Facilitators

The success of Opportunity Knocks is largely attributed to the passionate, knowledgeable and trained volunteers that serve as team Facilitators. As leaders of their teams, they provide their members with a structured agenda with a strategic focus producing action items for each of the team’s members.

Some of the benefits that Opportunity Knocks Facilitators experience include: Taking pride in helping team members flourish in their business undertakings, Gain insight and learn new skills and practices that improve their professional abilities and contribute to the broader community well being by helping team members improve their business functioning, which then has a positive impact and ripple effect community wide.

If you have an interest in learning more about becoming an Opportunity Knocks Facilitator, please contact Michele O’Hara, Executive Director at michele@opp-knocks.org.

Current Facilitators

Valerie Yost
Valerie Yost

Since 2005, Valerie has overseen the marketing for Brooks Resources, one of the region’s oldest and most respected real estate development companies. In her role as the Director of Marketing, she manages multiple strategic marketing plans and day-to-day tactics including events, campaigns, digital marketing and PR. In addition to volunteering for OK, Valerie is a board member of the Family Access Network Foundation Board and serves as the administrator for Building a Better Bend.

Caleb Stoddart
Caleb Stoddart

Caleb is a Principal at Bend Accounting PC, a full service accounting firm in Bend.

Andrea Sigetich
Andrea Sigetich

Andrea, who is still working in retirement, is the owner of Sage Coach, Inc.. An expert in leadership and entrepreneurship, Andrea brings 41 years of business experience to her work. She works with C-level executives, movers and shakers in Human Resources, entrepreneurs, and all leaders. She is the author of An Entrepreneur's Trail Guide and Play to Your Strengths. She has been a Master Certified Coach since 2003, and loves facilitating her OK1 Team. She is an avid reader, a desert hiker, and an amateur watercolor artist.

Linden Gross
Linden Gross

Linden Gross is a bestselling writer, successful writing coach and blog coach, and the founder of the One Stop Writing Shop. Drawing on her editing and writing background, as well as her experience with and love for teaching, she helps make her clients' messages and writing sound like them—only better. Tapping into her love of travel and background as a national journalist and travel writer, Linden is also the driving force behind Oregon LocalGetaways, where people can find great deals on drive-to destinations.

Georell Bracelin
Georell Bracelin

Georell Bracelin is the owner & strategist of the Relativity Agency, a full-service branding, advertising and creative agency that helps clients build authentic, innovative and compelling brand experiences. A Bend resident for over 30 years, Georell is considered a valued and trusted Central Oregon marketing leader who has successfully launched several businesses and partnered with many large and small businesses to create meaningful relationships with their customers. A true connector, she is passionate about connecting brands to people, and also about building relationships that make our community an even better place to live and do business.

Relativity is well known in the region for their innovative brand discovery and development process that results in strategies and design that showcase businesses' charisma. The agency works with a diverse variety of industries, including outdoor, lifestyle, finance, healthcare, recreation, cannabis, consumer packaged goods, non-profit organizations and more.

Rick Lee
Rick Lee

Director of Digital
An experienced entrepreneur with broad business knowledge and a deep skill in digital marketing for e-commerce. Has had a wide range of professional experiences from naval nuclear power to launching businesses. Skilled at business development, team building, business operations, and e-commerce conversion strategy.

Lucy Borne
Lucy Borne

Vice President Of Onboarding & Enterprise Success at FMG
Dynamic Project Manager and Operations Leader with experience in Technology, Insurance, Education, and Hospitality Industries. Highly skilled in business development, marketing, client management, product management, project management as well as digital marketing strategies, Search Engine Optimization, customer retention and more.

Carole DeRose
Carole DeRose

Carole is the Owner and Operator at La Rosa, an Authentic Mexican Kitchen.

Geoff Clark
Geoff Clark

For more than 20 years I have been involved with the Central Oregon Opportunity Knocks community as well as an account executive in the printing and promotional products industry. My interest and passion for supporting our small businesses and non-profit organizations has resulted in so many amazing, collaborative relationships and has been an inspiring and ongoing source of personal and professional development. I am privileged to co-facilitate the OK 9 team and serve a dynamic group of young, bright and achieving entrepreneurs!

Erin Reilly
Erin Reilly

Erin is the Membership and Events Manager at EDCO, Economic Development for Central Oregon.

