BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michael Burch, Board Secretary
Community Member
Michael A. Burch is a native Oregonian. He attended K – 8th grade at Highland, now King, Elementary School. Michael graduated from Benson High and earned a Bachelor degree in Psychology from the University of Oregon. He also served six years in the Air Force Reserves during the Vietnam war era.
Michael has worked for almost 30 years in the nonprofit and alternative school arena. In his last position, Michael served as a Community Relations and Outreach Representative for the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, responsible for Oregon and SW Washington. He was actively involved in educating the community about the opportunities and benefits of a career in organized labor, and more specifically working in the construction trades as a Carpenter. His target population was the underserved communities of low-income women and ethnic minorities.
Michael currently sits on numerous boards and commissions. To name few, he sits on a Joint Apprenticeship Training committee for the Carpenters, he is on the Board of Directors for Portland YouthBuilders, Constructing Hope and is past Board Director for All Hands Raised. He was most recently appointed OSAT, the Oregon State Apprenticeship and Training Council for a 4-year term by Governor Brown.
Robert Camarillo
Executive Secretary, Oregon BCTC
Robert is the Executive Secretary of the Oregon Building and Construction Trades Council, a statewide umbrella organization comprised of 31 Union affiliates and six regional Local Councils representing tens of thousands of skilled trades workers across Oregon. The State Council is the voice for Building Trades members in the State Capitol, and across the state. Robert sits on numerous industry economic development related boards. He was first elected in 2018 by delegates of the 57th Convention to serve a 3-year term as the Executive Secretary and reelected in 2021 for a 4-year term.
Robert comes out of the Iron Workers rank and file where his career in the Union first begin. Robert was organized over 20 years ago in Portland by Local Union No. 29. Shortly after he completed the 4-year registered apprenticeship program, he was hired as a Union Organizer and has remained in Union leadership. Robert was repeatedly elected by the members of Iron Workers Local No. 29 to serve in various leadership positions.
For more than a decade, Robert worked collaboratively with Union and industry partners across the region to expand market share for the Iron workers and Union members through labor compliance, apprenticeship, and organizing efforts. Throughout his career Robert has helped countless workers find their voice on the job and helped raise the standards in the construction industry. His motivation comes from empowering vulnerable workers from underrepresented groups and non-English speaking construction workers employed by abusive contractors.
Throughout his career, Robert stayed active in the Building Trades, particularly in the outlying Councils. In 2014, he was elected to serve as President of the Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council as well as to various other positions around the state in the outlying Councils. In 2016, Robert joined the Iron Workers International Organizing Department as a Lead Organizer for the Pacific Northwest District Council where he helped coordinate Union organizing campaigns, organizing actions, and lead Organizers around the region.
When not working, Robert enjoys working on his professional growth and improving his personal development, spending quality time with his wife and family, and volunteering around the community for causes important to him and his wife.
Zuleyma Figueroa, Board Co-Chair
Laborers Local 483
Vice Chair of DEEP (Diverse Empowerment Employees of Portland)
Originally from Central America, Zuleyma emigrated from El Salvador to the United States at age 15. She attended Tigard High School and later earned a Bachelors Degree at Portland State University.
Zuleyma worked as a Portland Public Schools teacher for 15 years before starting her career in trades. After learning electrical, carpentry, and facility maintenance skills in trade school, she worked as a hazmat technician cleaning chemical and biohazard spills.
Zuleyma performed seasonal work for PBOT before starting in her current role as a full-time Utility Worker. As a Utility Worker, Zuleyma maintains streetcar platforms and ensures a clean environment on and around the streetcar alignment. She truly enjoys helping community members get around the city using the Portland Streetcar. Zuleyma also serves as a shop steward for Laborer's Local 483.
Zuleyma participates in DEEP and WE Lead to learn from other women in the City of Portland as well as build on her leadership skills.
Outside of work, Zuleyma enjoys running, traveling, and spending time with her family in the outdoors. At home, she has a tabby cat named Snoopy.
Monica Gauthier
Pile Driver, Local 196
Monica attended the Women in Trades Career Fair in 2005, which impacted her life in such a positive way. With relief, confidence and hope, she started her career in construction and has never looked back. When she’s not at work, Monica loves searching Pinterest for DIY projects and ideas.
Charlene Getchell, Board Co-Chair
Special Projects Coordinator
Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute
Charlene was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant, after serving eight years in the Marine Corps. She discovered a love for training as she graduated number one in every military class she attended including non-commissioned officer school.
Building on the military foundation of discipline and hard-word, plus pro-union values, Charlene recalled her childhood dream of becoming a carpenter and joined the Carpenters Union in the Chicago area in 1996. Frequent visits to Portland convinced her to move, and she completed her apprenticeship as a general carpenter in Portland in 2000.
In 2014, Charlene accepted a teaching position at the Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute. This position is the culmination of her life’s experiences, her love of learning and teaching. Teaching, to her, is an exciting challenge in exchanging ideas and information which have an effect to improve not only the quality of life for people, but also serve as an inspiration to pursue new construction technologies and a desire for life-long learning.
Charlene was soon promoted to a hybrid position, where in addition to teaching Math, Blueprint, Leveling and Layout, and Roof Framing apprenticeship classes, she also teaches the Forklift (Industrial and All Terrain), Aerial Boom Lift, Scissor Lift, OSHA, CPR/First Aid continuing education classes., she became the Multi-media/Special projects coordinator. She is responsible for producing, editing and publishing videos, still photos and outreach materials to further the mission of PNCI.
Isis Harris
Electrician, IBEW Local 48
Isis joined Oregon Tradeswomen’s Board of Directors in December 2018. Isis also sits on the board of MercyCorp NW and on the Advisory Council of the Women’s Justice Project. She has served as the VP of the electrical workers minority caucus, and is on the East Metro STEAM Equity and Empowerment team.
Dr. Roberta Hunte. Interim Treasurer
Professor, Portland State University
Photo and Bio coming soon...
Sara Moore
AMTechnical Solutions - Construction Coordinator
Sara graduated from Oregon Tradeswomen’s pre-apprenticeship training program in 2005 and immediately joined the Laborers Local 737 where she focused on mass excavation, several area tunnel projects, and the Sellwood Bridge. Sara spends most of her free time volunteering & mentoring with with Oregon Tradeswomen, Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build, ACE Mentorship, and Skanska Community Committee organizing, as well as promoting various outreach and fundraiser events. Favorite quote: “One day you will thank yourself for never giving up.”
Molly Washington
COO, NAMC-Oregon
Molly serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the Oregon Chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC-OR). NAMC-OR is a non-profit organization that supports and advocates for the inclusion of BIPOC contractors on construction projects, with the goal of achieving economic justice. Molly was formerly a construction and transactions attorney who previously served as in-house counsel for the City of Portland, focusing on construction, procurement, and equity analysis. She currently serves on the Boards of the Native American Youth and Family Center, the NAYA Action Fund, the Safe From Hate Contractor Coalition Steering Committee and the AGC DEI Committee. Molly graduated from Lewis and Clark Law School in 2008. She is married to Rakeem Washington and they have three children together, Emmanuelle, Marcellus, and Moses.
Application for Board Service
Oregon Tradeswomen’s Board of Directors welcomes new board members interested in supporting the mission and vision of the organization.
Please download our application, in Microsoft Word format, and send by email to info@oregontradeswomen.org.
Thank you!