Board of Directors

Wisdom of the Elders, Inc. Board President (2019 - Present)

Confederated Tribes Of Umatilla Indian Reservation

Areas of expertise: Forestry Engineer, Forest Management, American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES)
Technical Specialist with the Intertribal Timber Council since 1995. 42-year career as a Forest Engineer and Forest Manager with the Bureau of Indian Affairs that included living and working with the Yakama Nation, Umatilla, and Spokane Tribes. Engaged with Native youth through the American Indian Science and Engineering Society-(AISES).

Advisory Councils for Curriculum and Programming with Wisdom of the Elders, Inc. Washington Agricultural Forestry Leadership Foundation, Washington State University-Vancouver Native Advisory Council, Society of American Foresters, Big Brothers, and Big Sisters. At home in Brush Prairie, WA, the family’s Horse Boarding Business with his wife Mary Beth, helping their daughter Jayme move into breeding and training reining horses.

Board Member (2025 - Present)

Modoc, Klamath, Cherokee

JoJo is a Portland-based Native community advocate, media professional, and lifelong supporter of Indigenous storytelling and cultural preservation. Professionally, JoJo brings expertise in strategic campaign design, media planning, and stakeholder engagement from their work at Wieden+Kennedy.

As the founder of the Native employee resource group at W+K, JoJo has championed Indigenous visibility in institutional spaces and built meaningful partnerships with Native-led organizations, including NAYA Family Center.

Rooted in a deep belief in reciprocity and community, JoJo is honored to support Wisdom of the Elders' vital work in media, land stewardship, and the preservation of Native voices for future generations.

Board Member (2023)

Areas of expertise: Non-profit board service, ecology, forest management, urban forestry, arboriculture, organization leadership and management, workforce training and development, program and policy development and implementation, volunteer management, partnerships, and collaborative projects
Jenn has been a public servant in natural resources management for nearly 30 years including with the State of Oregon and City of New York. Since 2012 she has served as the City Forester for Portland.

Jenn earned a BS in Foreign Service, MS in Forestry, and Master of Public Administration and is a certified arborist, municipal arborist, tree risk assessor, and advocate for Indigenous culture, science, and wisdom. Jenn spends her free time with family, friends, and dogs, reading, moving, as a volunteer land restoration leader, and in awe of plants and critters.

Board Member (2025)

Anthony Alvarado is a writer, radio host, educator, and youth mentor rooted in the belief that stories carry medicine. He hosts Note to Self on XRAY FM, works with Native youth at NAYA in Portland, and serves on the board of Wisdom of the Elders, where he supports youth outreach and media strategy.

His creative and community work is grounded in his Apache and Coahuiltecan ancestry, with family roots in South Texas and Northern Mexico. He draws from these traditions to support cultural memory, healing, and intergenerational connection. Through storytelling, ceremony, and mentorship, he helps create spaces where Indigenous voices are honored and wisdom is passed on.