Katrina Van Dis
Katrina Van Dis

Katrina grew up on a cherry farm in Eastern Oregon. She is the Founder of the regional nonprofit, High Desert Food & Farm Alliance, and co-Founder of the state-wide nonprofit, Oregon Community Food Systems Network. She is now the Owner of Ensoterra, a consulting business which supports resilient and sustainable natural systems for individuals and rural communities.

High Desert Food & Farm Alliance

Rolf Armstrong
Rolf Armstrong

I am a partner in Eclipse Engineering and the Branch Manager of the Bend, Oregon office. I am a licensed civil engineer and licensed structural engineer in the State of Oregon and have an engineering license in 41 US states, DC, and Guam.

Noelle Fredland
Noelle Fredland

Noelle Fredland is a marketing professional with over 25 years of experience. She most recently retired in 2020 from her role as marketing director of the Old Mill District and the Les Schwab Amphitheater. She is passionate about brand, community, service and culture and has a varied experience in hospitality, retail, restaurants, tourism and entrepreneurship. Founder of the Bend JOY Project.

Niki Singlaub
Niki Singlaub

More than an inventor, Niki is a 'product guy' and lives for designing, developing, and launching new products into the world. Niki’s expertise stems from almost twenty years in design, development, and management of consumer products in multiple industries. His background in engineering and business has prepared him to problem solve at all stages of the product launch process.

On most days you can find Niki in and around the high desert of Bend, Oregon testing gear, brainstorming ideas, and taking his family beyond their comfort level.

Diane Murry
Diane Murry

Diane is an experienced leadership coach and executive director with a demonstrated history of working in both the public and private sector. She is a strong community and social services professional skilled in executive leadership, operations, human resources, team building, and public speaking. Diane has been described as a dynamic and insightful leadership coach and speaker who uses genuineness, humor, and challenging candor to inspire individuals and organizations to engage in meaningful work. Diane focuses on uncovering fundamental issues impacting performance, then creates practical and results-oriented solutions that meet the unique needs of the leader, team, and organization.

Kecia Kubota
Kecia Kubota

Kecia has been the Executive Director of Camp Fire Central Oregon since 2013. Previously she was in the business sector for 20+ years managing small businesses in the investment and photography industries. She is enjoying applying her business expertise to breathe new life into the organization and revitalize and grow its programs and outreach in the community.

Julie Lyche
Julie Lyche

Julie N. Lyche has lived and worked in Central Oregon for more than 20 years and has been the Executive Director of the Family Access Network (FAN) since 2003. She has worked with community agencies for over 25 years as a funder and agency provider, focusing on issues involving children and families.

Joshua Bostock
Joshua Bostock

Josh Bostock has 16 years in banking with a passion for helping small businesses grow and succeed. He currently works as a Business Specialist with US Bank helping educate and advise companies on their financial needs as well as connecting them to the extensive resources within the Central Oregon community.

Rob Hambleton
Rob Hambleton

Rob Hambleton is the Branch Manager and Business Partner for BBSI of Central Oregon – an HR services company designed to help businesses with payroll, HR, Risk & Safety and Business Consulting Services.

Rob moved to Oregon in 2002 after a successful Fortune 500 career as a Finance Director for Ford, Kodak, and Dell. Rob was immediately immersed in several community and small business development efforts and in that same year he also started his training company, Soul Canyon Training & Development which has been putting on live and online training programs across the US and Canada for nearly two decades. In 2016, he partnered with BBSI to offer training courses to small business owners in key skill areas for owners and employees. Rob’s passion for small business and entrepreneurship comes initially from working in the family construction business while growing up. Rob also sees that small businesses form the backbone of our economy, but they need certain skills and resources if they are to be sustainable.

Rob has an MBA and undergraduate degrees in Management and Finance from the University of Utah and holds several training certifications in gamification and content development.

Brittania Leja
Brittania Leja

Brittania Leja is an Associate Organizational Development Consultant with St. Charles Health System (SCHS). The Organizational Development (OD) Team supports St. Charles’ caregivers and leaders in their engagement, inter-personal skills and professional development through leadership courses, coaching and team interventions.

