Board of Directors

The Kinship House Board of Directors governs Kinship House, oversees significant program developments, and works with staff to prioritize strategies and raise public awareness of Kinship House mission and funding needs. They are men and women of diverse ages, professions, communities and backgrounds. Board members are involved with making our fund-raising events successful.  If you are interested in joining this dynamic team, please call us at 503.460.2796 x102.

Kristin Angell

Program Committee
Kristin received her BA from the University of Minnesota. She went on to complete graduate degrees in English literature, Social Work and Public Administration from the University of Minnesota, Portland State University and Lewis and Clark, respectively. Beginning her career Kristin spent time substitute teaching on a Navajo Reservation. After receiving her MSW, she worked for 5 years on a Children’s Neuropsychiatric Unit in Portland. After that closed, she went back to school and earned her MPA and then went to work at Mental Health Services West, where she worked for 17 years, ultimately becoming the Executive Director during her last 5 years there.

DeAngeloa Wells

DeAngeloa is the Organizational Learning & Development Manager for Portland General Electric. A native Oregonian, DeAngeloa holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Business Management. Within PGE, she serves on the Executive Committee for Public Policy and the Strategic Direction Working Group. Outside of PGE, she has served on boards for The Japan-America Society, Campfire USA, and the Portland Diversity Taskforce.

Bill Blair

Program Committee
As a business consultant and CPA, Bill brings operational and financial oversight to the Kinship House Board. For over 15 years Bill has consulted with clients in manufacturing, high tech, food service, agriculture and international distribution. He is an Instructor/Trainer/Facilitator for State and local accounting programs and for strategic business planning and process improvements. Bill also brings a passion for the essential services provided by Kinship House by all parents of adopted and foster children in Oregon.

Richard Glassman

Co Chair & Executive Committee
Richard has an extensive financial career that includes work in international and corporate finance. He began his career in the trading area for Credit Suisse and moved on to a merchant trading firm prior to obtaining an MBA from Portland State University. He has over 13 years experience with US Bank and recently attended Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington. Richard has experience lending to manufacturing, distribution and real estate entities, and serves as the co-chairman of the investment committee which manages the endowment for a non-profit organization, where he has also served on the board of trustees. He enjoys coaching youth soccer.

Katie Haraguchi, J.D.

Facilities Committee

Katie is an attorney at Miller Nash LLP. She holds a JD and a Masters in International Studies with a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Oregon. Katie was a student intern with the Tacoma Opera while she was earning her B.A. in economics at the University of Puget Sound. She has experience in fundraising and donor relations for the Tacoma Opera and the Komen Race for the Cure. Katie is passionate about child advocacy, access to justice, and ensuring that children who encounter the legal system find adults who care for them and resources to make it through to the other side.

Kacky Hoffman, M.S.

Program & Development Committees

Kacky has dedicated her professional career to improving the lives of children. She has worked in the field of education and mental health for the past twenty years as a special education teacher, behavior specialist, grant writer, administrator, and school psychologist. She received her B.A. in Music from the University of Windsor, Ontario; a teaching degree from Seattle University; and her M.S. in School Psychology from Lewis and Clark. Kacky is a practicing school psychologist and volunteers as a CASA for children in foster care.

Heather Jefferis

Executive Director

Steve Larson, JD

Secretary, Facilities & Executive Committees
Steve has worked as counsel for the Bonneville Power Administration since 1980. He and his wife are adoptive parents of two children, who are now adults. Steve was previously a member and Board Chair of the Outside In Board of Directors and is also a former Board Chair of the Sullivan's Gulch Neighborhood Association in Portland. Steve is an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Washington County. He brings sound judgment, thoughtful input and passion to the Kinship House Board.

Karen Pierson, BA

Program Committee
Karen worked for Oregon's child welfare system for 30 years, managing service delivery and statewide programs. Prior to retirement she served as the Manager of Permanency and Adoption Services. A long time advocate for children, Karen worked to improve services for children and families during her career and as a volunteer in retirement. Ms. Pierson is a member of an Adoption Committee for sensitive cases for the Department of Human Resources. In 1999 she received the Pioneers in Social Work Award from the National Association of Social Workers. She is a founding board member of Kinship House.

Melissa Smith-Hohnstein, MSW, LCSW

Ex-Officio, Clinical Coordinator

Paul Wathen, CPA

Treasurer, Finance & Executive Committees
Paul has been in private practice for almost thirty years in a local CPA firm providing tax and accounting services to individuals and small businesses. His practice has included financial audits for a number of small not-for-profit organizations. He graduated from Princeton University and studied accounting at Portland State University. Before entering private practice he was a unit production manager with the ABC television network in New York and assistant controller at KPTV in Portland. He has served as treasurer on the board of the Children's Museum and provides financial oversight to Kinship House.

Elizabeth Welch, JD

Co Chair & Executive Committee
Elizabeth received her BA from the University of Chicago and continued on to Law School, graduating in 1965. She worked as a District Attorney and then as a Circuit Court Judge for Multnomah County, specializing in Juvenile and Family Law. Since her retirement, Elizabeth has been a Chairperson for the Supreme Court Task Force on Protective Proceeding, a Commission Member for the Public Defense Services Commission, and a reader with SMART. Betsy is a committed and enthusiastic supporter of effective judicial processes which positively impact permanency planning for children in transition.