Meet the Mentors

Ellen worked in the high tech industry her entire career, with 10 years of experience at two start ups, and 20+ years with Intel. Her primary area of focus was business operations and innovation, and her work spanned strategic planning, innovation best practices, organizational and operations improvement, benchmarking, and internal communications. Besides business and program management roles, Ellen also managed Intel's leadership development programs for 3+ years, working with executives, directors, middle managers, and first line managers.

Originally from the east coast, where she received a B.S. in Computer Science from Boston College, Ellen moved to the Midwest where she earned her Master's Degree in Computer Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and joined her first high tech company. She moved to Portland in 1990 to join another start up, and eventually found her way to Intel.

Besides extensive international travel, Ellen loves to read, cook, and eat all sorts of flavors and foods. She joined Job Seekers in January, 2018 and has enjoyed the friendships she's made with fellow mentors and job seekers alike, believing it is a privilege to be a part of their lives.

www.linkedin.com/in/ellenrecko/

Mike Greene is a team player, good listener and effective problem solver.

Mike is recently retired after 47 years as a practicing lawyer and 18 years as a specially appointed judge. He has had many different leadership roles in the American Diabetes Association (locally, regionally and nationally) and in the Idaho and Oregon State Bar Associations, the Multnomah Bar Association and the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association.

Mike also has unique and considerable experience participating in employment searches, interviews and decisions. He also has played many different roles in organization dynamics.

The most important part of education is not what you learn, but who you become by what you learn.

CAREER FOCUS: Help others help themselves get better

CAREER PROFILE: Energetic, enthusiastic, innovative teacher, coach, mentor, consultant and business owner with over 40 years’ experience challenging students, athletes, job seekers and corporations to develop a positive learning attitude, good productive work habits and a willingness to work cooperatively to produce positive results through teamwork.

AREAS OF EXCELLENCE:

• Positive problem solver
• Relationship building conflict management
• Productive goal setting
• Good listener/encourager

STRENGTHSFINDER:

Connectedness * Relator * Belief * Positivity

Business Career: John is an innovative, entrepreneurial senior marketing executive with over 37 years of increasing responsibility at four major food manufacturers. These include General Mills, Inc.; Swift and Company (now Conagra); Keebler Company; and Norpac Foods, Inc. Broad range of responsibilities, including manufacturing, logistics, Research and Development, and extensive Sales background that complemented the marketing experience. Demonstrated ability to increase profits through expanded product penetration, innovative new products, and cost reduction activities. Experienced with diversified business areas including branded, private label, value-added, and commodity products. Managed both direct and broker sales networks. Outstanding management skills in strategic and tactical planning, organizational development, team leading, and management of all aspects of the Marketing function.

Career Change after Retirement: Adjunct Professor (both online and in class) at Clackamas Community College, Portland Community College, Warner Pacific University, Portland State University, and Marylhurst University. Courses taught include: Introduction to Business, Advertising, Marketing (graduate and undergraduate), Management, Human Relations in Business, and Organizational Behavior and Design. Instructor with the Clackamas Community College Intern (“Cooperative Work Experience”) program.

Mentor Background: A Job Seeker for seven months. Experienced mentoring through a professional Outplacement service in Chicago. John is a Mentor to “Help Job Seekers help themselves find a job.” Lake Grove Presbyterian Job Seekers Mentor since 2006. Presentations to Job Seekers include: “Grit - The Power of Passion and Perseverance,” “The Art of Listening,” “Informational Interviews,” “Your Job Search Plan,” “Crucial Tips for Interview Success (Body Language and Rapport),” “Developing SOAR/PAR Stories,” “Our Hybrid Resume Format,” “Your Interview Preparation Checklist.”

Education/Military/Other: BS Business, Indiana University; MBA, Minnesota State University. Officer in the U.S. Army, 25 months active duty, plus reserves. Eagle Scout. Member of Lake Grove Presbyterian Church.

Interests: Walking, Biking, Skiing, Snowshoeing, Computer work and fun (games), Music, Reading, Movies and Streaming, Travel, Teaching, and Mentoring.

Strengths: “Information Excavator,” “Student,” “Solutions Finder,” “Believing,” “Thinker.”

Gary started his career by attending Portland State University receiving his BS in Applied Science/Mechanical Engineering and added to his education with the Stanford/AEA Executive Program.

