Louise-Annette Burgess • Scholarship Manager
louiseannette(at)bcfgives(dot)org
Louise-Annette Burgess brings over two decades of leadership, creativity, and community engagement to every role she undertakes. As Scholarship Manager at the Benton Community Foundation, she supports educational advancement by managing scholarship programs with precision and care. Her diverse career spans executive leadership, nonprofit development, teaching, and entrepreneurship. A skilled organizer and strategist, Louise-Annette has spearheaded initiatives ranging from grant writing and event planning to curriculum development and team leadership. Her deep commitment to community shines through her extensive volunteer work, including being a founding member of the Whiteside Theatre Foundation, leadership roles in the Corvallis Historic Auto Club, Corvallis Community Theatre, Corvallis Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, and mentoring through SMART Reading.
She is also a published author, contributing to The Gratitude Book Project, and holds certifications in nonprofit management, TEFL, and youth mental health. A passionate advocate for arts and education, Louise-Annette blends her passion for creativity and empowerment with a track record of tangible impact. She resides in Oregon with her spouse, Michael and their daughter, E.
Bri Esquivel • Development Coordinator
bri(at)bcfgives(dot)org
Bri Esquivel brings more than 17 years of experience in the nonprofit sector to her role as Development Coordinator at the Benton Community Foundation. Her career began in 2008 and has spanned a wide range of responsibilities—from fundraising and event management to program administration, communications, and operations.
Before joining BCF, Bri served as a key staff member of the CHP 11-99 Foundation in Southern California, where she managed the organization’s scholarship program, coordinated major annual fundraising events, led special projects, and supported day-to-day organizational operations. Her ability to wear many hats and her commitment to mission-driven work have been hallmarks of her career.
After relocating to Oregon with her family in November 2024, Bri continued consulting for the CHP 11-99 Foundation before stepping into her current role at BCF. She is excited to bring her experience, energy, and relationship-building skills to support philanthropy throughout Benton County.
Outside of work, Bri enjoys singing & playing violin, playing volleyball, spending time at the beach and outdoors, and being with her husband, Maceo, and their son, Ocean.
Jess Jacobs • Finance Manager
jess(at)bcfgives(dot)org
Jess Jacobs grew up in Northwest Arizona and received his BS from Arizona State University and his MBA from Grand Canyon University. His career has been dedicated to higher education including roles at Mohave Community College in Arizona, Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma, and his current position as Director of Accounting & Budget at Linn-Benton Community College. His role at Linn-Benton also involves working directly with the LBCC Foundation on all financial matters. Jess and his family moved to Corvallis in 2015. In his free time, Jess enjoys basketball and spending time with his wife, Brandi, and their children Paige, Cason, Neely, and Reed.
Brandon Kasteler • Operations Manager
brandon(at)bcfgives(dot)org
With a love for “building awesome things with awesome people that make an impact in the world,” Brandon brings more than a decade of leadership experience in technology, operations, and project management to BCF. Prior to joining BCF, Brandon served in leadership roles across education technology, AI software, and logistics, where he built systems and teams while bringing clarity to complex operational work.
Alongside his professional work, Brandon has volunteered as a literacy tutor and mentor, experiences that helped deepen his appreciation for mission-driven work and community impact. When not at work, you’ll likely find Brandon either in the woods or on the coast exploring or relaxing alongside his wife and two children.
Lisa Kaufmann • Director of Philanthropic Gifts
lisa(at)bcfgives(dot)org
With twelve years of experience in the nonprofit field, Lisa has worked to develop and implement successful strategic plans to raise funds in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner, build a strong development team, and oversee the management of individual, corporate, planned, and annual giving campaigns. From 2008 to 2020, Lisa worked to transform the nonprofit community in San Diego and the San Francisco Bay Area through her role as Director of Development at Autism Tree Project Foundation, based in San Diego, California. During this time, Lisa helped develop partnerships with University of California Davis MIND Institute, Takeda, Stanford University, University of California San Diego, San Jose State University, San Diego State University, University of San Diego, The Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, and the Salk Institute. Lisa has been married thirteen years to her husband AJ, and they are proud parents of two boys, Breccan and Calvin.
Brittany Kennedy • Director of Grants & Programs
brittany(at)bcfgives(dot)org
Before arriving at BCF, Brittany was most recently employed at the City of Adair Village where for the past 8 years she focused on youth development, event coordination, volunteer management, and grant writing. Brittany first came to know Corvallis when she received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agricultural Sciences from Oregon State University. After her husband Matt accepted a position at OSU in 2008, Brittany moved to Philomath where she, Matt and their children Easton and Presleigh still live today. Brittany is an avid baseball fan and enjoys spending spring and summer at ball games supporting the Beavers and Knights!
Chris Quaka • President/CEO
chris(at)bcfgives(dot)org
For nearly 20 years, Chris has partnered with nonprofits to strengthen local communities. His journey began on the East Coast leading AmeriCorps teams as they completed community service projects and responded to disasters. After relocating to Central Oregon in 2010, Chris was hired at a regional nonprofit to improve the financial support of their early child-care & education programs, food bank and support other initiatives designed to alleviate the effects of poverty. Four years later, he moved to Corvallis to lead Community Outreach’s fundraising efforts supporting people experiencing homelessness. Chris was hired as BCF’s President and CEO in 2017 and today leads the Foundation as it delivers more than $2.0 million in charitable giving annually. Surrounded by a talented team of community leaders focused on improving the lives of people in Benton County, he continues to give back today, serving on the Board for Leadership Corvallis, the Oregon Disaster Funders Network and volunteering as a Rotarian. Chris lives in Corvallis with his wife Emily and their three children, Logan, Cady and Ellie.
Marianne Tambot • Executive Administrative Assistant
marianne(at)bcfgives(dot)org
Marianne brings over 9 years of experience in nonprofit and community-based organizations with her to BCF. Prior to joining BCF, Marianne worked at Community Outreach where she provided comprehensive administrative support to the leadership team and assisted in fundraising efforts. Marianne moved to Albany in 2013 from the Bay Area to attend Oregon State University, where she received a B.S. in Public Health. Outside of work, Marianne enjoys traveling to new destinations and baking sweet treats.