First-Year Trustees See Strength in Diverse Perspectives

By Jake Ten Pas

New Class Brings Range of Perspective & Experience to Club Leadership

As this issue of The Winged M repeatedly calls out, it’s Women’s History Month, and MAC just elected three accomplished women first-year trustees — and a successful independent thinker of a man — to join the eight individuals already serving. That suggests a felicitous convergence of events, yet every one of these new additions to club governance was chosen for their talents and ability to enhance the club’s future.

Diversity comes in many forms, from race, heritage, or gender identity to age, experience, and perspective. All of the members of this new quartet set to play MAC governance into the future extoll the strength inherent in being guided by many voices. They also bring disparate views, résumés, and personal histories to the table that don’t necessarily dovetail with their outward appearances.

So, what makes a member want to become a trustee, and what combination of attributes suit them to the roll? Read on to learn more about Heather Chapman, Julie Kim, Tina Lee, and Tory McVay, the fearless foursome who are ready, willing, and able to lend their expertise and enthusiasm to enhancing all members’ second home.

Heather Chapman

“Listening is always a good start, and I plan to do a lot of it, respecting the many traditions that make the MAC unique.”

Heather Chapman is well aware of the excellent work that has already been done to further MAC’s strategy, and it only makes her more passionate about bringing a balanced perspective to decision-making. A club member through many life stages, she hopes to bring multiple perspectives to the table during her time as a trustee. Chapman hopes her experience leading diverse, global teams in operations, technology, consumer engagement, and healthcare will be an asset to the organization.

“I was looking for a new board opportunity with an organization that I believed in and was committed to long term. The MAC has been part of my life for over 30 years, and I hope to stay active in the community

for 30 more!” she says. “I was attracted to the varied responsibilities of the position, and the opportunity to continue the excellent work already completed to encourage community, diversity, and engagement for all members.”

Having worn many hats in her career including technologist, team leader, and business strategist, Chapman believes that it’s people that make an organization great. She says she enjoys building relationships and looks forward to learning about the many talents within the BOT and broader MAC community.

“I am always amazed at how the MAC fits into many aspects of one’s life. You can find supportive communities that help you reach health and fitness goals and foster friendships. There are programs to support juniors as they grow. It is also a wonderful venue for family celebrations and just relaxing and enjoying life,” she explains.

This holistic view of the club translates to an emphasis on inclusion for Chapman, who strives to create environments that feel welcoming and honor the uniqueness that each individual brings to the world.

“Communities are stronger when a variety of perspectives are valued. Making the world a better place is an audacious goal, but we all can effect change. Influencing the local community is a great start!”

Julie Kim

“I am excited to further understand what is important to members so that we can continue to ensure that the Club is a positive institution in their lives.”

Julie Kim joined MAC through the Diversity Admissions Program 20 years ago, when she was still in the early years of her career as a gastroenterologist. Since then, Kim and her family have used the club in so many ways related to where they were in their life journey. It started with exercising after work while her son was in Child Care, followed by him progressing through Youth Programs to adult workouts. Most recently, Kim joined the MAC Tennis community and has been volunteering in the committee system.

“I hope I will be able to help the MAC continue to be an open and inclusive environment where members feel welcome and

confident so that they will challenge themselves to be healthy, learn, and grow. The club gives us opportunities to improve our health and fitness and gives us a beautiful space to socialize, network, and create new friendships,” she says.

Kim remains committed to push herself to try new things. She recently was invited to learn squash and has already have been embraced by a community that is passionate about introducing new people to the sport. She plans to challenge herself further by taking a MAC Fit class and trying out yoga and boxing.

“Prior to joining, I had never played a competitive sport. I started learning tennis with clinics in the evenings and was encouraged to join a MAC team. I have met so many amazing people on the courts. What brings us together is this little bright yellow ball, our nemesis!”

Kim’s past few years as a volunteer in the MAC committee system have seen her reflecting on the infrastructure that supports her and her family’s experiences. She has enjoyed meeting club leaders, legacy members, incredible athletes, and new DAC applicants.

“I would like to help the MAC continue to grow and excel. Not only by being an ambassador through DAC, but also by being a steward to keep the club fiscally strong. I believe creative strategies going forward will help the MAC continue its journey to be a welcoming and amazing place for all members.”

Tina Lee

“I am devoted to keeping MAC a vibrant community, especially as downtown Portland continues to face its own challenges. How can MAC be a part of that recovery?”

Now that her three children have grown up, Tina Lee says she has time to give back to the institutions that are important to her. When Lee and her husband, Nelson Lam, moved from New York to Portland, they didn’t know anyone, and MAC quickly became their home away from home.

“It kept my children engaged and supported me and my husband in maintaining an active lifestyle. With its extensive list of sports and activities, MAC helped each of us find what suited us best. Along the way, we also met some wonderful people, and the club contributed to building and reinforcing friendships.”

Since Lee joined her first MAC committee, she’s viewed these attributes of club life through the lens of her time as a managing director and COO at an investment advisory firm, as well as additional professional and personal experiences. From serving on other boards, she learned to work collaboratively, and as a generalist running a business, she came to appreciate the complexity of keeping a sophisticated operation going. Raising a family

clarified the importance of learning what all members need to thrive, including herself.

“Discovering one’s inner athlete is a key part of the MAC journey! Some people have been athletes all their lives; I am not one of those people,” Lee says. “When we moved to Oregon and joined MAC, my initial focus was on my children and their participation. At an Annual Meeting, I heard about a woman who picked up weightlifting later in life and decided it wasn’t too late for me to find an athletic pursuit.”

While she hasn’t won any medals, trying a variety of pursuits and meeting new people along the way has been very enjoyable. Lee has practiced yoga for more than 20 years, which has helped her maintain strength and flexibility for the next opportunity that arises.

She hopes MAC becomes the place where individuals, young and old alike, convene to experience every facet of existence. “With our lives becoming increasingly digital and virtual on both the personal and professional fronts, it is easy to become discontent and disconnected from reality. Adults and children alike are at their best when meeting face to face in the real world.”

Tory McVay

“I have a desire to make everything I’m involved in the best it can be. It’s just ingrained in my personality.”

Tory McVay has been impressed with the MAC experience since he joined in 2021. From the quality of the exercise equipment, locker rooms, restaurants, and social spaces,

to the multitude of classes and activities, he describes the whole package as top-notch. As opportunities have popped up to further elevate the club, he’s taken them gladly.

“I have a lot of experience serving on boards and working with boards. I’m passionate about making the MAC experience the best it can be to encourage member engagement and generational membership,” he says, adding that he’s interested in learning everything he can about club business, policies, procedures, and offerings. “I felt that being a trustee would enrich my MAC experience and help me build relationships with other members.”

In his banking career, McVay says that his credit union’s executive team works closely with its board of directors, and his volunteer experience has only deepened his appreciation of how such groups can work together for the common good.

“I have served on boards for our local youth sports associations and various community engagement committees and have been a North Clackamas School Board member since 2012. I contribute creative ideas, and I also listen to and appreciate other members’ ideas.”

McVay says that he and his wife have always cared deeply about making their community a great place to live and given as much as they could to improve the world for their family and all those in their community. “Having a sense of pride in your community — whether that be MAC, your school, your local community, or the world — motivates people to be engaged and willing to contribute their time and energy.”