CLUB NEWS
In honor of Pride Month, The Winged M invited several members, and the leader of the club’s LGBTQ+ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employee Network, to share their stories in this space. doubles. Ann played competitive tennis and basketball in high school and college, and we have just convinced her to join a MAC Tennis team.” Both girls took advantage of swim lessons at MAC and, during COVID, Sabine joined the Novice Synchro team, which she says has been a surprising delight for her this year. “Synchro has felt really safe during COVID, and Sabine adores her teacher, Bethany, and her teammates,” Bliss reports. “The girls really miss Joe’s and look forward to it re-opening! One of our favorite features of the club under normal circumstances is that we can all do our own thing — classes, workout, etc. — and then meet up for dinner at the Sports Pub.”
Spouses Desiree Bliss and Ann Miller joined MAC four years ago when their daughters, Sabine and Harper, became more interested in sports. Now 8 and 11, respectively, both girls have found plenty to keep them engaged, bringing their moms along for the ride. “At the club, we found some new family activities such as rock climbing, where we could all participate at different levels, and loved the welcoming staff there on the weekends,” Bliss says. “I started to play tennis and found a warm, fun, and competitive community of friends through the MAC leagues. Harper has also started to enjoy tennis at MAC, and all four of us occasionally reserve a court to play family
Miller and Bliss were married in 2007. The former is vice president, corporate secretary, and chief ethics & compliance officer at Nike, and Bliss works as a consultant to family foundations with a focus on education. Harper is in fifth grade and Sabine is in third at Oregon Episcopal School. Bliss is a volunteer college coach for ScholarMatch and the whole family has volunteered with Oregon Food Bank, Neighborhood House, and PEAR over the years. “Overall, we have found MAC to be welcoming, although we do occasionally get some blank stares at the front desk or have to painstakingly explain that we are a family of four,” Bliss explains. Like many organizations in Portland, there are always opportunities for improvement when it comes to diversity and inclusion!”
“Times change, and at MAC, we are changing with the times and not against them. I feel that we are on the right path, and that it is important for companies and individuals to be open to changes,” says Jeri Gaither, leader of MAC’s LGBTQ+ DEI Employee Network.
“Our diversity networks support club leadership in advancing MAC’s mission to create a more inclusive environment, where underrepresented groups can thrive and flourish. They represent a collective voice around shared interests or concerns that help to promote a more inclusive and respectful workplace.” Gaither has worked at MAC for nine years, and has always been very open about her partner, who is now her wife. Her coworkers embrace who she is, leaving her feeling comfortable and safe. “I do know that not all employees felt as comfortable sharing about their personal relationships as I did,” she acknowledges. “I have had more than one person tell me that because of me, they did feel safe to share later on. As DEI efforts continue, this will grow so that everyone feels MAC is a safe environment to work in.” She adds that there’s so much to love about MAC, and particularly the people. Continued on page 11
Submit information for Faces of MAC to wingedm@themac.com.
JUNE 2021
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