adventurer with a passion for supporting individuals with mental health and substance use struggles in creating health and happiness from the inside out. Ali Marie began struggling with her mental health as a teenager navigating undiagnosed depression, panic attacks, anxiety, insomnia and anorexia. She felt deeply isolated, alone and afraid to tell anyone about the thoughts and feelings she experienced. She learned to cope by trying to become as successful and perfect-looking on the outside as possible. In her mid-20’s, her mental health hit rock bottom after an injury led her to develop complex regional pain syndrome, a condition where the nerves fire constant pain signals to the brain. During this time she was placed on large quantities of narcotic medications, which led to a severe depressive episode. It was this experience that allowed her to reach out for help and begin her 8 year recovery journey.
Ali Marie studied Cultural Anthropology and Business at the University of Oregon and has since dedicated her career to supporting mission-driven organizations. She began her career working internationally as Public Relations Director for an organization that partnered with Nobel Peace laureates to promote nonviolence through dialogue and education. Her work, volunteerism and adventurous traveler’s spirit led to extensive international and cross-cultural experiences, including immersive experiences staying with indigenous populations in sub-Saharan Africa and the Amazon. She‘s worked nationally as a governance consultant, supporting nonprofit boards and Executives, and her own lived experience with mental health struggles led her down the path toward becoming a peer support specialist and recovery advocate.
With an 18 year personal yoga practice and a background providing trauma-informed care to individuals in recovery for mental health and substance use struggles, Ali Marie is passionate about supporting individuals in recovery using mindfulness, movement-based and self care practices that support their physical and emotional needs. Ali Marie discovered Ayurveda, the world’s oldest holistic system of medicine originating in India over 5,000 years ago, while seeking treatment from an acupuncturist for migraine headaches which became unmanageable while working for three years in psychiatric emergency hospitals. Since adopting a plant-based Ayurvedic lifestyle, Ali Marie has been able to significantly reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines in addition to overcoming chronic insomnia and digestive issues, decreasing anxiety, increasing energy, and improving mood, memory and concentration.
Ali Marie has completed over 700 hours of professional yoga certifications in Hatha, Vinyasa, Chakra and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy and is currently completing a 3-year 800-hour advanced clinical program at the Sarasvati Institute of Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy to become a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) and Ayurvedic Health Counselor. When she’s not working to create positive change in the world, you can find her scuba diving, mountaineering, backcountry skiing, hiking, biking, paddle boarding, traveling, cooking or practicing yoga in her backyard filled with native plants!
“MY MISSION IN LIFE IS NOT MERELY TO SURVIVE, BUT TO THRIVE; AND TO DO SO WITH SOME PASSION, SOME COMPASSION, SOME HUMOR AND SOME STYLE.”
- Maya Angelou
Diana Latorre, LCSW, CADCIII
Clinical Director
Diana Latorre was born and raised in rural Oregon and experienced substance use and mental health struggles as an adolescent and among her peers. As one of the few adolescents in her community who identified as bi-racial, she often felt alone and helpless in her struggles. She became inspired by authors who happened to be licensed counselors and decided at the age of 16 to become one herself. Diana felt a sense of purpose and empowerment knowing she was on a path to be of service to those who may be struggling and feeling alone.
Diana followed her passion and studied Psychology, Ethnic Studies, and Philosophy at the University of Oregon and received a Master of Social Work from Portland State University. Diana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with over a decade of experience serving adolescents and families with substance use and co-occurring mental health struggles.
Diana has experienced the impact of Oregon’s lack of substance use treatment programs available to the youth she served who often times graduated from treatment with motivation to change and hope for their futures, only to return to the same environment and peer group without the necessary social, emotional and family supports to manifest their hopes into the real world.
When Diana learned of the opportunity to work for ACT NW and its vision to support youth in Oregon in a way that has never been available before, she felt her young life and career experiences had led her to be a part the ACT NW Team. Diana utilizes a variety of therapeutic approaches to provide adolescents and their families the tools to manage substance use and mental health challenges. She is well experienced in providing Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, Parent Support and Coaching, Motivational Interviewing and Stages of Change and Solution Focused Therapy.
Outside of following her passion to serve youth and families, Diana loves to spend time with her own family including her two daughters and husband. Diana is an avid lover of nature and enjoys exploring the world around her through the eyes of her daughters. She is a foodie and loves to explore all the amazing food the Pacific Northwest has to offer with her friends and husband. She also enjoys cats, mystery novels, and ghost stories.