Brittania relocated to Central Oregon from the Chicago suburbs in 2015 and began her career in hospitality sales. In 2019 she joined St. Charles’ OD Team and developed and facilitated classes such as New Caregiver Orientation, Effective Communication, Managing Conflict and DiSC Profile. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she managed the Labor Pool Branch of St. Charles’ Incident Command. This team coordinated the SCHS workforce through the initial COVID response, Mass Vaccine Clinic, the support of our state-issued nurse travelers and National Guard.

Brittania is deeply involved in her community through the area’s personal and professional development organizations. Since 2018, she has served the Bend Young Professionals program as a program ambassador, committee member, committee chair, and now serves as the Advisory Council Chair. She served as the intern for the Bend Chamber board for the 2020-2021 term, and was welcomed to join the BendNEXT board in September 2021. Brittania’s drive for community and connection influence her ties to Central Oregon.

Sander Culliton
Sander Culliton

Business leader serving as President & CEO of EP Climbing Walls, with a proven 25+ year track record in building and motivating cross-functional teams ranging from 5 to 60 members through all management phases, including vision and strategy, anticipation, needs assessment, design and development, budgeting, execution and completion. Strong and effective communicator with a flexible mindset focused on the support and empowerment of teams to accomplish their individual and organizational goals. Extensive experience in consultative sales, manufacturing, and project management in the construction and climbing wall industries.

Gail Menasco
Gail Menasco

Gail Menasco, the owner of Menasco Consulting has been working in digital marketing for over a decade, specializing in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Content Strategy and helping businesses increase organic visibility online.

Jennifer G Moore
Jennifer G Moore

Jen co-founded Jem Organics, a purpose-centered food manufacturing business. Jen was the CEO for 10 years and helped grow the company to $900K in annual revenue before she decided to sell the majority shares to partners that would be able to fund the growth and take over the day-to-day operations. After 10 years, Jen was ready to take her experience from the school of hard knocks and great success to others in the industry.

Jen is currently a BizDev consultant for a women-owned company and acts as a coach to several small business start-ups, which is Jens sweet spot.

Jen is honored to be an OK facilitator for the OK 6 (FaB; Food and Beverage) group, where she brings support, compassion, and practical industry experience and wisdom to the members.

Sara Odendahl
Sara Odendahl

Veteran public affairs and political consulting professional turned small business owner. I have over twenty years of marketing, public affairs and strategic communications experience in Denver, Colorado, and am thrilled to now call Bend, Oregon home and promote our new venture: Work-Collective - Community Coworking. And, because you can never stay away from the pull of politics... after three years of consulting, I'm thrilled to join the team at the Bend Chamber, focusing on local, regional and state issues impacting small businesses in Oregon.

Stephanie Hooper
Stephanie Hooper

A passion for excellence and results in marketing for premium B2B & B2C brands of all sizes. Experience spans both agency and brand side work in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver BC, Seattle, Portland and now Bend. Strategic C-Level leadership that has led brands from inception through high revenue launches for notables like: J&J's Winnie the Pooh & Pals Bath Time Buddies, Nordstrom's NOL Private Label Brand, AT&T - PocketNet Phone, Starbucks include the launch of Frappuccino, Rembrandt Oral Care Products, Microsoft, Xbox, Nike, Lora DiCarlo, adidas, LinkedIn as well as a wide range of technology startups - all with a passion for best in class category building and disruption.

Emi Baxter
Emi Baxter

A self taught technologist, focusing on the integration of technology and software in the workplace and daily life. I started acKnowledge Security & IT to begin building the much needed bridges between technology and reality. My goals are to facilitate the acceptance of technology and empower users in applying it to the modern day business or life. Above and beyond - my aim is to provide exceptional support & guidance; bringing technology in - to work for YOU!

Marisa Hassock
Marisa Hassock

Marisa is the Communications Director for the Deschutes River Conservancy and a professional photographer specializing in portraits and events Marisa has a Bachelor’s of Arts in French Literature from the University of Oregon which has allowed her to travel the world teaching language and taking pictures. Marisa is passionate about community, connection, creativity and collaboration.

Mark Drummond
Mark Drummond

AI at Apple
I live at the intersection of technology, user experience, and relationship-building. Fundamentally, I'm a technologist and entrepreneur, with an out-going social streak. I like both technology and the people who make technology. I lead teams that develop first-of-a-kind technology-based products.
I have particularly strong skills in Artificial Intelligence, intelligent agents, Machine Learning, text processing, unstructured data management, optimization, graph search, and P2P technology. I have done fundamental research in these areas, and have managed large teams (over 100 people) over extended periods, as well. While I understand technology, I view it primarily through the lens of user experience.

