About

Leadership & Governance

Learn about One Community Health’s leadership team and volunteer board members who guide our mission and ensure we serve the Columbia River Gorge community.

Join the Board

Leadership

Our leadership team supports One Community Health’s mission and goals. They set the overall direction, make important decisions, and manage resources to reach OCH’s objectives.

Chief Executive Officer

Jennifer Griffith

Jennifer Griffith assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer at One Community Health (OCH) in January 2024, following her tenure as Chief People Officer since July 2019. With over two decades of leadership experience, Jennifer has played a pivotal role in OCH’s strategic growth and development. She spearheaded cultural initiatives, including the Equity Force Committee, contributing to … OCH’s recognition as a Top Workplace for three years in a five-year period.
Vice President of People and Culture

Emily Higgins

Emily is excited to return to One Community Health (OCH) as the Vice President of People and Culture. With nearly four years of prior experience at OCH, where she initially served as the pioneering recruiter and later spearheaded the development of the Talent Acquisition program, Emily brings a wealth of expertise to her role. With over 14 years in healthcare administration, encompassing various … Human Resources roles, management of multisite ambulatory clinics, and oversight of skilled nursing facilities, Emily’s professional journey is marked by a commitment to excellence. Emily has her Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) certificate in addition to her MBA from Eastern Oregon University. She grew up in Portland, OR but has a strong connection to the Columbia Gorge spending much of her childhood in Stevenson, WA where her grandparents lived. In her free time Emily loves being with her family and pets, spending time outside in the gorge and rooting for the Seattle Kraken!
Chief Strategy Officer

Angela Michalek

Angela focuses on strategic initiatives and partnerships and, as such, is flexible to the needs of the organization. Angela and her team members emphasize patient-centered design, business process analysis, and effective project management in their work. They ensure the effective implementation of new programs and work closely with leaders and managers on associated skill-building and training. … Angela joined One Community Health in 2015 and has more than 10 years of experience in public health and health care. Angela earned a master’s degree in policy and planning from the University of Michigan in 2010. Originally from Chicago, she spent five years at the American Hospital Association (AHA), which is headquartered there, working on national quality improvement programs. While at the AHA, Angela worked with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the Institute for Patient and Family-Centered Care, state hospital associations, and more than 1,000 participating hospitals to decrease preventable hospital-acquired conditions and readmissions. Prior to her career in health care, Angela was both an AmeriCorps and Peace Corps volunteer and worked with adjudicated youth in restorative justice community service and youth detention programs. While living as a Peace Corps volunteer in a Senegalese village, she sharpened her French language skills and learned the indigenous West African language, Malinke. Outside of work, Angela enjoys whitewater kayaking, snowboarding and mountain biking. Locally, she has served as a volunteer mediator/facilitator for Six Rivers Dispute Resolution Center and a Court Appointed Special Advocate.
Chief Financial Officer

Renerose Hinkle

Rose Hinkle joined One Community Health in May 2022, to assume the role of Chief Financial Officer, bringing more than a decade of medical, finance leadership to the team. Prior to joining One Community Health, Rose dedicated nearly twenty-two years to serving our country. Within the Department of Defense, Rose held various distinguished, senior leadership positions, from Director of Medical … Services to Medical Brigade Controller, Financial Analyst, Medical Battalion COO, and Assistant CFO. Rose aims to bring her wealth of expertise in healthcare, financial operations management strategy, to engineer positive change within this community. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Syracuse University, as well as a Master of Science in Accounting. Rose is thoughtful, energetic(!!) and caring and in the short time since she arrived, has already formed strong connections with her team. In her free time Rose enjoys traveling and lives with her eight-year-old daughter, in Vancouver Washington.
Chief Technology Officer

Colin Robinson

Colin Robinson, a native of the Portland Metro area, relocated to the scenic Columbia River Gorge in 2013 and has since devoted his career to using technology to enhance health and wellness. An alumnus of both Oregon State University and Portland State University, Robinson completed his Bachelor of Science in History in 2008 before turning his attention to the intersection of data analytics, … technology, and healthcare. He spent nearly a decade at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort, rising to the role of Resort Systems Manager and honing his skills in data management and IT operations. His tenure at One Community Health, starting as the Business Intelligence Developer in December 2019, saw him transition into the role of Director of Technology, where he worked to foster a culture of data-driven decision-making. Robinson took on his current role as Chief Technology Officer in November 2022. In his position as part of the senior leadership team, he strives to build resilience through team growth and leadership development while overseeing information technology and facilities operations. Beyond his career in technology, Robinson has shown a commitment to personal growth and wellness, completing his RYT 200 Yoga Alliance Certification at Stanford’s School of Medicine’s YogaX Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in 2020.

