John was named Trustee on September 15, 1995, to succeed his late father, founding Trustee, Jim Castles. After careers in commercial banking, investment management and angel investing, John currently enjoys volunteering with several nonprofit organizations and coaching their leaders. He has served as a founder, director or officer of numerous emerging companies in the Pacific Northwest. His passions include his family – wife, Sarah, two grown sons and daughters-in-law plus three grandsons and one granddaughter – flying and tennis. He has been a pilot, an interest he credits to Jack Murdock, who took him flightseeing as a young boy.

Jeff Grubb has been a Trustee at the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust since 2010. He retired from corporate life in 2017 after 35 years in financial services working for Progressive Insurance, U.S. Bank, U.S. Trust and Wells Fargo. He has also served on the advisory board of several private companies. In addition to his business career, Jeff has been active in nonprofits, currently serving as secretary of Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette. He is a former chairman for the Oregon Young Presidents Organization, Social Venture Partners Portland and the Portland Angel Network, and vice chairman for the Oregon Symphony. He has also served on boards of the Portland Art Museum, the World Affairs Council of Oregon, Junior Achievement, the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, Vision Fund Rwanda, and the Palau Foundation for World Evangelism. Jeff is a graduate of Stanford University with a B.A. in economics and an MBA. Jeff and his wife, Sandy, enjoy spending time with their three adult sons, two daughters-in-law, three grandsons, and two granddaughters.

Jeff came to the Trust in 2016 following his retirement as president and CEO of Medical Teams International. Previous to Medical Teams International, Jeff served 29 years with Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, nine years as president and CEO of Horizon. In addition to his corporate and nonprofit leadership experience, Jeff has served on a number of boards and advisory committees, including Seattle Pacific University School of Business, Washington State University School of Business, Pacific Continental Bank, and the Seattle Hospitality Group.

As Chief Executive Officer, Romanita oversees all program activities of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. An accomplished team builder, convener, and leader, Romanita draws on more than two decades of experience in the nonprofit (World Vision), for profit (Microsoft), philanthropic (Murdock Trust), and board service (Global Women, India Partners, Urban Alliance, Urban Impact, Impact Latin America) sectors to help steward the mission of the foundation. A graduate of the University of Washington, Romanita earned her MBA from Eastern University.

Elmer leads the investment team and works with the Trustees in managing the Trust’s investment portfolio. Previously Elmer held various financial advisory roles with EY, Barclays Capital, and Morgan Stanley. Elmer graduated with honors from Columbia University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, an M.S. in Industrial Engineering, and an M.B.A. in international finance. Elmer has served on the board of a number of nonprofits and other organizations focused on strategy, sustainability, and leadership development.

Mike brings a rich understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities present for nonprofits in the Pacific Northwest. A Certified Public Accountant who previously served as the CFO for the Historic Trust of Fort Vancouver before assuming the role of President and CEO, Mike graduated from George Fox University with degrees in accounting and business administration. Prior to his time with the Historic Trust, Mike served on the accounting staff at Moss-Adams and has also served as a board member and chair with Leadership Clark County.

Dana is responsible for providing leadership and oversight for the Trust’s grant programs and associated processes. As an investment officer in a regional bank, he earned credentials as a registered securities representative and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). He then spent 21 years as a senior administrator for three different private liberal arts colleges in Kansas, Ohio and Oregon, gaining extensive experience in development, marketing and communications, and admissions. Dana has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in higher education administration, and has been privileged to serve on several local nonprofit boards and professional associations.

Kimberly leads the enrichment arm of the Trust, overseeing work to strengthen and build nonprofits, including board training and development, leadership, fundraising, and convenings. Kimberly spent over 20 years as a Vice President for two private liberal arts colleges, most recently The King’s College in NYC. Her executive experience covers crisis management, student affairs, marketing, strategic planning, change theory, and developmental coaching. She received her Ph.D. in higher education administration and has been a widely published author, frequent speaker, and organizational consultant. She has served on both local and national boards and mentored dozens of young professionals who now serve in business and nonprofits across the country.

