Leadership & Management
Donnie Benjamin has been working at Parrott Creek since 2004. She began her career with Parrott Creek as the Receptionist, was promoted to Office Manager, moved into Payroll, and was then promoted to Human Resources Manager. She says there is never a dull, boring day at Parrott Creek. “My job is to try to balance what’s in the best interest of our employees and the Agency.” In 2018, Donnie received the Judge Blanding Staff Award for her exceptional dedication and contribution to the organization.
Donnie has four grown children and seven grandchildren. She likes to spend weekends at her RV at the beach, travel, go to concerts and plays, and enjoys spending time with her family.
Neil Davies has been working at Parrott Creek since 1994 and in that time has done everything from changing the oil on the vans to being the Program Director. In fact, all of his professional experience has been working with youth. Neil loves the freedom to innovate and move forward that Parrott Creek offers. In his words, “they always have been an agency looking to improve services and have never been satisfied with just good enough.” That is why Parrott Creek has been lucky enough to keep him here for so many years!
In his free time, he listens to a lot of music and attends concerts with his family. During football season (he means the football that involves the round ball and a netted goal) he spends his early morning shouting at the TV.
Simon Fulford is a seasoned nonprofit leader who has worked in the US, UK, France & South Africa. Living in New York from 1992-2004, Simon co-founded and directed Art Start, an arts-education organization serving socially-excluded youth. Art Start was honored with a President’s Service Award in 1997. During the same time, Simon also worked as a photographer and advocate in the disabled community, a role that brought him regularly to Oregon to work with local partners. Returning to England in 2005 Simon project managed the launch of the National Disability Arts Collection & Archive and joined The Prince’s Trust, one of the UK’s leading youth-serving nonprofits, spending three years as a Regional Director. In 2010 Simon became Chief Executive of Khulisa UK, an arm of Khulisa Social Solutions: South Africa’s leading violence-reduction, youth diversion and restorative justice provider.
Simon moved to Oregon in 2016 as both a freelance criminal justice reform advocate and Executive Director of Diagrama Foundation USA, a chapter of Foundacion Diagrama, Spain’s leading provider of juvenile justice and child welfare services with operations in several European countries.
Prior to joining Parrott Creek, Simon spent a year as a senior Program and Policy Analyst for the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA). In this role, Simon led the development of an agency-wide equity framework and definition of an OYA culturally relevant service model. He also co-designed and co-led culture-building initiatives and leadership training for both the exec team and 100+ managers.
Simon was elected to the Restorative Justice Coalition of Oregon’s Coordinating Committee in November 2017 and as its President in 2020. Simon has chaired the Oregon Alliance of Children’s Programs Juvenile Justice Affinity Group since December 2018 and (in his spare time?) is also President of the Sellwood Moreland Improvement League – his local neighborhood association. In all three organizations Simon is actively involved in their diversity, equity and inclusion activities.
Simon is married with three sons and a dog (but he used to think he was a cat person).
Kristin joined Parrott Creek in 2022, bringing over 16 years of experience in contract and systems management, client relations, and marketing, with a particular focus on the healthcare sector. An outspoken mental health advocate, Kristin has a passion for helping people, especially at-risk youth.
In her free time, Kristin enjoys being active, adventuring in the great outdoors, exploring the artistic side of her brain, binging Netflix documentaries, and spending time with her husband, kids and goldendoodle Bosley.
Jane joined Parrott Creek as Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator in October 2022. After graduating with her Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience from Colorado State University, she moved to Oregon without ever having been here before. In 2021 she graduated from OHSU-PSU School of Public Health with a Master’s Degree in Public Health. Jane first became interested in program evaluation when she was an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer and helped her host site develop program evaluation strategies to understand barriers to outdoor recreation programming for people with disabilities. Now working for Parrott Creek, Jane is dedicated to implementing trauma informed practices into our data collection and analysis process, with the goal of helping Parrott Creek make client centered decisions that help the community members we serve live full and healthy lives. Before starting at Parrott Creek, Jane coached recreational and competitive gymnastics and supervised the recreational program.
In her free time, Jane spends every second she can rock climbing, running, or skiing. All of which are made better when she can bring her dog along for the adventure.
