Here are some glimpses of some of the WLB Advisory Board and Executive Committee members who enjoyed breakfast and a look back and ahead at the recent WLB annual meeting. Richard Ransome, longtime active member and General Manager / CEO of Riverside Golf & Country Club, was our host.

Sharon Wood brought a show-&-tell item, the "Bridges of Portland" quilt designed and appliquéd by third graders at Forest Park Elementary.

Founder & President, Pauline Anderson chats with our web master Mark Brashear.

Board members Lloyd Anderson and Doug Capps catch up on WLB news.

Don Carlson, Vice Chair & Jim Larpenteur, Treasurer, are eager for upcomming year's activities.

Ed, Jean, Kim, Don, Irene, Rebecca & Gil listen to past year challenges and accomplishments.

Pauline Anderson - President,

    Pauline Anderson, Pres., is a native Portlander. She reared five children here, taught 7th and 8th grades here, and was elected Multnomah County Commissioner for District 1. During her eight-year term, she convened a stakeholders group to talk about how to beautify the downtown bridges which unite east and west Portland. Almost unanimously (one lone dissenter wanted only to paint the Hawthorne Bridge indigo) the group decided that decorative lighting was the enlightened way to beauty. And the Willamette Light Brigade was born.

Don Carlson - Vice Chair,

   Don is a career public servant with experience at all levels of government in Oregon including local, regional and state. Until recent budget cuts that eliminated additional senior management, Don was Business Services Manager for the Multnomah County Department of Aging and Disability Services. A resident of SE Portland, Don has served on a variety of neighborhood and non-profit boards. He especially enjoys his time with the Willamette Light Brigade, not only because of the group's wonderful mission to turn our bridges into things of delight at night, but also because of the opportunity to work with fun and interesting people. "If you are looking for a way to improve our community and have some fun doing it, come join the Willamette Light Brigade!!"

M'Lou Christ - Exec. Director,

    A community action consultant, M'Lou provides assistance with special projects and organiza-tional management, primarily for non-profits. M'Lou began volunteering for WLB in late '96 and in '98 took on WLB's administrative functions. "It's a shame our city's central natural feature, the Willamette, and the notable structures that span it are nearly invisible every evening. Lighting the architectural highlights of our bridges will bring their charm into our city's nightly view."

Paddy Tillett

Chair & Spokeperson,

     Paddy Tillett has served as chair & spokesperson since the group was established in 1987. Paddy is an architect, urban designer and city planner with over 25 years of international professional experience. For 15 years, he has headed the department of Planning and Urban Design for the firm of Zimmer Gunsul Frasca, where he is a principal. He practiced in London, Cologne, Abuja, Nigeria and Osaka before coming to live in Portland, Oregon in 1982. "There is no clearer statement about the civic pride of Portland's citizens than the sight of lit bridges connecting its communities."

Jean Bucciarelli - Vice President,

      With a philosophy degree in hand, Jean Bucciarelli started out as a middle and high school social studies teacher in New Delhi, India. After 18 years service with Multnomah County, Jean retired in June '03. She trusts this new phase of her life will include travel, photography, and more active involvement in WLB and a few other rewarding volunteer efforts. Jean was turned on to bridge lighting in 1985 by her then boss, County Commissioner Pauline Anderson. Jean likes connections, and the distinctive Willamette River bridges are the connectors of the east and west sides of Portland and Multnomah County. She's continued with Willamette Light Brigade because esthetic lighting of the bridges is a sparkling civic opportunity. Besides, "The WLB group is a real joy-creative, hard-working and, light(s)-hearted."

Tony Adams,

    Tony J. Adams is an architectural lighting designer whose experi-ence includes international and domestic commercial, industrial and institutional projects, as well as many local landmarks such as the Broadway Tower dome, OMSI and the previous Hawthorne Bridge lighting. Tony began his service with the WLB as a celebration of the City's natural setting and a means to unite its East and West sides. He has reduced his time with WLB in recent years to make time to found and expand his own lighting design company, The Light Edge.

