Jackie Haddon, Board Chair
I am so excited to serve on the Board of Directors for Girls Build! As a clinical social worker and mental health agency director for most of my career, I have always been deeply involved in standing up for the rights of others to live with dignity and advocating for equitable access to education, employment, healthcare and housing. My social work career has focused on the needs of teen girls and young women – many of whom have survived highly traumatic life events and are working to see themselves as powerful beings. Now as a real estate agent, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, professional volunteer (and parent of a Girls Build camper!), I value the opportunity to be of service to my community in a new way and donate a portion of my time and income to organizations that dedicate their energy to doing the same. I work closely with these organizations to lift the voices of those historically marginalized in the trades industry and have developed a referral directory for women/BIPOC/LGBTQIA+ tradespeople.
Though originally from Oregon, I have lived all over the US and spent time traveling the world. Now I live in SW Portland, raising my three kids to be the best humans they can be alongside my husband, two dogs and two cats. You can learn more about me and my background at www.jackiehaddonhomes.com
Vera Warren, Board Secretary
Vera was born and raised in Oregon and works as an attorney for TTE Law Group in the Portland office. She is very passionate about her community and heavily involved in community activities, including service on several boards and committees. Vera comes from a very large family and it was one of her family members who recruited her to join the Girls Build board! A big draw to joining the board was the organization's ability to empower girls all over Oregon. Girls Build’s entire mission resonates with Vera and she is thrilled to be a part of the board.
Stephanie Grant, Board Treasurer
Stephanie is a litigator at Portland law firm Tonkon Torp LLP and a graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School. The work of Girls Build™ is near and dear to her heart, since her parents taught her how to swing a hammer before she could wield a pen. With Girls Build™, Stephanie hopes to use all the tools at her disposal to pass on the gifts of curiosity and confidence. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, and trying to master her mom’s Korean comfort food recipes. Stephanie has been on the Girls Build board for four years.
Joya Menashe, Board Member
Joya is one of our newest Board Members. With over 20 years of experience, she is a driven and innovative designer who bridges interior and architectural design, space planning and digital creative. Joya has worked as a project designer in the construction industry, which was primarily male-dominated - this is in part why she is very excited about the philosophy behind the Girls Build organization, which focuses on teaching girls trade skills at a young age. Joya is one of those people who can navigate multiple projects and takes great pride in seeing them through to completion, regardless of the challenges. Currently, she works as the Marketing Director for Rose City Laboratories.
To fuel her creativity, Joya enjoys traveling and has visited 29 countries and attended 7 Olympics. She is also an artist who appreciates various aspects of decorating, up-cycling, and repurposing old furniture. Fun fact: she has an impressive collection of over 300 pieces of Wonder Woman Memorabilia. During weekends, she likes to spend time outdoors, unplugged, fishing, crafting, cooking, and working on projects at their cabin on Eagle Creek.
Connie Migliazzo , Board Member
Connie was born and raised in Los Angeles, and has spent her adult life bouncing all over the east and west coasts. She's been in Portland for 6 years now with her Portland-native husband, 2 kids, and handsome dog. She's a landscape architect and runs her own design practice in Portland called Prato. In her free time, she loves to cook elaborate meals, hike the gorge, swim in any body of water, snuggle with her small kids, or build projects in her own garden with her husband. Connie was drawn to the mission of Girls Build after volunteering with a similar organization in the Bay Area and seeking out ways to work with children in the design/build space here in Portland. After many years of working hand-in-hand with the construction industry, she feels passionately about empowering more women to enter the building + construction field. Having her own daughter now, she feels stronger than ever about Girls Build's mission to empower young girls to have confidence in their abilities and to build anything they can dream up.
Sari Matisoff , Board Member
Sari is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner who has lived in Oregon for most of her life. A longtime friend recruited her to join the Girls Build board in 2023. She really could have benefitted from Girls Build camps as a kid, and especially feels this since becoming a new homeowner. In her free time, you can likely find Sari at Orangetheory, a boba shop, or a plant shop.