As Director of Communications, Colby is responsible for facilitating conversations between the Trust and the community. This includes amplifying the work of grantees, engaging in discussions of philanthropy and connecting potential fund recipients with grant application resources. Colby began his career in communications in the early 2000’s and brings to the Trust a unique blend of expertise working with national brands, such as Microsoft, Avangrid Renewables and JELD-WEN, as well as several nonprofits, including Willamette Valley Development Officers, REACH CDC and SMART. A proud alum of the University of Oregon Honors College and Portland native, Colby loves giving back to the organizations that make the Pacific Northwest thrive.

Dr. Lee, senior director for scientific research and enrichment programs, handles proposals and directs enrichment programs in scientific research at universities, research institutes, and private colleges. He also often handles education, environmental conservation, and health-related proposals. Dr. Lee was the Rose J. Forgione professor of chemistry at Furman University for 16 years and Dean of Natural and Applied Sciences at Hope College for eight years. Dr. Lee maintains an adjunct professor appointment and an active research program at Georgia State University, where he develops potential treatments and vaccines for cancer, parasitic, and viral diseases. He has served in various capacities at the Trust, Research Corporation for Scientific Advancement, Petroleum Research Fund (PRF), National Science Foundation (NSF), and other scientific foundations. Lee holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Guelph in Canada, and he has published close to 200 scientific articles and two books, filed 11 patents, and gave over 350 presentations.

As Senior Director for Training and Capacity Building, Jill oversees onboarding for our new program directors and ongoing training of our program director staff. In addition to her direct work with grant applicants as a program director, Jill helps direct Trust efforts to support the development of smaller and newer nonprofit organizations. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology and has done extensive graduate work in counseling psychology. Prior to her work at the Trust, Jill taught science and math at the college and high school levels in Texas, New Mexico, and Michigan. Jill has also served on nonprofit boards and volunteered with several nonprofit groups and organizations.

Stefanie serves as the manager of the executive office and trustee relations. She joined the Trust in 2012 after working 17 years at a nonprofit in Portland, Oregon, where she gained extensive experience in nonprofit business administration, development, and event planning.

Rudy Carrasco has invested his entire professional career serving the community. Following his graduation from Stanford University, Rudy held roles with the Harambee Christian Family Center and Partners Worldwide before joining the Murdock Trust team. A widely-published author and frequent keynote speaker, Rudy has a natural gift for helping organizations identify the most efficient and productive use of their resources. As a Program Director, his time is focused on working one-on-one with applicants and grantees as they walk through the application process.

Lorin came to the Trust with a diverse background in the arts, education and criminal justice. She began her career in grants administration in Washington, D.C. before moving to Oregon. As a program director for the Trust, Lorin works primarily with arts and cultural organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska with a double major in art history and international affairs, and studied abroad at the University of Paris-Sorbonne. Lorin has been involved in the nonprofit community for almost 20 years and is an active volunteer in her community and parish.

Pauline joined the Trust in 2016 after over 20 years serving in the nonprofit space, working with young adults and leaders, with extensive experience working cross-culturally (both domestically and overseas). Pauline is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley, holds a master of arts degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Organizational Change and Leadership through the University of Southern California. She is a frequent speaker and trainer. In addition to her work as a program director with nonprofit leaders in the grants process, Pauline directs the Trust’s Women in Leadership Program.

John joined the Trust in October 2012 as a program director. He spent 32 years on the staff of Young Life, his last four serving as the senior vice president for the western division. John has been involved with numerous nonprofits in the Northwest and is a frequent speaker and consultant with organizations around the country. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon and earned his master’s degree at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Kim brings a unique perspective on STEM education following several years molding young minds at both private and public institutions, most recently at Camas High School where she taught biology and technology. A participant and coach for several years in the Partners in Science Program, Kim also helped lead the “Camas Girls’ in STEM Conference.” A graduate of Stanford University (where she was also a standout on the women’s basketball team), Kim went on to earn her Masters degree from George Fox University.