Gary Bracelin
Gary Bracelin

With over 30 years building outdoor brands, Gary’s entrepreneurial career began in the emerging snowboard industry, and was augmented by work and collaboration with companies including Helly Hansen, Sessions, Nike, KIALOA, Homeschool Snowboarding and more. In 2014, he founded Bend Outdoor Worx (BOW), the first independent outdoor accelerator in the US, to help mentor and grow early and growth stage outdoor companies, and has become known as a community leader and advocate for the outdoor industry. A serial entrepreneur, Gary is also a founding partner in Tokyo Starfish, a vertically integrated cannabis business with production, wholesale and four Oregon retail locations. He was a founding member of the Oregon Outdoor Alliance (OOA), as well as Cascade Cannabis Association (CCA), a cannabis industry organization for Deschutes County. He is also a board member of the Oregon Entrepreneurial Network. representing Central Oregon in both outdoor and cannabis industries through business collaboration and political representation.

Meg Chun
Meg Chun

Meg Chun is the co-founder and current President of Bend Surf. Prior to launching Bend Surf in 2021, Meg was the CEO and co-founder of KIALOA Paddles where she held a myriad of leadership positions for over 20 years. At the end of 2018 she led the team successfully led the team through the sale of KIALOA Paddles to Werner Paddles.

Prior to living the life of a business owner, Meg spent the first 15 years of her career as a Special Education teacher. Today she blends the skills she acquired as a teacher with her business experience and also spends time consulting, coaching and mentoring others.

Meg is a member of the U.S. Bank Advisory Board, a legacy board member of the Oregon Outdoor Alliance, a board Member of Terra Frma and a co-facilitator of an Opportunity Knocks business group. She is a coach and an active racing member of Bend Oregon Outrigger Canoe Club.

Meg works and lives in Bend, Oregon with her husband Dave where she shares her passion for paddling and enjoys the many outdoor activities that Central Oregon has to offer.

Rod Ray
Rod Ray

Rod Ray, Ph.D., P.E. is the former CEO of Bend Research, Inc. Bend Research is a technology development company providing innovations for the agricultural, electronics, energy, and space industries. Through this progression from Research Engineer to CEO, Dr. Ray learned many Leadership lessons—the hard way. Upon retirement in 2014, Dr. Ray began developing and formalizing these Leadership lessons into a body-of-knowledge for use in consulting and for teaching courses in practical, useful leadership.

Michele O’Hara
Michele O’Hara
Executive Director

Michele’s work is grounded in the creation of connections between brands and the people they serve. Through her passion, vision and leadership, she has earned a reputation as a brand leader and change agent. Michele most recently completed a brand turnaround for Zolo Media, a broadcast media group and helped launch news program, Central Oregon Daily. Past work included brand work for a hospitality group in the Bay Area, an NBA team and the American Red Cross. She has provided branding for several startup businesses as well as facilitating growth for brands ready to take their organization to the next level. Michele’s life mission is to inspire others to become their personal best. She is a public speaker and facilitates training in the area of business and personal branding and provides leadership development to organizations through her branding business, Luminous Brands.

Dominic DeMaria
Dominic DeMaria

Dominic has a 20+ year career in helping brands with development and execution of Product, Packaging, Brand and Marketing strategies. The results of his work have engaged new target customers, increased market share and driven product innovation for large CPG, Direct Market and Start-up companies. In addition, Dominic has 16 years of experience with Harry & David where he was responsible for all Product Development and Branding for 3 national brands, 3 e-commerce platforms and 250 retail stores as well as wholesale and B2B sales channels. Dominic manages his own consulting and project services company (DeMaria Consulting) where he collaborates and integrates into organizations, solves problems and helps companies grow and achieve their goals.

Ryan Lewis
Ryan Lewis

I help businesses reach higher growth and profitability while also coaching executive teams to perform at their best. My track record of building my business to be one of Oregon's Fastest Growing Companies (2 years in a row) and on the Inc. 5000 (2 years in a row), while also being voted one of the best places to work in Oregon provides a library of actionable experience for my clients.

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