CASA Of Central Oregon Staff
Deschutes County
Pam Fortier, Executive Director
Pam has been with CASA of Central Oregon since 2004. Pam was drawn to CASA for much of the same reason volunteers are drawn: a desire to impact children's lives. In her role as Executive Director her goal is to increase community awareness and recognition of the CASA program.
Prior to joining CASA, Pam was a teacher and school administrator. Also, with her husband Al, she owned Izzy's Pizza franchises in Washington. In her spare time, she likes to run, ski, and golf. She has two grown sons and is also parenting a Papillion, what some would call a nard (not a real dog). She is nearly as busy outside of work as she is during her work week.
Veronica Theriot, Program Manager
Veronica has worked for CASA of Central Oregon since January of 2007. In her role as Program Manager, she recruits, trains, supports and manages volunteer cases as well as overseeing the Program Coordinators in the
tri-county region.
Veronica briefly worked for CASA of Acadiana in Lafayette, Louisiana before her husband's new job with Deschutes Brewery brought them to Bend. Prior to working for CASA, she was a case manager working with individuals with developmental disabilities and workforce development.
Veronica is happy to be living in Oregon again as she previously lived in Portland for five years. In her free time she loves hiking, cooking, antiques, art, and gardening.
Ali Mostue, Program
Coordinator
Ali joined the CASA team in January of 2008. She is responsible for volunteer coordinating as well as technological support, website work and the monthly newsletter. Ali grew up in Medford, Oregon until heading east for college. She graduated with a B.A. in Latin American Studies from Wellesley College at which point she bee-lined it back to the west and ended up in Bend. Her last job as a legal assistant in a small immigration firm expanded her knowledge about the world of law. In her spare time, she loves to ski, surf, play sand volleyball, visit the farm in Medford, cook and read.
Kim Fischbach, Development Director/Program Coordinator
Kim joined CASA in January of 2010. She is responsible for marketing, fundraising, community relations and Family Drug Court volunteer coordination.
Kim and her husband are originally from Sisters, but spent two years in Wisconsin. Their
love of farming, alpacas and family are among some of the reasons that they relocated to
a 5-acre farm northwest of Milwaukee. However, after two years, they realized their hearts
were in Central Oregon. Prior to leaving for Wisconsin, Kim worked with the Ronald McDonald House and Trillium Family Services in Community and Donor Relations. She enjoys hiking with her husband and black lab, pet therapy programs, gardening and experimenting with unusual recipes.
Crook County
Gaylynn Kern, Volunteer Coordinator
Gaylynn Kern joined CASA of Central Oregon in May 2009. Prior to joining CASA as an employee, Gaylynn volunteered as a CASA advocate in Crook County.
"What I like about CASA is feeling like what I'm doing matters. When you read things that kids in foster care write, it seems as if their CASAs have been the one constant in their lives. We have CASAs in Crook County that have advocated for the same kids for 13 years!
I am married and have three children and two grandchildren. I have worked in Finance for the last 30 years and have played every role in the Mortgage Loan Business that you can think of. In addition to working for CASA I am currently a loan officer for Metlife Home Loans.
I grew up in Rogue River, OR after being transplanted from Mississippi. I have lived all up and down Interstate 5 but came to Prineville in 2001 because my then 6 year old daughter liked the "wood park". I grew up in a small town where I knew my neighbors and that’s also what I like about Prineville. I like that the school knows my daughter, she isn't just one of a couple thousand other kids. And I also like the "Wood Park" (also known as Memorial Park). In my spare time I like to rock hound, bead and sew.”
Jefferson County
Candie Johnston, Volunteer Coordinator
Candie joined CASA in October 2008. "I grew up in Eddyville, Oregon. I joined the Army in 1992 and served state side during the Gulf War at Fort Hood, Texas where I repaired the sights on tanks and other large weaponry. I come from a long line of military and am really proud of that fact.
In 1998 I moved to Central Oregon. I have two boys and a step son and step daughter. My husband Coby is a pilot who currently works for Epic Jets and attends continuing education at the Wings of the Cascades flight program. Six years ago my family and I moved to Madras. I have been involved with many groups in the Madras community including Relay for Life and Students for Soldiers. I began Students for Soldiers so that local kids could get involved with national events and our military. The Students for Soldiers program invites school classrooms to adopt a soldier to send supplies and letters to until the soldier returns home.
I have two rescued dogs and two fat cats and I feed an unspeakable amount of strays in my area. I have a house of chaos filled with neighborhood kids, animals and who knows what else! I am the proud garage mom to my son’s local band that has become pretty well known in the community.
I make jewelry, I like to go for arrow head hunts, and I am an amateur rock hound. I go rock hunting with my family almost every weekend. I am an "artist" and enjoy learning new medias although I mostly do charcoal and pencil art."
1130 NW Harriman St, Ste. 122
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Bend, OR 97701
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541.389.1618
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541.383.2826
fax
Madras 541.475.9426
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Prineville 541.447.7220