Staff & Board

Kendall Clawson, Executive Director

Kendall Clawson has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz and has been in the non profit arena for nearly 20 years, working primarily in capacity building, community development and non-profit management. Most recently, Kendall was Vice President of Planning and Community Services at the United Way of Pioneer Valley and the founder of Idea Box Consulting, a strategic planning and organizational development firm for non profit organizations. Kendall’s professional focus includes helping community groups develop strategies for growth and sustainability and building strong community partnerships and coalitions. She is excited to be part of the newly-formed Oregon Council on Civil Rights, an appointed group that serves to advise the commissioner, BOLI and the state generally on matters related to the education and enforcement of civil rights in Oregon. kendall@pdxqcenter.org

Glenn Goodfellow, Events/Activities Coordinator

One part epicure and one part epic cure, Glenn’s onboard to help with the myriad of organizational tasks at Q Center. With a background in education, accounting, and accounts management, he’s a perfect blend of both walk and talk. He’s the guy to go to for event ideas, marketing plans, and rental questions. Glenn’s also responsible for maintaining Q Center’s website. Look for his fingers at the keyboard at the next Cabaret With a Q, our monthly sing-along piano cabaret. glenn@pdxqcenter.org

Paul Fukui, Operations Coordinator

Paul is one of Q Center’s most long-standing volunteers, heading our Arts and Culture Committee for several years. With his support, Q Center’s arts programming has continued to thrive. In addition to those duties, he now serves as Operations Coordinator, helping the organization manage its internal systems and behind-the-scenes infrastructure. paulf@pdxqcenter.org

Alan Colley, Development Coordinator

Alan lives for moments when people and ideas intersect, igniting the spark of “aha!” He joins Q Center with a life-long career building relationships with people as they manifest their dreams into tangible reality, and he believes that Q Center is exactly that ‘reality’ for the LGBTQ people in OR and Southwest WA. Our full-time development coordinator, he is dedicated to raising the funds that enable Q Center to continue providing both a haven and a home where everyone is safe, valued, and encouraged. He and his partner live in NW Portland. alan@pdxqcenter.org

Mayor Sam Adams, Honorary Chair

Sam Adams, Portland’s first openly gay mayor (and former city commissioner), serves as Q Center Honorary Chair. Considerable charm, smarts, leadership savvy, and good humor are but a few of the assets Sam brings to this work. A part of the center development team from day one, he holds a deep personal commitment to creating a vibrant, thriving LGBTQ community center.

“With Q Center, we finally have a place for us and our allies to call home.”

Check out Sam’s blog to learn more about his city-wide activities.

Brian C. Johnson, Co-Chair

Brian C. Johnson has worked in print advertising for 25 yrs. He is currently the Lifestyle Media Manager at the Oregonian Publishing Company managing 5 local magazine titles; Mix, Homes + Gardens NW, Northwest, Explore the Pearl and Drive Time Illustrated. Brian has lived in the Portland area since 1992 and has served as President of the Portland Advertising Federation, Communications Director for the Oregon HRC Chapter and served on the Board of Directors of the Home Builders Foundation & P:EAR a local homeless youth organization.

David M. Conrad has been a Nurse for 30+ years, and in Nurse Management for the past 7 years. In the mid-70’s, he helped with the organizing/formation of the Los Angeles Gay Community Center, and in the mid-80’s, he was on the Board of the newly founded Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore, MD (GLCCB).  He has sung with Lesbian & Gay Choruses in Washington, DC and Salem, OR.  He has served on the Boards of PFLAG Central Oregon, the PFLAG Oregon State Council, and Rosetown Ramblers (Portland’s G & L Square Dance Club) – as both VP and President.  In addition to his current involvement with the Q Center, David is very involved with The Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon, and was honored in October 2009 as Outstanding Court Member of the Year.  He has been in Portland since 2001, and lives in Inner Southeast Portland with his several furry “kids”.

Tim Bias

Tim Bias has lived in the great Northwest for the past 40 years.  Though originally from Santa Ana, CA, he thinks the Portland/Vancouver area is the most beautiful and wonderful place to live.  His passion for the community, and love of the location, translate into the self-moniker of ‘Ambassador to Portland’.  Mr. Bias is an agent for Farmers Insurance and has owed his own agency for 17 of the 23 years he’s been in the business.   Outside of the office, he has been involved with the Rose City Softball Association for 15 of their 16 years;  serving as assistant commissioner ( 6 years), Commissioner (2 years) and currently as Public Relations Ambassador. He lives by two mottos “Everything happens for a GOOD reason” and “You can NEVER have to many friends.”

Stephen Cassell (bio still coming)

Aaron Hall

Aaron Hall is an architect with Ankrom Moisan and a LEED accredited professional through the US Green Building Council. He previously served as president of the Portland Area Business Association (PABA), Portland’s GLBTQ Chamber of Commerce, representing approximately 300 gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses in our community. Aaron led the group of GLBTQ design professionals who worked together to develop the Center’s physical space and amenities.

Eric Brown

Eric is currently the Executive Director of the YWCA of Greater Portland. Eric also served as the CEO at the American Red Cross (Pacific NW Region), and is dedicated to the field of public health, with a strong personal mission to provide leadership in a community committed to helping people improve their lives. Educational background includes a BA in Psychology and Education from the University of Colorado and a Masters Degree in Public Health from Portland State. Eric has served as Vice Chair of Donate Life NW, and currently is on the boards for Hands On Greater Portland and the Gateway Center for Domestic Violence. A Colorado native, Eric has lived in Portland since 1992, most of that time spent with his partner of 16 years, Scott.

Judge Kemp

Judge Kemp (Jr.) can be best described as a people person.  He currently works as an Administrative Assistant for KPMG LLP in downtown Portland.  His background is one filled with travel and adventure abroad in Europe before arriving here in Portland a decade ago.  Judge is a graduate of Portland State University where he majored in Communication and minored in Community Development.   He has been a core volunteer for Portland’s premier Red Dress Party, a planning member for another fun fundraising party, Fire on the Columbia on Sauvie Island, and is part of PSU’s Alumni Resource Council.  Judge resides in North Portland with his partner of 10 years, home designer Eric Schnell.  The couple met in San Diego over 25 years ago.  Judge jokes about those days and says, “Back when Eric’s hair was blond and I had a moustache and a Jheri curl.”  Judge and his partner enjoy traveling, meeting new people, and entertaining friends at their home.

Sharon Murtagh

Sharon Murtagh is a native Oregonian, though she has spent the last twenty years traveling and learning around the world. Murtagh graduated from San Francisco State University in San Francisco, CA with a BA in History and Anthropology. Over the preceding two decades she developed a true love of connecting with people. Learning about who they are and what they do. Having developed an intricate network of contacts both in the public and private sectors here in the Portland Oregon Metropolitan Area, Sharon thoroughly enjoys expanding this network of contacts. She strongly believes in community involvement and enjoys spending her free time volunteering and immersed in a lifelong passion of working with dogs. Murtagh proudly served on active duty in the US Marine Corps from 1985 to 1991.

John Palmeri (bio still coming)

Jim Taff

Jim is a native Oregonian, a graduate of Oregon State University and has worked in human resources since the early 1980s. Currently he is the Assistant Vice President of Compensation & Benefits at Standard Insurance Company. Jim and his long time partner Dirk moved from San Francisco to Portland in 1999 and currently live the SW neighborhood of Garden Home.

Anne Viola