Sarah Cleveland,  Chair

Sarah joined the board of NWEI in 2004 and is currently the Chair of the Board.  Since 2002 Sarah has worked as a senior consultant in the Portland office of Rogerscasey, a national investment consulting firm.  Sarah has worked in economic research and financial services since 1994.  She graduated with a B.S. degree, cum laude, and her M.S. degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. In addition, Sarah served as an Economist with the Oregon Public Utility Commission and was a Fulbright Lecturer in Economics at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. 

Rich Bruer,  Vice Chair

Rich joined the NWEI board of directors in February 2007. He is principal of R.Bruer Company, a strategic communications firm advising businesses and organizations committed to environmental, economic and social change. Rich was previously principal of McClenahan Bruer Communications, a high-tech advertising and PR agency he co-founded in Portland in 1993. Rich began his career as a newspaper journalist before entering high tech as a corporate communications manager at Mentor Graphics. He holds an MS in journalism from the University of Oregon.

Pat Wolter, Secretary

Pat has served as Secretary of the Board since NWEI's inception in 1993. In addition to sitting on the board Pat has been involved with the High School Earth Club Program,  various event committees, and most recently two curriculum committees. Pat, a native Portlander, currently lives in the country with her husband and eight horses, and is active in local land use issues.  The Oregon coast is her favorite place on earth.  Pat is a graduate of Oregon State University with a B.A. in Elementary Education.

Linda Magee, Treasurer

Linda has been on the NWEI board since 1993, and enjoys helping share her knowledge and experience of non-profit organizations.  Now the treasurer of the board, she also has served as board chair.  For the past 27 years, Linda has been the executive director of Chamber Music Northwest, which presents 35 concerts annually with internationally recognized musicians.  In her spare time she plays violin and viola in an informal ensemble known as the “Rusties,” enjoys birds, and takes care of the family parrot, Sparky.

Alysa Rose, Director

Alysa took her first NWEI course in 2001 and in 2007 joined NWEI's Board of Directors. Currently Alysa is the President of Rejuvenation, a manufacturer and national direct marketer of authentic reproduction lighting and house parts.  Alysa holds an undergraduate degree from Tufts University and an MBA from Cornell University.

Jon Blumenauer, Director

Jon joined the NWEI board of directors in May of 2007.  He is a Portland native who currently works as a consultant on business and sustainability strategy initiatives.  Jon has over ten years of international experience working with major global brands in the logistics and apparel manufacturing industries throughout Asia and Europe.  Jon received his BA from Pomona College and MBA and MA in Southeast Asian Studies from the University of Michigan.

Doug Rich, Director

A New England native, Doug grew up on an apple orchard in CT,  and graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont with BA in Environmental Studies and Economics.  After 11 years in New York City as a corporate banker, Doug and his wife Karen moved to Lake Oswego in 1994.  Doug connected with the NWEI in 1995 to arrange a Voluntary Simplicity discussion group at US Bank, and joined as a volunteer in 1996.  Doug has worked on course development, the High School Earth Club programs, and local/community outreach.  Doug was elected to the Board in Oct. 2005, has served on the Finance Committee and currently heads Financial Development.  He continues to  mentor new groups and celebrate seasonal changes with the NWEI community.  Doug enjoys coaching youth sports, skiing, biking and roller-blading with Karen and their two sons.

Justin Yuen, Director

Justin joined the board in January of 2008. He is currently president of FMYI (for my innovation), a collaboration software company with a commitment to sustainability. FMYI enables organizations to organize and share their information in a simple yet powerful way.  Prior to FMYI, Justin was a Senior Manager in Corporate Sustainable Development with Nike as well as Nike's head of Footwear Quality for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region in the Netherlands.  Justin is currently the co-chair of the city of Portland / Multnomah County Sustainable Development Commission and is on the Oregon Natural Step board of Directors.  Justin has a degree in International Studies from The Johns Hopkins University and attended the Columbia Business School Executive  Eductaion program.

Jeff Robertson, Director

Jeff Robertson is our newest member to the board, joining in April of 2008.  Jeff is a partner with the law firm Barran Liebman. At Barran Lieban, Jeff represents employers in the drafting, design and growth of retirement and health plans, as well as compensation advice for executive compensation and §409A compliance. Jeff earned his law degree from Indiana University, where he graduated magna cum laude; he is also a certified public accountant. Jeff is a nationally recognized writer and speaker, and is a Trustee on the city of Portland's Fire and Police Disability and Pension Fund.