Karis Stoudamire-Phillips
Chair, representing Metro
Karis Stoudamire-Phillips, a native of Portland, is the Vice President of DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and Community Initiatives at Moda Health and Delta Dental of Oregon. Her focus areas are to one, develop, direct and implement the community engagement strategy and action plan throughout Oregon and Alaska; and two, to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in the workforce and corporate culture, plus coordinate efforts to insure product offerings across all businesses meet the needs of a diverse customer population. In addition, Karis serves as the relationship manager of the company’s signature statewide community-building partnership with the Portland Trail Blazers. Prior to joining Moda, Karis was the corporate relations officer with the Legacy Health Foundations and prior was the foundation administrator at Damon Stoudamire, Inc.
With her extensive background in public affairs, marketing and non-profit management, Karis currently serves as Chair of the Multnomah Exposition Recreation Commissioner, Boise Neighborhood Association Treasurer, Children’s Cancer Association Ambassador Board, De La Salle North Catholic High School Board, Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington Board, Oregon Community Foundation Metro Leadership Council, Portland Rose Festival Foundation Board of Directors, St. Mary’s Academy Board and is also active in other civic organizations.
Karis graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology/Child Development and earned her master’s in public affairs from Washington State University.
Damien Hall
Vice Chair, representing Portland
Damien Hall is Ball Janik LLP’s chair of the land use and real estate practice groups. Hall represents both property owners and local governments, helping them navigate Oregon’s unique land use requirements and political sensitivities to controlled growth and land development. His practice is focused on urban redevelopment and utility scale renewable energy project siting. In addition to his land use practice, Hall regularly assists clients with real estate transactions, natural resources law, municipal law, and formation and organization of business entities.
Damien Hall was recognized in 2016 by Portland Business Journal as a member of its esteemed “Forty Under 40.” He is actively involved in development and affordable housing issues in Portland. He is an active member of BOMA, NAIOP, and ULI, was appointed by the Portland City Council to the Home Forward board of commissioners, and is on the board of directors for Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives, Inc.
Hall is also active in renewable energy development throughout the Pacific Northwest. He is an active member of OSEIA, presents regularly on renewable energy facility siting, and has participated in local and state level rulemaking for utility scale photovoltaic solar energy generation projects in both Oregon and Washington.
Deidra Krys-Rusoff
Secretary-Treasurer, representing Metro
Deidra Krys-Rusoff is a portfolio manager and a member of the Becker Capital Management’s fixed income team. Prior to joining Becker Capital Management, she served as a portfolio manager for both Ferguson Wellman Capital Management and U.S. Bancorp.
Krys-Rusoff has served as chair of the Oregon Zoo Bond Citizens' Oversight Committee, is a member of Metro's Investment Advisory Board, and is currently serving as board chair of Willamette View. She is a past board member of the Northwest Taxable Bond Club, Mount Tabor Middle School PTA, the YMCA Childcare Volunteer Board, and the Junior League of Portland and has served on several committees at local schools. She is a past chair of the Oregon Zoo Citizens Oversight Committee and currently serves on Metro's Investment Advisory Committee.
Krys-Rusoff is a native of Idaho, and earned her B.A. in zoology from the College of Idaho.
Dañel Malán
Representing Multnomah County
Dañel Malán and her husband co-founded Milagro, the premier Latino arts and culture center of the Pacific Northwest providing Latino theatre, culture, and arts education for the enrichment of all communities since 1985. Malán also created Milagro’s touring and arts education program, Teatro Milagro which presents original bilingual plays and educational residencies to diverse and underserved communities across the nation. She continues to work with both programs providing creative input, mentoring and managing staff as well as providing budget oversight. Additionally, Malán co-founded OYE, Opciones y Educación, a Latino sexual health coalition with Multnomah County Health Department and has also developed a cultural competency training program for the corporate sector.
Malán received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from the University of California, San Diego and graduated with a Master of Science in Curriculum Instruction from Portland State University.
David Martinez
Representing Portland
David Martinez is an Assistant County Administrator for Washington County. Prior to this role, David was the deputy director of Internal Operations at Latino Network, overseeing human resources, finance, data and evaluations, and business operations. He also served as the diversity manager for student recruitment and retention at Oregon Health & Science University. With over 20 years of higher education experience, David has an extensive background in the areas of student recruitment, retention, student development, community outreach and multicultural affairs at both private and public colleges and universities in Oregon.
In early 2000, David served as the policy and constituent relations Manager for Multnomah County Commissioner Maria Rojo de Steffey. David has held policy roles for the Oregon Primary Care Association and for the Oregon Education Investment Board. David is a past board member of Cascade AIDS Project, Portland-Guadalajara Sister City Association, Latino Network, Outside In and a Class 35 Fellow of the American Leadership Forum (ALF-Oregon). David is the current co- chair of the Annual César E. Chávez leadership Conference (the largest Latino high school youth leadership conference in the Pacific Northwest), serving on the planning committee for 27 years. He was a founding board member of Portland’s Q Center and co-founder of Portland Latino Gay Pride (now known as PDX Latinx Pride).
David has served on the City of Portland’s Human Rights Commission and Charter Review Commission. Past honors include: 2009 Basic Rights Oregon Equality Champion Award (Portland/Metro), 2012 Q Center/GLAPN Queer Hero Northwest Award, 2012 PCC César E. Chávez Distinguished Service Award, 2013 [email protected] LGBT Visible Project Honoree and 2020 Centro Cultural Community Champion Award. David is also one of eight individuals featured in city of Portland’s first LGBTQ mural, “Never Look Away."
Deanna Palm
Representing Washington County
Deanna Palm is a native Oregonian, and has served as the president of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce (formerly the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce) since 2001. She works alongside more than 750 businesses who employ over 65,000 individuals from Washington County. The Washington County Chamber of Commerce promotes and supports policies and initiatives that help businesses of all sizes grow and prosper in the County.
Deanna is active and engaged in the community at large. She is past president of the Hillsboro Community Foundation, serves on the workforce development board for the region, and is a member of the Washington County Fairgrounds Advisory Committee. Deanna also serves on the board of the Washington County Visitor Association. She served as an elected trustee for Portland Community College from 2009 to 2019.
Deanna serves on TriMet’s HB 2017 Transit Advisory Committee charged with reviewing and providing input on TriMet’s plans before they are submitted to the Oregon Transportation Commission for approval. Deanna has also worked closely with Ride Connection, providing vital transit services in the North Hillsboro industrial area.
Deanna graduated from Banks High School and received her Associated of Applied Sciences Degree from Portland Community College.
David Penilton
Representing Clackamas County
David Penilton is co-owner of America’s Hub World Tours and Oregon Tour Experts, working with the State of Oregon to serve as an ambassador promoting the tourism industry locally and internationally.
He is passionate about cultural tourism and how it serves communities across our state, socially, environmentally, and economically. He works to highlight how tourism supports job creation and enhances diversity, equity, and inclusion by uniting cultural groups from around the world.
With his extensive background in tourism, global logistics and supply chain management, David currently serves as Chair of the Clackamas County Tourism Development Counsel, Oregon Tourism Commissioner, Willamette Falls Locks Authority, Lane County and Travel Portland board member. He is a past board member of National Tourism Association, Eugene & Coastal Sports Advisory Council, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Travel Portland Chair, and Our Children Oregon.
David received his Bachelor of Science, Business Management at Weber State College.