Board of Directors

One Community Health’s board of directors is made up of Columbia River Gorge community members. Over half are also our patients. The board members volunteer time to advise us on how best to serve the community. They also strive to ensure we are fulfilling our mission. We very much appreciate their time and dedication.

Board Chair

Suzanne Cross

Suzanne Cross has a deep-seated passion for health care. Prior to living in the Columbia River Gorge, she worked for an umbrella organization supporting Federally Qualified Health Centers, where she developed a respect for FQHCs, particularly their mission to help all people regardless of ability to pay. She has over 25 years’ experience in community health organizing, management in primary health … care, training in public health, community health work, and health equity. Upon moving to the Gorge in 2001, Suzanne managed healthcare clinics for with one of the local hospitals and spent 8 years managing the health council side of the PacificSource Gorge CCO. She is the founder of the Bridges to Health Pathways Program. Currently she works for the Oregon Health Authority as a Senior Health Policy Analyst working on alignment across Medicaid projects and systems with a focus on the goal to eliminate health inequities by 2030. She is also part time consultant with the Hood River Prevention Department helping youth achieve their education and employment goals. Throughout her career, she’s worked fervently to provide cross-sector community care coordination for households needing assistance, eliminate disparities that lead to better wellbeing for all community members, and help elevate learnings through data driven decisions towards system improvement. When she joined One Community Health’s board of directors in 2019, Suzanne says she had always wanted to be directly involved with our organization, and so it felt like a natural fit—even where she “belonged.” We feel lucky to have someone this educated and ingrained in community health and wellness and in so many ways! In addition to her volunteer role with us, Suzanne also serves on the Gorge Health Equity Collaborative which she helped to start, the Hood River Parks & Recreation board and the Hood River Water Polo Club board. When Suzanne is not busy with work or volunteering in the Gorge, she loves to swim, camp, cross country ski and snowboard, paddleboard and travel—catching musicals whenever she can! (Full disclosure: She’s obsessed with Broadway!) Suzanne is also a busy, loving mom and a friend to many, helping with her children’s school, sports activities and swim lessons for kids in Hood River area.
Vice Chair

Jonathan Kara

OCH’s Board of Directors is a natural fit for Jonathan, an attorney with a special practice serving as general counsel to municipalities. He has spent nearly a decade advising city councils, county commissions, and special district boards on all areas of law and is deeply familiar with both theoretical and practical governance. He strongly values confidentiality but also appreciates the importance … of transparency in governance. Jonathan is the City Attorney for the City of The Dalles and brings a balanced perspective with unique insights into the community’s needs. Serving on OCH’s Board allows Jonathan to advocate for his community’s health. He has devoted his entire professional career to public service and is eager to commit more of his personal time to community service. Outside of his professional and volunteer activities, Jonathan enjoys spending as much time as possible outdoors during the warmer months, especially kayaking through the Gorge. He is always looking for a chess partner to play with over coffee or drinks and loves competitive gaming with friends.
Treasurer

Reyna Fonte

Reyna is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of working in the real estate, retail industry, and with small business entrepreneurs. She is skilled in financial management at the executive level, operations management, organizational development, culture development, entrepreneurial success, human capital development, retail operations, strategic planning, and think tank sessions. She … has a proven track record in performance and change management strategies and implementation. Her strengths lie in seeing the possible in the impossible and being able to delve deeply into the culture, fit, and growth initiatives of a company. Participating on the One Community Health Board of Directors offers a way for Reyna to take her for-profit skills into the non-profit sector. She is a strong advocate of OCH and has been a long-time patient.
Secretary

Yesenia Victoria Deras

Yesenia is currently a stay-at-home mother of two beautiful energetic kids, and works part-time as an office assistant at McClaskey Orchards. Before becoming a full-time mom, Yesenia was a teacher and obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies from California State University Stanislaus. She has been a patient of One Community Health for more than eight years and has had great experiences … with all of OCH’s services. As a board member she hopes to learn more about the organization and provide any help she can to the board and to our community. She considers it a great privilege to be part of OCH’s volunteers. Yesenia loves reading, music, dancing, camping, and taking nature walks with her little ones.
Member

