Our Team
The majority of Saving Grace staff provide crucial direct services to survivors across Central Oregon. They are not pictured here to protect their privacy, but advocates and facilitators are an integral part of our team and carry out Saving Grace’s mission every day. Please meet our administrative staff!
Lisa Cohen
Interim Executive Director
Lisa has more than twenty-five years of experience as a non-profit Executive Director and organizational advisor. She has served on more than a dozen boards as a member and officer, and in other volunteer capacities. She has founded or co-founded four organizations, and specializes in governance, programming, and strategic planning. Lisa has an abiding faith in the power and potential of connections, in bringing people of differing experiences and opinions together to find common ground and create achievable goals. Lisa and her husband moved to Central Oregon in 2020 where she loves the spectacular country exploring on her horse, along with all the rich outdoor opportunities Sisters and Bend offer.
Trish Meyer
Trish has been with Saving Grace since 2002. She works closely with community partners in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties, coordinating responses to domestic violence and sexual assault. Trish oversees programming at four sites, which includes services and outreach in rural communities and the following programs: counseling, volunteer, prevention, civil legal, and high-risk domestic violence response. Prior to joining Saving Grace, she held nonprofit management positions in the education and environmental conservation fields, as well as direct service positions with the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Peace Corps. When not at work, you can find Trish running her Golden Retriever on the trails and enjoying the local music scene in Central Oregon.
Assistant Executive Director
Rebecca Swearingen
Finance & Compliance Director
Rebecca earned her bachelor’s in Psychology from Eastern Oregon University and started with Saving Grace in 2000. Prior to coming to Saving Grace, Rebecca worked for the Community Action Program of East Central Oregon (CAPECO). While she has had many different roles during her time here, she has most recently served as Business Manager, where she coordinates, administers and manages the financial and business activities to ensure sound fiscal management. When she isn’t at work, Rebecca spends her time researching family history, recovering, preserving and sharing treasured family artifacts and stories.
Donna Britt
Development Director
Donna has a background in communications/media including stints with ABC Radio Networks, Lifetime TV and local entities such as Central Oregon Daily and the Source Weekly. She is the former Executive Producer of a nationally syndicated weekly radio program and has worked on several celebrity cookbooks as writer, editor and food stylist. Donna has years of experience creating and implementing marketing strategies and fundraising events for various clients including CMT Television, Home Depot and the Ronald McDonald House. Her roots run deep in Central Oregon, where she loves to hike with her dogs, paddleboard on the beautiful rivers and lakes and spend as much time as possible feeding her family and friends.
Kelley Brent
Admin & HR Services Manager
Kelley and her husband Don moved to Bend in 1991. Before joining Saving Grace in 2008, Kelley spent most her days volunteering in the Bend community while raising her three boys. During that time, Kelley earned her degree at COCC, then studied Education through Eastern Oregon University. Kelley is responsible for general management of the Saving Grace Administrative Office, Payroll, HR and Employee Relations, Benefits Management, Recruitment, and Accounts Payable. Her favorite places to be outside of work are hanging out with her family, reading in the sunshine on any tropical island, and floating in the lake.
Stephanie Miller
Donor Relations Coordinator
Stephanie has lived in Bend since 2005 and joined Saving Grace in March 2021. Previously she worked in Development at Bethlehem Inn for 8 years assisting with fundraising, donor engagement and events. She is passionate about helping people in the community live safe, healthy and happy lives. Stephanie is very excited to be part of the amazing Saving Grace staff. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and husky, LuLu and golden retriever puppy, HoneyBee. She and her husband have been active in Bend’s local music scene for many years and now enjoy playing music together at home in their recording studio.
Heather Van Datta
Administrative Coordinator
Heather moved to Bend in 2011 from the Portland area. She earned her degree from OSU in Human Development & Family Sciences, then went to work as an Account Manager helping to design and sell electronic components for many years. Heather always felt connected to her original education and felt called to do something greater to help others in an impactful way. Life’s circumstances lined up perfectly to join Saving Grace in 2021. Heather is able to utilize the organizational & office skills ingrained over the years, and to be part of a team making positive changes.