With a career rooted in empowering marginalized communities, Darren exemplifies a commitment to systems change and social justice. A proud Oregonian and Air Force veteran, Darren has lobbied in the Oregon Legislature on criminal justice reform, housing as a human right, and environmental policy. His experience leading campaigns and collaborating with nonprofits, government entities, and foundations reflects his community-first mindset—prioritizing solutions that uplift and protect the most vulnerable. As a seasoned consultant and policy specialist, Darren has honed his strategic planning and government affairs expertise to create meaningful, upstream solutions while addressing immediate needs.
Darren’s journey includes serving as a Policy Specialist for the Urban League of Portland, where he worked to improve the lives of Black Oregonians, and leading the Portland ballot measure campaign that established an independent police oversight board. While leading his own consulting firm, he focused on advancing policies that foster safer, more resilient, and equitable communities. Deeply passionate about teamwork and leadership, Darren draws on lessons from his Air Force service, higher education experience, and public affairs work to empower others and drive collective impact. He also serves on multiple boards, including Growing Gardens and Youth Progress, while advocating for a balanced life—reminding everyone to reconnect with nature and embrace the beauty of the outdoors.
Leah has been with Parrott Creek since 2011 and is currently serving as Program Manager of Parrott Creek Ranch. Leah graduated from the University of Oregon in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in Family and Human Services and has been working with youth in juvenile justice system for almost all of her professional life. In her free time Leah enjoys hiking and getting outside. Also an avid soccer fan, Leah takes pride in coaching her niece’s soccer team.
Wendy Lear has devoted over three decades to public sector and non-profit service. Before joining Parrott Creek, Wendy was the Deputy Director for the Multnomah County Health Department. During her 28-year tenure at the County, she held several positions, including acting Health Department Director in 2017. Wendy also worked at Outside In, an organization serving homeless youth. Parrott Creek’s mission, values, and proven results made joining Parrott Creek an easy decision.
Wendy is passionate about serving the community, promoting health equity, safeguarding the most vulnerable, and promoting well-being for all. She finds fulfillment in supporting critical services behind the scenes. She has been recognized for her dedication to cultivating a diverse and thriving workplace that prioritizes safety, trust, and belonging. She brings these values and a commitment to promoting equity to Parrott Creek.
She has lived and worked up and down the West Coast but considers Portland home. Wendy is recently married and has a college-aged son living in San Francisco. She shares her home with her husband, his two young adult children, a part-time dog, and a full-time cat.
Ameyalli joined Parrott Creek in 2021 as Cultural Ecologist. Ameyalli is a recent graduate of Oregon State University with degrees in Sustainability, Fisheries and Wildlife Science with a focus on Native American Ecology, Ethnic Studies with a focus on Native American Studies, and a minor in Spanish. She is Osage and Mazahua, and was raised in the Indigenous communities of Oregon.
Her role focuses on Indigenous land management and ecology with our residential youth, as well as strengthening partnerships with local Native American communities and organizations.
Shawna joined Parrott Creek in 2022 as our Housing Program Manager and brings an extensive background in recovery services. She became a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor in 2007 and began her career at DePaul Youth as a Treatment Assistant, where she worked with both male and female youth on navigating new recovery and building a network of healthy peers. Since then, Shawna served DHS involved women and children at Letty Owings over a period of 10 years, worked in outpatient addictions at Quest Center for Integrative Health with a focus on the LGBTQIA+ community, and managed a No Opiate Pain Management Program. Shawna brings an incredible background in the recovery community, as well as lived experience and 34 years of sobriety.
She is passionate about gardening, kayaking, and playing with her puppy Kiah. She has two adult children, and her life quote is: “Stand in your truth, even if you are the only one standing.
Kim joined Parrott Creek in 2022 when we launched our new Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Program. She’s been serving the community as a SUD Counselor since 2016 when she graduated from Portland Community College with her Associates Degree and a Certificate in Addiction Counseling. Since then, she has received a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from Warner Pacific University and is currently working toward a Master’s Degree in Social Work at . As someone in recovery herself, Kim uses her lived experience and education to help others through their struggles and barriers to be happy, healthy and free from the chains of active addiction. She is a fantastic supervisor and enjoys working with both clients and staff, watching them grow and learn how to be their best self in any situation. Kim enjoys being outside and in any type of water (river, lake, ocean…), and deeply believes that community and connection is the foundation for long term recovery.