Gary’s road trip through corporate America placed him in the decision roles with ESI (Electro Scientific Industries), Hyster Company, and The Raymond Corporation. These companies, in one way or another, relied on his expertise in:

- High Tech Laser Systems
- Robotics
- Autonomous Vehicles
- Electric Lift Trucks for High Density DC’s and other Logistics Applications
- Business Unit and Divisional Management

Most recently, Gary was Executive Vice President of Exceed Enterprises. Exceed is a company that currently employs 150 workers who serve Oregon giants like: PCC Structures, The Boeing Company, Daimler Trucks of North America LLC with light manufacturing, assembly and steel cable lanyards. Other companies of note: Coca-Cola, Georgia Pacific, Recology, Northwest 4 Slide, Columbia River Knife and Tool, and Hood River Distillers. Together with a new CEO, Gary helped lead Exceed through a dynamic change period of financial growth designed to dramatically change and increase the opportunities for people with and without disabilities.

Beginning in 2019 Gary decided to retire from the day to day work force and focus on volunteering. This includes being a mentor for job seekers in career transitions, and helping non-profit organizations where his experience can benefit their missions. Previously Chair of the Oregon section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Gary is now on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP).

George is a retired senior executive with experience at both startup and Fortune 100 and 500 companies. Skilled in management, product development, strategic planning and business development, he is an astute business strategist who built revenue and profit through innovative products, process improvements, and acquisitions/mergers (domestic and international). George enjoys building cohesive teams and achieving results through encouragement, mentoring and accountability.

Recently retired, George has been contributing to a variety of volunteer activities including Lake Grove Job Seekers, Medical Teams International, various church functions, and international mission trips.

A goal-driven leader, George believes in “Results through Empowerment with Accountability.”

www.linkedin.com/in/georgereis/

Barbara Johnson is retired from a 35-year career as an attorney, non-profit Executive Director and lifelong volunteer with a goal to be of service. A mentor with Lake Grove Job Seekers since 2013, she listens, supports and challenges job seekers as they work toward their next great position or career.

www.linkedin.com/in/barbarajohnsonoregon/

Glen Hascall is a problem solver with 40 years of experience on large IBM main frame computers. He is best known for his ability to get to the bottom of complex computer problems and arrive at a solutions. He spent 33 years working at a large IT department in Northwest Portland, OR starting with Consolidated Freightways and progressing through a number of name changes (same desk, same computers) to the Con-way Freight company. In a reduction-in-force Glen was able to retire in 2010 and has been part of the mentoring team in the Lake Grove Job Seeker program ever since.

Glen has a Bachelors of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Portland. While at the university he was a member of the Air Force ROTC program and, thus, at graduation was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He spent the first 11 months of his AF time in training to be a Computer Maintenance Officer and the rest of his 4 year tour of duty in Germany as System Technical Director at a large NATO computerized air defense system. After his service time, Glen matriculated at Texas A&M University where he earned a Masters of Computing Science and after graduation was hired in the school's Data Center. He eventually became the technical worker on two research projects for NASA.

Besides mentoring in the Job Seeker program, Glen is an active church musician singing in the choir and playing in the handbell choir at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church. His love of handbell playing has led him to be Chairman of Area 10 of the Handbell Musicians of America (OR, WA, ID, MT and AK). He has attended a number of national and international events in this art. In April of 2016, Glen, a widower, remarried; together Glen and his wife have 12 grandchildren. Both Glen and his wife have a love of travel and take at least 2 major trips a year plus many shorter trips to visit family.

Rich first came to Lake Grove in 2008 and credits his friendships and experiences there with landing his dream job with Nike in 2010. While at Lake Grove, he also co-founded the Supply Chain Gang with Bob Yokoyama and remains active there in supporting supply chain professionals finding their next positions.

Rich grew up in Minnesota (still roots for his beloved Twins and Vikings!), moved to the West Coast after high school, and graduated from UCLA. His background includes stints as a naval officer and math teacher before entering the corporate world, where he’s worked as a production manager, business consultant, and, for the past 30 years, a supply chain professional. After re-locating to Oregon in the early 80’s, he has held a variety of positions in bar-code scanning and display technology, power utility, and (for the past 10+ years) Nike.

Recently retired, Rich is looking forward to sharing his passion with his fellow Lake Grove mentors in helping others. He credits networking as the most important aspect of finding those hidden gems of opportunities, along with self-reflection, mentoring, and relationship-building. One of Rich’s mantras: “People hire people whom they know and like!”

