We are preparing for a busy year at Hoyt Arboretum as we dive into a new strategic planning process. In addition to new staff, we’ve also welcomed five new board members.
They join us from neighborhoods that are just up the street but also from across the river and all quadrants of the city. With unique experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, they’ll help us plan for new ways to engage people at Hoyt Arboretum to build on our organization’s success stories from the past 35 years.
John W. Haines
Executive Director
Community Investment Trust
John W. Haines is the Executive Director of the Community Investment Trust with Mercy Corps Global Innovations Team. Originally from Wyoming, he has worked in finance and economic development in Portland, Trenton, NJ, Prague and elsewhere in Central Europe. He lives near Hoyt Arboretum and enjoys it daily. His first book Never Leaving Laramie – Travels in a Restless World was published in September 2020 by Oregon State University Press
Carly Harrison
Development Manager
Edlen & Co.
Carly’s manages the development and financial structuring of high-impact real estate projects, most typically as public-private partnerships or projects with nonprofits. Originally a transplant from Alberta, Canada, Carly first fell in love with the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest during her college years in eastern Washington. 17 years later, she has never left the region and has firmly rooted herself in Portland for the last 14 years. Carly loves spending time in nature hiking, backpacking, and climbing and is passionate about earth sciences — anything that increases our awe and amazement at the natural wonders that surround us. Carly enjoys weekend hikes in the Hoyt with her wife, two young kids, and two large dogs if the family is feeling ambitious. She looks forward to helping the Hoyt be enjoyed by more people.
Will Naito
Will Naito is a fourth generation Portlander and has spent his career at Naito Development, a family-owned commercial real estate development and investment firm. He’s managed a wide variety of historic rehabilitation and ground-up construction projects in the office and hospitality sectors, including the Hoxton Hotel, a 118-room boutique hotel in the heart of Portland’s historic Chinatown neighborhood. He’s also served on a variety of advisory boards primarily focused on land use and infrastructure in the City’s downtown core. Will is an avid cyclist and former ski racing coach. He’s also a neighbor of the Arboretum and enjoys exploring it with his wife, daughter, and their two dogs.
Iliana Tovar
Facilities and Office Manager
Meyer Memorial Trust
Iliana is a first generation Mexican-American who was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She studied at Portland State University and majored in Community Health Education with a minor in Sustainable Urban Development. She has spent the last six years working at Meyer Memorial Trust. She oversees the day-to-day operations of their newly constructed LEED Platinum Headquarters in North Portland. In her free time, Iliana loves all things plants and gardening related. She is currently a Master Gardener Intern and volunteer at the Multnomah County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden. She lives in outer SE Portland with her husband Tim, 11-year-old dog Spud, and spunky cat George. “Hoyt Arboretum is truly a magical place! I’m excited to be a part of the board to figure out how we can make this space more accessible to diverse communities.”
Michael Yun
Design Principal
Knot
Michael is a registered landscape architect, landscape ecologist and anti-disciplinary designer who brings creative thinking to a wide variety of project types, ranging from large scale ecological planning and analysis to human-scale interactive technologies. His current role focuses on integrating science and technology into the process of design and realization with a focus on justice and equity. He has loved the Hoyt Arboretum since he first visited in 2001 and is excited to serve as a member of the board.