Meet Our Team
Amanda Oborne
President & Executive Director
Amanda Oborne supports OEN on its mission to help build wealth and prosperity via innovation and entrepreneurship in the Pacific Northwest. She’s especially interested in leveling the playing field for entrepreneurs facing systemic disadvantages. Formerly Vice President of Food, Farms & Fisheries at Ecotrust, Amanda helped develop the Redd on Salmon St. in Portland’s Central Eastside, and was named one of Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business.” Early in her career, Amanda honed skills in database marketing in the apparel and software sectors. Amanda holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She has two teenagers and adopted a COVID-puppy named Hank!
Alex Gamboa Grand
Relationship Specialist
Alex’s mission is to use business as a force for good to address the issues closest to her heart: protecting the environment in the fight against the climate crisis and building wealth in communities of color and others who are disproportionately disadvantaged. No surprise considering she’s rooted in a family of Costa Rican-American immigrants and Black entrepreneurs. She has worked for Chinook Book, helping to grow a more sustainable economy by promoting local, sustainable businesses, and at PSU where her work has focused on ways to increase opportunities and provide support for entrepreneurs and students of color. Alex is also an entrepreneur herself — the Co-Founder of Good Intent, a low waste shop offering education and sustainable alternatives to everyday essentials. Alex holds an MBA and Certificate in Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship from PSU and a BA in Screenwriting from Loyola Marymount University.
Luis Balderas Villagrana
Program & Event Coordinator
Luis Balderas Villagrana is a first-generation son of immigrants from Mexico and raised in Oregon. He served as Student Body President and co-founded the Entrepreneurship Club while at Portland State University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 2020. Already deeply ingrained in Oregon’s entrepreneurial community from his work at PSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship, Luis coordinates OEN’s programming and events and offers specialized support to Latinx and other BIPOC founders. He splits his time between Portland and his hometown of North Powder in Eastern Oregon.
Mike White
MidValley Venture Catalyst
Mike White serves Polk, Marion and Yamhill counties as the MidValley Venture Catalyst, meaning he is a go-to for entrepreneurs in the region. Mike helps entrepreneurs connect with mentors, investors, and each other, and works to support and grow the entrepreneurial community within the MidValley region. Working closely with local economic development partners, Mike has helped launched an angel investment fund for local startups, and regularly offers “boot camps” for budding entrepreneurs to shape their ideas. Mike is also the founder of Best Damn BBQ sauce, which indeed it is! Mike has a bachelor’s degree from PSU and an MBA from George Fox University. He lives in Salem with his wife.
2022 Board of Directors
Juan Barraza, PSU Center for Entrepreneurship
Claire Brown, Tonkon Torp
Jennifer Fox, Autodesk
Lora Haddock, Lora DiCarlo
Dave Hansen, Columbia Bank
Mary Hull, Stoel Rives
Deepthi Madhava, Oregon Venture Fund
Vanessa Margolis, VertueLab
Ciara Pressler, Pregame
Beth Nguyen, Geffen Mesher
Deepa Seshan, Kindle Consulting
David Steinhauer, Salesforce.com
John Williams, Entrepreneur/Investor (Chair)
2021 Board DEI Committee
Marcus Carter, Cinder Staffing
Juan Barraza, PSU Center for Entrepreneurship
David Steinhauer, Salesforce.com
Vanessa Margolis, VertueLab
Jon Maroney, Oregon Venture Fund
Dave Hansen, Columbia Bank
Jon Williams, Serial Entrepreneur