Medical Director
Ana grew up in rural Oregon, on a 40-acre piece of property, surrounded by old growth forest, 10 miles outside of a small logging community. Her parents were idealistic hippies, who were part of the back to the land movement, and Ana has fond memories of those formative years. However, she also learned at an early age what it meant to be an “outsider” and how to navigate communities with vastly different cultural views. Ana began to think about being a doctor at age 11 with a strong desire to help others.
Ana’s road to becoming a physician was not linear or without challenges. She struggled with anxiety, depression, an eating disorder and binge alcohol use as a teenager but kept these issues hidden. She attended the University of Oregon where she obtained an undergraduate degree in international studies. She got involved in the solidarity movement with El Salvador and took a year off from her studies to live in El Salvador volunteering in a rural health clinic. After graduating from college, she put the idea of medical school on hold to teach bilingual kindergarten in Los Angeles. She moved to Seattle and got involved in harm reduction volunteer work which eventually led to becoming the assistant director for a community-based organization providing services to homeless individuals, most with serious mental illness and substance use. This was extremely challenging work and with limited understanding of the importance of self-care she found herself struggling more and more with her own depression and substance use. This work, however, prompted her to finally apply to medical school, in large part due to witnessing the stigma that kept individuals from seeking care and often receiving inadequate care.
Ana was accepted into the combined MD MPH program at Oregon Health & Science University and moved to Portland to begin her medical training. Her substance use, however, eventually became unmanageable. Ana was fortunate to be able to take time away from school to attend treatment and heal. It was during this time that she became interested in addiction treatment systems of care and the question of treatment effectiveness. She had the opportunity to engage in intensive public health research as part of the National Institute of Drug Abuse clinical trials network, as a research associate for a national leader in the field. Eventually, once again, she felt pulled to return to medical training, with the hope that she could use her experience, knowledge and skills to improve individual and systems levels of care through engagement in clinical practice, research and policy.
After graduating from OHSU Ana left for warmer weather to complete general psychiatry training at the University of Hawaii. During residency her incredible daughter was born, and she had to really learn to balance health, family and work. She returned to Portland in 2016 for her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship. She was a chief resident and chief fellow at both these institutions and has been a strong advocate for medical trainee wellness. She also learned to find her own voice in sharing her experience and insight with other physicians in an effort to better train them on substance use and compassionate care for those with the disease of addiction.
She now keeps busy working at NARA, (Native American Rehabilitation Association) providing outpatient care at their child and family program as well as seeing clients at their youth residential substance use treatment program. She is an adjunct assistant professor at OHSU where she helps train psychiatry residents and child and adolescent psychiatry fellows.
Ana is passionate about working with adolescents who are struggling with mental health and substance use disorders and in building the best possible systems of care for these youth in the state of Oregon. She is honored to be the medical director for ACT NW and feels that this is exactly where she is meant to be.
When Ana is not working you will find her spending time with her husband and daughter. She most enjoys cuddling, playing games, baking chocolate cupcakes, laughing hysterically and being silly with her daughter. As a family they all love to go for walks in the neighborhood, ride bikes, and visit Mt. Hood to ski and snowboard. Ana also revels in solitary time working in her garden, making art, cooking or completing crossword puzzles.
Jessica Garver
Admissions and Outreach Coordinator
As the Admissions and Outreach Coordinator, Jessica brings her passion for people, health, and recovery to ACT NW. Through her own lived experience in inpatient and outpatient substance use treatment settings as a teen, she knows and understands the risks of trying to stay healthy and well without like-minded peers supporting her. Jessica has spent the majority of her adult life honing in and actively practicing her version of recovery and what that looks like to her: a healthy mind, a healthy body, and a community that knows how to support her. Her resilience has given her a deep passion to give back to her community, and she holds a strong vision and commitment to providing families and adolescents with the support they need to heal and thrive in. Jessica truly believes that healing, growth, and just plain magic can happen when you surround yourself with a dependable and loyal support system.
When Jessica was a teen, her family moved to the small Mediterranean island of Malta. She learned early on that the sun and the sea would be a huge part of her life. As an adult she continued traveling to remote beach destinations in Central America and Europe seeking new experiences and immersing herself in different cultures. While solo-traveling, she discovered parts of herself she had never met as her younger self. She was shocked to find confidence, bravery, and independence; things that were previously looked over and waiting to be revealed.