Mark Thomas

Mark Thomas joined our board in March 2015. A clinical chaplain who came to the health care industry after seminary school, Mark is the Chief Mission Officer for the Providence Columbia River Gorge service area. Mark has a proven track record for local advocacy and promoting health, social justice, and wellness. An innate connector, Mark thrives off building positive relationships across … organizations. “Together, we are better” is his mantra and outlook on life, work and service, which is why he enjoys being an OCH board member. In addition to his professional and volunteer endeavors, Mark makes time for fun and enjoys spending it with family, skiing, biking, and experiencing the great outdoors.
Member

Buck Jones

Buck was drawn to working on healthcare access and equity for Gorge Tribal members during the COVID pandemic. An employee of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) since 2004, he brings decades of experience that have allowed him to strategize, advocate, and help in providing outreach to Tribal communities. He has been able to establish partnerships with various state and … regional groups including Oregon Health Authority Tribal Affairs, Oregon Department of Human Services Tribal Affairs, American Indian Health Commission, and the North Portland Area Indian Health Board, leading to improved coordination of resources for Tribal communities. Serving on the OCH Board of Directors gives him the opportunity to be a voice for those who do not have adequate health coverage in the region, especially the over 600 Tribal fishermen he interacts with regularly. Buck is the current Salmon Marketing Specialist for CRITFC, where he has worked on product development, and markets, providing classes on Cold Water, Boat Safety, and Quality Handling for approximately 700 Tribal Treaty Fishermen. He is a multi-decade Columbia River Treaty Fisherman who has done various duties including harvesting, processing, and marketing of Tribally Caught Salmon. Buck is also involved in national and regional Tribal Food Sovereignty groups and is the co-chair of the Food Sovereignty Subcommittee of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians. As well as OCH, Buck is a Board member of Gorge Grown Food Network, Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance, and the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District. He attended the College of Southern Idaho earning a degree in General Studies, and Scottsdale Community College where he studied Native American Treaty Law and Policy. Buck is an enrolled Cayuse member of the bands of Confederated Tribes of The Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). In his free time, Buck enjoys watching sports on TV, watching live women’s basketball with his daughters, and bicycling.
Member

Maria Elena Castro

Maria Elena has dedicated her career to public service for the last ten years, working in health equity, inclusion, and civil rights. She started her public service as the State’s Migrant Health Coordinator and, in 2021, transitioned to her current Health Equity Innovation and Implementation Manager role for the Oregon Health Authority. She is also the lead staff for the Health Equity … Committee, an Oregon Health Policy Board subcommittee. Maria Elena has over 20 years of experience in health policy, Medicaid, health care administration, and education. While a journalist by training, she has devoted her career to the intersection of social justice and health and volunteering for many community boards and organizations. Maria Elena has a bachelor’s degree in social and organizational Communication, a master’s in business administration, and a Master’s in Adult Education. She was born and raised in the south of Chile and moved to the United States in 1997. Maria Elena lives in Hood River with her husband Carlos Garrido, a Civil Engineer and owner of a local engineering consulting company. Their only daughter Montserrat is a junior at Oregon State University majoring in Sociology and Communications. As empty-nesters now, they spend their free time skiing in the winter, taking their e-bikes for a spin in the fall and spring, boating and kayaking in the summer, and traveling every time they can.
Member

Colleen Wahto

Colleen Wahto has been a valued member of the OCH Board since spring 2024. Colleen has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN, RN). She works as the Health Services Director and School Nurse Corps (SNC) Administrator for ESD 112. In her job, Colleen supervises nurses in various programs, making sure students get the health support they need. She has been a nurse for over 31 years, including serving … as a nurse for schools in the Columbia River Gorge area. Colleen has also helped with programs that teach young people how to stay healthy and worked with groups to coordinate health efforts. In recognition of her leadership in vision screening, Colleen received the Melvin Jones Fellow from the Lions Foundation in 2023. Outside of work, Colleen enjoys spending time with her family—her husband of 30 years, Rob Wahto, and their three sons. She loves outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and boating, and she’s passionate about photography, capturing the beauty of their home.
Member

