Who's Who at City Club: Board of Governors

Melody Rose is chair of the Division of Political Science at Portland State University. She holds degrees from U.C. Santa Cruz (B.A. with honors and Phi Beta Kappa, 1988) and Cornell University (Masters in Public Affairs, 1991; M.A. in Government, 1995; Ph.D. in Government, 1997). She is also the founder and director of NEW Leadership™ Oregon, which offers public service leadership training programs to college women in Oregon. She has authored a number of books, articles, and chapters on the presidency, social policy, and elections. Her third book, Playing the Gender Card? Media, Gender, and Hillary Clinton’s Race for the White House (with Regina Lawrence) will be published in 2009. Melody's teaching, research, and community service — including her service at City Club — reflect her broad interest in citizen engagement and political participation. She is a regular political analyst on local, state, and national media on matters of elections, voting, and women's political action. In 2007, she was chosen by the Northwest Women's Journal as one of Northwest's “100 Most Powerful Women,” and in 2008, she received PSU's Alumni Association's Distinguished Faculty Award. Melody joined City Club in 2004 and chairs the Friday Forum Committee.

Leslie Morehead is a consultant providing financial management services for small businesses. Leslie holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Reed College and an MBA in business management and a Ph.D. in systems science, both from Portland State University. She has been a private business owner, a consultant in information systems design and analysis, and a business software analyst in both the high-technology sector and the banking industry. Leslie served on City Club’s Research Board from 2002-2008. She served as Research Advisor to the Measure 36: Defense of Marriage ballot measure study in 2004 and also as Research Advisor to the Club's 2008 study of the Initiative and Referendum system in Oregon. She received the Club's Research Award in 2007. She has traveled and worked abroad, consulting and teaching business management courses in Eastern Europe and Russia.

John Branam is the Director of Programs for Grantmakers for Education (GFE), a national non-profit focused on improving achievement and expanding opportunities for all students by supporting foundations and corporations that give in education. John earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oregon School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Washington and Lee University. Prior to joining GFE John served as the Director of Development for Portland Public Schools, was the Director of Programs for the Higher Achievement Program in Washington DC, and spent 2.5 years in the Peace Corps in South Africa. John also serves on several boards and enjoys engaging in local political affairs.

Tom Cox is a Beaverton resident and owner of a management consulting firm specializing in leadership training, strategy, operations and process improvement for CEOs. Tom was the 2002 Libertarian Party candidate for governor of Oregon and is now active with the Oregon Republican Party, chairing the 2009 statewide Candidate Recruiting Committee. Tom has been a City Club member since 2003, served on the Friday Forum Committee for five years, and was elected to the Board in 2008. He has also served on the Club's Strategic Planning Committee and currently serves on the Governance Task Force.

Promise King is the executive director of Oregon League of Minority Voters. Previously, he worked as senior policy advisor to Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, chief of staff for Representative Deborah Kafoury and senior policy advisor for State Treasurer Randall Edwards. Mr. King also wrote on race and politics as a columnist for The Portland Tribune. He graduated with first class honors from University College London with a degree in journalism and mass communication. He sat on numerous diversity boards and is an award-winning journalist and civil rights advocate. He has been a City Club member since 2008.

Steffeni Mendoza Gray works in the city of Portland's Office of Government Relations as a government relations specialist. Steffeni has a bachelors degree in architecture from University of Oregon. Her professional experience includes six years managing and expanding a small retail business and over 20 years in executive nonprofit management positions. Her professional and volunteer experiences also include serving on numerous public and private sector policy advisory committees and task forces, particularly in the areas of work/family issues, at-risk youth services, community development, urban design and planning, parks and open space advocacy, civic engagement, business and economic development and education advocacy. She currently serves on the board of the American Red Cross Pacific Northwest Blood Services, Portland Schools Foundation and Urban Greenspaces Institute. Oregon Business magazine selected her as one of Oregon's Top 50 Business Leaders in 2004. Steffeni is also a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum of Oregon.

Mac is founder of Prichard Communications, a public relations firm that serves foundations, non-profits, and public agencies across the country. He earned a master’s degree in public administration at Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Iowa. Mac has been a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Human Services and other state agencies, was a speechwriter and deputy legislative director for former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, and a communications director for Earl Blumenauer at City Hall. He is also on the board of the Bus Project. Mac joined the City Club in 2004 and served on the Agora committee for two years.

Steve Rosenbaum serves as President and CEO of Pop Art, Inc., an interactive marketing agency. Steve has more than 15 years experience in the interactive marketing industry, with expertise in sales, marketing, finance and operations. He is active on boards and committees in numerous community and professional organizations, including: board secretary for Chess For Success; board member, finance chair and technology chair for the Bus Project; board member and marketing chair for the Software Association of Oregon; and executive committee for Tech America Oregon Council. Steve is also active in the Portland Advertising Federation and Social Venture Partners Portland. He received his B.A. in history with an economics minor from Stanford University. Steve has served on City Club’s Arts & Culture issue committee and more recently, the finance committee. He has been a member since 2003.