Chris Quaka • President/CEO
For nearly 20 years, Chris has partnered with nonprofits to strengthen local communities. His journey began in AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps where he led teams of 18-24 year olds completing community service projects, including responding to disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, Rita, and Ike. Chris relocated to Redmond, Oregon in 2010 and began his career in fund development at an organization which housed the regional food bank, served Head Start families, and facilitated regional programs to alleviate poverty. Four years later, he joined the team at Community Outreach in Corvallis where after leading their development team for more than three years he was selected as the President and CEO of the Benton Community Foundation in 2017. Surrounded by a talented team of community leaders focused on improving Benton County, Chris led the Foundation’s efforts to deliver more than $1.5 million in charitable giving to more than 95 nonprofits in 2022. He continues to give back today, volunteering as a Rotarian, serving on the Board for Leadership Corvallis and the Board of Imagine Corvallis Action Network. Chris lives in Corvallis with his wife Emily and their three children, Logan, Cady and Ellie.
Lisa Kaufmann • Director of Philanthropic Gifts
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
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!
Bob Longo • Finance Manager
Bob Longo grew up in New Jersey and received his BS from Montclair State University and his MBA from Seton Hall University. He has worked at several Fortune 100-size companies and smaller businesses in the past. Bob has also taught at the local universities and community colleges for many years in the evenings. Currently he is teaching business classes at Oregon State University and Linn-Benton Community College. Bob moved to the area two years ago after spending twenty years working in Klamath Falls. Over the years, Bob has adopted eight teen boys out of the foster care system and now has seven grandchildren.
Erin Gibson • Administration & Database Manager
Erin was born and raised in Corvallis and has lived in the Linn-Benton community for her entire life. For the past eleven years, she has worked at Citizens Bank as a teller, new accounts representative, and operations officer of the downtown Corvallis branch. During her career, Erin has had the opportunity to pursue her passions by establishing strong customer relationships, building organizational effectiveness, and fundraising to help the community. In her free time, Erin enjoys spending time with her husband, Andrew, their kids, Lucy, Theo, and their dog Piper.
Celina Franklin • Scholarship & Administrative Coordinator
Celina grew up in southern California and relocated to the Willamette Valley where she attended college at Linn Benton Community College. Celina has spent the last twelve years of her career building effective relationships within the community through her work in customer service, volunteering, and as a member of the management team at Timberhill Place Assisted Living where she coordinated volunteers, planned events, and responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Celina enjoys the relationships she has established and continues to volunteer for Timberhill Place. Celina lives in Corvallis where she enjoys spending time with her husband Mike, her son Elijah, and stepson, Jacob.