|
Four New Members Join The Nature of Words Board of Directors
Bend, Ore. — Jan. 23, 2012. The Nature of Words welcomed four new members to its Board of Directors in January: Kristee Chick, Kristin Kovalik, Max Merrill and Broc Stenman. The new Directors will serve three-year terms. They join the current Board Executive Committee members Stephen Archer, President; Margaret Heater, Vice President; Karen Poulsen, Treasurer; and Margaret Wood, Secretary; and Directors Julia Kennedy Cochran, Christine Coffin, Sue Fountain, Beth Patterson, and Margie Robberson.
Kristee Chick has been the Manager of the Commercial Banking Center for Umpqua Bank in Bend for the past five years. Prior to her position with Umpqua, Ms. Chick held a variety of positions within the banking industry during her 34-year banking career. Thirty years of her banking career have been spent in Central Oregon delivering banking services to the local business community. In addition to her new involvement with The Nature of Words Board, Ms. Chick sits on the Mt. Bachelor Rotary Board, is a co-facilitator with Opportunity Knocks, and regularly volunteers with the SMART Program at Bear Creek Elementary School.
Kristin Kovalik has called Oregon home since the early 1990’s. As the Central Oregon Program Director and Senior Project Manager for the Trust for Public Land, she has helped protect over 5,000 acres and is passionate about conserving Oregon’s natural resources. Kristin has a Bachelor of Science from Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon. Kristin also volunteers with the S.M.A.R.T program at Juniper Elementary School, and is on the board of the Deschutes Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
Max Merrill grew up in John Day, Ore., and attended Willamette University, where he earned his undergraduate degree and completed law school. Mr. Merrill has practiced law in Bend since 1970, and is a principal in Merrill O’Sullivan, LLP, located in the Old Mill District. His wife, Grace Kennedy, works for the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program, providing counseling for nutrition of children.
Broc Stenman received a Bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. In his young adulthood, he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga and as an officer in the US Army. During his 32-year career with California State Parks, he served as the Department Training Officer at the William Penn Mott Jr. Training Center on the Monterey Peninsula, where he directed innovative statewide training for 2,500 employees. He and his wife Judy moved to Bend following retirement several years ago. Broc is a part-time instructor at Central Oregon Community College, where he leads a class in Wilderness Concepts.
The new Directors replace outgoing Board members John Kvapil, John Martin, Sandra Miller and Kyle Wuepper, whose terms expired in December 2011.
About The Nature of Words
The mission of The Nature of Words is to foster an appreciation of the literary arts and humanities in the high desert region of the Northwest through community interaction with acclaimed authors, and through creative writing programs for students and adults. For more information about the Nature of Words, visit www.thenatureofwords.org, call 541.647.2233 or email info@thenatureofwords.org. In Bend, visit NOW’s literary arts center at 224 NW Oregon Ave.
About Our Sponsors and Donors
The Nature of Words is grateful for the support of the following 2011-2012 sponsors and donors:
Co-Sponsors: OSU-Cascades, Central Oregon Community College.
Laureate: M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Meyer Memorial Trust, The Starview Foundation in Support of the Deschutes Land Trust, Anonymous Donor.
Ex Libris: The Bulletin, Julia Kennedy Cochran, The Collins Foundation, The J.G. Edwards Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation, St. Charles Health System, The Source Weekly, Visit Bend.
Best Seller: Rose and Stephen Archer, Bella Moda, Bryant Lovlien & Jarvis PC, Dan Wieden on behalf of Caldera, Cascade Publications, Charlotte Martin Foundation, Combined Communications, Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation, Express Employment Professionals, Ron and Molly Foerster, Margaret Heater, Herbert A. Templeton Foundation, Kinsman Foundation, Les Schwab Tires, The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, The Old Mill District, Roundhouse Foundation, Umpqua Bank, University of Oregon.
Page Turner: Autzen Foundation, Bend Radio Group, The Bend Foundation, Brooks Resources, Central Oregon Radiology Associates, Devore’s Good Food Store, Facebook Prineville Data Center, The Sue and Mike Hollern Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, Steve and Sandra Miller, Oxford Hotel, Beth Patterson, Pepsi-Cola Company of Bend, Phoenix Inn and Suites, Robberson Ford, Jeff and Margie Robberson, Sally Russell, Samuel S. Johnson Foundation, Pauline Caine Shelk, Stephen Thompson, Tate and Tate Catering, Matt and Diana Tomseth, Margaret and Jim Wood.
The Nature of Words is supported in part by an award from the Oregon Arts Commission.
The Nature of Words is supported in part by a grant from Oregon Cultural Trust: Oregonians investing in Oregon’s arts, heritage and humanities.
-30-
|