OUR TEAM
Interim Executive Director
Donna Hammond
Interim Executive Director
donna@oregontradeswomen.org | 503.335.8200 x 139
Donna Hammond is a seasoned trades professional with more than 40 years experience as a licensed union electrician. Donna’s passion and value for the Union movement grew out of having been raised by two active union member parents. Her parents directed her education and skills for numerous career opportunities with two caveats- you must love what you do and it must be a union job!
Donna is a Portland native and started her career in her hometown as an electrical apprentice with the IBEW Local Union 48 in 1978. As a journeyman, she “journeyed” and traveled from Oregon to South Carolina to New York and worked and honed her skills.
During her 20 year career with the City of Portland as a maintenance electrician, foreman, and electrical planner, she was granted two sabbaticals for project management: one with the Columbia Pacific Building Trades and then another with Oregon Tradeswomen. Donna has served on many community and civic boards and is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan, National Training Institute - Electrical Training Alliance. Donna has now gone full circle and is currently a Business Representative with IBEW Local Union 48, where her journey started. She loves working in the electrical trades and working for the union! Donna currently resides in Vancouver, Washington, and is the proud mother of Yusuf Word and his wife, Danielle Sims.
Communications + Marketing
Trytten Essing
Communications & Marketing Manager
trytten@oregontradeswomen.org | 503.335.8200 x 141
Trytten grew up in the heart of the Silicon Valley and always had a knack for the arts. Starting his own photography business at the age of 16, he gained real life experience taking portraits, shooting events, and maintaining a social media presence.
His experience with online communications and digital media led him to Oregon Tradeswomen (OTW) to cover the annual Career Fair on social media as a volunteer. Trytten joined Oregon’s team officially in July 2017, where he coordinates OTW’s social media, develops our monthly Toolbox Newsletter, writes content for a variety of channels, makes video, takes photos, and more!
In his free time, he loves camping with his wife Chelsea, filling up rolls of film, and avidly follows the San Jose Sharks.
Operations
Pat Casteel
Operations & Professional Development Manager
pat@oregontradeswomen.org | 503.335.8200 x 121
Pat was born in North Eastern Texas area. After graduating from high school, Pat moved to Portland, Oregon and began her career in the Administrative field. After 30 + years, Pat opted for a change with the idea of improving her wages. After completing her Paralegal/Legal Assistant Degree, she was offered a Legal Receptionist position with a Law firm, and after almost five years, she decided it was time for another change and began job searching.
After interviewing for Oregon Tradeswomen, Pat was offered a position. She now has been promoted several times and is currently the Operations Manager where she works directly with staff, vendors, students, and the public. It gives Pat great satisfaction and offers quite a bit of challenge. She has the opportunity to support students directly and to contribute to Oregon Tradeswomen team in so many ways.
In Pat’s spare time, she enjoys crocheting, sewing, music, and hanging out with her family. Oregon Tradeswomen has been the best fit career wise for Pat. She works with a diversified group of extraordinary people and very happy to be a part of this team.
Pathways to Success Program
Iliana Fontal
Contracts & Data Impact Analyst
iliana@oregontradeswomen.org | 503.335.8200 x 124
Iliana Fontal grew up in South America and moved to Oregon after five years of working as an industrial engineer. In Oregon, she gained experience in social services by working her way up in the Family Strengthening and Workforce Development field.
With 9+ years of experience delivering job readiness services to individuals, Iliana specializes in coordinating quality assurance activities, effectively accomplishing program’s outcomes, and identifying authentic opportunities for the organization to advance. Additionally, she is skilled in program design and management, community development, staff training, and contracts management.
Iliana is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her positive attitude to encourage others to work hard and succeed. She is inspired daily by her husband and their three daughters. In her free time, Iliana enjoys taking care of her garden, going on walks, and traveling.
Ina Avendaño Howe
Employment Case Manager
ina@oregontradeswomen.org | 503.335.8200 x 140
Ina grew up in the Northwest and Hawaii with roots in Mexico and recently spent nearly a decade in the Caribbean. This unique background has informed her perspective on diversity, equity, and the importance of work that builds up individuals on the margins for success.
Her early career was spent in the Portland social service arena serving marginalized populations from at-risk teens to the homeless. Most recently she has worked with high school students at Reynolds High School as a CTE Career Coordinator, where she supported young people in accessing their first jobs, exploring careers in the trades and option for college, and built a valuable network among partners in the construction industry, East County employers, non-profits, and government entities.
In her spare time, Ina loves painting, ping pong, time with family, and is committed to social justice and making her community a better place where she can. Presently, Ina is mentoring at-risk students with Oregon Youth Challenge program and supporting Portland’s efforts to keep it clean with Adopt-a-Block.
Allison Miller
Director of Programs and Strategic Impact
allison@oregontradeswomen.org | 503.335.8200 x 122
Allison grew up in Iowa but made her way to Oregon after completing her master’s degree at UCLA. As a graduate student, she taught for the departments of sociology and gender studies where she guest lectured on sexualized violence and toxic masculinity.
With almost a decade of experience in education and the nonprofit sector, Allison has donned a variety of professional hats. From designing accessible and collaborative curriculum to studying and practicing anti-racist pedagogy, she is dedicated to managing safe, equitable, and thriving programs that are rooted in community.
Outside of work, Allison keeps herself busy with an array of hobbies. When she’s not restoring her 1918 farmhouse, you can find her making wooden postcards, throwing pottery, and trying out for game shows.
Kim Neel
Retention Services Coordinator
kim@oregontradeswomen.org | 503.335.8200 x 123
Kim has been in the social work field for more than 24 years. After moving to Oregon from Florida, she landed a job with an all-female work crew remodeling a house. Kim loved the demolition process, and for the first time, knew how it felt to go home physically tired and happy! She never forgot the empowerment she felt on that job.
When a Career Counselor position at Oregon Tradeswomen (OTW) opened in 2012, Kim jumped at the opportunity and has been working at OTW ever since. As Retention Coordinator, Kim supports women who have been through our pre-apprenticeship program, plus she coordinates monthly social hours, the annual Trades Leadership Institute, and supports various local women's committees.
We Value