Jeremy brings an extensive background helping create partnerships between community and faith-based organizations, corporate groups and government agencies through community engagement, diversity and inclusion support and thought leadership. A graduate of Princeton University, Jeremy began his career at The Brookings Institution and went on to hold roles with Prison Fellowship Ministries and Unique Learning Center as well as serving as Director of Outreach for the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives under George W. Bush.

Christopher (Kit) Gillem joined the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust in 1998 where his nonprofit portfolio included Arts & Culture, Environmental, and Nonprofit Support Organizations across the Pacific Northwest. He has served on the Philanthropy Northwest board (including president in 2008-2009), has been a presenter at the Council on Foundations annual convening and other regional conferences and is a regular trainer and facilitator for regional grantmakers and numerous non-profit support organizations. Kit retired from full-time service at the Trust in 2016 and is currently assisting the program staff with special assignments and projects. Prior to working at the Trust, he spent 20 years in the non-profit sector as executive director and program manager of conservation and science education organizations.

Francesca is a recent college graduate from Western Washington University with a major in Cultural Anthropology. It was in college where she became involved in civic engagement which further exhilarated her plans on attending law school and later writing policies in various fields. When Francesca is not managing our reception area and supporting our administrative team, she loves spending time with family, reading, and baking while watching The Great British Baking Show.

Marybeth provides assistance to the senior program director. She is responsible for managing the grants database and associated processes, overseeing and coordinating final stages of proposal review, and developing and coordinating awards materials. She also provides special assistance in developing materials and implementing focused grants programs; managing and coordinating science panels and adjunct staff in review processes and program development; and working on special projects and institutional research. She is a longstanding Murdock staff member—since 1989—and is a Grants Managers Network member. Before moving to the Northwest, Marybeth earned a bachelor of music education degree from the Ohio State University. She has taught both privately and in public schools, and has performed in community orchestras and small woodwind ensembles.

Jason joined the Trust in 2014 and provides grants guidance and educational resources to our nonprofit partners. His work directly supports the assessment of strategic projects and grant initiatives, the coordination of external and panel reviews for scientific research proposals, and the development of the grants management system. Jason has spent more than 18 years serving a variety of nonprofits domestically and overseas. He holds a bachelor’s degree in theatrical production at the University of California, Santa Cruz that led him to several professional theater companies through the Bay Area. His focus then expanded to strengthening system structures while serving as an educator at the Beijing Language & Culture University and as programs director for Firefly, a youth development organization for emerging youth leaders.

Conner provides support and leadership for the strategic use of technology and communications systems to achieve the mission of the Trust. He is the technical administrator for the Trust’s grants management and enrichment business systems, manages the Trust’s website and audio-visual systems, and serves as a member of both the communications and technology teams. Conner received his bachelor of science degree from Warner Pacific University in business administration and social science, and his M.B.A. in nonprofit management from University of Portland.

Amy helps lead all internal and external events for the Trust, including scheduling, logistics and hospitality. As many of you know, Amy is far from a new face around the Trust. She has more than sixteen years’ experience in event planning and coordinating in the private sector, including seven years as manager to one of our preferred caterers for seven years where she helped coordinate large events for the Trust, such as Founder’s Day. She enjoys volunteering at her children’s school whenever possible, spending time with her family, and hosting family gatherings.

Sarah oversees the logistics and coordination for all Murdock Trust Enrichment Initiatives, as well as many of our convenings and gatherings. Recently a Marketing Administrative Assistant at Medical Teams International, Sarah began her career in the region as an Oregon Fellow with the Trust. Sarah graduated from the University of Virginia with a double major in Religious Studies and Youth and Social Innovation.

Jenna provides strategic administrative and editorial support to the Communications team at the Trust. A recent graduate of Wheaton College, Jenna holds a degree in English Literature, though she is interested in a variety of disciplines thanks to her liberal arts education. At Wheaton, Jenna served on research teams for nonprofit organizations and workplace equity through a fellowship program, which encouraged her to pursue work in nonprofit communications. In her free time, Jenna enjoys reading, hiking with her sisters and exploring the Portland/Vancouver area as a new resident of the Pacific Northwest.

