Volunteer of the Month: Sarah Foote
By Membership Selection Committee
Sarah Foote, June’s volunteer of the month, was drawn to project management after taking a Lean Six Sigma workshop and a Project Management Fundamentals course. A short time later she discovered PMI during orientation for her MBA, which has a concentration in Project Management. But it was instructor Kathy Millhauser who introduced Sarah to the opportunities with PMI Portland, and convinced her to volunteer.
Under Sandra Koelle's leadership, Sarah worked as the Assistant Director in 2018 to start planning the 2019 Annual Conference. Sarah’s hard work and creativity made a big impact, but she had to reduce her volunteer hours in June of that year. In 2021 she rejoined PMI at virtual meetings and then as the Director of the Annual Conference. With her drive and experience she pulled the 2022 Spring Conference together with speed and teamwork to great success.
Sarah continues to lead the planning for the upcoming Fall Conference with the support and camaraderie of the PMI Portland community. Through her role with PMI Portland Sarah deeply enjoys working directly with the thought-leaders and innovators of the industry. Her interactions with so many different people has been inspiring and motivating to keep learning and growing. She sees agile practices as the future of the industry because so many projects span global networks,allows for sprints, as well as continuous improvement processes to deliver more value and better results.
After all this, Sarah sees this as the exciting beginning to a career in project management, and plans on evolving into a role as a Global Project Manager. Being a part of the PMI community has built a foundation upon which she continues to grow. No matter the industry or role, she trusts there is a large network of friends and supporters to count on for advice, strategy and encouragement.
She would say to people who are looking to connect and grow with PMI that the opportunities are endless. For people looking to volunteer, if you don’t know where to start, volunteer by using your strengths and experience in a role that interests you. Sarah found that while she was using her strengths as a volunteer, she also got to work on her weaknesses as well - and has grown more than she imagined. The mentor program has been something she really learned from. So, if you don’t know where to start, just ask someone your questions.
Sarah wants to especially thank everyone that has been so supportive, and is excited to keep working alongside all the volunteers of this great community. Lastly, she reminds us of act 2 of the Annual Conference in September - so make sure you take the LEAP, and join her there.
A Message from the Membership Selection Committee:
Have you volunteered with someone from the PMI Portland Chapter who goes above and beyond expectations? Nominating your fellow volunteers is easy! Nominations can come from Board members, Directors and fellow volunteers. Candidates are chosen based on hours worked and the impact of the work on the Portland Chapter. Click here to submit your nomination form.
Drew is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in healthcare and banking. Recognized for their exceptional support to C-suite executives of prominent organizations in the Northwest, Drew has consistently demonstrated a keen ability to streamline operations, manage complex projects, and foster collaborative relationships. Through a unique blend of strategic vision and operational expertise, Drew has spearheaded diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. 
Nicole Nowlin is a certified Project Management Professional with over a decade of experience in project and program management, though if you ask her, that's been her default working mode since high school. She enjoys being the facilitator for her teams to get their puzzle finished, regardless of the industry she is working in. An overcommitted volunteer with an extensive nerdy wardrobe, Nicole is proud of her multitasking superpower, her recent kidney donation, and her bachelor's degree in International Business/Japanese from Pacific University. 
Alexis is the sole US based Social Media Customer Experience Specialist for the Dr. Martens global social channels. During her time at Dr. Martens, she has simultaneously operated as a volunteer project and event coordinator for the company’s DE&I Taskforce. She is a graduate of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). Alexis is a Certified Associate of Project Management (CAPM) that is eager to engage within cross-functional groups in efforts of creating community. Upon deciding to join the PMI Portland Chapter, she knew she did not want to be a bystander within the organization. With motivation and guidance from fellow chapter members and leaders, Alexis is looking forward to volunteering as the VP of Membership. 
Caitlin Feely is a dynamic project professional, and certified PMP, who is passionate about 
Sireesha (Siri) Akula is currently an Engineering Manager at Intel Corporation leading a team of hand selected rock star engineers to bring flagship Ethernet products to market. She is an accomplished grateful leader in validation and customer management with 14+ years of industry experience backed by a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and PMP certification.