Jessica’s well-being is maintained by her dedication to physical activity. She is a self-proclaimed “fitness fanatic” and she lives up to the name! She is always challenging herself whether it’s by backpacking through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, learning how to surf in the Caribbean, snowboarding on Mt. Hood, kayaking the Columbia River, teaching spin classes, competitive powerlifting, or just plain breaking a sweat in her living room. Being active and in nature keeps Jessica feeling grounded. She believes her dedication to physical fitness has helped keep her loyal to her wellness path.
Jessica finds having a wide range of hobbies important to her self-care. She is the singer of a local pop-punk band who has been lucky enough to record and release albums, play live with her musical heroes and collaborate in songwriting with some of the most talented of musicians. She finds fulfillment in reading, woodburning floral designs, and cooking (including trying to master the elusive art of smoking the perfect brisket!)
While enthusiastically serving the ACT NW community, Jessica is actively earning her CADC I in addiction counseling at Portland Community College. She looks forward to meeting you and is honored and excited to be a part of your family’s journey!
Scot Wilson
Administrative Assistant and Billing Coordinator
I grew up in Phoenix Arizona and began my career in healthcare working in Customer Service for a large Durable Medical Equipment company at age 20. It was here I learned the basics of customer service, time management and conflict resolution. My employer offered me opportunities to learn skills in several departments such as billing, Respiratory Therapy, HR and Medicare and Private Insurance Billing.
My struggles with anxiety, fear and low self worth began towards the end of a 10 year relationship that had turned very abusive. It was at this time that I turned to substance abuse to cope, escape and numb what was happening around and to me. I was finally able to get free of this relationship, but the addiction I had created still followed me.
Realizing my substance use had become harmful to myself and was hurting those that loved me I entered a year long treatment program in the beautiful desert just north of Phoenix. Here I was not only set free of my substance abuse but found a new direction to pursue for my work. I was hired on by this center and worked directly with the men coming through the program. Here I found my joy in serving others and raising men up to believe they had value and worth.
The beauty of the Pacific Northwest called to me and I moved to Portland and continued my work in Behavioral Health while enjoying all the outdoor fun this part of the country provides.
I was drawn to ACTNW first by the staff that was already in place and their own personal journey that led them here. Second, after years working with adults struggling with anxiety, fear, low self worth and substance abuse it feels perfect to work now with a younger age struggling with the same issues. If I can in any way point them in the right direction earlier, they can embrace their young adult years strong, knowing who they are and confident.
I look forward to bringing many years of administrative knowledge to this team. To help them be their best for the very precious ones we will be serving at ACT NW. I also bring my heart that wants so much to see brokenness replaced with joy, fear replaced with confidence and low self worth replaced with value and purpose.
While not working I love the coast, camping and outdoor walking. Becoming a great cook and an experienced bicyclist are my newest future goals.
Shinjini Bakshi
Co‑Occurring Therapist
MSSW
Shinjini (they/them) is a queer clinical social worker of color who proudly takes up space in the behavioral health field, as a provider-consumer of care with personal lived experience of both substance use and mental health recovery. Although they were raised in the South Asian community in the Philadelphia area, they grew up daydreaming about the West Coast. When the timing felt right, Shinjini and their beloved pup named Frankie hit the road on an epic cross-country road trip. Shinjini is a now a guest on Indigenous Chinook land and works, personally and professionally, to expand access to healing spaces for marginalized folks to recover, connect, and experience joy.
As a bilingual person with immigrant parents, Shinjini has always been immersed in multi-cultural environments full of vibrant art, yummy food, and many opportunities to hit the dance floor. But they have also struggled with “invisible challenges,” feeling the weight of silence about mental health, substance use, and interpersonal violence. After surviving an overdose, Shinjini had no real example of what healing and recovery could look like (or if it was even possible). They not only felt like a burden with immense shame about needing support but also experienced guilt about seeking different levels of care and therapy—a privilege that is not often accessible to Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC).
Due to personally and professionally witnessing ‘colorblind’ clinicians perpetuating racism and harm in higher levels of care, Shinjini is now a fierce advocate for anti-oppressive clinical spaces, tailored to meet the unique needs of historically silenced communities… and for these spaces to be led by people with lived experience (people who actually know what it’s like)!
Before joining the ACT NW team, Shinjini worked alongside, and witnessed the resilience of, students with complex mental health and substance use concerns, young parents in the foster care system, survivors of intimate partner violence and sex trafficking, families experiencing houselessness, and young people exploring their intersectional identities. Shinjini’s clinical lens is wellness-centered, harm-reduction focused, trauma-sensitive, culturally-responsive, queer and trans affirming, and anti-racist. Their warm, relational approach to therapy is anchored in the belief that healing begins to happen when individuals and communities feel seen, heard, respected, and valued.