Camrynne joins the Murdock Trust after an extensive career overseeing operations in the educational space. As Grants Manager, Camrynne works directly with nonprofits to support them through the grant application and administration process. A graduate of Northwest Nazarene University with a degree in business administration and finance, Camrynne most recently served as the Director of Operations for St. Stephens Academy.

In her role, Lisa helps the Trust partner with grantees to understand the community impact of Trust investments and inform and improve our processes. Lisa joined the Trust following a career that included more than two decades supporting grantmaking work for multiple foundations in the Midwest. Lisa attended the University of Chicago and graduated from Northwestern University. She brings a robust understanding of grant management, assessment, and impact evaluation to the Trust.

Hannah brings a decade of experience supporting the administration of academic and educational programs at higher education institutions, including University of Portland, George Fox University, and Taylor University. In her role at the Trust, Hannah will support the production of Enrichment programs to help build the capacity of nonprofit leaders through training and development. An active volunteer, writer, speaker, and teacher, Hannah earned her degree at George Fox University before completing her Master’s at Taylor University.

Megan brings a collaborative background in financial data analysis, business processes, data management and professional services to the Trust. Megan’s role includes grants administration, human resources and project management. Her competence has been shaped through her work in large and small scale businesses. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys giving to her community through delivering meals, volunteering in a wide capacity at her children’s school and enjoying a variety of outdoor adventures with her family and friends.

Mark works directly alongside our chief investment officer to provide investment recommendations to the trustees. He is primarily responsible for investment manager research, evaluation, analysis, and reporting. Prior to joining the Trust, he worked for a small investment advisory firm serving individuals. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in economics from Oregon State University. Mark has had the opportunity to tutor college finance students and high school students, and to serve as a leader and committee member for Young Life.

John joins the Trust having an extensive career in senior leadership and fiscal roles on business teams in nonprofit, faith-based and government sectors, including elected office. John brings nearly a decade of experience overseeing the financial records of the Blandin Foundation as well as more than seven years of grant compliance work for the Department of Community Services with Clark County. He has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1992 and holds a M.B.A. in finance and risk management. In his role with the Trust, John supports financial reporting, operational transactions and investment accounting.

Shannon plays an essential role in supporting our Investment team across a variety of areas, including research and data analytics. Shannon joined the Murdock Trust in the Fall of 2020 as an Oregon Fellow, supporting a variety of areas of our mission before focusing her efforts on our investment work. Shannon earned her degree and MBA at the University of Notre Dame where she was also a Division-1 soccer player.

Jenni assists the Business, Investment, and Finance teams with a variety of administrative and day-to-day operations including key communications, scheduling, legal document preparation, and front desk management. Her professional background includes administrative and constituent-engagement roles with the Morgan Hill Unified School District, Visiting Angels, and Informix Software/IBM. A graduate of OSU, Jenni earned her Master’s at George Fox.

Clare works directly alongside our chief investment officer to assist in managing the Trust portfolio. She is responsible for investment manager research, evaluation, analysis, and reporting. Prior to joining the Trust, Clare served as investment manager for a Forbes 400 family investment office. She holds a B.S. and M.B.A. from the University of Denver. Outside of the office, Clare enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, experimenting with new recipes, and tending to her ever-growing garden.

President emeritus of Warner Pacific College, Jay has joined the Murdock Trust as senior fellow, working with capacity building enrichment initiatives. In this role, Dr. Barber assists in the Essentials of Development seminar, a program that serves to help small organizations develop their fundraising programs and structures. Prior to serving as Warner Pacific’s president, Dr. Barber was vice president of development for Oregon Health and Science University. He has consulted with many nonprofit organizations throughout the Northwest and is a highly respected leader and educator. “Dr. Barber is well known in the Northwest, having served in leadership roles in several outstanding organizations. Numerous leaders have been influenced by his example and his teachings. We are truly fortunate to bring his expertise and experience to serve the nonprofit community of the Northwest,” said Steve Moore, executive director of the Murdock Trust.