Rob is a servant leader who empowers ambitious teams to achieve strategic goals and navigate change. With an analytical mind and a decade of experience in driving process excellence, leading cross-functional collaboration, and delivering impactful results, he is a versatile project professional who thrives on tackling challenges. His diverse background spans from serving in the Department of Defense, consulting for IT infrastructure, helping make potato salad, and working in professional services, giving him a unique perspective and an edge in helping teams seize opportunities.
was elected to the role of President-Elect of the PMI Portland Chapter in August 2021 and will serve in this role for one year in preparation for stepping into the role of Chapter President. Ken has been an active participant in Portland Chapter activities for several years, including serving as a speaker at the 2018 Region 1 Conference hosted by the Portland Chapter and at multiple PMI Portland Annual Conferences.
Nevada is a skilled project and program manager with extensive experience in the technology, digital marketing, and service delivery sectors. He earned his PMP certification in 2017 while leading projects for the Nike WHQ Campus Expansion. Since then, he has supported both front-end and back-end teams for SNKRS and other products within Nike’s digital ecosystem. Currently, he leads a $1B digital marketing experimentation program for North America.
Sireesha (Siri) Akula, PMP, brings 20+ years of project management and nonprofit leadership experience. Since 2019, she has served on the PMI Portland Board, most recently as VP of Professional Development. She led the chapter’s pivot to virtual programming, reintroduced in-person events, and launched new mentoring initiatives. Professionally, Siri is a Senior Software Engineering Manager at Intel, where she supports cloud and AI deployments. She also volunteers with the Society of Women Engineers and Lake Oswego High School. Siri’s vision is to build a more inclusive and future-ready chapter that supports and inspires the next generation of project professionals.
Kara Sanders is a strategic project leader with over a decade of experience in project and portfolio management, business analysis, and nonprofit consulting. At SEIU 775 Benefits Group, she manages key organizational initiatives and drives cross-functional impact. She also leads Pallas Athena Consulting, supporting nonprofits with strategy and risk management. Kara is active in the Portfolio and Project Management Leadership Forum and is known for fostering collaboration and building strong teams. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, and creative hobbies like painting and gardening.
Jahzeel Ormeno is a transformation leader with over 15 years of experience turning strategy into results across sectors. As founder of SimplexityPM, she brings executive leadership, operational clarity, and product strategy—grounded in Lean, Agile, and human-centered practices.
.Joseph Tucker is the President-Elect for the PMI Portland Chapter, having previously served as the chapter's Director of Technology. He thrives at the intersection of creativity, technology, and leadership. With a background spanning healthcare, digital publishing, broadcast and streaming radio, and social media, Joseph brings cross-industry experience and a global perspective, having led teams across four US states and three continents.
Bhakti Shetye has over 10 years of experience in wireless technology. She currently works as an Application Engineer at Keysight Technologies, where she collaborates with customers to solve technical challenges while driving customer success and continuous improvement.
Vikki Mueller Espinosa is an organizational strategist, educator, executive coach, and former Intel leader with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations strengthen teams, develop leaders, and build collaborative partnerships. Throughout her career, she has worked with cross-functional teams to design programs, improve organizational effectiveness, develop talent, and guide change across corporate, higher education, and nonprofit environments.
Rita Munarwi serves as Vice President of Finance for the PMI Portland Chapter. She is a Principal Technical Program Manager at Microsoft with over 20 years of global experience in the semiconductor industry, leading complex technology programs and driving operational excellence across engineering organizations.
Dr. Naznin Akter, PMP, has been elected as the Vice President of Marketing for the Project Management Institute Portland Chapter, where she will lead the chapter’s brand strategy, elevate its marketing portfolio, strengthen content and digital engagement, and drive cohesive cross‑portfolio collaboration to enhance the overall PMI Portland brand experience.