Habacuc Jara

Habacuc Jara joined the OCH Board in spring 2024. Habacuc currently serves as a Senior Project Manager at Portland Public Schools, focusing on strategic and portfolio execution. With over a decade of experience in the field, he specializes in leading diverse programs, ensuring they meet deadlines, budgets, and strategic objectives. Habacuc is known for fostering team collaboration, utilizing … data-driven decision-making, and continuously improving processes for excellence. He holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Management from OHSU and an MBA from La Sierra University, along with several certifications in portfolio and project management, scrum mastering, and change management. Habacuc has managed significant portfolios in education and healthcare, driving organizational change, improving operational efficiencies, and implementing safety programs. His mantra, “Driving Growth Through Strategic Execution,” reflects his approach to both life and work. Outside of his professional commitments, Habacuc enjoys hiking, watching football (Go Seahawks!), working out, playing golf, and spending quality time with his family.
Member

Jane Sharpe

Jane Sharpe joined the OCH Board of Directors in January 2024. Jane brings with her a wealth of experience from her career at Boeing, where she specialized in Finance and Human Resources. Her extensive business background equips her to make valuable contributions to One Community Health’s mission and strategic direction. Throughout her tenure in Human Resources, Jane developed a keen … interest in employee development and performance, which she hopes to leverage for the benefit of OCH’s workforce. Jane is thrilled to give back to the community she holds dear through her role as a board member. Outside of her professional pursuits, Jane enjoys windsurfing, skiing, hiking, gardening, and biking.
Member

Gabe Prado

Born and raised in The Dalles, Gabe Prado grew up enjoying everything The Gorge has to offer. After spending four years serving in the United States Marine Corps, he decided to continue his commitment to service by becoming a registered nurse. For the past 13 years, he has worked as an RN at Arlington Family Healthcare, where he has truly enjoyed getting to know the Arlington community. Gabe is … excited to join the One Community Health board and give back to the community that has been a significant part of his life for so many years.
Member

Andrea Krol

Andrea Krol joined the OCH Board of Directors in June 2025. She works as a healthcare consultant and has been in the healthcare industry since 2009. Andrea provides reimbursement consulting services to healthcare providers and assists clients with reimbursement strategy, Medicare cost report preparation, financial analysis and benchmarking, and decision support services. She has been a long-time … advocate for the work of FQHCs, which are integral to the health of a thriving community. Andrea has served on the budget committees of the Hood River County Library and the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District. In addition to number crunching, she enjoys soccer, dance, and spending time with her family.
Member

Dan Spatz

Dan joined the One Community Health board in October 2025. A long-time Gorge resident, Dan is a graduate of Columbia High School in White Salmon, Clark College, and Eastern Oregon State College (now EOU). Over nearly three decades in journalism, Dan was editor of the White Salmon Enterprise, Hood River News, Goldendale Sentinel, The Dalles Weekly Reminder, and, for almost a decade, The Dalles … Chronicle. A career change brought him to Columbia Gorge Community College in 2006, where he was responsible for external relations, legislative outreach, grants, the college foundation, and other roles. He organized the college’s Latinx Advisory Council, established to help resolve academic barriers confronting underserved populations. He was also elected to The Dalles City Council, serving from 2008 to 2017. He was the college’s project manager for the Columbia Gorge Skills Center and Chinook Student Residence Hall, completed during the Covid pandemic. One final career change came in 2023, when Dan became the economic development officer for the City of The Dalles, focusing on downtown development. He retired in March 2025 but continues his community engagement in the region. He and his wife Michele, a consumer health information professional, author, and board member of Adventist Health Columbia Gorge, have two daughters, Melissa and Kathryn. Both are graduates of The Dalles High School and now practicing physicians. Dan and Michele live in the Snowden area near White Salmon.

Join the Board of Directors

We’re looking for you.

We value board members who, among other qualities, bring integrity, balance, effective communication skills, willingness to be prepared for and involved in our work, and an interest in learning new skills. Serving as a board member means making a difference in your community; you can give back while using the opportunity to build leadership skills, network and connect with people of diverse backgrounds, grow decision-making and other managerial skills, and much more.

Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Join the Board!

One Community Health (OCH) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, federally qualified community, and migrant health center (FQHC) that has served residents within the Columbia River Gorge region since 1986. Read more about us here.

One Community Health is committed to providing excellent health care to more than 20,000 patients living and working within the Columbia River Gorge, with a particular focus on serving low-income, Medicaid, uninsured migrant workers, and other historically underserved communities. Within the past twelve months, almost 5,000 medical patients identified as migrant seasonal farmworkers; and more than 53 % of our patients were identified as Native American, Asian, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, Black with race/ethnicity other than White. 29.22%1 of our patients are “Patients Best Served in a Language Other Than English” and 54% of OCH staff are bilingual in English and Spanish.

