2018 Winterim

Video Overview

Keynote

Neal Keny-Guyer is a social entrepreneur driven by the belief that a better future is possible.

Since 1994, Neal has served as Chief Executive Officer of the global humanitarian organization Mercy Corps. Under his leadership, Mercy Corps has grown into one of the most respected international relief and development agencies in the world, with ongoing operations in more than 40 countries, a staff of 4,000, and global revenue of roughly $450 million. Fast Company ranked Mercy Corps one of the most innovative social-change organizations in the world and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof calls Mercy Corps “a first-rate aid group.”

A native of Tennessee, Neal started his career working with at-risk youth in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. After attending business school, he moved to Thailand to aid Cambodian refugees with CARE and UNICEF.

In 1982, Neal began his tenure with Save the Children, rising to become Director of Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. He designed and implemented high-impact relief and development programs in some of the most war-torn and politically sensitive regions on earth – including Lebanon, West Bank/Gaza and Sudan.

In 1990, Neal undertook his toughest assignment – as a stay-at-home father for his first child – while consulting businesses, foundations and nonprofit organizations on strategy and organizational development.

Neal holds a BA in Public Policy and Religion from Duke University, a master’s degree in Public and Private Management (M.P.P.M.) from Yale University, and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Portland State University, Oregon.

A former trustee of the Yale Corporation, Neal remains very involved with the University, currently serving on the Yale President’s Council on International Affairs and the Board Advisers of the Yale School of Management (SOM).

Neal also serves as chairman of the board of InterAction, the largest alliance of US-based international NGOs. He is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Humanitarian System, and of the Council on Foreign Relations.

He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife, Alissa, who is an Oregon state legislator. They have three adult children.

Judges

John Bates - Retired Professor, Life Trustee
Jim Huston - Managing Director of Portland Seed Fund
Cliff Johnson - Co-founder of Vacasa
Mohan Nair - Chief Innovation Officer at Cambia Health
Nitin Rai - Managing Director of Elevate Capital, President of TiE Oregon
Suzanne Stevens - Editor of the Portland Business Journal
Linda Weston - Principal of Rapporto, former Exec Director of OEN

Speakers

Sara Conte - Entrepreneur, Management Consultant at SGC Ventures
Meredith Goddard - Founder of Five Years In, Start Up Weekend Pdx
Neal Keny-Guyer - CEO of Mercy Corps
Michelle Lantow-retired CAO/CFO - New Seasons, McCormick & Schmicks & Lucy
Irving Levin - Exec Chairman, Genesis Financial Solutions
Ben McKinley - Founder/CEO Cascade Web Development
Ron Sakaguchi - Design Thinking/Innovation/Entrepreneurship professor at OHSU
Dave Underhill - President, Underhill Training and Development
Gene Wang - Entrepreneur, CEO of People Power

Mentors

Bill Etheredge - Principal of WCE Consulting Group
David Evans - CTO of Uncorked Studios
J.B. Handley - Partner, Handley Capital Management, Board of Wildfang
David Harris - Executive at Harris Oil plus exec in banking and insurance
Mikey McKennedy - Owner of Sizzle Pie
Dana Plautz - Entrepreneur, co-President MrsP.com
Mark Reed - Owner of MJP Management - real estate (affordable prefab apts)
Matt Rhoades - Creative Director of MatteLab
Paul Vogel - Communications Strategist, Vogel Communications

Roaming Mentors

Jeff Cruttenden - Founder of Acorns
Edith Dorsen - Managing Director of Women’s Venture Capital Fund
Liz Duffet - SVP at Orca Capital Securities - Portland boutique investment bank
Brent Hutchings - CEO of North River Boats
Michelle Janke - Partner at Coraggio Group
Anita Ramachandran - Director of MicroMentors at Mercy Corps
Serilda Summers McGee - Dynamo, Dep Director of HR for City of Portland
Rick Turoczy - Founder - Silicon Florist, PIE, TechFest NW, Oregon Story Board
Robin Wang - Executive Director of Ascent Funding