Rich lives in the Portland area. He enjoys doting over his grandkids, playing golf, and skiing.

Strengths: Supply Chain, Lean Methodology, Networking.

www.linkedin.com/in/richl/

Jennifer joined the Lake Grove program as a job seeker in 2015 and was helped tremendously by the program's great speakers, networking opportunities, and structured process. She landed a fantastic job as the Director of Career Services at Oregon Tech from which she recently retired. She is excited to pay it forward by helping other job seekers to land their own great opportunities.

Jennifer grew up in Michigan and has lived in eight states from New York to Hawaii. She has a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan, an MBA in Marketing from New York University, and an MA in Counseling from The College of New Jersey. Her career spans nonprofit administration and fundraising, consumer products marketing research, and career coaching. She has experienced job loss in her family on several occasions and is very familiar with the challenges faced by job seekers, particularly those who are trying to reinvent themselves after a move or pivot to a new career.

Strengths: Women and Job Search, Nonprofit and Social Impact Job Search, Career Communications (Resumes, LinkedIn, Interviews), Trailing Spouses/Partners, Job Search Strategy

www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-kass/

Stan is an accomplished leader of people and organizations. Over the past 40 years Stan has enjoyed success driving organizations to grow revenue & profits while developing new products and services. He has worked in Fortune 100 organizations and family-owned businesses. Most recently, Stan was co-founder of an Internet-of-Things Smart Home automation company serving the short- and long-term property management industries.

Growing up in Hawaii, Stan came to Oregon to complete his BS degree in Business with a minor in Computer Science at Oregon State University. He has held positions based up and down the West coast while serving clients around the world.

In addition to mentoring at Job Seekers, Stan volunteers for a non-profit that teaches financial literacy to high school students and is involved with his Church. He resides in Wilsonville with his wife and is father to two successful, grown children.

See Stan here in an interview about the value of job clubs and Lake Grove Job Seekers.

www.linkedin.com/in/stanearnshaw/

Debra has been in the healthcare industry for over 25 years. She began her career with StaffCare in Dallas, Texas as a physician recruiter prior to moving to Portland in 2006. In 2010, she was one of the founders of ICON Medical Network, a national healthcare staffing company that has received many awards, including being selected as one of Oregon’s Fastest growing private companies and one of the 100 best companies to work for in Oregon 5 years in a row.

Debra helped develop a staff that genuinely cares for the providers and hospitals they work for and the patients they see. Passionate about people, she has always strived to make a difference in the lives of her employees and clients.

In addition to mentoring at Lake Grove Job Seekers, Debra is also a mentor at Great Life Mentoring, a program that helps youth that have experienced trauma or face other circumstances that impact their everyday functioning. Debra also volunteers her time with Engin, a nonprofit organization that pairs Ukrainian youth with English speakers to practice online conversation and promote a cultural connection.

Growing up in Wisconsin, Debra is an avid Green Bay Packers fan and spends Sundays with her family cheering on her favorite team. Debra is also a dog lover at heart, her first pup was a three-legged stray named Joy, and she now has two dogs she gets to enjoy: Arthur and Zeus.

www.linkedin.com/in/debrahays/

Alice is an ICF certified coach who works with individuals and organizations to help them improve their wellbeing through evidence-based training and coaching. Her professional background is in business administration and human resources in various industries including hospitality, real estate investment, and biotech. She joined Lake Grove Job Seekers to help people navigate career transitions and find a role aligned with their own unique values and strengths.

Alice has a BA in English Literature from CUNY Baruch College and received certifications in Applied Positive Psychology and Resilience Training from The Flourishing Center.

linkedin.com/in/alicelivermore/

Vernon's 41 year career included engineering, marketing and leading technical personnel in an international customer-facing environment. He formed teams that were responsible for customer satisfaction and acceptance of the company's complex systems. He was a Product Manager with ultimate responsibility for a product’s success from initial ideation and launch to end of life. He has been awarded several patents for novel concepts that improved efficiencies for electronic component manufacturers.  

 Vernon's greatest satisfaction came more recently in his career when he joined a local company with the specific task to form and mentor a new customer support team of seasoned Engineers and new graduate Engineers. With the right hires and processes in place, Vernon's goal was for this team to function successfully without him after retirement.

 An Oregon resident over 20 years and recently retired, Vernon is excited to work with other mentors at Lake Grove to leverage his organizational, technical and business skills for the benefit of each job seeker in the community.