OCH’ staff currently includes 28 Medical providers, 19 Dental providers and 6 Behavioral Health specialists with a full staff of 275 including full time and part time employees, combined. Our care teams span pediatric to adult and geriatric care, and include specialties in obstetrics, minor surgery, dental care, behavioral and preventative health care. OCH has admitting privileges to Hood River Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital and Mid-Columbia Medical Center, in The Dalles.

1. Engaging families at key life events in resilience building to prevent and recover from trauma, abuse, and neglect.

2. Being recognized by patients as the bi-cultural provider of choice for whole person, integrated care and even attracting patients from outside our region.

3. Scaling and transforming focus from individual disease management to disease presentation and population health.

4. Accelerating social entrepreneurs, inside and outside our organization, to counter systems of oppression and inequity, with systems of healing and empowerment.

5. Continuing to be recognized as one of the best companies to work for in our state.

Group Board Responsibilities

Board members are responsible for overseeing effective governance of the organization, serving as fiduciaries who steer the organization toward a sustainable future, making sure the organization has resources to advance its mission; and are mindful of the needs of the community it serves. Duties include but are not limited to:

1. Selecting, supporting, and assessing the performance of the Chief Executive Officer.

2. Reviewing & approving the organization’s strategic plan.

3. Providing financial oversight to ensure the ongoing viability of the organization.

4. Advocate for the organization’s mission & resources both locally and regionally.

5. Approve necessary policy changes, focusing on sound ethical and legal principles.

6. Reviewing and approving annual financial audit.

7. Monitoring organization’s performance in quality assurance and delivery of services.

8. Evaluate board performance.

9. Participating in HRSA and other agency compliance activities (e.g., site visit interviews)

Individual Board Member Responsibilities

Include but are not limited to:

1. Personal commitment to the mission and goals of the organization.

2. Participation in monthly Board of Directors meetings.

3. Serving on one or more BOD Subcommittee.

4. Adhering to OCH confidentiality policies and disclosing any potential conflicts of interest.

Volunteering on One Community Health’s Board of Directors provides a unique opportunity to positively impact your community. As ambassadors and advocates, board members provide highlevel oversight to the organization in multiple ways and alongside other dedicated leaders who share a vision of removing barriers to healthcare, increasing access and addressing racial inequalities.

Serving on OCH’s Board is an exceptional opportunity to foster the growth and development of the organization. As a leading, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Oregon and Washington, OCH and its Board are devoted to improving the health services and access to all members of our community.

BOD terms are for a period of three years. The full Board meets twelve times per year, typically on the last Tuesday of each month, from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. Subcommittee meetings are one hour to 90 minutes in length. Subcommittees also meet monthly. The average time commitment is 6 to 8 hours per month, including reviewing monthly Board Reports, minutes, and policies as they arise. The OCH BOD holds an annual meeting during May, and there are typically one or two additional meetings for strategic planning or executive sessions.

The board of directors collectively has expertise in varied disciplines and seeks to fill open seats with candidates who have expertise in critical areas that best support the strategic priorities of the organization. Candidates should be demographically and socioeconomically representative of the community and should add balance to the board in terms of gender, race, age, ethnicity, geographical residence, employment and expertise. Candidates possess honesty, sensitivity to and tolerance of differing views; a friendly demeanor; responsive and responsible personality and possess a sense of humor.

The HR Governance Committee intermittently conducts GAP analyses of OCH’s existing board profile to identify areas of need. Past members have had expertise in one or more of the following fields: medicine/health, finance, advocacy, marketing, law, agriculture, information technology, military, and education. In addition, OCH stives to achieve board representation from all four counties within our service area, including: Hood River and Wasco Counties in Oregon and Skamania and Klickitat Counties in Washington.

Federal requirements specify that 51% of board members are “consumers” or OCH patients. Nonpatients serving on the BOD must be fewer than 50% and shall derive no more than 10% of their income from health care. If a candidate possesses competencies and qualifications OCH seeks, the candidate will interview with HR Governance Directors. Final appointments to open positions will made by majority vote of the full Board of Directors.

Click here to view profiles of our Leadership Team and Board Members

Have more questions? Call us at 541-386-6380 and we will be happy to assist you.