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Foundation Staff
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Merris Sumrall, Chief Executive Officer
As the foundation's energetic leader, Merris has brought strategic vision and a passion for libraries, literacy, arts and culture to our work over the last seven years. She led the foundation board and staff in its highly successful children's literacy campaign and our work on the library's last levy campaign. Merris moved to Portland in the late-70's, founded two non-profits and then worked around the world with technology companies, helping them develop global design, marketing and branding strategy. Eventually, she landed in Manhattan but after 9/11, she decided to return "home" to Portland, bringing her business and non-profit experience to a library system, and community, that she loves. In her spare time, you can find her on the hunt for sumptuous treats at the farmer's market, dancing Cajun and Zydeco or more recently, realizing her lifelong dream of rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.
Neighborhood library:
Central
Why the library:
"Self sufficiency is one of my core values. I have always believed that if we give people the tools, everyone has a desire to improve themselves, grow and understand the world around them. We would live in a more peace-loving world if reading was a part of everyone's daily life."
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Karie Trumbo, Director of Development
For more than fifteen years, Karie has worked in the non-profit sector, in the U.S. and internationally. From her stint in the Peace Corps in the Baltics to her work with The Portland Opera and the Alzheimer’s Association, Karie’s management skills, resourcefulness and generous nature have distinguished her as a development professional. Since 2002, the foundation has grown in size and scope as a result of Karie’s skill and dedication. Not one to just take it easy, Karie runs, bikes and sails regularly on the Columbia River and more recently, she has become a yoga enthusiast. When Karie is not out conquering the out of doors or the yoga mat, she enjoys experimenting with new recipes and reading The New Yorker.
Neighborhood library:
North Portland and Central
Why the library:
"I love the library because it brings so much joy to so many people everyday! Even for people who can't visit the library themselves, the library is going to them."
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Jamie June, Fiscal Manager
A diehard nonprofit devotee, Jamie has been actively involved for many years with arts, culture and educational organizations, including Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland Center for the Performing Arts and Conduit Dance. Her experience in event management, fundraising and volunteer coordination makes her well-suited to her varied role as the foundation's fiscal manager. Jamie is a total foodie and is always in search of the best meal to be had in Portland. You may also find her knitting, working on an always-expanding list of house projects, reading, playing roller derby, bicycling, walking, growing food, motorcycling, traveling, watching performance art and modern dance, playing scrabble, and—in the winter time—chopping wood to stay warm.
Neighborhood library:
Sellwood-Moreland
Why the library:
"I could give you a detailed description of every single neighborhood library that I ever called "my own"—and there have been many of them over the years. Growing up, we moved often, and I always found the library to be the one safe, constant place that was full of promise and knowledge. Libraries have had a profound impact on my belief in the value of education and access of information."
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Jean Zondervan, Communications Manager
As communications manager for the foundation, Jean oversees the website, newsletter and e-communications, advertising and media relations. Formerly publications/web editor at the Portland Art Museum, she has shifted the focus of her daytime affections from the visual arts to our library. Outside of work, Jean keeps fit chasing her two young children, Vincent and Vivian. If she has any energy left, she enjoys all things gardening and landscape architecture related, as well as traveling.
Neighborhood library:
North Portland (soon to be the new Kenton library!)
Why the library:
"Since I was young, library books have provided some amazing flights of fancy and—I know now—a solid foundation for my education. It allowed me to travel the globe in my mind, so that it seemed possible to do this in my life."
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Juli Bailey, Communications and Grants Associate
Juli came to the foundation from Chicago, where she worked as Development Coordinator at Facing History and Ourselves. Juli is the foundation's organizer, a great internal and external communicator and a key fount of foundation information. Juli is a great resource for tips on fermenting and cooking, beer and breweries. She also enjoys hosting backyard gatherings, as well as hiking and exploring our city and its surrounding spaces.
Neighborhood library:
Belmont
Why the library:
"The library is a great egalitarian organization. People can get whatever information they need across all topics, as well as have access to free research assistance from experts."
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Kristin Wallace, Development Associate
Kristin was the campaign field organizer for over 445 volunteers who worked to successfully pass the last library levy. She now spends much of her time raising more than 70,000 Summer Reading prizes a year, gratified in the knowledge that over 62,500 children took part in Summer Reading this past summer! Kristin is an avid accordionist and regularly treats the office to her baked delicacies.
Neighborhood library:
North Portland
Why the library:
"Libraries are a place where all are welcome, a place that expands minds of all ages—it's magic; it's democracy. What could be better?"
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Dale Favier, Database Coordinator
Dale is the foundation's database pro, cheerfully and precisely maintaining foundation records. A former computer programmer at IBM, Dale now splits his time between the foundation and his new career as a massage therapist. His passions outside his work include reading and writing poetry, and he recently collaborated on a limited-edition volume of poetry titled "Brilliant Coroners."
Neighborhood library:
Belmont
Why the library:
"All those wonderful books, all that learning and thinking, all those stories and songs—so much of what people have ever made that's worth keeping—all right there, free to all finders. That's amazing."
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Larissa Brown, Grants Consultant
One of our region’s finest grantwriting consultants, Larissa has written grants that have changed many lives—from securing dental care for children and adults who had no health insurance to seeing that toddlers across the community are read to daily. An accomplished artist, writer and trainer, Larissa has co-authored two published books: Demystifying Grant Seeking and Knitalong: Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together. When not writing grants and knitting, you may find Larissa hanging out with her three-year-old son and riding their big townie bike with an Xtracycle on the back.
Neighborhood library:
Belmont
Why the library:
"As a reader and a writer, I'm proud of our community's long-standing devotion to libraries and reading. It's part of what makes our city unique."
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