Phillip Kennedy-Wong is a public policy professional with over 20 years of experience lobbying at the state, local, and federal levels. He has worked for several nonprofit organizations throughout his career and served on nonprofit boards. He brings a strong understanding of nonprofit lobbying and planning advocacy programs. Phillip served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves while earning a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Lewis and Clark College. Upon graduating, he went to work right away as a field organizer on a political campaign during the 1992 presidential election. Getting the political bug, he proceeded to earn a Master of Science in public policy from Rutgers University and has never looked back in his public service career.

Bettina Schempf has been the Executive Director for Old Mill Center in Corvallis since mid 2013. She has a professional background in financial management, project management and general management in small businesses and the not-for-profit sector in Berlin (Germany), Wellington and Auckland (New Zealand) and Corvallis, Oregon. She also volunteers on several not-for-profit boards.

Felicita joined Northwest Health Foundation in August 2020. As Public Affairs Manager, Felicita supports advocacy campaigns to change public policy, often in partnership and at the direction of community-based organizations. She also manages government relations and leads NWHF’s communications, among other responsibilities. Before joining NWHF, Felicita was the policy and advocacy officer for Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, which serves Washington and Yamhill Counties and is the largest federally qualified health center in the state. Prior to Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, she worked at Vision Action Network, building a network of connected nonprofits and philanthropic leaders throughout Washington County.

Mercedes Elizalde was born and raised in Hayward, California, a small city in the San Francisco Bay Area. She relocated to Seattle, WA in fall of 2010 and then to Portland, OR in the summer of 2018. She carries a passion for social justice, equal opportunity and compassion throughout her personal and professional endeavors. Mercedes started working when she was 14 as a peer educator and summer camp counselor. She brings a unique set of perspectives and knowledge to her work having experience in direct service as a social worker and program coordinator, a legislative aide to an elected official and as a community activist. Mercedes was the first in her family to attend college and now holds a BA in Psychology with a minor in Women and Gender Studies, and a MA in Non-profit Leadership. She is currently the Director of Advocacy, Latino Network Portland.

Charlie Conrad was born in Corvallis, Oregon, and is a third-generation Oregonian. Raised in a career Army family, he grew up living and traveling around the United States and Europe. In 1990, he returned to Oregon to attend Oregon State University, where he earned a BS in Wildlife Management. Later, he returned to school and earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Colorado in 2012. Conrad served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2024-25. He is an adjunct instructor at the University of Oregon, teaching local government, lobbying, and the legislative process. Conrad is no stranger to nonprofits. He co-founded a nonprofit, and he serves on several nonprofit boards including the United Way of Lane County and Options Family Counseling.