DEAR FRIENDS, Thank you for joining us for the 15th Power of the Purse! Though we are coming to you from Portland, Oregon, this year’s virtual event is being broadcast to celebrated Girls Inc. supporters all throughout the country! These last 15 years have been quite a journey for us both. We vividly recall our first meeting in 2005, to discuss the concept of pairing Portland “notables” with local purse designers to create one-of-a-kind handbags to be featured at an annual, one-of-a-kind event ‒ Power of the Purse! An event concept that would fully celebrate the breadth of Portland’s highly acclaimed design community while giving voice to the expansive chorus of Portland’s leaders, artists, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists – a community of champions building the foundation for the next generation of strong, smart and bold leaders. Now 15 years later, and millions upon millions of dollars raised to champion for the empowerment of girls and an equitable society, we have the honor of Co-Chairing this 15th event. It has been an absolute honor to watch this event concept grow into a powerful platform for empowering youth. We are so grateful to be part of this movement here in Portland. Although we are unable to join together in person for this sensational event – we are still united in spirit and in fundraising – allies within our community – with an open mind and a readiness to continue empowering Girls Inc. youth – our future leaders of tomorrow. Stay strong, smart and bold dear friends! RISE WITH HER. Cindy Thompson Johnna Wells WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT THE 2020 GIRLS INC. LEADERSHIP COUNCIL ALLY ALMA ANNA BELINDA CORAL DESTINY GABRIELLA JOCELYN LAILA LAILA LUNA NANDITA RITA TARA *NOT PICTURED: SAVANNAH THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR OUR 15TH ANNUAL FRIDAY, JUNE 5TH, 2020 VIA LIVE STREAM AT GIRLSINCPNW.ORG PRESENTED BY: THANK YOU SPECIAL TO OUR SPONSORS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PRESENTING SPONSOR A.Wordsmith Lauren Jacobson and The Lumineers Cindy Thompson Event Productions Mandy Magaddino Collaborator Studios Polera Studio Della Shanley, UpStage Events Purse Contents Donors Erin Herrick Really Big Video Et Fille Winery Sokol Blosser Winery SMART SPONSORS Johnna Wells Vibrant Table Catering Kate Sokoloff West Coast Event Productions Kim Moran Davis, Parcel BOLD SPONSORS Kay Stepp 2020 RAFFLE BACKPACK BY JUSTINE MUTCHLER AND LUMINEERS VIP PACKAGE Marti Pozzi ∙ Two tickets to see The Lumineers live with access to the Gloria Pre-Show experience which includes: early entrance to the venue, access to the III Lounge, and PATRON HOSTS WINE SPONSORS VERTICAL MAIN LOGO Use whenever possible exclusive gift bag and more. Heritage Bank ∙ One Premium Lumineers Merchandise Bundle. Moss Adams ∙ A 30-minute Zoom chat with Lauren Jacboson from Port of Portland The Lumineers to talk about the band, touring and more! The Nightwood Society Portland Trail Blazers $25 PER RAFFLE TICKET. ONLY 400 TICKETS WILL BE SOLD. Tonkon Torp VIRTUAL POP-UP BOUTIQUE From June 1st - 12th, if you shop at participating boutiques and enter the promo code GIRLSINCPNW at checkout, and 25% of the sales from your purchase will go towards Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest! PARTICIPATING VENDORS Amy Olson Jewelry Design • amyolsonjewelry.com Anabaglish • anabaglish.com Betsy & Iya • betsyandiya.com COLTY • coltypdx.com Denise and The Traveling Machine • deniseandthetravelingmachine.com Fetch Eyewear • fetcheyewear.com Grish & Watson • grishandwatson.com Jewel Box Social • jewelboxsocial.com Jo Lupton Jewelry • joluptonjewelry.weeblysite.com Just Joey Rose • justjoeyrose.com Oya Lake Oswego • oya-oya.com TAH • tahbags.com Tati & Me • tatiandme.com Urban Article • etsy.com/shop/urbanarticle Yo Soy Candle • yosoycandle.com 01 ALL-STAR TEAM TARA • GIRLS INC. YOUTH NICOLE FRISCH • PURSE-O-NALITY Nicole Frisch leads enterprise community engagement and inclusion strategy for First Tech Federal Credit Union, a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union serving the world’s technology companies and their employees. She has more than 18 years of experience in philanthropy, strategic communications, inclusion and belonging, employee engagement, and community leadership. She serves as the President for Raphael House of Portland and the Immediate Past Chair for the Center for Women’s Leadership. Nicole was born and raised in Portland, and is happy to build her family here with her husband, son and dog. LAKECIA GUNTER • PURSE-O-NALITY Lakecia Gunter, an inspirational leader and nationally-recognized, award-winning engineer and speaker, is Vice President and General Manager, Global IOT and Strategic Engagement at Microsoft. Prior to this, she carved her path at Intel, starting as a Technical Program Manager in the Validation Engineering organization and ending as the Vice President of the Programmable Solutions Group and General Manager of FPGA