In-person candidate forum - at Artists Repertory Theatre (1515 SW Morrison) on November 20, 2017 (Link to video)

Online forum (members only)



The following individuals submitted applications in 2017 to be on the ballot for the 107IST Board of Directors. Those elected are serving a three-year term that began on January 1st, 2018.

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order:

Candidate Name: Dawn Bauman

Email Address: dawnita67@gmail.com

Please list boards and committees that you serve on, or have served on:

107IST Events Committee member



107IST Timbers Army Football Club Committee member



Manager/player for Thundercats FC Coed Outdoor & Westside Maniacs Coed soccer teams



Project Manager for 2017/2018 Winter Classic Futsal Tournament



Project Manager for 2017 Donut Derby 7v7 Tournament



Project Manager for 2017/2018 Rose City Riveters Holiday Party



Rose City Riveters Tifo Game Day Crew



Rose City Riveters NWSL Final Events - All Supporters Groups Pickup soccer



Core Project Team for DHS Room Makeovers



Volunteer for 107IST events: Oregon Food Bank, OPI, match day drives, block party, tifo painting, membership packet distribution



Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA-for children in foster care)



Managed Project & Operations group at Wells Fargo Bank, Wire Transfer Services





Biographical information (107IST-related and professional):



My professional career consisted of 10 years at Wells Fargo Bank, managing projects & operations teams in Wire Transfer Services. As life priorities changed, I chose to move from banking into retail grocery, and most recently worked for New Seasons Market for 12+ years in a variety of positions, ending as a Buyers Assistant in Merchandising.



On the soccer front, I've had season tickets at UP matches for many years now & when the NWSL started, signed up immediately for Thorns season tickets. At the same time, my wife & I got on the Timbers waiting list (still there) and have managed to get TA tickets by hook or crook and landed in 208 with what is now our family. I've been part of the 107IST for over 4 years now and have contributed on committees as noted above, but also step in whenever I can to help, both for the Timbers Army & Rose City Riveters. As a result of an invite from one of my soccer friends (thank you Sato), I joined a women's team 4 years ago after never having played soccer in my life. I'm now a champion for helping others find this same passion.





State your objectives as a 107IST board member:

To promote soccer in the community - find ways to allow people to have fun & play in a non-intimidating environment. All levels, all skills welcome, no bullshit, no drama, just soccer.

To pick up & continue the leadership shown by board members.

To work with the Regional Support Groups and integrate them into the Riveters side of away travel.

To continue to make the 107IST inclusive, open and welcoming to both Timbers Army & Rose City Riveters.

To help find ways to bring new volunteers into the fold. We have a lot of people that want to get involved, whether donating time, ideas, supplies and/or money. There's room for everyone.



How do you feel 107IST members would benefit from your involvement with the board:

I feel I am extremely organized and can offer my project management skills to various committees and events. I have a good track record with working harmoniously in groups, managing budgets, and completing tasks. I know a lot of people hate Asana but I feel its a valuable tool for documentation so that our work can be carried on without recreating the wheel. I will do my part to exhibit leadership in the usage of application tools so that this transition becomes easier. I am a big proponent of project analysis and identifying areas that can be improved. Excellent execution and post-event/project analysis is very important to ensure continued success and growth.





Conflicts of Interest: None



Candidate Name: Michelle DeFord

Email Address: michelledeford7@gmail.com

Please list boards and committees that you serve on, or have served on:

I am the futsal and indoor czar for the Timbers Army Football Club, a position I have held for almost two years.

I was the project lead for the Booked! Spring Book Drive, which was the most successful to date, as well as the project lead on the Timbers Army Holiday Supply Drive for IRCO last offseason.

I have helped run the check-in table for the blood drive, which I took the lead on this past October, and the TA block party for the last three years, as well as appearances holding down the raffle tables for the TA Holiday Party and the Season Opener party.



Biographical information (107IST-related and professional):

I was born and raised in Portland, from a family who was also born and raised here. I found the Timbers in 2011 after a rough few years. I have been fortunate to lead some very successful fundraisers, supply drives, and events, such as the block party, the IRCO supply drive last offseason, and the Timbers Army match day drives this year. I have been a member of the TAFC and Game Day crew for almost two years. I have helped lead book drives, and just completed the most successful October blood drive in Timbers Army history. I have helped host two-stick parties and away day viewings, raising over $1,200 for an injured friend during the 5-2 win in LA a few years ago. Before 2011, I had a successful weekly knitting podcast hosted by a local internet radio station.





