The Committee

The Willamette Light Brigade committee members are as unique as the bridges of Portland.

Here are some of them.

Pauline Anderson – President

Pauline Anderson, Pres., is a native Portlander. She reared five children here, taught 7th and 8th grades and was elected Multnomah County Commissioner for District 1. Among other initiatives 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: Willamette Light Brigade was born.

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 three decades of international professional experience. For over 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/Secretary

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. In this new phase of her life she’s focusing on travel, photography, and more active involvement in WLB and a few other rewarding volunteer efforts. Jean was turned on to bridge lighting 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 has 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.”

Don Carlson – Vice Chair/Treasurer

Don’s public service work included positions in all levels of government in Oregon including local, regional and state. He even got called back after retirement to help several agencies adjust their budgets during the recession. As 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!!”

Mike Beard–Web Chair

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, from San Francisco’s Golden Gate to 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. Mike continues to offer his expertise and time to improve the design of WLB’s web site and to raise awareness of WLB and funds for its projects through a variety of bridge art retail products.

Richard Ransome

Richard’s professional career includes many years managing major Portland hotels, as well as the Riverside Golf and Country Club. For several years now he’s been the manager of the Columbia River Yacht Club and has graciously hosted WLB’s general annual meeting there. Richard joined WLB in 1987 with “the desire to light up our bridges–it 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.”

Kim Lindstrand

Kim, of KL Lighting Associates, 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.”

Jim Larpenteur

One of WLB’s founders and its treasurer for many years, Jim is a recently-retired downtown Portland lawyer who specialized in business law matters and complex purchase and sale transactions. During the 40+ years Jim practiced law with the firm of Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt he was extremely active in various community affairs in addition to WLB.

Gil Johnston

Gil spent 30 years at PacifiCorp, first in the energy dept. and then as head of community relations. Then he transferred his talents to Milestone Unlimited, a consulting firm that specializes in executive coaching and training. As soon as WLB was created Gil saw it “as a way to spur economic development: showcasing Portland’s bridges, its key public structures, with new, efficient lighting technologies would bring attention to the city and its riverfront.” As 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.

M’Lou Christ – Exec. Director

A community action consultant, M’Lou provides assistance with special projects and organizational 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.”

Irene Jensen

Irene is a Senior Loan Officer for North West Funding Group, Inc. She has volunteered for a variety of groups through the years. She said she learned that this organization existed when she saw a 1997 news clip about lighting the bridges and featuring Paddy. 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.”

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 another ‘General’ in CA’s Bay Area, but this time it was General Electric Lamp Division. He began his career in the lighting industry unloading boxcars full of lamps. When he moved to Oregon in 1999 he partnered Northern Illumination Co., a firm 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.

Beckie Lee

Beckie Lee is Chief of Staff for Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury. Deborah was elected to represent District 1 which includes the Westside of Portland and inner SE Portland , including all of the Multnomah County Bridges. Beckie staffs Deborah on the County’s budget, housing and homelessness, Board and constituent issues, education, and more. She has 14 years of experience in local government, non-profit organizations, and higher education. Beckie has a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Portland State University. Beckie got involved with the Light Brigade by helping design the Lighting Partners program.

Former Members Whose Influence Still Contributes

Sharon Wood Wortman

Sharon Wood Wortman, the author of The Portland Bridge Book, is married to a bridge engineer and for many years took people bridge- walking for a living. She 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.”
 

Stan Ghezzi

Stan Ghezzi came to be known affectionately as Multnomah County’s head troll because his Multnomah County’s Bridge Services Manager office was under the Hawthorne Bridge. Although he retired several years ago Stan continues to be a good friend of the Willamette Light Brigade. “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.
 

Tony J. Adams

Tony is an architectural lighting designer whose experience with commercial, industrial and institutional projects, both international and domestic, was invaluable to WLB during its earliest years. He did the engineering designs for the Hawthorne Bridge lights while working at IDC. 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.” Tony is the founder of his own lighting design company, The Light Edge.

Rebecca Fleischman

Rebecca served for many years as WLB’s Secretary. “Lighting the bridges will create subtle excitement along the night-time river, accenting the beauty of the structures. Lighting the bridges will also highlight the connections of the people of Portland.” Rebecca is a consultant in human factors engineering. Her projects have included transportation research and design, “intelligent vehicle / highway systems”, navigation, route guidance, and people’s response to noise. She earned degrees in engineering, psychology and philosophy.