Welcoming Two New C-Suite Leaders

After an extensive search, we're pleased to announce that Chris Canter and Tannya Jenkins will be joining the leadership team at FriendsPDX as Chief Development Officer and Chief People and Culture Officer, respectively. They will both assume their roles in February 2022.

Chris, who most recently served as Director of Individual and Planned Giving at Albertina Kerr Centers, will oversee all development and fundraising efforts. He has over twenty years of experience in development with an impressive track record leading nonprofits to increase planned giving, implement major gift strategies, secure public funding partnerships, and expand donor retention.

Tannya will be responsible for planning and directing all aspects of Friends of the Children—Portland’s human resources policies, objectives, and initiatives. This newly structured position will lead the human resources team, serve on the leadership team, and report to the Executive Director. Before joining FriendsPDX, Tannya served as the Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition for NWEA, a Global HR Business Partner at Intel, and Managing Principal at T. Jenkins Consulting.

Friends of the Children—Portland Executive Director Traci Rossi shares that, “we are thrilled to have Chris bring his extensive expertise of leveraging fundraising acumen, community relationships, and strategic insight to FriendsPDX and Tannya’s expertise in human resource programs, equity policies, staff training and development make her the ideal leader to help us continue our commitment to fostering an inclusive culture that embraces our core values and demands equity. Both are deeply connected to our mission and join FriendsPDX at a pivotal time and will help the organization to advance the issues that matter most while bringing strength to the community and improving the lives of the children FriendsPDX walks alongside.”

Welcome, Chris and Tannya!