Shinjini completed a double Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Criminology at the Penn State Schreyer Honors College and earned a Master of Science degree in Social Work with a concentration in advanced clinical practice from Columbia University. They have contributed to a range of research studies, including one funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH). Shinjini was recently awarded a micro-grant from the Action Lab for Social Justice for the People’s Crisis Line advocacy project, a peer-led community crisis resource. You can read their upcoming work, titled “Peer Support as a Tool for Community Care: Nothing About Us Without Us,” in the 2021 Columbia Social Work Review, a peer-reviewed academic journal.
Shinjini’s recovery journey has been messy, difficult, and non-linear. They have had to look beyond the one-size-fits-all recovery approach and now channel that “go hard or go home” energy into things that truly light them up. You will often find them collaging, playing Bansuri bamboo flute, and finding random things for free. In the ACT NW community, Shinjini feels like they can bring their whole self to room.
Frankie is a seven-year-old hypoallergenic Shihtzu-Maltese with an underbite. He likes to sploot in the sun and eat cheesy treats!
Alison Mann
Board Chair
Launching ACT Northwest and dreaming of a bright and compelling future for every adolescent in recovery from substance use disorder, Alison is an advocate and visionary.
Alison was first called to find a solution for Oregon because of her own experience as a mother. In 2015 and in middle of the storm that is adolescent addiction, Alison was forced to look across the country because no durable solutions existed here at the time.
In the years following, Alison has experienced the promises of recovery and witnessed both the successes and tragedies taking place every day in our society for young people suffering from substance use disorder. In her own journey as a mother, Alison has become a go-to-mentor for parents with children on a similar journey toward recovery. Alison’s hope for the future is rooted in ACT Northwest’s mission, providing adolescents and the parents & siblings that love them the tools necessary for lasting recovery - Achieving Change Together.
Having eventually found a solution outside Oregon, Alison believed something different was possible for parents in the Northwest. Alison envisioned a robust and effective continuum of care for adolescents and their families experiencing substance use disorder. Together with their parents, these adolescents can now have the support they deserve, realize their own gifts and actualize that compelling future.
Alison’s vision of ACT Northwest, a positive peer community and treatment solution for families, expands upon research on Alternative Peer Groups and assures access for all families who seek recovery. Without such a positive peer recovery community, families would continue to struggle. As a parent and service-oriented professional, Alison believes ACT Northwest is a missing piece in Oregon’s promise to itself and its people.
Ross Denison
Board Member
“We rise by lifting others.” -Robert Ingersoll
Ross is a criminal defense attorney based in Portland, Oregon. He represents and defends people accused of wrongdoing throughout the state. Prior to law school, Ross worked as a residential counselor at a group home for mentally ill adults. On both his career paths, Ross was and is witness to the systemic inequity and personal struggle faced by people who live with substance use disorder and their families.
At ACT NW, Ross hopes to offer his professional experience and skills to help create an environment and community in which young people can grow and heal from substance use disorder.
Ross holds a bachelor’s degree from Lewis & Clark and a law degree from the New England School of Law. He is a member of the Oregon Defense Lawyers Association.
Brynne Fletcher
Board Member
Brynne is a Portland native, growing up in the West Linn and Lake Oswego area. She began studying Japanese in middle school, traveling as an exchange student in middle school and high school. Brynne continued her Japanese and business studies at University of Oregon, finishing her undergraduate degree at Portland State University following a semester abroad at Waseda University in Tokyo.
After college, Brynne took a job as an aide in a Special Education classroom which inspired her decision to go back to school. She achieved her Masters in Teaching and worked in Special Education for 5 years. Brynne’s experience as a teacher, along with her personal journey in recovery, drives her motivation to work towards diminishing the stigma of addiction, and ensuring accessible recovery for all youth and their families.
Brynne is a passionate motorcycle rider and a member of The Litas, a worldwide women’s motorcycle community. She can also be found drawing, painting, and adventuring with her dog Pearl.
Paul Bryant, LCSW, CADC III
Board Member
Paul Bryant, LCSW, CADC III, is the Clinical Director of Kaiser Permanente’s Addiction Medicine Program. Paul has been working in the Addiction Medicine field since 2004 and his clinical background is treating adolescents struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health issues. In addition to working with adolescents Paul has extensive experience working with parents and family members of youth struggling with addiction and mental health both in facilitating Family Education/Support groups and as a Family Therapist.
