Welcome to Become

Board of Directors

The BecomeX program is based on the collective experience of a powerful group of individuals that have dedicated their experience, expert knowledge and skills in order to positively impact the lives of young women.

		Michele O’Hara, Executive Director — For the past 20 years, Michele has been a leader in helping many diverse organizations create and implement brands that build long-lasting relationships with their customers. She is a sought-after speaker and a leader of change in the marketing and advertising fields. Through Become, Michele is dedicating her energy to her life-long mission of helping young women uncover the beauty and power that dwells within and providing them with the skills and support to choose their own destiny regardless of the life circumstances they have been dealt. Michele has significant experience with non-profit organizations, including the Oregon Ballet Theatre, GLAD (Girls Leadership and Development) program, and YEO (Young Entrepreneurs Organization).

		Eli Morgan Ellison C. Morgan is Chairman and CEO of 2030 Investors, L.L.C., an investment company based in Portland, Oregon. Eli co-founded M Financial Group and M Life Insurance Company in 1978, a national marketing and reinsurance organization with 105 offices. In addition, he is the founder of Management Compensation Group, Northwest and its predecessor, Resource Management Consultants. He served as President and CEO from 1963 through 1985. Currently, Eli serves on the boards of American Industries, Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI), and House of Umoja. He is a member of the World Presidents Organization and past Chairman of Oregon’s Young Presidents Organization.

		Celeste Trapp grew up in the Portland area and studied marketing and business at the University of Oregon and Portland State. After receiving her MBA in 2000, Celeste served as a V.P. of Business Development for a marketing agency. After a successful term, she ventured out on her own to open one of the nation’s first men’s grooming salons, HairM (www.hairMgrooming.com). Under Celeste’s leadership, the HairM brand has become widely recognized in the Portland area in less than four years. It has also received national attention from Men’s Journal and The Wall Street Journal. For fun Celeste enjoys traveling, golfing, snowboarding, hiking, cooking and drinking red wine.

		Robert Budihas In 1980, Robert Budihas founded Continental Marketing, Inc., a domestic and international sales and marketing company with operations in seven countries. He was Co-Founder of Labtec Enterprises, a leader in computer speakers throughout the 90's selling to both the OEM market (Dell, IBM, Gateway) and the national retailers throughout the United States. Mr. Budihas was one of the Co-Founders and a Board Member for 12 years at Unicru, a leader in the human capital management software industry in Portland, Oregon. He is a partner at Compass Advisors Trading, a Pension Fund Management firm in Portland, Oregon. Robert attended Portland State University and is currently enrolled in an executive education program at Harvard Business School.

		Mary-Ellen Smith has spent the last five years applying her vision, creativity and expertise to founding and launching new products as an independent consultant. One example is a fully developed and innovative product for the beverage market. Previous to launching out on her own, she spent 25 years managing and creating innovative materials solutions for the footwear and apparel industries. While at Nike, she established and directed the Materials Research Departments for both footwear and apparel, initiated Nike's performance materials platform, and directed the Sustainable Product Design initiative for footwear. Prior to Nike, Mary-Ellen applied her creativity and talents in Materials Research at Patagonia and spent the early years of her career in Research and Development at Kenyon Mills. She has participated in a wide range of developments from new composites for NASA to new coatings for fashion rainwear.

		Ellie Johnson With over 17 years of diverse corporate experience, Ellie Johnson combines a rare combination of business acumen and interpersonal skills to take executive performance to the next level. Since 1990, in industries ranging from automotive finance and shipping to college administration, Ellie has excelled in managing and coaching both individuals and teams. At a major automotive finance company, Ellie motivated and led her team of over 40 people to consistently achieve the highest measured standards of success yet attained. Ellie also applies her skills in the non-profit sector. As past president of a public art gallery, her leadership contributed to revenue increases of over 30% in just three years. After the recent Tsunami in Indonesia, she joined Mercy Corps, a major humanitarian aid organization, where her work continues as the Director of Operations.

		Craig Trames Craig Trames is loaded with significant experience in facilitating effective leadership, strategic clarity, growth opportunities and business innovation. In the past 14 years Craig has taken on a variety of leadership roles, with a focus on marketing, sales and business innovation. Many of those years were spent working at Nike Inc., where his range of skills helped contribute to many areas of the company, including Global Business Director of the ACG Outdoor division. After leaving Nike, Craig directed his strategic focus to the not-for-profit world and Pacific Crest School of Outward Bound. As CEO of the organization he led the successful merger of the Pacific Crest and Colorado Schools to create Outward Bound West.

		Patricia Dant Patricia Dant completed a successful marketing career in the high tech industry first as a sales executive with Boeing Computer Services and then with AT&T. With these professional accomplishments under her belt, Patricia then focused her energies and considerable talent on a pursuit of life-long learning and giving back to the community. She is a self-motivated student of life. Through the study of art, language and design as well as extensive travel and a continual desire to improve as a person, Patricia is the example for professional success and personal growth. A native of Portland, she has created a network of friends and associates and she hopes to bring both their energy and hers to facilitating the good work of BecomeX.

		Jolynn Ovington Jolynn Ovington is an experienced executive in strategic planning, development, implementation, marketing and management of apparel programs and processes. She has more than 17 years of experience in the apparel industry, and is currently Product Line Director at Nau, Inc., a local start up. At Nau, Jolynn is responsible for the strategic implementation of a new and innovative line of Sustainable Apparel. Prior to her current appointment, Jolynn spent 13 years at adidas. A Canadian at heart, Jolynn is married, has twin 18 year old step-daughters, and a 4 year old daughter who makes her laugh and smile every day.