Abigail Gilbert, President
(The Standard Insurance Co.)
I moved to Oregon in 1967 to attend Lewis and Clark College. I fell in love with the Northwest and never left. I have been a supervisor of a contact center at The Standard Insurance Company for about six years. I became involved with PlayWrite, Inc. through the Art of Leadership program. All it took was seeing one performance and I was hooked. It was so powerful it took my breath away and I knew I had to be involved with this great program. After having been on the board for 4 years, I still feel the same way.
Perry Jaqua, Vice President
(Regence)
Perry was born and raised in the Pacific NW. She left the NW to attend school and travel throughout the US for about 10 years. Her undergraduate work was focused in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Hawai’i West O’ahu. She moved to Portland, Oregon in 2000 and earned a Master’s of Business Administration in Technology Management in 2006 and Project Management Certification from Portland State University in 2008. Perry currently works in sales at Regence BlueCross BlueShield which has given Perry a balanced perspective and appreciation for the technical challenges and opportunities in the healthcare industry. Perry’s passions include working in the community, traveling, snowshoeing, spending time with her family and dogs…and when there’s time, home improvement projects!
Alison Ebbott, Secretary/Treasurer
(Powells.com)
Alison Ebbott joined the board of PlayWrite in 2005. Almost immediately she was asked to serve as Secretary/Treasurer and she’s been happily taking the minutes and looking at the numbers ever since. She’s proud to support PlayWrite and is delighted with the growth she’s seen over the years. Alison also looks at a lot of numbers in her job as the Finance Manager for Powells.com (the internet part of Powell’s Books). Alison was born and raised in Minnesota, earned a BA from Smith College and an MBA from Columbia. Alison enjoys hiking, paddling, and exploring Oregon with her energetic husband Bill Hasan.
Julian Blankenship
Julian became interested in Playwrite in 2006 when he attended his first workshop. Over those three weeks he worked hard to write his play; the outcome of which he was very happy with. Since then Julian has been very active with Playwrite, attending performances, phone drives, and anything else associated with the organization. In 2010 Julian joined as the board’s youngest member. In his free time Julian enjoys reading, hiking, riding his bike, and watching old films.
Roger Chope
(School of Business Administration, PSU)
Roger Chope has been a board member for just over a year. He divides his time between teaching accounting and finance here at Portland State and at CIMBA in Asolo, Italy. When in Italy he is a coach in a Neuroleadership program for business students. Roger and his wife Anne enjoy spending time at the Oregon Coast and riding road bikes, both here in Oregon and especially in Italy. They also enjoy cooking and baking together with the long term goal of being able to cook as well as Bruce, but using less duck fat. Roger really values the opportunity to connect with our community by serving on the PlayWrite board.
Steve Cox
(Portland General Electric - Community Affairs)
Steve Cox joined the board of PlayWrite in 2007. He has been a member of Portland General Electric Community Affairs team for 12 years. At work, he keeps busy by organizing a number of employee projects including employee volunteer events, the employee giving campaign, and safety education. Steve has a catering and events background and a Bachelors degree in Art History and Archeology for the University of Missouri. In his spare time, he enjoys working on his 100-year-old house and tending his garden, taking in the arts scene in Portland, occasionally producing some mixed media work himself and relaxing with friends and his cat Joe Paulsen and wishing he had more time to travel.
Corbett Gordon
Corbett Gordon is founder of and Senior Counsel in the Fisher & Phillips Portland office. She has represented employers in Oregon and Washington since 1982. For many years, Corbett taught the employment law course as an adjunct professor at Willamette University College of Law. She is experienced in defending employers before juries, advising them in all aspects of labor and employment matters, and working with them on union-related issues including contract enforcement and collective bargaining. Corbett is “AV” Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected as one of the 25 top female lawyers in Oregon. Since 2005, she has been recognized in Oregon Super Lawyers for her labor and employment law practice. She has been has been repeatedly recognized by Chambers USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America. Corbett speaks both regionally and nationally on labor, employment, and human relations topics. In 2011 Corbett was honored as a “Convocation on Equality Champion” in recognition of the diversity work that she has been engaged in during her career.
Kyle Podd
(Geffen Mesher & Co., LLC)
Kyle Podd is one of more recent PlayWrite board members having joined in mid-2009. In addition to serving on the board, Kyle is also a member of the finance committee. Kyle has a business background having attained a Bachelors degree in both finance and accounting from the University of Arizona. He is a CPA with the local firm of Geffen, Mesher & Company and specializes in taxation. Kyle joined Geffen Mesher in April 2008 after moving to Portland from London, England. Outside of work, Kyle enjoys spending time with his wife and keeping up with their busy one-year-old son. He also enjoys traveling, sports, games and other outdoor activities.
Mabsie Walters
Mabsie Walters worked as a social worker and community organizer in California, Georgia and Virginia before moving “home” to Portland in 1979. Since her return to Portland, she has worked for multiple political campaigns and non-profits, most recently, The Lawyer’s Campaign for Equal Justice. She considers political involvement and volunteer service an integral part of her life’s work and has served on a variety of non-profit boards, including NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon, The First Unitarian Church, Planned Parenthood of the Columbia/Willamette, and Hoyt Arboretum Friends. Her area of expertise is non-profit fundraising. Mabsie chairs PlayWrite’s Fund Development Committee.
Renée Glasgow, President Emeritus
Renée attended Beloit College and the University of Illinois, where she took a degree in Education. Graduate work at Portland State University led to an M.S. in Counseling. While living in Portland she ran a program for Head Start teachers at Marylhurst, taught counseling classes to graduate students at Lewis and Clark, and served as a Child Development Specialist and Counseling Resource person in the Portland Public School system. Renée has served on numerous boards, most notably PlayWrite, Waverly Children’s Home, Young Audiences, Planned Parenthood, the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, and Trillium Family Services. In her spare time, she enjoys activities at the Portland Art Museum, the Garden Club, Town Club, the Multnomah Athletic Club, and Neskowin. She is passionate about PlayWrite because of its intense work at the intersection of the arts with services to youth.
Clarke Bingham, Emeritus
Although a mechanical engineer by training, Clarke’s life reflects the persistent search for knowledge and insight to help all of us, especially our youth, live fuller lives. Clarke has been an enthusiastic supporter and ally from the earliest conversations leading to the founding of PlayWrite. He has attended the majority of the workshop performances, and is proud of each writer’s venture into uncharted territories. He is grateful to Bruce and the gifted PlayWrite coaches for the amazing work that they have helped bring to fruition from these young creative minds.
