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Board of Directors

The GRO Board of Directors is comprised of members who donate considerable time and effort in the interest of helping Sisters High School graduates grow and prosper through continued education. The Board members are selected for their professional expertise, dedication and consistent support. The Board’s main responsibilities include overseeing the management and administration of GRO and its assets. Board members are advocates for GRO and serve as volunteers in a variety of fulfilling roles.

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Tim Ross - Chair

Tim was born and raised in a small Oregon town. Graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Biology and a Teaching Certificate but ended up working at Intel for 28 years. He had a varied set of responsibilities at Intel including: Process and Equipment Development, Life Safety Systems, Emergency Response and Preparedness, System Integration, Construction Management, and Schedule Integration.

He and his wife moved to Sisters in 2015 and are continually amazed at what a great community they are fortunate enough to be a part of.

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Brian Harris - Vice Chair

Brian was raised in Washington state and attended Washington State University with a BS in Pharmacy and also attended the University of Washington where he obtained a Masters degree in Public Health. Brian worked a 40 year career as a licensed pharmacist in Washington state and California in hospitals, medical centers, and health plans.  Most of Brian's career was in the field of pharmacy administration where he held various leadership roles.  He had a varied set of responsibilities including strategy, planning, training, program design, health plan management, and clinical care delivery operations in hospitals and clinics.  Brian retired in 2019 as Vice President of pharmacy services at Sutter Health in California. Previously, Brian served as a Vice President at Group Health Cooperative in Seattle.  

 

Brian and his wife retired to the Sisters community in 2019. Locally Brian serves on the elder board at Sisters Community Church, and has served as an ASPIRE Mentor, and on a Community Advisory Board for the City of Sisters long range planning team. Brian enjoys numerous outdoor activities including road and mountain biking, hiking, and traveling. 

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Ann Thompson - Secretary, Sisters GRO Co-Founder

Ann worked for 17 years at the brokerage firm of Smith Barney, and retired as Senior Vice President and Regional Administrative Officer in 1999. She had previously worked in the Trust Dept. at U.S. National Bank and in management and marketing at an investment advisory firm. She holds a BA in Anthropology from Portland State and completed various graduate level courses in banking and management, and previously held Securities licenses 7, 8 and 63. She has been active in many volunteer organizations throughout Oregon, serving on the Advisory Council of the Museum of Natural and Cultural History at the University of Oregon, serving ten years as a Trustee of the University of Oregon Foundation, a member of the Oregon Humanities Council Board of Visitors, ASPIRE and others.

 

“Throughout my career I always tried to do something to better the community in which I lived, and which had given me so much. When I retired, I realized that, for me, spending more time working with and for students was the best way to do that. Volunteering with SHS seniors, looking to their future, opened my eyes not only to the need for scholarships, but to the generosity of the Sisters community; and GRO is the vehicle to build on that generosity to support and encourage our kids.”

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Bob Landwehr - Treasurer

Bob was born and raised in Astoria, Oregon, graduating from Astoria High School, then earning a BS degree in Secondary Education at Western Oregon University (OCE) and a MAT from Lewis & Clark College.  He taught in the Astoria School District for 33 years at the Middle School and High School levels.  Bob also coached boy’s basketball and track & field.

Bob is currently the President of Astoria High School Scholarships, Inc and has served on that board since 2002. While in Astoria, he also served on the Clatsop Community College Foundation board, the Liberty Theater Restoration board, the Astoria Music Festival board, was active in the Astoria Cruise Hosts program, and was an elder for many years at the First Presbyterian Church.

 

Bob and his wife Gayle moved to Central Oregon in 2015 and have lived in Sisters since June of 2016. They are excited to be living here, experiencing a totally new type of climate and culture.  “We have been very impressed with the Sisters community, its generosity and support.  I am excited to be a part of the Sisters GRO scholarship program and to meet more members of this friendly community.”

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Susan Parker - Board Member/Donor Development

Susan Parker grew up in Eastern Oregon and graduated from Pendleton High School. She was active in student government, club activities and sports. At Oregon State University Susan received a B.S. in Clothing & Textiles with a Business emphasis. She was a member of DHE (Design & Human Environment) Advisory Board for 20+ years. In 2006 Susan was awarded Distinguished Alumni Fellow. She is also a Alumni Partner at OSU College of Business involved with career symposiums, panel discussions and mentoring.

Susan had a 37 year career in merchandise and store management for the Macy corporation. She started as a Buyer for Misses and Jr. Sportswear later becoming a VP Store Manager for six stores.

Outside of her career Susan has been married to Brian Farrow for 33 years and has two stepdaughters, a son and daughter, and 6 grandchildren. Her hobbies include baseball (season ticket holder Oakland A’s), foodie, movie lover and healthy living advocate.

Susan has been volunteering as an ASPIRE mentor at SHS for the last five years. She is currently working with six junior and six senior students.

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Wendy von Kalinowski - Board Member/Donor Development

Bio coming soon! 

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Karen Hensley - Emeritus Board Member, Sisters GRO Co-Founder

Karen attended Western Oregon University and has a background as a Commercial Real Estate Associate Broker specializing in commercial real estate development and property management. She has achieved the designation of Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM). 

 

Karen has wide volunteer experience, having served on various Salem community fundraising committees, working with the Salem Chamber of Commerce, as well as volunteer work with Elk Meadow Elementary School in Bend and the ASPIRE program at SHS.  Sisters Chamber of Commerce recognized Karen as “Sisters Volunteer of the Year” for 2011.  Karen led Sisters GRO as Chairperson from 2008 through 2014, and served as the Vice Chairperson through 2015.

”Over the years, due to lack of funds and scholarship availability, Sisters community had to say no to many SHS scholarship applicants.  I am committed to say yes to every deserving graduate of Sisters High School and am proud to work with the generous people in Sisters and the Sisters GRO Board members who share this cause.”

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Charles Kanzig - Sisters High School Counselor / Ex-Officio Board Member

Charlie is a life-long Oregonian who has lived in Sisters with his wife and family since 1994. Charlie worked professionally as a school counselor in Oregon from 1987 to 2019, primarily for the Sisters School District and mainly at the high school level. All five of his children graduated from Sisters High School. He helped develop the scholarship program in the early days of the high school’s existence and has extensive background in working with students planning their futures.

 

Charles and his wife Deirdre, both University of Oregon graduates, spent two years at an International School in South Korea from 2013 to 2015 where Charlie served as the college counselor. Throughout his career, Charlie has coached cross country running, which is a passion.

 

Charlie is very community-oriented and believes that everyone benefits when we support the youth of our schools.

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Rick Kroytz - Sisters High School Counselor / Ex-Officio Board Member

Rick has been working at Sisters High School since 2015, where he is currently one of their school counselors. Rick grew up in Ventura, California, and attended California State University, Fresno, where he earned his Bachelors in Social Studies. He then went on to Oregon State University, earning his Masters degree in Counseling.

Rick has been active in many volunteer organizations, including Discovery Center Museum of Natural History, Saint Charles Patient and Family Advisory Council, and many youth groups, clubs, and trail and land restoration groups. As a counselor at Sisters High school, Rick works closely with students, helping them develop their post-high school plans, including individual counseling, career planning, class scheduling, and the college/scholarship process.

Rick and his wife, Emily, have three children in the Sisters School District.

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