Executive Director

tia@kindredmatters.org

Tia began volunteering for Kindred Matters in 2012. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor's degree in Family and Human Services and a minor in Nonprofit Administration and Management. Tia has a passion for serving her community, advocating for others and creating opportunities for connection. She has served Kindred Matters as a volunteer counselor, KINnect event coordinator, registration coordinator, program director and is now serving as the Executive Director.She is looking forward to expanding our programs to reach more individuals and families throughout the state of Oregon in this role. When she is not working you can find Tia on the pool deck coaching swimming or spending time with her husband and dog.

Sibling Camp Registration Coordinator

siblingcamp@kindredmatters.org

Family Camp Registration Coordinator

familycamp@kindredmatters.org

Volunteer Coordinator

volunteer@kindredmatters.org

Amanda joined the Kindred Matters family in 2010, and has been involved ever since. After finishing her undergraduate degree in Arizona in 2013, she returned to Oregon and joined the camp leadership team. Amanda is passionate about positive youth development, trauma informed practices, and sibling reunification. Since completing her graduate degree in Public Administration from the University of Oregon, she has worked as the Program Manager for a non-profit serving youth experiencing or at-risk of experiencing homelessness in Lane County. When not working or planning for the next camp session, Amanda can usually be found playing a game of cribbage, or out on a trail hiking with her dog.

Training and Team Building Facilitator

Camper Wellness and Behavior Support

Youth Development and Training Coordinator

Salem KINnect Event Coordinator

kinnectsalem@kindredmatters.org

Mollee began volunteering for Kindred Matters in 2017, and has been coming back ever since. Born and raised in Oregon, she graduated from Southern Oregon University with a bachelor's degree in Psychology, and a minor in communication. She has always had a passion for working with youth in need and supporting youth living in the foster care system. Mollee is supporting as the Salem KINnect coordinator and looks forward to facilitating future events to bring separate siblings together. When Mollee is not working or hosting KINnect events, she is probably thinking about camp or listening to a true crime podcast.

Portland Area KINnect Coordinator

kinnectpdx@kindredmatters.org

Central Oregon Area KINnect Coordinator

info@kindredmatters.org

Grant Writer

kindredmattersor@gmail.com

Medical Consultant and Camp Nurse

Becoming involved with Kindred Matters as a teenager sparked Elizabeth’s passion for serving disadvantaged youth. Upon graduation from the University of Oregon in 2015, she moved to the east coast to work for Sibling Connections, an organization serving separated siblings in Massachusetts. In late 2017, she made her way back to Oregon to become the Executive Director for Kindred Matters and increase the organization’s program capacity. She served in the Executive Director role until 2022 and is now a valuable member of the leadership team. When she isn’t working as an ICU Nurse, you can usually find Elizabeth playing with her dog, trying new foods or traveling with her husband.

Co-Founder and Lead Counselor

Charley Schimmels became involved with Kindred Matters in 2006 as volunteer co-director and head counselor (Big Daddy), and hopes to continue serving youth and families who are affected by the foster care system. Originally a native of Washington State (born in Seattle and grew up in Yakima), he has lived in the Portland metro area since 1988. Charley has been married to his best friend and partner Karyn since 1988 and they share four children. When Charley is not volunteering for Kindred Matters he makes his living selling truck equipment for Carco Industries, Inc. based in Tualatin, Oregon.

Co-Founder and Board President

Karyn Schimmels has been a proud Oregonian since 1988 but was raised in Yakima, Washington, as the youngest of 7 children and the child of a 3rd generation medical missionary doctor. Karyn’s work and dedication led her to many interesting roles in public service that established her as a driven and compassionate leader in health and human services and nonprofit management leadership here in Oregon and nationally. She began working in state service for the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) in 1990 as a child welfare caseworker. After 32 years in public service, she retired in 2022, to continue pursuing her passions on her own and as an independent consultant. As co-founder of Kindred Matters, she serves as President of the Board and continues to volunteer hundreds of hours to our organization.

