Residential Infill Project Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) Member Biographies

Linda Bauer, Appointee – East Portland Action Plan (EPAP)
Linda is a resident of East Portland with 30 years of single family residential development experience in both inner and outer Southeast Portland through her roles as Chair of Southeast Uplift’s and the East Portland Action Plan (EPAP)’s Land Use and Transportation Committees. The EPAP committee Linda manages is responsible for all types of assistance to East Portland Neighborhood Office Neighborhood Associations with regard to land use and transportation issues, information, support and advice. Linda also serves on the City’s Land Use Adjustment Committee.

Sarah Cantine, Architect – Scott Edwards Architects
Originally from Edmonton, Alberta and a resident of Portland since 1995, Sarah has lived in the Boise neighborhood for 12 years, working on her 1886 farmhouse that is a great example of adaptive reuse. As the land is now worth far more than the structure, she fears that she will be the home’s last owner, causing her to regularly reflect on development and preservation, and creating a good balance between. Sarah, a local architect, is also on the Board of the Boise Neighborhood Association and participates on its Land Use and Transportation Committee.

Alan DeLaTorre, Ph.D., Research Associate – PSU Institute on Aging
A townhouse homeowner and resident in North Portland, Alan is a self-described “urban gerontologist” and passionate about translating his research into effective policy and practice. He seeks to continually contribute to sustainable development policies and practices that lead to livable and age-friendly environments. Alan is the co-coordinator for the Age-Friendly Portland and Multnomah County initiatives. He also serves as the president of the Oregon Gerontological Association, Commissioner on the Portland Commission on Disability and as an appointee for American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Oregon. 

Jim Gorter, Appointee – Southwest Neighbors, Inc. (SWNI)
Raised in Southeast Portland’s Westmoreland/Sellwood neighborhood, Jim is a third generation Portlander and lifelong resident. Currently a retired educator, he served most of his career as the director of outdoor/ environmental education for the Northwest Regional Education Service District. He is on the Board of Trustees for the Oregon State Parks Foundation, as well as other advisory committees for the City of Portland and the City Club of Portland. Jim is a 30-year resident of South Burlingame and also a property owner in Southeast Portland. 

John Hasenberg, Architect
A Chicago native, John earned a Bachelor and Master of Architecture and Housing from the University of Illinois before moving to Portland in 1976. He was partner at Gilbert/Hasenberg Architects prior to starting his current firm, where he has designed a wide spectrum of new and remodeled homes and additions throughout Portland. John’s projects – including three national award-winning remodels – have been featured in several home design magazines. He has also been on the Board for the Portland Chapter of the Oregon Remodelers Association and currently serves on its Code Committee.

Marshall Johnson, Residential Sector Manager – Energy Trust of Oregon
Marshall is a general contractor and program manager who passionately believes that new development in Portland should be more affordable and better fit the context of its respective neighborhoods. He maintains a keen interest in the connection in energy efficiency and renewable energy business development and program management opportunities. Marshall is certified as a Sustainable Building Advisor and a Building Performance Institute Professional. He has been a resident of Portland for the past 12 years, including eight years living in Southeast Portland.  

Emily Kemper, Senior Engineering Manager – CLEAResult
Emily is an Oregon-registered architect and building science expert who manages CLEAResult’s Residential Engineering and Technical Team that supports energy efficiency programs and projects across the United States. She has served as an appointee on the Oregon Governor’s Board for Residential and Manufactured Structures since 2011, and is an adjunct instructor teaching an ‘Assessing Sustainable Buildings’ course at the University of Oregon’s Portland campus. She is particularly fond of working to improve the efficiency of her 110-year old Victorian bungalow in inner Southwest Portland.

Douglas MacLeod, Appointee – Home Builders Association (HBA) of Metropolitan Portland
Douglas resides in Southeast Portland. With over 10 years of experience in land acquisition and development, including new construction brokering within the city of Portland, he is concerned about rising housing costs and its resulting impacts on low- and middle-income residents. Douglas has a broad spectrum of experience working with non-profit organizations on politically-charged issues and is active with helping craft effective strategies for organization and communication for the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland.  

Mary Kyle McCurdy, Policy Director – 1000 Friends of Oregon
Mary Kyle grew up in the Chicago area, graduated from Stanford University, and earned her law degree from the University of California, Davis. She has lived mostly in Portland since 1981. Currently, Mary Kyle serves as Policy Director and Staff Attorney with 1000 Friends of Oregon, where she focuses on urban issues of affordable housing, walkable communities and active transportation. At the state and regional level, Mary Kyle has been working on equitable land use and transportation solutions to minimizing climate change.  

