Every year in November, CNA invites nominations and holds elections for a number of board positions. If you or someone you know would like to contribute your skills, interests and enthusiasm to bettering the lives of you and your neighbors, this is the chance to get involved. Whether your interests are in land use policy, social events, arts, nonprofit management or a host of other areas, there is no better time and no better way to step forward and join with your neighbors to help preserve and build the Concordia we want.
The update below represents just the current roster of candidates but nominations are being accepted all the way up to the election night so the list will certainly change. We’ll try to update it here. Yes, you CAN nominate yourself! You simply need to be a Concordia resident or represent a business or organization operating in Concordia.
NOVEMBER 18, 2014 @ 7PM
KENNEDY SCHOOL COMMUNITY ROOM
The Nominating Committee of the Concordia Neighborhood Association Board of Directors is pleased to announce the following people have agreed to run for a seat on the Board
Geographic Positions
- East – Steve Elder – Incumbent
- East – Mark Charlesworth – Incumbent
- Northwest – Ashley McKinley – Ashley and her family live on 29th. Ashley works as a Senior Marketing Manager of Revenue Strategy. She states she, “…would love to lend my time in ensuring that our neighborhood has a voice and that the decisions made are in the best interest of our community.”
- Southwest – Bill Leissner – Incumbent
At Large Positions
- #2 – Esther Freeman – Incumbent
- #4 – Daniel Greenstadt – Current Chair of the Board
- #5 – Craig Voight – “My name is Craig Voigt. I’m a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with the Portland VA Community Resource and Referral Center. I work with homeless Veterans. I have a two year degree in drug and alcohol counseling and a master’s degree in social work from the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. After graduate school in 2003, I joined the Navy. I spent the next seven years serving as an operations specialist, a funeral honors coordinator, a hospital corpsman, and a social worker traveling from Buffalo, NY to Landstuhl Germany to Portsmouth, VA. Following my honorable discharge from the Navy, I worked as a school social worker for Virginia Beach City Schools. Shortly after budget cuts eliminated my position with Virginia Beach, opportunity knocked in Portland. My wife and I answered the knock along with our two cats and together we made the trek across the country to purchase our first home in the Alberta Arts district. I am running for a position on the Board because I feel it is important to know your neighbors. Those relationships are what build a community. My wife and I developed a pretty substantial crush on Portland, and those feelings deepened when we landed in Concordia. Our neighbors welcomed us with open arms and our house quickly became our home. That is why I’m running. Thank you for your consideration.”
- #7 – Tracy Braden – Tracy has served on the CNA Board for the last year as Secretary. She has been a resident of Concordia since 2003. She is an academic advisor at Portland State University and holds a master’s degree in Counseling. She loves the neighborhood and thinks that Portland is the best place on earth. She’s happy to continue serving in her current role.
Chair
- Isaac Quintero – “The question for me is not why I want to run, but why I have to run for office. I was told one that when the call comes, one must rise to the occasion and for those with the abilities and skill sets required for such things as serving on a board then the call has an added obligation to use the gifts given to them. I do my best to keep to myself but know that the quality of my life and my community will be acceptable when I have invested myself in its future. Most important to me is what this neighborhood is going to look like 20 years from now when my grandkids will be deciding if this will continue to be a place they want to call home. Organizational leadership is something I also have lots of experience in from running large commercial real estate companies, Vice-principal of a large middle school, various board positions in the Chinese and Hispanic Communities to that as a neighborhood Chair in LO, Organizing fundraiser for the Obama election, and service in the USMC.”
NOMINATIONS ARE STILL OPEN!!!!! If you would like to be put on the election ballot or have any questions contact Bob Martinek, Chairperson of the Nominating Committee at bmartinek@cuportland. edu or pastorbob60@comcast.net or call him at 503-724-5596.
Nominations will be TAKEN FROM THE FLOOR the day of the election on Nov 18th.