Board Member

A Tulane University graduate, Sarah Allen is a major shareholder at Allen Trust Company and responsible for HR at the company. Sarah has long been interested in serving Oregon’s youth in care, and has served as a Sibling Camp volunteer for several years before becoming a member of the Kindred Matters Board in 2018. She is also a Board Member and Committee Chair of Project Lemonade. If she isn’t in Portland you can most likely find her south of the border (Mexico not California) soaking up the sun and culture.

Board Member

Niki Clark has been serving children and families within the juvenile justice and child welfare systems in Oregon and Southwest Washington for over ten years. She is an Oregon native and University of Oregon Alumni. Niki has always been passionate about minimizing the effects of trauma on the children for whom she serves. Her experience working with foster children and families led to her interest in Kindred Matters and its mission. She is thrilled to be able to support foster children in a different way through her involvement with Kindred Matters and the programming they provide connecting siblings who are separated in foster care.

Board Member

Ian Bishop is an Oregon native who made his way back after spending time in boarding school in Canada and graduating from the University of Washington. Upon his return, he spent 15 years growing an independent medical examination company, Impartial, before the business was sold to ExamWorks in 2016. He now serves as Regional Vice President for ExamWorks. Ian has always been interested in serving his community, and has been a supporter of Kindred Matters for several years alongside his family prior to joining the Kindred Matters Board.

Board Member

Betsy Onstad graduated with an Economics degree from UC Davis and now works as a CPA at a public accounting firm in the Portland Metro area. She was introduced to Kindred Matters by a coworker and is very excited to be involved with the Organization and give back to the community as the Board Co-Treasurer. Betsy enjoys traveling, going on leisurely walks with her dogs, and trying new restaurants in Beaverton and Portland.

Board Member

Sara Fassett moved to Oregon in 1994 and quickly found herself drawn to public service programs, including drug treatment, gang violence, domestic violence, and child welfare. She has spent the last 20 years dedicated to improving outcomes for children within the welfare system. She donates her spare time to charitable projects such as Abby’s Closet, Project Lemonade, Start Making a Reader Today, and a number of LGBTQ causes. Her involvement with Kindred Matters is a reflection of her ongoing commitment to helping the youth of Oregon.

Board Member

Diane is a real estate broker with Cascade Sotheby’s International Realty in Lincoln City. Previously, she served as the Community Relations Manager and Public Information Officer with the United States Attorney’s Office in Portland. She was also a board member with the Lincoln County Citizen Review Board for nine years and on the state advisory council. She enjoys photography and her participation with Toastmasters and Kiwanis Clubs in Lincoln City. She joins the Kindred Matters Board after years of support for the Sibling Camp program.

Board Member

Tia Sm th is from Salem Oregon and currently live in Portland oregon. She is a Former youth in care in the state of Oregon. While in care she was invited to go to a camp for siblings that were separated now known as Kindred Matters Sibling Camp. It was something she looked forward to each of the 8 years that she attended with her brother. During her time at camp she met Karyn and Charley and emember how grateful she was to experience camp and now enjoys giving back to the organization through volunteering and serving on the Board of Directors.

Board Member

Justin Kidd is the Justice of the Peace for Marion County. Before that he served as an Assistant Attorney General with Oregon's Department of Justice. He received his JD from the University of California, Berkeley; his Masters in Public Management, with a focus in nonprofit administration, from Carnegie Mellon University; and his BA in Spanish from the University of Denver. Before becoming a lawyer, he worked with a number of foundations including the Jewish Healthcare Foundation of Pittsburgh; the Coro Center for Civic Leadership; and the Boettcher Foundation of Colorado. He is a foster and adoptive parent of two boys. Kindred matters has a special place in Justin's heart because both of his boys have attended Kindred Matters camps, where they fortified relationships with siblings growing up in other adoptive placements.

Board Member