Maggie McGann, Project Manager – Habitat for Humanity/Metro East
Maggie is an accomplished and knowledgeable project manager for residential new home construction, with experience on over 100 units and extensive familiarity with green building techniques and certification standards. In her role with Habitat for Humanity, she managed a 45-unit residential development at SE 171st and Division to completion, and also is currently managing two projects (33 total units) in Southwest Portland and East Gresham. Maggie is a native Portlander and lives in the Sunnyside neighborhood home she grew up in.  

Rod Merrick, Principal – Merrick Architecture Planning
A 38-year resident of Portland (with three sons, two of whom live in the city), Rod is a lifetime urban explorer of architecture and infrastructure in cities and towns. His experience includes over 35 years as a practicing and registered architect on a wide range of project types. In addition, Rod is the longest serving chair (25 years) of the City of Portland’s Pedestrian Advisory Committee, a founding board member of Architects Without Borders - Oregon and is committed to responsible infill, preservation of architectural and cultural resources as Co-Chairman of the Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association’s Land Use Committee. 

Rick Michaelson, Appointee – Neighbors West/Northwest (NWNW)
Rick moved to Portland in 1975 upon earning degrees in architectural history and architecture, and has since been active in advocating for effective planning, development and historic preservation. He advised on Portland’s 1980 Comprehensive Plan, worked for Commissioner Strachan and was Acting Director of the Office of Housing Policy, before founding his development and property management company specializing in residential infill and adaptive reuse of historic buildings. Rick served for 16 years (four as Chair) on the Portland Planning Commission, and on the Historic Landmarks and Design Commissions. 

Mike Mitchoff, Co-Owner – Portland Houseworks
A native of Southeast Portland, Mike lives with his family in the same Westmoreland home he grew up in (four generations of his family live within one mile). In the last 15 years, he was a real estate investor and builder, remodeler and developer on over 100 local projects – ranging from apartments, condos, and cottage cluster developments to land acquisitions and investment rental houses. Mike is a member of the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland as well as a local infill builders group. He aims to balance progressive and affordable residential infill while respecting individual rights of property owners.

Michael Molinaro, Appointee – Southeast Uplift (SEUL)
Michael moved to Portland 2012, purchasing a new infill home designed by fellow SAC member Rod Merrick in Sunnyside. He sought an urban setting for his ‘retirement’ with good access to transportation, walkable amenities and cultural events. Michael is a licensed architect and owned a firm specializing in historic preservation. He co-chairs the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association’s Land Use and Transportation Committee, and is a member of the Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Coalition, the Development Review Advisory Committee’s Demolition Appeals Process Subcommittee and the Vista Bridge Restoration Advisory Committee.

Danell Norby, Community Development Coordinator – City of Vancouver, Washington
A Portland resident, Danell advocates for increasing affordable housing options in the region through equity-oriented policymaking and planning. A graduate of the Masters of Urban and Regional Planning program at Portland State University, she participated in local housing initiatives and studies with Living Cully, Habitat for Humanity and the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. Danell represents the Anti-Displacement PDX coalition and also promotes fair and affordable housing through her role on the board for Housing Land Advocates.

Douglas Reed, Appointee – East Portland Neighborhood Office (EPNO)
A native of East Portland, Douglas serves as Vice Chair of the Mill Park Neighborhood Association and oversees land use issues brought before the board. Douglas has witnessed East Portland redevelop from an unincorporated suburb into a diverse community with over one quarter of Portland's population. Currently, he is a realtor with ERA Freeman & Associates, with over a decade of experience working with home sellers and local builders on residential infill projects. 

Vic Remmers, President and Owner – Everett Custom Homes
Vic is a local resource on all things urban homebuilding. He is an Oregon native and graduate of Oregon State University. Vic is mindful of the history of growth and concerns for change in Portland. As building sustainable urban homes is a passion of his, Vic keeps current on new trends in construction science and energy efficiency. He ensures that all of his homes are certified Gold or Platinum through Earth Advantage, rated through the Energy Trust of Oregon and works exclusively with The Rebuilding Center’s DeConstruction Services. Vic is also a longtime member of the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland.