Richard Ransome,

   Richard's professional career includes many years managing major Portland hotels. He is currently the General Manager and CEO of the Riverside Golf and Country Club. He's been a member of WLB since 1987 with "the desire to light up our bridges-which would be great for the city and also for tourism. It would connect East with West Portland in a far more joyous manner than we have today."

Sharon Wood Wortman,

    Sharon Wood Wortman, the author of The Portland Bridge Book, is married to a bridge engineer, takes people bridge- walking for a living and thinks Portland is just short of heaven for work and play (She is not sure which part of her life is work and which part is play). She joined the Willamette Light Brigade because of the group's positive purpose, energy, and resolve. "If the bridges were lighted, we could be inspired by these amazing structures beyond dawn to dusk."

Irene Jensen - Program Chair,

    "I learned that this organization existed when I saw a 1997 news clip, featuring Paddy, about lighting the bridges. I thought, 'What a wonderful way to give a little back to the community and city that give me so much joy.' I'm proud to show off our city, especially its best features, the bridges. My goal is to be a productive volunteer for the lighting of the bridges into the new millennium."

Gil Johnston,

    After 30 years at PacifiCorp, in the energy dept. and then as head of com-munity relations, Gil began working at Milestone Unlimited, a consulting firm that specializes in executive coaching and training. Early in its history Gil saw WLB as a way to spur economic devel-opment by showcasing Portland's bridges-its key public structures-with new, efficient lighting technologies. An avid boater, he also looks forward to lit bridges enhancing his evening river trips with friends and clients. Gil knows that view could really help the local cruise industry.

Stan Ghezzi,

    Stan Ghezzi is affectionately known as Multnomah County's head troll. From his office under the Hawthorne Bridge, Stan works as the Bridge Services Manager for all of the county's bridges and he's been a long-time friend of the Willamette Light Brigade. Though he pulls no punches about strictly adhering to county policies, he's always ready to assist WLB with their efforts to enhance public awareness of the charm of the Willamette River bridges. "Safeguarding the bridges' structural and historic integrity AND getting them lit so everyone can see how great they are, that makes even me smile", says Stan.

Kim Lindstrand,

    Kim, of Kim Lindstrand Consulting LC, was previously senior sales representative for Amtech Lighting Services and a lighting specialist for PGE's Efficiency Services Department. She enjoys tracking lighting and controls technologies for efficient lighting solutions to enhance commercial and industrial environments, for both new construction and retrofits. When asked why she wanted to join WLB, she said, "My passions for lighting and politics piqued my curiosity. As we delved further in to these projects, I found myself really appreciating the architectural beauty of these bridges and wanting to join the process of re-lighting them aesthetically."

Mike Beard,

     E. Michael Beard is the owner of ErrolGraphics. Mike's company develops and markets prints and posters for local events and of landmarks, including a series of nationally-recognized bridges and buildings, such as San Francisco's Golden Gate and New York's Twin Towers. Mike believes that our city's visual signature is tightly tied to our bridges and that enhancing their beauty increases pride and appreciation of our city's identity, both locally and nationally. When you check out our "Shop" page you'll see some of how Mike has assisted WLB: developing the posters, T-shirts and magnets for Bridge Pedal and other bridge events.

Ed Slavin,

   After growing up in Detroit and working for General Motors stamping out fenders and hoods for Cadillacs, Ed Slavin heeded the call to “go west, young man”. At 19 he again joined the General in CA’s Bay Area, but this time it was General Electric Lamp Division. Thus the beginning of his career in the lighting industry.

   Ed’s 25-year career ranged from unloading boxcars full of lamps to partner in the Northern Illumination Co., a firm he helped establish after moving to Oregon in 1999 and which is now a Sustaining Member of IES. Ed’s degrees include a B.S. from Calif. State Univ., Hayward (majors in Economics and Marketing) and an MBA from St. Mary’s College.

   When he’s not working or continuing the engineering degree he began 20+ years ago, he enjoys biking, motorcycling, running, snow skiing and volunteering for WLB and the Lymphoma and Leukemia Societies.

Jim Larpenteur,

    One of WLB's founders and current treasurer. Jim is a downtown Portland lawyer specializing in business law matters and complex purchase and sale transactions. He has practiced law with the firm of Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt for 41 years and has been extremely active in community affairs throughout his career.