Name: Chris Telfer, 62
Day job: Certified public accountant and state senator
Areas of influence: Oregon State Senator for District 27-Bend, former Bend city councilor, former chair of Bend Urban Renewal Agency, former chair of the Bend-La Pine Schools budget committee, founding organizer of numerous Central Oregon nonprofits, chair of Oregon and national Episcopal Church committees
Leadership Philosophy: It is important to be inclusive and to listen to all perspectives.Name: Kathy Deggendorfer, 61
Day job: Artist and owner of Sisters Art Works
Areas of influence: Board member of Oregon Cultural Trust, founder and trustee of the Roundhouse Foundation, member of Oregon Women's Forum, member of Oregon Community Foundation's leadership council, member of Allied Arts, former board member of Arts Central, and former president of Sisters Folk Festival board of directors
Quote: One of the benefits of living in a smaller community is that you have the ability to connect with people and be able to facilitate a change.
Name: Cheryl Howard, 44
Day job: Volunteer coordinator for the City of Bend
Areas of influence: Board member of United Way of Deschutes County, founding member of Orchard District Neighborhood Association, chair of the Deschutes County Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, member of Make a Difference Day Central Oregon Committee, event coordinator for Let's Pull Together, board member Central Oregon Area Commission on Transportation, and former board member of Deschutes County Weed Advisory Board
Quote: Those of us that live here, we have to get involved in the community.
Name: Molly Cosgswell-Kelley, 39
Day job: Financial development and events director Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation
Areas of influence: Race director of Pole, Pedal, Paddle, lead organizer of Cascade Cycling Classic, coordinator of MBSEF ski swap and all other MBSEF events
Leadership Philosophy: I can get anybody to do just about anything because I am just real and funny and I appreciate them and they know that.
Name: Amy Tykeson, 54
Day job: CEO of Bend BroadBand
Areas of influence: Board member of Economic Development for Central Oregon, member of the governor's Regional Solutions committee, board member of Oregon Cable Telecommunications Organization, president of Women in Cable and Telecommunications, vice-president of the University of Oregon Alumni Association, involved locally with projects including the recent City of Bend road improvement bond, local art projects and Head Start. The Tykeson Family Charitable Trust also recently established an endowed faculty position at OSU-Cascades in Energy Engineering Management.
Quote: The best decisions come from a diverse environment of debate and collaboration.
Name: Cassondra Spring Schindler, 40
Day job: Freelance communications strategist
Areas of Influence: Board member of Tower Theater, board member of Ignite Bend, organizer of TEDxBend, member of South by Southwest Interactive Advisor Board, former board member Commute Options, volunteer with Tour des Chutes, BendFilm, and WebCAM
Quote: I live here and I love it and I want it to be an amazing place. So, I am invested in wanting to create that.
Name: Sue Hollern, 72
Day job: Fundraising, family, friends and travel
Areas of influence: Board member of Art in Public Places, member of the advisory board for The Oregon Community Foundation, member of Oregon Commission on Children and Families, founding board member of Start Making a Reader Today (SMART), founding board member of Cascade Child Center, founding board member of Family Access Network (FAN), former tutor in area schools, and, along with husband Mike Hollern, CEO of Brooks Resources, a financial contributor to many local projects and nonprofits including The High Desert Museum, Saving Grace, The Nature of Words, Kids Center and the Tower Theater.
Leadership Philosophy: (My husband and I) were raised to know that we were to give back.