Young Sun Song, Appointee – Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)
Young Sun joined IRCO in 2015 and led its Diversity and Civic Leadership program, guiding capacity building workshops for immigrants and refugees. Bilingual in Korean and English, Young Sun recent moved to North Portland from Chicago, where she worked on civic empowerment and immigrant rights campaigns for over 10 years. Young Sun earned a Master of Social Work at the University of Illinois-Chicago while working with grassroots organizations to preserve affordable housing for low-income seniors and develop comprehensive immigration reform. Stepped down, February 2016.

Brandon Spencer-Hartle, Field Program Manager – Restore Oregon
Brandon manages education and advocacy efforts at Restore Oregon, a statewide historic preservation nonprofit. With degrees in community development and historic preservation, Brandon has led efforts for the past five years to ‘save Oregon’s most endangered places’, advance the organization’s legislative and legal initiatives and collaborate with property owners and communities in stewarding historic resources across Oregon. Brandon is a housing renter, does not own a car and spends much of his free time enjoying Portland’s great neighborhoods and main streets. Stepped down, February 2016.

Eli Spevak, Owner – Orange Splot, LLC
A Cully resident, Eli has been crafting affordable, community-oriented housing since arriving in Portland in 1994. He managed the finance and construction of over 250 affordable housing units through community-based non-profit organizations. Eli also served on the board for Proud Ground and volunteered with Dignity Village before launching his current development and general contracting firm to pioneer new models of housing. He also helped change Portland’s regulations and fee structure for accessory dwelling units, and is a dedicated advocate for discreet, affordable and environmentally friendly housing.

Teresa St. Martin, Member – Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC), City of Portland
Teresa has been a certified EcoBroker (among the first in the Portland area) since 2006. She is a principal broker with Windermere Stellar Group, serving the Portland Metro area with her emphasis on sustainable housing. Teresa serves on the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors Board of Directors, assisting the local realtor community improve its standards of practice. She was appointed as a Commissioner to the City of Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission in 2014.

Barbara Strunk, Appointee – United Neighborhoods for Reform (UNR)
Barbara is a native Portlander, growing up in Woodstock, earning her Bachelor and Master of Nursing from Oregon Health Sciences University (in addition to her Bachelor of Political Science and History from Occidental College). She has resided in her 1926 Beaumont Wilshire home since 1976. In 2014, Barbara became actively involved in advocacy to limit residential demolitions that are often replaced with large and expensive houses. She currently serves on the Steering Committee for United Neighborhoods for Reform, a citywide, grassroots organization “working for development that benefits all Portlanders.” 

David Sweet, Appointee – Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN)
David is a full-time volunteer, focused on projects that make his neighborhood, city and region more equitable, sustainable and resilient. He is a resident of a cohousing community in Cully. Professionally, David spent 25 years with the City of Portland’s Bureau of Buildings (now Development Services) working on neighborhood and housing issues, including the revitalization of inner North and Northeast Portland in the 1980s/1990s. This ultimately led to the displacement of low-income families and people of color.  He is working to avoid such displacement and retain the economic and ethnic diversity of the Central Northeast.

Eric Thompson, Appointee – Home Builders Association (HBA) of Metropolitan Portland
A fourth generation Oregonian, Eric has lived in Portland since 1989.  As owner of a small firm, Oregon Homeworks, he is an infill builder focusing on new single family homes in Portland’s inner neighborhoods and using local subcontractors and suppliers. Eric’s firm created over 60 new homes for a variety of buyers, including empty-nesters who are downsizing from the suburbs, families who are laying roots for their children, and new residents moving to Portland to be closer to friends and family and enjoy Portland unique vibrant neighborhoods.

Garlynn Woodsong, Appointee – Northeast Coalition of Neighbors (NECN)
A fifth generation Oregonian, Garlynn has 15 years of experience in urban and regional planning; real estate market analysis, investment, development, and finance; and community activism related to livable communities. Having worked in various capacities in the Portland and San Francisco regions, he now owns a local real estate investment and development firm, Woodsong Property Renovation Partners, LLC. Also, he chairs the Land Use and Transportation Committee for the Concordia Neighborhood Association and Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods.

Tatiana Xenelis-Mendoza, Appointee – North Portland Neighborhood Services (NPNS)
After earning a Master of Business Administration and Social Work, Tatiana joined the Massachusetts Housing Partnership before relocating to Portland. She worked with the Housing Authority of Portland and in her current role with Oregon First, Tatiana focuses on affordable home purchase options and increasing its housing stock in urban centers. She then earned her real estate license and serves as an exclusive listing agents selling the Authority’s rental portfolio. She is a member of the Portsmouth Neighborhood Association and resides in North Portland.