Our Team
Board of Directors
Steve Watts, Board President
Steve Watts serves as Board President of GiGi’s Playhouse Portland. He was drawn into the Down syndrome community when he, his wife, Kristal, and daughter, Claire, welcomed Thomas into their family in 2011.
Steve is a Senior Vice President at Summit Bank in Portland. He has over 30 years of commercial banking experience with many years in leadership in both banking and on non-profit boards. He is an Oregon State alum and earned his graduate degree from Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington. In addition to GiGi’s Playhouse, he is active serving on the board and executive committee for Meals on Wheels People and as a long-time member and past president of the Rotary Club of Portland.
In his free time, Steve enjoys fly fishing, camping, taking road trips, and, with his catalog of over 800 recipes, cooking for his family and friends.
Jordan Mura, Board Treasurer
After an inspiring conversation with GiGi’s Playhouse leadership, Jordan Mura was moved by the organization’s mission to promote inclusion and acceptance for individuals with Down syndrome. The opportunity to contribute to a cause that fosters compassion and understanding resonated deeply and motivated him to get involved.
Jordan currently serves as the Director of Accounting and Finance at Embold Credit Union, where he has worked for over 21 years, including the past six in his current leadership role. Beyond his professional career, he has also volunteered with Financial Beginnings, teaching high school and college students the fundamentals of personal finance.
What Jordan finds most meaningful about GiGi’s Playhouse is the support it provides to new and expectant parents. Learning that a child might be born with Down syndrome can be overwhelming, and GiGi’s offers not only valuable information and resources but also hope and a welcoming community.
Outside of work and volunteering, Jordan enjoys spending time with his wife and their two children. As a family, they love traveling and exploring new places together. Jordan also have a passion for baking and enjoys fishing whenever he gets the chance.
Kristal Watts, Board Secretary
As both a licensed educator, dialysis technician, and a mom to a child with Down syndrome, Kristal Watts brings personal passion and professional skill to her role at GiGi’s Playhouse Portland. After her son Thomas was born in 2011, she recognized the need for a place where families could connect, learn, and celebrate their children’s potential—leading her to help launch the Playhouse in Portland.
Kristal’s background in education, science, and event organization, along with her creative talents in graphic design, have been invaluable to the Playhouse community. She has received multiple awards for leadership and education, reflecting her lifelong commitment to empowering others.
Outside of GiGi’s, Kristal enjoys cooking, baking, gardening, and creative projects like cake decorating and sewing, as well as time with her family outdoors.
Brad Johnston, Board Member, Executive Committee
Brad Johnston served as past President of the Board of Directors at GiGi’s Playhouse, Portland. His passion for the organization is deeply personal — he is the proud grandfather of Jack Williamson, age six, who experiences Down syndrome.
A retired executive with 35 years of leadership in the telecommunications and Internetworking industries, Brad built a distinguished career with AT&T, Lucent Technologies, Cisco Systems, Tandberg, and Polycom. Known for his strategic vision and innovative leadership, he now applies his experience to advancing GiGi’s mission of inclusion and acceptance.
Brad and his wife, Niki, have nine grandchildren and have called the Portland area home for over 55 years. He enjoys sharing his love of the outdoors, family activities, and University of Oregon athletics with those closest to him.
Jim Dunn, Board Member, Executive Committee
Jim Dunn is a business and tax lawyer with more than 50 years of experience working closely with Oregon nonprofit organizations. He serves on the Board of Directors of GiGi’s Playhouse, Portland, bringing decades of legal expertise and advocacy to advance the organization’s mission of changing the way the world views Down syndrome.
Jim’s commitment is deeply personal. In 1973, his daughter Katie was born with Down syndrome, and he and his wife dedicated their lives to ensuring she had every opportunity to thrive. Jim became a leading advocate for special education, serving for many years as Vice Chair and Chair of the Beaverton School District’s Special Education Advisory Committee and frequently speaking before the Oregon Legislature on behalf of individuals with disabilities.
Katie lived a full and meaningful life before her passing in 2023, including decades of participation in Special Olympics, performing with PHAME, serving on boards, and working for nonprofit organizations supporting individuals with disabilities. Jim honors her legacy through his continued advocacy and leadership at GiGi’s Playhouse, where he remains passionate about expanding opportunity, acceptance, and lifelong success for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.