Ecosystem Development and Operations team. Gunter serves as a Board Member on the University of South Florida College of Engineering’s Dean Advisory Board and is on the Board of Trustees for Corban University. GOWRI KAMARTHY • PURSE-O-NALITY URBAN ARTICLE • DESIGNER Gowri Kamarthy is currently the Vice President, Conductor, of the Etch Product Group Founded in 2018, Portland-based Urban Article creates leather handbags and home for the Lam Research Corporation. She has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the goods from high-quality, vegetable-tanned, or upcycled American leathers. Ida Sorenson University of California, Berkeley. After graduation, she started her career at Lam in 1998 is the designer and maker for Urban Article. A proud supporter of Girls Inc. of the Pacific where she has held several different positions and was nominated as a TWIN (Tribute to Northwest and their work for an equitable world, Ida has a B.F.A. from the University of Women in Industry) honoree in 2013. Gowri has numerous scientific journal publications Oregon, and years of experience metalsmithing, printmaking, and sewing; she began and patents. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, leatherworking in 2017. Ida is also a wife, mother of two girls, an avid reader, wildlife biking, baking and hopes to learn golf in the near future. watcher, and fair-weather outdoorswoman. Urban Article products are ethically made to last and love for years. Learn more at etsy.com/shop/urbanarticle. 02 ALL-STAR TEAM LAILA • GIRLS INC. YOUTH TRA-RENEE CHAMBERS • PURSE-O-NALITY Tra’Renee Chambers is an Emmy Award Winning Television Personality and Radio DJ, often referred to as “the face and voice of Portland.” You can watch her as the host of KATU-Channel 2’s ”Afternoon Live!” weekdays from 2-3pm and hear her on iHeartMedia’s “JAM’N 107.5” afternoons from 3-7pm. Tra’Renee is also a licensed mental health professional (LCSW), and she is committed to uplifting her community. She does all of this while being a wife and mother of three beautiful daughters, and considers herself busy and blessed. HELEN RAPTIS • PURSE-O-NALITY Helen Raptis is the Emmy awarding winning, long-time host of AM Northwest, a live morning talk show on KATU TV. She is also a member of the National Academy of Arts and Sciences “Silver Circle”, for her lasting contributions to the Television Industry and her community. She is once again thrilled to be a part of Girls Inc. Power of the Purse! CAROL RISLEY DESIGNS • DESIGNER Carol Risley Designs grew out of a desire for a creative work life. After 10 years in the airline industry, she started sewing leather handbags and making leather goods. Carol learned from generous saddle and shoemakers willing to share the tools and techniques of leather making. She earned a B.F.A. in painting and lithography from the University of Houston. Currently, Carol sells her handbags at juried art shows and her website. This is her seventh year designing a bag for the Power of the Purse event. Learn more at carolrisleydesigns.com. 03 ALL-STAR TEAM CORAL • GIRLS INC. YOUTH NAT BORCHERS • PURSE-O-NALITY Nat Borchers grew up in Pueblo, Colorado and attended the University of Denver. He graduated with both a Bachelors and Masters of Science in accounting. Nat played professional soccer for 14 seasons and won an MLS Cup with Real Salt Lake in 2009 and with the Portland Timbers in 2015. He was selected to the MLS Best XI in 2010. Nat retired from professional soccer in 2017. He is currently a broadcaster for the Portland Timbers and the owner of NDB Real Estate, an Oregon-based real estate investment company. MARIA SOSA • DESIGNER Maria Sosa’s relationship with design started early in life with art classes in her native country Venezuela. This love for design evolved into a degree in architecture, but as she worked in the architecture field, she felt a real need to take her passion to the next level. So, she became an industrial designer earning her degree at the Art Institute of Portland. As she followed her new path, she began designing bags as a freelancer and collaborating with local brands in Portland in 2015. Learn more at mariasosadesign.weebly.com. 04 ALL-STAR TEAM NANDITA • GIRLS INC. YOUTH CINDY THOMPSON • PURSE-O-NALITY Creating unique happenings is what Cindy Thompson has been doing for nearly four decades in Portland and beyond. In addition to planning some of Portland’s most memorable events, Cindy helped create Power of the Purse in 2006, and has been lending her guidance for the last 15 years. This year, Cindy serves as Honorary Co-Chair of this year’s virtual event, along with auctioneer extraordinaire, Johnna Wells. JOHNNA WELLS • PURSE-O-NALITY As a second-generation auctioneer, artist and advocate, Johnna Wells partners with change makers from coast to coast. Founder of Benefit Auctions 360, and co-founder of GATHER, Johnna is motivated to create moments that champion community and celebrate one’s connection to place and purpose.