State your objectives as a 107IST board member:

My objective is to spread the word of team, town, Timbers Army, throughout the world. I'd love to be able to continue fundraising for awesome groups and giving people the chance to watch and play the beautiful game. I have been lucky to bring lots of people to their first matches and watch them fall in love and I'd like to find a way to get everyone involved.





How do you feel 107IST members would benefit from your involvement with the board:



My experience working as a volunteer and serving on a committee in the organization has helped build exceptional working relationships with current board members and other volunteers. As a result, I am comfortable both taking the lead on projects as well as working in a supporting role.

Every organization of this size has personality conflicts; I am able to set aside personal differences to work towards a successful outcome of a common goal.

Lastly, my outgoing personality has helped to build strong relationships with players, and even Merritt seems to enjoy my heckling.





Conflicts of Interest: None



C andidate Name: Zachary Freeman

Email Address: zachary.abbott.freeman@gmail.com

Please list boards and committees that you serve on, or have served on:

107IST Community Outreach Committee 2015-Current



TA Wristband Crew 2013-Current



Fanladen Matchday Crew



Roots Festival Co-Chair



PSU Earth Day Festival Committee



Biographical information (107IST-related and professional):

I moved to Portland from Maine 16 years ago. I quickly found a love and appreciation for this unique place on Earth and I felt a strong desire to care for it. This led me to the Community Development and Urban Sustainability program at PSU. Graduating in 2010, I was getting enveloped in the arms of the Timbers Army and the community surrounding the game I grew up loving. My involvement naturally progressed from away days, painting tifo, to 107IST, and my passion grew as I knew I found my community. My home. I am fully. Stuck. In.



State your objectives as a 107IST board member:

Partnerships! As I see this position opening on the board, I believe it's a role I would thrive in. 107IST has built an amazing array of partners in the metro area. I would be intent on sustaining and growing these partnerships while striving to establish new ones. I'll look to diversify the types of services available to our members through new partnerships, and in turn, grow membership.

Support the Riveters! I've seen RCR grow in leaps and bounds over the last few years. I want to lend my support within 107IST to see them grow to an unimaginable level.

Double down! We've done great work on the 107IST Community Outreach Committee supporting disadvantaged or marginalized populations in our region. I would support growing these efforts to our greatest capacity. We will endlessly support diversity and equality.

Soccer! I want to re-engage with Soccer City USA and our Metro area and discover what we might be missing. Re-emphasize delivering on our mission of supporting soccer from the grassroots to the highest level.





How do you feel 107IST members would benefit from your involvement with the board:



Having two years experience on the 107IST Outreach Committee, I've provided a track record of delivering through commitment, time and effort. I've organized hundreds of volunteers for the last two Oregon Brewers Festivals and we've delivered $12,000 to the organization from those efforts. No matter how big the task, I know we can find a way to deliver in spectacular fashion.





Having studied community based work, I have the tools to bring every voice to the table, and I would relish the opportunity to empower and represent our membership.

107IST partners are one the most bona fide ways we can give back to our members. The partnerships position on the board is a perfect fit for me. I've worked 15 years in customer service in this community and have developed an expertise in developing and sustaining relationships. I'd come into this role with deep civic resources and motivation to grow it to a new level.





Conflicts of Interest: None

C andidate Name: Sara Nelson

Email Address: snelson7553@gmail.com

Please list boards and committees that you serve on, or have served on:

With the the Timbers Army I have volunteered in various capacities such as:

Project managing tifo;



Supporting away day operations (ticket distro);



Working on the wristband crew - both with the Timbers Army, and currently leading the crew in partnership with the Timbers Front office;



Captaining Seattle Away buses, 2011 - current (2011 was a Vancouver Away, every year to Seattle since);



Founder and maintainer of the Facebook group Timbers Army Maker Corps, where people make wares and share with each other;



Active with Patch Patrol and the group supporting people who want to get involved in patch making, etc.

Outside of the Timbers Army, I was on the Mt. Tabor Soccer Club board for a few years (Team Parent Coordinator and Secretary), was a student mediator in graduate school, and led other special events and special projects (created a donation tracking system, grant writing, fundraising, donation solicitation, event coordination, and work in the warehouse organizing goods) for the Community Warehouse.