Jenna McCann
Volunteer Program & Prevention Coordinator
Jenna has lived in Bend since 2001 and joined us at Saving Grace in 2020. She graduated from OSU Cascades with a degree in Human Development and Family Science. Jenna previously worked in mentoring at Big Brothers Big Sisters for 8 years which included case management and volunteer coordination. She has a passion for helping others and connecting with the Central Oregon community! When Jenna isn’t working with our volunteers or in youth violence prevention, she enjoys hiking with her goldens, reading, cooking and eating!
Taryn A
Shelter Manager
Taryn earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology with an emphasis in crime and justice from Oregon State University. Taryn previously worked at the Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence in Corvallis, as an Advocate, Community Engagement Coordinator, and Program Manager. She moved to Bend in 2020 to become the Shelter Manager at Saving Grace. Taryn has a passion for supporting survivors and advocates. When she isn’t running the shelter, Taryn enjoys spending time with her partner and dogs, reading and cooking.
Nicole Borchert
Direct Services Project Manager
Nicole joined Saving Grace in May 2014 shortly after moving to Bend. With an academic background in empirical psychology, she earned a dual award MBA from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, UK, and Berlin School of Economics and Law, GER. Before coming to the US, Nicole worked in social and environmental non-profit organizations in Berlin, GER, and Vancouver, BC, CAN. In her spare time Nicole loves to spend time with her family and read science fiction. She appreciates hot coffee at (almost) any time of the day.
Join The Team
Saving Grace is a team of people that are part of something bigger than ourselves. We embrace our purpose. We are empowered by our mission to offer safety, hope, and healing to survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault. We engage Central Oregon to build life free from violence.
Board of Directors
Saving Grace’s Board of Directors is made up of incredible community leaders from various backgrounds. Their support and hard work makes our services possible. Please meet our Board of Directors below!
Robin Meiners
President
Robin was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, where she obtained a Dental Hygiene degree from the University of Washington. She lived in the Seattle area for over 30 years before moving to Bend in 2011 with her husband, Mike, to improve their quality of life. Robin has volunteered locally for her community for more than 25 years, for hospice, a child abuse intervention program, and Saving Grace. Robin is an avid outdoors person who enjoys skiing, biking and hiking. Robin was honored to join the board in July 2019 and looks forward to continuing to advocate for everyone to have a life without violence.
Andrew Davis
Vice Chair
Andrew Davis is Director of Student and Campus Life at Central Oregon Community College where he is responsible for student activities, housing, club and intramural sports, and conduct, as well as strategic planning for the Student Life department. Born in Bend, he has given back to the community while serving on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund and Metropolitan Planning Organization Budget Committee. He is motivated to volunteer because he believes that is how we shape the community we desire it to become.
Dawn Cofer
Treasurer
Dawn Cofer is a Vice President and Retail Bank Manager at First Interstate Bank in Bend where she serves individuals and business clients across Central Oregon. As a native Oregonian, Dawn has given back to the community in multiple leadership and volunteer roles, including serving on the Boards of Healing Reins and The Giving Plate. She and her husband have raised two adult daughters, and enjoy time with their granddaughter, horses and dogs. Tragically, Dawn lost her sister Cassie to domestic violence.
Katie Stahrr
Secretary
Dr. Katherine Stahrr, DDS, is a dentist at Bend Dental Group. Originally from the Midwest, Dr. Stahrr moved to Bend from Chicago where she completed her general practice residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. While dentistry allows her to combine art and science, her favorite part of the work in her practice is supporting patients and putting them at ease. She enjoys exploring all that Central Oregon has to offer, especially its trails and skiing at Mt. Bachelor, with her husband and their two dogs, Hank and Rocky, who love to join in on the fun!