Paul Stanzione began working at Parrott Creek as a therapist/case manager for the residential and shelter programs in 2013. He received his Masters in Social Work from PSU and was an intern at Parrott Creek prior to applying for a full time position after graduation. Paul is passionate about working with diverse youth and families and is an advocate for social justice. Parrott Creek has provided him with opportunities to grow professionally and he has become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker during his employment. Prior to Parrott Creek, Paul worked as a skills trainer and caregiver for adults with developmental disabilities in Baltimore, MD and in Portland, OR.
After four years of working at the residential programs, Paul took over the Parrott Creek Lifeguards outpatient program in May of 2017. Paul was excited for this opportunity and has enjoyed taking on different roles for the agency. In 2021, Paul took over as Parrott Creek’s Director of Clinical Services. Both of Paul’s parents are social workers and they say that helping others is “in his blood”. In his free time he enjoys playing sports, traveling, camping, and spending time with his family.
Kate Stover
Residential Clinical Director
Arrow joined Parrott Creek as an intern at the OYA residential program in January of 2017 after she had completed her Associates of Applied Sciences in Corrections at Clackamas Community College. Following her internship, Arrow accepted a full-time offer as a residential counselor. Arrow enjoyed her role as a residential counselor and continued until 2019 when she stepped into the role of a case manager. In 2022, Arrow became the program coordinator where her role was focused on supervising and training residential counselors. Arrow is now the program manager for the OYA program and is excited about her new role and responsibilities.
At work, Arrow is passionate about training and supporting staff so they can be active and engaged residential counselors. Arrow is also passionate about social justice and restorative justice, and promotes these values daily in her work in the residential program. Arrow loves to get the youth engaged in fun games, creating unique art, and going on exciting outings.
In her free time, Arrow loves to go camping with her husband and young daughter, enjoys doing all sorts of different crafts, and admires cows.
Elle joined Parrott Creek in June 2020 as a residential counselor. Since starting her PCR journey, she has held the roles of residential counselor, case manager, medical coordinator, screening and intake coordinator, and is currently serving as Program Manager for the ODHS program. Elle Graduated from Northwest Christian University in 2019 with her Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies. Elle is passionate about working with youth in the system and feels deeply that all youth deserve a chance as they do the best they can with what they are given. In her free time, Elle enjoys exercising, finding new places to explore, traveling, working on her garden and house, and spending time with her friends and family.
Colton Hemenway
Residential Program Manager
Payton joined Parrott Creek in 2022 as an intern while completing an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice. Since then, she has grown within the organization–first serving as a Residential Counselor, then as a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counselor, and now as the Program Coordinator for Parrott Creek’s outpatient SUD program. Payton holds a B.S. in Psychology and Human Development from Warner Pacific and will begin a Master’s in Social Work program in 2025.
Ambitious and growth-oriented, she is always seeking new opportunities to learn, apply evidence-based practices, and lead by example. She is deeply committed to social justice and ensures equity is embedded in both the services she provides and the culture she fosters within her team. With a strong belief in meeting clients where they are, she strives to create trauma-informed environments where youth, adults, and families feel seen, supported, and safe.
She is especially passionate about supporting others on their recovery journey-whether it’s planting the first seeds of change or witnessing someone begin to thrive, she finds true meaning through supporting clients to be successful. For Payton, this work is not only a profession but a calling.
In her free time, Payton enjoys advocating for social change, paddleboarding when the Oregon weather allows, riding her motorcycle, hiking, traveling, attending concerts, and playing with her cats.
Guess first started working with Parrott Creek in 2017, spending six years at our Residential Treatment Program in roles such as Residential Counselor, Case Manager, and Program Coordinator while completing both her Bachelors in Social Work through Concordia University – Portland, as well as her Masters in Social Work through Portland State University. Though those first six years with Parrott Creek were spent working with at-risk youth in the juvenile justice and/or foster care system, through her education, Guess was able to gain experience in working with elementary aged youth in the education system, as well as survivors of domestic and sexual violence in an outpatient setting. Now working towards her LCSW, Guess is the therapist and manager of our Outpatient Mental Health Program, working with clients as young as 12 years old and all the way up through adulthood. She specializes in trauma, anxiety, and depression.
When not serving her clients or community, Guess fills her time with the outdoors (whether that’s on a river, a trail, or the coast, who knows!), or with her family, doing whatever serves them best in the moment.
