Staff

Prior to being selected as Friends–Southwest Washington's executive director, Allison Pauletto, a Hudson's Bay High School alum who lives in Vancouver with her spouse and two children, was with Friends–Portland for 13 years, most recently serving as the chief development officer. During her time at Friends–Portland, the organization's budget grew from just under $2 million to $6.5 million and led Portland's highest-grossing nonprofit fundraiser, "Friend Raiser." She was also instrumental in the creation of the first Ambassador Board and their annual Bowl-a-thon.

Remy was born in El Paso, Texas, and raised in Bellingham, Wash. She became certified as a personal trainer specializing in youth fitness and began coaching high school softball. Her most recent youth experience bringing me to Friends was my work as a coach and program associate for Playworks. Remy found a passion for working one-on-one with youth and came to Friends to give back everything she learned from her own mentors and coaches. Outside of work, she still likes to get out and play softball and basketball. Remy enjoys taking her 3-year-old pup to the park or any place he can run and swim in the water.

Jena is from Spokane, Wash., and attended Eastern Washington University. She values the long term commitment that the program and Friend make to each youth and strive to remain youth first and strength-based. Jena enjoys spending time with friends and shooting film photos. Reading, writing and spending time with her cat are also favorite pastimes.

Monica Martinez-Animas (she/her) earned her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology. While earning her degree, she volunteered with the Beat Within, an organization that encourages youth in juvenile detention to express themselves through writing and art. Monica interned with International Rescue Committee in Elizabeth, New Jersey where she assisted in case management and employment assistance for refugee resettlement. In April 2015, she was a recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award for her work with Multnomah County’s Juvenile Justice Department working as a tutor and mentor for high-risk youth. Monica began her work with Girl Scouts Beyond Bars as a volunteer the summer of 2014 and was with the program for over three years in various capacities including direct program delivery and program management supporting girls and their incarcerated mothers. She provided immigration legal services with Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New York Community Services from fall 2017 to spring 2018. Monica has a deep passion for supporting under served communities and is excited about joining Friends of the Children where she can make a positive impact with the community, families, and most importantly, the youth being served.

Doug Rogers grew up in the California Bay Area and received his undergraduate degree from Humboldt State in 1992. The following year, he received an initial teaching credential from San Francisco State and then relocated to Portland. Since then, he has worked predominantly in alternative education as a classroom teacher, special educator and ultimately program director, but he has also worked with youth involved with the judicial system, youth experiencing homelessness and youth in residential programs. More recently, he and several teen-aged youth co-founded the Church of Rock N Roll youth collective/mentoring program that gave youth skills and experience in the live music industry.

Doug is excited to have landed with Friends of the Children in summer 2018, where he has begun working primarily with youth in Southwest Washington. When asked what he loves most about Friends, he has a hard time making up his mind. The amount of direct time with youth, the long-term vision of the program and the community of support he finds with other mentors are all aspects of the program that make it feel like home.