Cheryl Parton
Board Member
Cheryl Parton has been investing the community of Bend via a spirit of volunteerism and storytelling since moving here in 1999. With a Master's in Journalism from Northwestern University, she has had a career in publishing and project management, and is currently editor of Bend Magazine and Oregon Media. Having raised three children in Bend, she is an advocate for women, men and families to imagine (and live) a life without violence. Cheryl enjoys the active Pacific Northwest lifestyle, especially when it involves the water of Oregon’s rivers, lakes and Coast.
Micaela Gutherie
Board Member
Micaela has loved the Pacific Northwest since attending the University of Puget Sound and is thrilled to have called Bend home for the last 12 years. Micaela is a partner with Three Sisters Law which focuses exclusively on immigration law. Micaela has worked in all facets of immigration law, starting as the Managing Attorney representing asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors in El Paso, Texas; representing companies in employment-based immigration matters; served as an Assistant Chief Counsel for the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor; and has worked in Central Oregon representing families and asylum seekers for almost a decade. Her passion for immigration law comes from the joy of bringing families together and giving a voice to those whose stories need to be told.
When not working, Micaela spends as much time as possible in the outdoors with her husband, their three children, and their two pups. She enjoys all things that Central Oregon offers.
Nicole Hayford
Board Member
Nicki Hayford is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at St. Charles Hospital. She was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, and has a passion for social justice and human service she credits to philanthropy and volunteer work she has done in travels to other parts of the world. Her work for the United States Military as a Sexual Assault Advocate led to a position as the Program Director for Navy Region Northwest where she was responsible for support, training, advocacy, and prevention in 11 states throughout the country. In her free time, Nicki enjoys spending time with her two daughters and husband.
Kevin Miller
Board Member
Born in British Columbia, Canada, Kevin moved to the States and has lived in Oregon for most of his life. He attended the U of O and earned a degree in Political Science and Education. With his wife Stephanie and two were daughters, Kevin lived and worked as an educator in Portland Metro area, moving to Redmond in 2018. Kevin is currently the administrator at Powell Butte Community Charter School. During his spare time, Kevin enjoys being active, enjoying many outdoor activities during the different seasons in Central Oregon.
Lindsay Gardner
Board Member
Lindsay Gardner is a shareholder and attorney at Bryant, Lovlien & Jarvis P.C., where she focuses her practice on estate planning, trust administration and probate. Prior to pursuing a career in law, Lindsay worked and volunteered as an advocate in emergency shelters for women and children fleeing intimate partner violence. She is passionate about IPV intervention and prevention, and empowerment based advocacy for survivors. Lindsay and her husband, Ian, have three young children, Austen, Max and John, and a black lab named Bob.
Taryn Arnold
Board Member
Bio coming soon!
Kurt Barker
Board Member
Kurt is a partner and Co-Chair of the Labor and Employment Law practice group at Best Best & Krieger, LLP. A native Oregonian who moved to Bend in 2008, Kurt has volunteered for a variety of causes and served on several boards—but he has always admired the work and been inspired by the team at Saving Grace. He was honored to join the Board in 2023. Kurt thrives on spending time with his wife (Talena) and their family, including two adult sons and two granddaughters, and recharges by backpacking or backcountry skiing.
Amber Gomes
Board Member
Amber Gomes is a Managing Associate at Koya Partners where she works with nonprofits in the social justice, equity, and progressive movement spaces. Amber grew up in Central Oregon and graduated from Redmond High, before attending COCC and finishing her BA at OSU. After living and working with nonprofits in Kenya, Seattle, Monterey, and Boston, Amber moved back to Bend in 2021. She's a proud dog mom and drags her pup and husband out to hike, kayak, and snowshoe every chance she gets. She joined the Board in 2023 after serving on Boards in Boston and here in Bend. She volunteers because she believes service builds community.