Paul was the Program Development Coordinator of a 50-bed secure adolescent residential treatment program which involved supervision of direct care and clinical staff. More recently Paul was the Clinical Services Manager of Kaiser Permanente’s Brookside Addiction Medicine Adult Detox and Residential Treatment Program. His focus in the program was engagement and retention of young adults (18-26) that had struggled in the program and through his leadership the program was able to move and sustain its completion rate to 90% with patients that are 18-30 years old.
Paul is a member of Kaiser Permanente’s Mental Health and Addiction Medicine Community Benefit Committee and has assisted in facilitating financial support of the Alano Club of Portland, Fourth Dimension, Oregon Recovers, and other recovery focused organizations in the community. One of his passions is finding ways to leverage KP’s mission of supporting a healthy community to help underfunded organizations that serve those with addiction and mental health struggles.
Paul is a trauma survivor and strong proponent of being trauma informed in the delivery of treatment services to people struggling with addiction. He has a family history of addiction and has lost some of his family to addiction while watching others recover and thrive. His belief is that when people find an environment of safety, tools for recovery, and a strong link to a recovery community, there is hope for anyone that is struggling with addiction.
Brent Canode, MPA
Board Member
Brent has worked as Executive Director of the Alano Club of Portland for the past decade, growing the organization into the largest non-clinical recovery support center in the United States. The Club serves as a national model for a modern, multi-dimensional recovery community organization, applying the latest evidence-based supports within a community center service delivery structure. More than 10,000 visitors utilize the Club every month for recovery support groups spanning the continuum of mutual aid pathways, peer support services with Certified Recovery Mentors, yoga and meditation classes, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction & Relapse Prevention training, health and wellness seminars, exercise-based recovery groups, recovery skills workshops, advocacy projects and large-scale sober social events.
Brent’s impact on the recovery landscape extends to the national level, where he holds leadership positions with the organizations Facing Addiction (National Action Council; Legislation Committee), Faces and Voices of Recovery (Public Policy Committee) and the Association of Recovery Community Organizations (Recovery Research Committee.) Brent has also been a contributor and resource for online recovery sites and articles and has been a featured guest on top-rated recovery blogs.
Additionally, Brent has been recognized for his advocacy work by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s Institute For Recovery Advocacy and Viacom’s Here to Listen Campaign. In 2015, Brent served as Oregon Organizer for the UNITE to Face Addiction rally on the National Mall in Washington D.C., the largest recovery rally in the history of the United States. Brent was also on the ground in Philadelphia in the summer of 2016, helping organize the first Caucus For Addiction Solutions at the Democratic National Convention. Over 200 hundred delegates, elected officials from Mayors to US Senators and policy experts attended the historic, standing-room-only event.
In Oregon, Brent has been a visible champion for recovery as a board member of the Oregon Consumer Advisory Council, Multnomah County Recovery Support Services Procurement Review Panel, Oregon Substance Use Disorder Advisory Committee, Hands Across the Bridge Project, Partnership for Safety and Justice and the Safety and Justice Action PAC. He also chairs the Alano Club of Portland’s Advocacy Committee and spearheaded the effort in 2016 to produce the first-ever Recovery Voices Count! Voters Guide in Portland, OR. Most recently Brent co-founded the Oregon Recovery High School Initiative, a coalition of recovery advocates, educators, health system professionals and business leaders committed to launching a “gold standard” recovery high school for students impacted by substance use disorders.
Prior to working in the recovery field, Brent held senior positions with nonprofits, public agencies and elected officials from City Hall to the U.S. Senate. Brent has a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs from University of Oregon, where he was recognized for his academic achievement with a competitive Teaching Fellowship in the Graduate School of Planning, Public Policy and Management. Brent’s proudest accomplishment is simply being an individual and father in long-term recovery.
Peter Cunningham
Board Member
Peter has a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the George Washington University with a concentration in international economics and a Masters of Science degree from the London School of Economics, faculty of Economics. He has taught economics and international business part time since the mid 80's and loves teaching. He accepted a full time tenured position at Mt. Hood Community College as the Lead Instructor for Economics in 2018 and enjoys working with so many bright students just outside of Portland, OR.