Biographical information (107IST-related and professional):

As a Portland native, I grew up appreciating soccer even though I only played at the rec level. When I first started attending games, I tried sitting in a few various places (east, west, and south sides) before falling love with the energy of the Timbers Army, and have sat there every since. I stand in 105 and have been there since 2013 (over from 104 in 2011 & 2012). After getting stuck in watching the matches, I started volunteering with the 107ist on various activities. I really enjoy the community and wide variety of people and opportunities that come with the participating in the TA.

Professionally, I am an Operations and Compliance Lead. Before that I worked as a Senior Project Manager, and prior to that was a Program Lead and Manager for a vocational training program with non-native English speakers and Adult Basic Education students.



State your objectives as a 107IST board member:

Continue to promote the community and youth development soccer culture in Portland -= and with the support of the 107ist, the Timbers Army, and Rose City Riveters, these are realistic goals. Support growth and connections with Regional Supporters Groups, including I would like to work with other members to connect with supporters locally and around the country (and beyond), and to bring in more volunteers for various 107ist-related efforts.

How do you feel 107IST members would benefit from your involvement with the board:



I am an organized person -= having worked as a senior project manager, I would bring my ability to manage projects, start and see things through to completion, and would apply this to my service with the 107ist. With my experience as a peer mediator, I bring an ability to listen to various differing viewpoints and help to bring consensus and hopefully an agreeable outcome. As a volunteer and with previous work history at the Community College and the Refugee Center, I believe that I work well with various people. I look forward to seeing where I can apply my experience to further the already successful mission of the 107ist.





Conflicts of Interest: None

Candidate Name: Gabby Rosas

Email Address: gabby.rosas@gmail.com

Please list boards and committees that you serve on, or have served on:

Back 4 Pats - Coordinator



Riveters Steering Committee - Travel, Merch, Outreach subcommittees

Independent Supporters Council - Riveters Rep



Biographical information (107IST-related and professional):

Moved to Portland from Philadelphia in 2007 to help open my company's West Coast office. I work for an advisory firm that uses data to make strategic decisions about facilities & campus growth at colleges & universities across the country.

I started going to PGE Park shortly after I moved because Thirsty Thursdays was a good way to fill in my Thursday schedules between First and Last Thursdays.

Lifelong lover of the beautiful game, I played from AYSO through high school. I started going to Timbers games regularly after 2009 and was drawn to the Timbers Army. I found my place in the North End as it was easy to join the TA. There were a lot of events that encouraged volunteering and I met amazing people fixing up pitches, packing boxes of food, and planting trees. And if you want to be, you already are.

Supporter passion overtook me when the Thorns were announced in late 2012. I knew I wanted to do all I could, but was a wallflower. I initially used my work travel skills to help coordinate group travel logistics to follow the team. I got more involved with Riveters by helping to paint, assembling the POTY award, organizing Match Day Drives, and have been jumping in to help whenever I can.

I can be found in 208 at Timbers matches, 108 for Thorns. Or at the bar watching the away game… unless I’m there.



State your objectives as a 107IST board member:

To utilize my project management and people management skills to help with organization and implementation of ideas and goals within our organization. While I am not a very creative person, I am good at identifying the stages, gathering resources, and managing creative people for successful outcomes.



As a board member, I will be able to represent both the Rose City Riveters and Timbers Army in voice, perspective, and when considering outcomes of our directives and decisions.



I anticipate growth within the fan bases and I intend to seek creative and thoughtful ways to grow the 107IST membership, our participation within the community, and engagement levels.



Professionally, I build and nurture relationships. I would like to utilize these skills to help advance and grow the 107IST in our community and maintain our already strong relationship with the Front Office and City of Portland.



How do you feel 107IST members would benefit from your involvement with the board:

I have been with the Riveters through growth and changes over 5 years. I have worked closely with others in the 107IST and when we collaborate, we do amazing things. I have used my communication and relationship skills to connect others within our groups and I believe these skills are very applicable for this position.

Professionally I am a director, and that requires planning and providing the resources for my team to meet and exceed our goals. My job requires flexibility, quick thinking, listening, and logistics. I am a team player, goal oriented, and strive for buy-in and collaboration.

I have a passion for drawing knowledge from data and information before deciding on the appropriate action. I have skills for thinking about data in ways that I can communicate easily to others. I believe this will be beneficial to the 107IST organization.



Conflicts of Interest: None

Past Elections