Board of Directors
If you’d like to learn more about serving on the Active Children Portland Board of Directors or one of our committees (Finance, Programming, Strategic Planning, Development, Marketing and Communications) fill out the volunteer form and we’ll contact you to talk about the opportunities.
Jessica Keaton (she/her)
Jessica core values, which have been important to her since a young age, are centered on being active in sports, volunteering and helping others. Directly after achieving her BA in Sociology from the University at Buffalo, she headed to Missouri where she spent two years with AmeriCorps Saint Louis. Jessica’s first year encompassed disaster response, conservation work, trail building and tree felling. During her second year with AmeriCorps, she served in the education setting where she tutored kindergarten students. This school-based service inspired her to advance her education by pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Chicago studying social work with a school specialty. During Jessica’s free time she is often supporting the Timbers and Thorns or hanging out with her Little from Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Shiraz Bengali (he/him)
Shiraz is a licensed CPA, a principal tax accountant at Portland General Electric and previously was a tax manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He was born and raised in Corvallis, but went to the University of Oregon and still remained loyal to the Beavers – Go Beavs! Shiraz earned a Bachelor of Science degree with dual majors – Accounting with Honors and Economics – and then moved to Portland after graduation. Shiraz has served on the Portland Boys and Girls Club (BGC) Associate Board for several years, and has volunteered with BGC, coached youth basketball, and taught for Junior Achievement.In his free time, Shiraz enjoys watching/attending Blazers and Timbers games, playing futsal, trying out different recipes from around the world, traveling, getting outside running and hiking, and – a newly acquired COVID-19 hobby – kayaking!
Laura Sullivan (she/her)
Laura is a former professional soccer player who had the opportunity to play in both Argentina and France. Originally from Michigan, she has lived in Portland since 2015. After graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in International Relations and Romance Languages and Literatures, Laura spent time teaching English in Brazil before making her way to Argentina and pursuing a soccer career. After 2 years and 1 championship, Laura moved out to Portland before jumping over to France to play for a year, with a short break to compete in the Futsal World Cup in Balaguer Spain.
Having grown up playing soccer from a very young age, Laura is passionate about getting, and keeping, girls in sports. She joined the Board of Active Children Portland in 2019, supporting the team build out their 3-year strategic plan, joining the Programming Committee, and stepping up to the Executive Committee as the Board Secretary.
Currently, Laura works in Retail Operations for Thesis, supporting the Nike APLA Retail team. Prior to her time in Operations, Laura worked with Vive Northwest and Child Aid, two Portland based non-profits. Additionally, she has interned with the Timbers Community Relations department and worked on Nike’s Social and Community Impact team. Laura also previously volunteered with the University of Michigan Alumni Club of Portland. In her free time, Laura enjoys hiking, trail running, backpacking, and playing futsal and volleyball.
Sammy van den Berg (she/her)
Sammy is Project Manager at adidas, where she helps manage partnerships with non-profit partners who are working to provide access to sport for youth and break down barriers to careers, skill development and mentorship. She started at adidas in 2016 in Human Resources before moving into the Global Purpose team in 2018. Her team now works closely with their business partners in adidas to build a network of support for their non-profit partners and the impact programs that they bring to life. On top of her day job, Sammy is currently reprising her role as the co-lead of adidas’ LGBTQ+ Network for North America, helping work on policy change and internal education.
Sammy earned her bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication with a Business Administration minor from the University of Portland, where she was active in student government and programming events for the student body.
Outside of work, Sammy captains multiple soccer teams, attends a concert or two every week, and is equally happy heading outdoors as she is glued to the couch with her loved ones. Besides non-profit work and trying new wine and beer, her truest passion is getting overly competitive with her family in fantasy sports leagues.
Meg Rapp (she/her)
Meg is a brand communications professional at adidas where she develops integrated global brand campaigns. Her passion lies in empowering and supporting all people to be and achieve all that they set their minds to.
Meg earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration at Gonzaga University while competing as a D1 soccer player. In school, Meg was elected marketing chair of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and participated in a comprehensive leadership (CLP) in Zambezi, Zambia. The extent to which all endeavors tested her bolstered confidence that has translated directly into her career. Sports have shaped her into a confident leader who is determined to never stop pushing her own limits.
In her free time, she loves to be outdoors. Whether she is on a walk at the beach or skiing at Mt. Hood, she is in her element. Meg also likes to travel, explore new cuisines, attend concerts, and spend time with her friends and family. She is an older sister and makes a mean batch of orange marmalade.
DJ Correa (he/him)
DJ Correa is a high school Social Science teacher and coach in the Salem-Keizer School District. His passion is creating opportunities for young athletes of all abilities to play the sports they love and teaching life skills through sports.
DJ has a bachelor's degree in History and a Master’s degree in Education, both from Western Oregon University. He has been teaching for 6 years and coaching football for 14 years. His coaching has led him to various teams all over Oregon and Washington, including stops in Klamath Falls, Salem, Portland, and Vancouver. DJ recently started the Girls Flag Football team where he teaches. His team competed in Oregon's inaugural flag football season in 2023. This year, he will be stepping into the head coach position for the boys junior varsity football team at South Salem High School.
DJ spends his free time exploring Oregon with his wife and two sons, and supporting their passions. This is his first year as a member of the ACP board.
Sarah Marshall (she/her)
Sarah Marshall (she/her) is a brand media manager at adidas, leading the paid media efforts for all nationwide brand campaigns. Before joining adidas, Sarah worked at a startup where she had the opportunity to build the company’s brand guidelines, shape customer personas, lead the company through two rebrands, and land stories in national press outlets.
Sarah attended The University of Tennessee (Go Vols!) where she received her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. Throughout her time in school, she participated in nearly every intramural activity offered and maximized her time in the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Kids currently face increasing barriers to entry for participating in sports. And as a person who has spent her whole life among numerous teams on soccer fields, basketball courts, and tracks, Sarah recognizes the value that activity and companionship sports can provide. In particular, Sarah is passionate about the self-esteem and teamwork skills that sports can provide in addition to learning how to provide the right tools and resources that promote a healthy body image, especially among young girls.
When she’s not hitting the trails by foot or by bike in Forest Park or on Powell Butte, Sarah can be found taking her dog, Willow, on walks along every street in North Portland, playing soccer with one of her teams, or trying out a new recipe.