Steven Garber is a teacher of many people in many places, serving for many years as the Senior Fellow for Vocation and the Common Good for the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. The author of several books, including Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good, his most recent is The Seamless Life: A Tapestry of Love and Learning, Worship and Work. One of the founders of the Wedgwood Circle, he continues to serve as a consultant to colleges and corporations, facilitating both individual and institutional vocation. A husband, a father and a grandfather, he has long lived in Virginia, near Washington DC, living a life among family, friends, and flowers.

After completing graduate work at the London School of Economics and teaching law in Beijing, China, Lawrence returned to the Pacific Northwest where his legal practice focuses on strategic philanthropy in corporate and family foundations. He sits on several family foundation boards in North America and Southeast Asia. Lawrence has a keen interest in cross-cultural leadership and development, and has an extensive background in intersection of humanitarian, social justice, and the faith-arts. Lawrence has been privileged to be part of China’s charitable law development and also has a heart for countries such as North Korea and Myanmar. Lawrence has passion for next generation leadership and the challenge for organizational change as nonprofits adapt to survive and thrive. Lawrence and his wife, Dr. Angela Lee, started one of Western Canada’s largest medical clinics based in Vancouver, B.C.

Ron is a senior fellow at the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and has extensive experience in both the business and nonprofit sectors. For twenty years he led Western Family Foods as its CEO. As well, he has held a number of leadership positions on nonprofit boards. King graduated from Washington State University and the Stanford Executive Program. He and his wife, Pam, reside in Cedar Mill and have two adult daughters.

A Senior Fellow at the Whidbey Institute, where formerly she was a member of the founding board and has served as Associate Director and Faculty, Dr. Sharon Daloz Parks also serves as principal at Leadership for the New Commons. Prior to moving to the Northwest, for sixteen years she held faculty and research positions at Harvard University in the schools of Divinity, Business, and the Kennedy School of Government. She teaches at Seattle University in the Executive Leadership Program at the Albers School of Business, speaks and consults nationally in higher education, religion, and business and is the recipient of five honorary degrees. A former invited presenter at the Trust, Sharon will focus her time as a Senior Fellow in a variety of areas, particularly leadership development, mentoring and strengthening civil discourse.

Norm is president emeritus of The Ford Family Foundation (Roseburg, Oregon), which he joined in 1997 as its first CEO; and he is a senior fellow at the Trust. His careers include 13 years as an executive with AT&T (Law and Government Affairs) in Portland, Denver, and San Francisco; 11 years of law practice in Portland and Washington, D.C.; and three terms as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives. He is a member of the Oregon and Colorado Bar. Norm is a fourth generation Oregonian and a graduate of Northwestern University in Illinois and Willamette University College of Law in Salem. He is the past chair of the Oregon Arts Commission and the Oregon Cultural Trust, and is currently a charter member of the board of the Oregon State Capitol Foundation (past chair) and the Vice Chair of the San Juan Island Community Foundation. Norm and his wife, Kathy, reside in Roseburg, Oregon, and have one son, Spencer. The Smiths enjoy fall boating in the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands, winter respite in Rancho Mirage, California, car touring and world cruising together.

Among his many appointments at Oregon Health & Science University, Dr. Thornburg is a professor of medicine and the director of the Bob and Charlee Moore Institute for Nutrition & Wellness and Interim Director of the Knight Cardiovascular Institute. He holds the M. Lowell Edwards Chair in the Department of Medicine. He currently leads a team of research scientists who are studying how a mother influences the development of the fetal heart. Dr. Thornburg also serves at the Murdock Trust as an advisory member on panels and roundtables, and as an advisory review expert. As senior fellow, he advises the Trust on science-related projects with particular attention to promoting health in the Pacific Northwest.

Prior to retirement, Dr. Wilds served as the president and chief operating officer of the College Success Foundation (CSF). CSF’s mission is to inspire underserved, low-income students to finish high school and to provide them with the supports and scholarships they need to graduate college and succeed in life. Dr. Wilds also worked as a senior program officer for education at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she led efforts for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, Gates Cambridge Scholars, and Washington State Achievers Program. She also oversaw the early college initiative creating 250 new early college high schools across the country. Dr. Wilds has a Ph.D. in education policy, planning, and administration from the University of Maryland at College Park; an M.S. degree from Howard University; and a B.S. degree from California State University, San Diego.

