Board of Directors

The Pangaea Project welcomes talented individuals who believe in our mission and vision, and who will bring skills, experience, diversity and wisdom to the leadership of our organization.  For application information, please contact us at info@thepangaeaproject.org.

Roberta Phillip, JD, Chairperson

Office of Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler, Policy Advisor

Roberta Phillip’s experience as a high school science teacher afforded her a first-hand understanding of the need for effective and impassioned youth advocates.  After three years in the classroom, Roberta decided to pursue a JD in the hopes of affecting policy and programs geared toward youth development.  While at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, she conceptualized and created a mentor program with POIC / Rosemary Anderson Alternative High School, which serves mostly at-risk youth of color.

Roberta also volunteered with Sisters In Action for Power as a tutor and mentor, and was selected by the Lewis & Clark Law School Joyce Harpole Scholarship committee to receive a peer-nominated award for balancing academics with community involvement.  Upon graduation, Roberta was inducted into the Cornelius Honor Society, a group chosen annually by faculty and comprised of students who have distinguished themselves by their scholarship, leadership, and contribution to the law school community.

Roberta’s professional experience includes clerkships with the Oregon Supreme Court and the Circuit Court in Multnomah County, as well as an internship with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.  Preceding her recent appointment as Policy Advisor to Ted Wheeler, Roberta served as the Director of Programs and Agency Relations for The National Crittenton Foundation, a position and organization that brought together her passion for youth advocacy and commitment to social change.

Roberta currently serves on the board of the Oregon Minority Lawyers Association, a group that provides support to minority attorneys and students.  She is an ardent supporter of Pangaea’s mission because as an immigrant from Trinidad, she believes in the value of providing a global perspective to underserved youth, and sees this perspective as a key piece in creating true agents of change.  Roberta believes strongly in the power of the individual to effect change, and strives to be a living testament to that philosophy.

Jessica Tomforde, President

Cayuse, Inc., Manager of Finance and Administration

Jessica Tomforde is an operations leader who assists organizations in turning their visions into reality through efficient internal systems and financial management. She has worked closely with various entrepreneurs and managers to implement and manage the processes necessary to reach long-term goals. She is passionate about connecting people and facilitating global awareness. 

Today, Jessica works at Cayuse overseeing the financial management, human resources, legal contracts and overall office operations. She received her BS in Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire. She is thrilled to partner her skills in organization and financial planning with her passion and commitment for a better world.

Jessica Martin
Green Hammer Construction, Office Manager and Human Resources
Aptly once referred to as the "Mama Bird" of the Green Hammer office, Jessica manages to

keep all the ducks in a row and the wheels in gear within the Green Hammer office. As Office Manager, Jessica takes care of the bookkeeping, human resource matters, paperwork, event planning and most importantly the upkeep of company morale. Her professional experience in combination with her vibrant and engaging personality, has aided her in successfully supporting the Green Hammer crew since 2006.

Originally from Chicago, Jessica holds a BA in Public Relations from Southern Illinois University and a certificate in Human Resources from Portland State University. She moved to Portland 11 years ago and began work within the world of Forest Stewardship Council certification before joining the Green Hammer team. She is an active belly dancer, practitioner of yoga, meditation, and reader of good literature. 
 
 

Andrew Kalt, Secretary

adidas America, Manager, Compensation and Mobility

Jim Laden

AFS Intercultural Programs, Training and Organization Development Specialist

Jim Laden has worked and volunteered with AFS Intercultural Programs, an international high school exchange program, since 1996.  He is currently the Training and Organizational Development Specialist for the Western USA, focusing on the development of the staff and volunteers who make the exchange experiences possible.  He is also an adjunct instructor in the Human Development Department at Clark Community College.  Prior to these experiences, Jim worked in the Career Services office at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, where he also had the privilege to lead a semester-long overseas study program to India.  Jim has spent many years living, studying, and traveling overseas, including two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Sierra Leone. He has a B.A. in Government from Dartmouth College and an M.Ed. in Counseling from the University of Virginia.

Carolina Iraheta Gonzalez

City of Portland Bureau of Transportation, Safe Routes to School Organizer

Carolina currently works for the Bureau of Transportation in the City of Portland as a Safe Routes organizer. She designs encouragement campaigns that promote an active and safe commute for Portland schools. She received her BA in Latin American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley in 2006. Carolina has over ten years worth of experience in youth leadership development. Examples of her work include developing after school programming for Latino high school and middle school students with the Oregon Leadership Institute; mentoring youth with Open Meadow School's Step Up program; and coordinating the anti-war youth efforts with American Friends Service Committee. Carolina resides in her hometown of Portland, Oregon and loves to spend time with her family and friends.
 
 

Arthur Davis
KBOO Radio, Former Station Manager

Arthur Davis works to change the world in positive ways by bringing business skills to the nonprofit sector.  Arthur was a founder of SCRAP, The School and Community Reuse Action Project and worked in fundraising and promotions for seven years at KBOO Community Radio, a grassroots community organization.  After earning an MBA and Certificate in Nonprofit Management at Portland State University, he was most recently Station Manager at KBOO, a grassroots community radio station.
 

Jennifer Froistad
Consultant and World Affairs Council of Oregon Advisor
Save the Children, Former Country Director (Malawi)
AFS Intercultural Programs, Former President