Peter has served as an Executive Director for the Equity Foundation in Portland and has skill sets in strategic planning and leadership. He spent most of his career advising eight U.S. Governors and one U.S. Mayor on economic and trade policy. He was a White House Intern during the Regan Administration under the direction of David Stockman and Larry Kudlow, Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
He has written four books in the field of economics and international trade. He enjoys cycling and weight lifting and spending time with his husband Wade, son Connor and dog Ritz!
Anne Hirsch, MD, FACP
Board Member
Anne M. Hirsch, M.D. is an internal medicine specialist who works at the Broadway Medical Clinic in Portland, Oregon, where she has practiced since 1995. She has helped many families who are dealing with substance use disorder over the course of many years in her practice, and she knows how devastating this issue can be for families finding themselves in this difficult situation. As such, she knows why adolescents with substance use disorders and their families desperately need a safe and supportive environment in which to thrive outside of school hours, where they can learn how to become involved in social activities without the need to involve substances with like-minded peers. Coupling this type of an environment with ongoing therapeutic interventions with addiction therapists has been proven to be an extremely effective model for the prevention of recidivism and saves the lives of adolescents, and frequently their families, as well.
Dr. Hirsch currently serves as the chair of the Professional Quality Review Committee, the medical staff peer review body, at Providence Portland Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. Her responsibilities on this committee include reviewing both staff and patient concerns regarding issues that occur during their interactions with one of the medical staff. The primary goal of this committee is to ensure quality and safety for every patient who is treated at this facility, in addition to helping to preserve the careers of physicians who may find themselves in a difficult situation that could impact their ability to practice medicine safely.
Dr. Hirsch also currently serves as the chair of the Awards Committee for the Oregon Chapter of the American College of Physicians. Her responsibilities on this committee include obtaining nominations for and gaining consensus from the committee for a roster of award candidates who receive both teaching and service awards at their annual chapter meeting.
Dr. Hirsch is also a member of the Susan G. Komen Medical Advisory Committee, which is a group of medical professionals who have a direct interest in supporting women in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer, as well as supporting research into this deadly disease. She was previously appointed by Governor James Kitzhaber, M.D. to serve on a committee to address the appropriate teaching method for the clinical breast exam to medical students, interns, residents, advanced practice practitioners, and practicing physicians across the state of Oregon as well.
Dr. Hirsch received a bachelors of science degree with honors and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas in 1985. She received her medical doctor degree from the University of Kansas in Kansas City, Kansas in 1989. She completed both her internship and residency in internal medicine at the Oregon Health and Sciences University in 1992, and she has been in the private practice of internal medicine ever since then.
Mike Paulsen
Board Member
Mike has worked as Director of Annual Giving at Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) for four years, where he was responsible for all development and fundraising initiatives at the College. Mike has spent over 10 years in nonprofit development, including serving as Development Director for Living Yoga and several other national mission-driven organizations. Prior to his nonprofit career, Mike spent decades implementing integrated marketing campaigns and retail design strategies for Nike, Columbia Sportswear, SWATCH, and other corporations.
Mike graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from University of Washington and has completed certificates in Development & Digital Marketing from Portland State University. He’s also served as a Board Member for Trillium Family Services and as a Youth Mentor at Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Living in the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, Mike shares three acres with four sheep, two rescue dogs, two cats, one cockatiel, several rainbow fish, a turtle, and his partner, Dan.
Heidi Wallace
Board Member
Heidi Wallace, MA, LPC, NCC, MAC, is a master addictions counselor and licensed mental health therapist who specializes in the treatment of individuals with co-occurring disorders. She is the Executive Director for Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation for the Pacific Northwest. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology at the University of Montana and her master's degree in counseling psychology with an emphasis on Addictions, at Lewis and Clark College. She has worked in both residential and outpatient treatment settings for the past 24 years throughout the Portland metro area.
Heidi has been working at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation in Oregon for over 14 years. She was hired as a counselor in their residential treatment and within her first year she was promoted to clinical director. In this role, she was able to work nationally with the larger organization to ensure quality treatment was being provided for individuals. She was also able to be a part of moving from a private pay model of treatment to an in network treatment center. Her primary focus over 24 years has been working with adults in treatment at all levels of care throughout the Portland Metro area. Her first experience in behavioral health was when she was 19 years old and did her first internship work with 8 and 9 years at the Yellowstone Girls and Boys Ranch, in Billings Montana. During her undergraduate, her internships were primarily focused on working with youth and adolescents. It is an honor to come full circle to be able to serve youth again.
Heidi is also a mother to two teenagers who are in high school, which is her primary driver to wanting to help young people and adolescents struggling with substances.