Staff
Alicia was born and raised in the northern suburbs of Chicago.
She has an MA in Psychology from Loyola University and after working in Market research for five years she chose to stay home, raise a family, and homeschool two fabulous children! She returned to the workforce in the membership department of Girl Scouts. After that she found the Chamber world and spent three years as the Executive Director of the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce and four years as the Executive Director of the Niles Chamber of Commerce. She has also served of the Board of the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.
Family migration has drawn her west and the Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce CEO position was available at just the right time!
What she loves most about the Chamber world is the opportunity to help local businesspeople make connections and build relationships with one another. In today's world of online, social media, tweeting, and blogging, the strongest connections are still formed face to face with a handshake. Wow that sounds wrong to say in the days of Covid, but it is still true. We just have to find new ways to facilitate that handshake.
What is possible after that handshake is limitless!
Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, Katelynn understands the challenges and rewards of running a business. She has always been drawn to supporting others who share that same entrepreneurial spirit. For Katelynn, bringing people together and embracing the vibrant culture of Oregon is what truly makes her feel at home.
After Katelynn graduated with her degree in business management with a minor in Spanish, she set out to build a career that would allow her to give back to her community. Her love for connecting people and businesses led her to the staffing and recruiting industry, where she worked closely with local companies, helping them find the right talent and build strong teams. Over the years, she’s developed lasting relationships with businesses across Oregon, and that deep connection to the community continues to drive her today.
When she’s not working, Katelynn enjoys exploring all that Oregon has to offer. Whether she’s visiting wineries, discovering new restaurants, or attending local events, she’s always seeking ways to engage with her community. It’s these experiences that keep her inspired, both professionally and personally, as she continues to support local businesses as the Deputy CEO of the Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce.
Driven by a desire to improve the wellbeing of individuals and communities, Mark is drawn to untangling complex issues by challenging the status quo. He is a lifelong entrepreneur-launching and leading programs, nonprofits, businesses, and large-scale initiatives to improve the human condition.
At the Chamber, Mark oversees two key programs: founding the Nonprofit Incubator of Beaverton (NPIB); and, strengthening small businesses through IMPACT Beaverton. He provides strategic direction, manages program operations, fundraising, and partnerships to build the capacity of local nonprofits and small businesses.
With an undergraduate degree from Caltech and a Master's Degree in Education, Mark brings over 30 years of experience in community development, education, and organizational growth. His nontraditional career path has led from a career as a satellite engineer, to teaching high school science and math, to serving as Oregon's policy director for STEM education, and to starting his own business. Additional professional experiences include more than 10 years with the US Peace Corps leading community development programs in the South Pacific and the Middle East.
A lifelong educator, tinkerer, and advocate for youth, Mark has a passion for the critical roles that education, culture, and community have in shaping individuals and society. A primary source of joy for him is being a father and stepfather to four incredible individuals who continue to inspire him to be a better human.
I oversaw the compliance of engineering projects at PermaCold Engineering, Inc. before joining the BACC. I worked closely with Jurisdictions throughout Oregon and other states. Formed Great connections with county and city permit techs. Additionally, I made sure the engineering firm complied with all business and contractor license requirements.
In data analysis at Kaiser Permanente, I contributed to the creation of dashboards and queries for the Maui Health Systems at Kaiser.
I started Arroyo & Son Construction LLC named after my father, because as a kid, I would get up early in the summer to work alongside him. My construction company focuses on residential and commercial projects across the Portland Metro area. Starting a business has enabled me to comprehend what it takes to establish a company from the bottom up in the state of Oregon.
If you are an entrepreneur or have an idea for a business, please feel free to contact me. I would be happy to help you reach your business goals.
I studied business analytics and data mining at Oregon State University, where I received my MBA.
Born and raised in Beaverton, Jafar is a product of the Beaverton School District. At Oregon State University, he studied Political Science and Economics. In the midst of his education, he started volunteering with the Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce as a summer work experience project. Over the years his role has expanded. In his food service and event production industry experience at a local restaurant, he developed a respect for local business cooperation and connections. Outside the chamber office, he enjoys exploring local businesses and community events. "It's not just what I do," he says, "it's who I am."