Foundation News

The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation Board of Directors will expand in summer 2022 with the addition of three new directors: Giyen Kim, Don Grotting, and John Tapogna.

Chuck Putney, President of the Board, says “I’m very excited about the marvelous contributions these new directors will bring to our team.”

Two long serving directors recently announced their intentions to retire. Charles Rooks completed his final term at the end of 2021. Director Alice McCartor will retire from service at the end of 2022.

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Giyen Kim‍

Giyen Kim has spent the last twenty years in public service in the non-profit and government sectors. Her passion for serving her community started in Seattle's affordable housing sector, where she became a strong advocate for increasing housing opportunities for underserved populations and communities of color. Since then, Ms. Kim has worked on advancing both urban and rural land conservation policy, served as part of the Seattle Mayor's homeless response team, and coordinated the city's cybersecurity response efforts.

Since moving to Portland in 2019, Ms. Kim has worked as Portland's City Arts Manager and oversaw the city's federally funded pandemic relief efforts. She currently works for Metro, helping to reimagine how government engages with communities in decision-making and leading the conversations on the future of the Expo Center. In addition, Ms. Kim serves as a Board member of the Oregon Film Creative Made Foundation and supports the city's efforts to develop a new cultural arts plan for the region.

Ms. Kim resides in northeast Portland, where she spends her free time writing, painting, and building community.

Donald Grotting

‍Donald “Don” GrottingDon Grotting grew up one of six children in Coquille, Oregon and served in the U.S. Army right out of High School. He graduated from Linfield College in Elementary Education. He earned his master’s degree in Educational Policy, Foundations and Administration from Portland State University in 1996, and achieved an Administrative License from Portland State University two years later. Mr. Grotting attained his Superintendent’s License in 2001 from Lewis and Clark College.  

His dedication is evident in his past work and accomplishments as a teacher, principal, and Superintendent in the Powers, Nyssa, David Douglas, and Beaverton School Districts. He was named Oregon Superintendent of the Year in 2014 while serving in the David Douglas School District. He was also selected as the Oregon Music Administrator of the Year in 2015.

He is currently serving his second term as vice-chair of Governor Kate Brown’s Educator Advancement Council, a member of the Oregon Association School Executives and its leadership council, Oregon Association of School Executives Early Learning Workgroup, past chair of the Portland State University Graduate School of Education Advisory Committee, and he has served multiple terms on the Oregon School Activities Association Board as president and board member, focused on advancing opportunities in speech, dance, music, cheerleading, and athletics where he received the National Federation of High Schools Service award in 2016.

Mr. Grotting is married to his wife, Lisa, and has four children, three grandchildren (soon to be four), and two great grandchildren.

John Tapogna

John Tapogna arrived in Oregon during his 8th grade year by way of Pomona, California and Arlington, Texas. He’s a graduate of Beaverton High School, the University of Oregon, and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Mr. Tapogna is passionate about creating measurable, positive change for people and communities with fewer opportunities. This passion inspired him to study social policy in graduate school, evaluate welfare reforms at the Congressional Budget Office, serve with the Peace Corps in Chile, design award-winning safety net prescreening websites, and volunteer on the boards of nonprofits that serve children and families. Across his 25-year consulting career, he has assessed the effects of a wide range of social, education, housing, pension, and tax policies in every corner of Oregon.

Mr. Tapogna and his wife Ingrid, a middle school Spanish teacher, live in Portland.