Roger Saulson, M.D., Board Member, Donor Development
Roger Saulson, M.D., is a retired ophthalmologist who practiced in Portland for 3 decades with Eye Health NW. During his career, he treated many patients with Down syndrome. Now in retirement, Roger was looking for another way to contribute in a meaningful way. With two close friends who have family members with Down Syndrome, getting involved with GiGi’s Playhouse was a perfect fit. He also enjoys playing golf and traveling with his wife, Ginny, a recently retired surgical nurse. Ginny is also contributing to GiGi’s, helping with events.
Debbie Levy, Board Member, Family & Community Connections Committee
Debbie is a Board Member at GiGi’s Playhouse Portland and the mother of three young adult children, including her daughter who has Down syndrome. Her perspective as a parent and longtime advocate informs her commitment to expanding opportunities and support for families in the Down syndrome community.
Debbie brings extensive knowledge of the Portland-area disability services landscape and is connected with many of the nonprofits serving individuals with Down syndrome. Through her work with GiGi’s Playhouse Portland, she recognizes the importance of free, accessible, and results-driven programming for families and is always brimming with ideas to help strengthen support and connection across the community.
Outside of her advocacy work, Debbie is a photographer, registered dental hygienist, IBCLC, Orofacial Myologist, and avid reader who enjoys balancing creativity, learning, and family life.
Staff
Vanessa Wilburn, Executive Director
After connecting with GiGi’s Playhouse, Vanessa was inspired by the organization’s mission to change the way the world views Down syndrome and promote acceptance for all. As the mother of a young child, she feels a strong personal connection to building a world where diversity, empathy, and inclusion are embraced. Although her son does not have Down syndrome, supporting GiGi’s Playhouse reflects the kind of community she hopes he will grow up in—one where differences are valued, and every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
Vanessa brings more than five years of fundraising leadership experience, previously serving as Senior Director at Blood Cancer United, where she led major gift cultivation, corporate partnerships, grant development, and large-scale fundraising campaigns. She has also worked as a Marketing Expert at Facebook, helping organizations develop effective digital strategies and data-driven messaging. Vanessa’s background in fundraising, marketing, and volunteer leadership allows her to connect strategy directly to mission impact while building strong community partnerships.
What Vanessa finds most meaningful about GiGi’s Playhouse is the way it celebrates the potential of individuals with Down syndrome while creating a welcoming community for families. She is passionate about expanding awareness, resources, and opportunities so that every participant and family feels supported.
Outside of work, Vanessa enjoys playing tennis and bowling, reading, and spending time tending to her chickens and garden. She and her husband, Adam, love sharing time outdoors and at home with their son, August.
Kara Girod, Program and Volunteer Manager
Kara is the Programs & Volunteer Coordinator at GiGi’s Playhouse Portland, where she supports families and volunteers with warmth, practical insight, and a deep commitment to the Down syndrome community. As a Portland native and mother of two—her daughter who has Down syndrome and her son—Kara brings both professional dedication and lived experience to her role.
Kara’s work is shaped by her passion for disability advocacy and her extensive knowledge of the Pacific Northwest community. She enjoys building volunteer teams and helping families connect with programs and each other.
In addition to her work at GiGi’s Playhouse, Kara is a semi-retired professional dancer, a real estate agent, and a dedicated wellness enthusiast. She has spent years studying the unique wellness needs of individuals with Down syndrome and enjoys sharing that knowledge with her community.
Rae Hofstedt, Operations Manager
Rae Hofstedt is the Site Manager of GiGi’s Playhouse Portland, where she is passionate about helping people with Down syndrome and their families discover that their capabilities are often far greater than they expect.
Rae earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from California State University, Northridge, and began her career in public education. There, she saw firsthand how individuals with intellectual disabilities thrive when offered personalized, supportive challenges—and how often their experiences are dismissed when they have difficulty communicating their needs.
Her work is driven by a commitment to autonomy and inclusion. Rae believes everyone deserves the opportunity to make their own choices around friendship, work, love, and health, especially individuals with Down syndrome. At GiGi’s Playhouse, she incorporates Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), keeps programs focused on practical life skills, and frequently brings in experts on wellness and communication to support participants and families.
Outside of the Playhouse, Rae enjoys drawing sardonic cartoons, creating electronic music, and taking in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.