Jerry built a career spanning more than three decades in the Human Resources sector, serving in roles for Boeing, Bristol-Myers and the Ronald Reagan Presidential administration. In addition to his work in the HR field, Jerry has also held teaching positions with the University of Washington Business School. A graduate of Seattle University, Jerry earned his MBA at UW. In addition to representing the Trust at events, conferences and convenings, Jerry will bring his unique background and expertise in corporate philanthropy to help the Trust better facilitate partnerships and programs with organizations in the business community.

Katherine served Southcentral Foundation as President and CEO for more than 30 years. She is faculty of the Harvard Medical School since 2015, she has won several awards such as the 2015 Harry S, Hertz Leadership Award presented by the Foundation for Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, she is a 2004 MacArthur Genius fellow, she has two honorary doctorates one from Alaska Pacific University and one from the University of Alaska. She owns Katherine Gottlieb Strategies, LLC, working with global and local leaders in redesign, mentorship, and improvements of healthcare and cultural approaches. As a Senior Fellow, Katherine will provide valuable support to the Trust in our convening work as well as critical insight into the current needs of Native communities, communities in Alaska and the healthcare sector and how we can continue to offer meaningful support.

Katie brings a uniquely valuable professional background to the Trust. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling after building a successful career in corporate training and leadership, most recently serving as Director of Operations for Community Leadership and Development Inc. in Billings, Montana. A graduate of the University of North Texas, Katie will bring her organizational leadership skills and familiarity with the needs of nonprofits in the Pacific Northwest to help support our Enrichment team across a variety of programs.

Christopher is a recent graduate of Life Pacific University, graduating with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration on marketing. Starting this Fall, he will be pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at Portland Seminary – George Fox University, with a biblical studies concentration. This summer he will also be a licensed pastor through the Foursquare denomination, having been a recommended pastor as of last Spring. He has worked groundskeeping for two years and was a part of the student leadership team at LPU having organized/led bible studies for students and several kinds of ministry events for the school.

Bart Hadder is in the third-third season of life after retiring as a program director for the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust where he served for many years. He currently serves as a consultant, offering counsel and guidance to the Trust and grantees in the Idaho region with a specific emphasis on youth organizations such as camps and schools. Prior to joining the Trust, Bart had a 28-year career as a science educator, teaching at the middle school, junior high and high school levels eventually becoming the district science coordinator at a large urban school district in Oregon. Bart has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in biology education from Portland State University. He and his wife, Jackie, recently moved to Boise, ID to be near their two adult children (and mostly to be near their two young grandchildren).

Steve retired as CEO of the Murdock Trust in 2022 after 16 years of exemplary service. In his current role, he provides counsel and support to Romanita and the Trust Leadership Team. Prior to the Trust he served in senior leadership positions at Asbury Theological Seminary, Baylor University, Seattle Pacific University, Texas Tech University, and Texas Tech Wesley Foundation. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and is a widely published author and frequent speaker at colleges, universities and conferences.

Lyn was named to the Board on August 25, 1987, to succeed founding Trustee Paul Boley. He has a wide background in research and in academic teaching and administration. From 1968-1973 he was academic dean at Linfield College. From 1973-1987 he was associate professor, then professor, of applied physics at Oregon Graduate Institute of Science & Technology in Beaverton, Oregon. From 1987-2002 he was CEO and chairman of FEI Company in Hillsboro, OR, which he founded in 1971. Lyn is the recipient of many honors, including the Howard Vollum award; the Outstanding Scientific Contribution Award as Scientist of the Year; and the NASA New Technology Award. He holds 12 patents and has written extensively on technical subjects. Dr. Swanson received his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from University of California/Davis in 1959 and his B.Sc. in physics and chemistry from University of the Pacific in 1956.