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SMART Announces New Executive Director
Portland, Ore. – The board of directors of Start Making A Reader Today (SMART), Oregon’s largest nonprofit program for early literacy, is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Otis as executive director. Otis’ position is effective Dec. 14.
“The board is delighted with the appointment of Chris Otis as SMART’s Executive Director – she is just the right fit for SMART,” says Charles Wilhoite, SMART board chair, and managing director of Willamette Management Associates. “She brings with her a proven track record of success and has extensive non-profit management experience. Her reputation for innovation and boldness will serve SMART well – I feel certain she will take SMART to new and exciting levels of achievement and growth as we approach our 20th anniversary.”
Otis brings more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership to her post at SMART, having most recently served as the executive director for the Children’s Relief Nursery, a child abuse prevention program serving high-risk children and families in Portland. During her five-year tenure, Otis successfully guided the organization through a program expansion and led its implementation of a $1.6 million federal grant from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration to increase awareness of and support for young children and families who have experienced trauma. She previously served as executive director for four organizations.
“I am thrilled with the appointment to SMART – this is an exciting time in the history of the organization, as we mark 20 years of providing literacy support to young children throughout the state,” Otis says. “But, that’s just the beginning for us. This organization has a rich history and a solid foundation—we are poised for growth and future success. I look forward to being part of all that comes next. “
Otis is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Portland, where she teaches nonprofit management to MBA students at the School of Business. She earned Master’s in Business Administration and Bachelor’s degrees from California State University, Sacramento.
About SMART® (Start Making A Reader Today)
SMART, Start Making A Reader Today, is a statewide nonprofit organization that envisions an Oregon where every child can read and is empowered to succeed. We partner with schools around the state and engage community volunteers to read one-on-one with K-3 children, helping strengthen literacy skills and encourage a love of reading. Over the past two decades, SMART has steadily grown to become Oregon’s largest volunteer literacy program. In 2010-2011, we will serve 7,000 children statewide with the help of 5,000 community volunteers. Children in the program receive 14 new books throughout the school year to keep and read with their families. Together, with support from communities and schools around the state, SMART is improving the reading capacity of Oregon’s children. Visit www.getsmartoregon.org or call 1-877-598-4633 to learn more about SMART.