UCP's Board of Directors is made up of a diverse and dedicated group of individuals.

​Some use UCP's services or are parents of people who utilize UCP's services. Others experience cerebral palsy or another disability. Many are leaders in the business and non-profit community.

Each member has been selected because they share a passion for our mission and values. They also have the skills, time and integrity necessary to support our work, and to serve as a representative for the organization in the broader community. ​

​PETER BLASCO, MD (FAMILY SUPPORT TASK FORCE)

Dr. Peter Blasco’s first faculty position was at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, where he headed the clinical programs for muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and high-risk neonates.
 
His connection to UCP goes back to the 1980’s, when UCP National contacted him to assist with the issue of drooling in children with CP, a topic that had been almost totally ignored in the medical community. Dr. Blasco was able to direct several drooling-related projects and over the next 20 years kept connected with UCP National, even trying to start a UCP affiliate in Virginia, but it fizzled out after a couple of years.
 
When Dr. Blasco moved to Portland in 1999, he was asked to join the local UCP Board. He did so happily and has spent most of the intervening years supporting the Board’s Family Support Task Force and UCP’s Family Support Conference. He also served as the leader of the Board’s now-defunct Adult CP Task Force.
 
Professionally, Dr. Blasco specialized in Pediatrics and subspecialized in what is known as Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. He is currently retired but still sees patients at clinics he covers for colleagues.
 
Dr. Blasco says that he loves “everything” about UCP, especially “the focus on family and on integration into the community.” His favorite UCP moments are the open discussion times during the Family Support Conference presentations, and when he gets to see his former patients and their parents at the Walk, Roll ‘n’ Run.

NANCY CICIRELLO, PT, MPH, EDD (Board Recruitment)

Nancy Cicirello, PT, MPH, EdD has been on UCP’s Board since 2008. She spent one year serving as the Vice President, two years as President, and four years as Board Secretary.

She has worked in pediatric physical therapy since 1975, including working in a private outpatient clinic and a school district, and serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Fiji Islands. In 2015, she retired from Pacific University, having served as a Professor in the School of Physical Therapy, College of Health Professions.

Nancy takes a special interest in UCP’s work with aging individuals, especially in our Supported Employment and Supported Living Departments. She is also proud of the support UCP provides to families.

Some of Nancy’s favorite UCP memories are attending the Walk, Roll, ‘n’ Run, and listening to the always meaningful presentations at the annual Friend’s Breakfast.

​AMY FERRELL

Amy Ferrell is a customer of UCP’s Supported Living Program, and has been on UCP’s Board of Directors since 2000. She joined our Board to learn and to advocate for friends who also receive services from UCP. Each year, she takes particular pleasure in participating in the Walk, Roll ‘n’ Run, and is one of the top fundraisers for this event. She has many great memories from her time with UCP; one of her favorites is of when she and her mother finished most of the WRR route together.
 
Amy works for The Center for Medically Fragile Children at Providence Child Center. She is a Librarian/Aide and works alongside the nurses, helping them care for the children who live in the Center.

JOHN GRIFFITHS

John Griffiths is a long-time self-advocate and activist in the field of developmental and intellectual disabilities. John has been instrumental in the creation of UCP Oregon’s This is Our Voice project.
 
He has served on various advisory panels and the boards of several I/DD advocacy groups.

GRANT GUERNSEY (DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE)

Grant Guernsey joined the UCP Board in October of 2019.
 
Grant is a Commercial Real Estate Consultant at Kidder Mathews, and has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Oregon State University.
 
Grant worked with a UCP Oregon Board member (Michael Steen) at Beneficial State Bank and works in the same industry another Board member (Sean Heaton). Mike invited Grant to run on the Beneficial State Bank team for UCP Oregon’s Walk, Roll ‘n’ Run (known as the WRR). As Grant says, “I knew the moment I showed up to the event, I had to get involved.”
 
Grant is looking forward to becoming involved in UCP’s fundraising efforts—in particular, helping UCP grow event sponsorships.
 
Grant says that the disabilities cause is very close to his heart. During college, he volunteered on projects to create inclusive environments for people who experience disabilities. This included building wheelchair ramps, putting on holiday themed dance parties with the ARC, and raising money through Greek system philanthropy. He also helped start the Oregon State University chapter of Best Buddies and served as their Vice President.
 
The summer after college, Grant was part of a team that bicycled across the country to fundraise money for people who experience disabilities. The team raised $750K, which went to support The Ability Experience, a foundation owned by Grant’s fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi.

JOHN HANCOCK (BOARD DEVELOPMENT CHAIR; Member of UCP National Board of Directors)

John is the current chair of the Board Recruitment Committee. He also serves on as a member of the UCP National Board of Directors. 

​He retired from Moss Adams LLP.

SEAN HEATON (BOARD President; Finance & Investment Committees Chair)

Sean Heaton is UCP Oregon's current Board President. He also serves as the Finance & Investment Committees Chair.

JENNY HOYT (FAMILY SUPPORT TASK FORCE)

Jenny serves on the Family Support Task Force.

Molly Holsapple (HR COMMITTEE CHAIR; Diversity Task Force)

Molly Holsapple joined the Board in 2019. She chairs the Board’s HR Committee and serves on the Diversity Task Force. 
 
Molly joined the UCP board because she has had the greatest respect for the work of the Board and the staff, especially while UCP has been growing and focusing even more on being customer driven.  She also is an individual who experiences cerebral palsy and recognizes its lifelong impact.
​   
Molly has spent a career and lifetime as an advocate and implementer of quality supports for employment and a full life for persons with disabilities, primarily persons with developmental disabilities.
 
She has worked at a community nonprofit, county and/or state levels within Vocational Rehabilitation and/or Developmental Disabilities in Oregon and Virginia. 
 
She has spent more than 40 years serving as a leader in the systems improvement that has helped expand opportunities for people who experience disabilities—from an institutional setting to the community; from a workshop to community-based, individualized employment; from slot-based to true person-centered services through policy change; rate reform; the development of Oregon’s brokerage system; and support for interagency and broad-based collaboration and problem solving.
 
Since her retirement in 2012, Molly has assisted provider organizations and government agencies with policy analysis, staff training, messaging, and storytelling in support of the Employment First initiative.​

MICHAEL STEEN (PAST PRESIDENT)

Michael Steen says that cerebral palsy “has been part of my life since day one, providing a certain amount of richness to embrace.”

​He joined UCP’s Board in 2009, and has served as UCP’s Board President in the past. He has also served on the Community Services Task Force, Investment Committee, HR Committee, and Finance Committee. 

Michael very much appreciates that UCP is focused on enriching the lives of the the people we serve, with the goal of full inclusion. He is proud of UCP’s strong reputation for the services we are entrusted to provide.

He attended Linfield College, earning a BS in Business Administration. Having worked in banking for over 20 years , Michael is currently a Small Business Portfolio Manager for Beneficial State Bank.

He says that, “I’m a bit of a health nut. Possibly this is due to having CP or possibly it is simply actually listening to Mom’s advice, but whatever motivating reason is, I’m pleased that a healthy diet (and a physically active lifestyle) has kept me able to participate in all that life has to offer.”

Tina Stracener

Tina says that, “First and foremost, I am a mom.” Her future plans took a turn when she gave birth to a daughter who is medically fragile with a complex seizure disorder and cerebral palsy. Tina soon found herself immersed understanding the unique needs of this girl who required her full-time care.
 
When her daughter was four years old, Tina reached out to UCP Oregon, and was able to discover a new sense of kinship and support, especially when connecting with other parents who are raising children like hers. Tina and her family feel very fortunate to have received so much support over the years.
 
Tina joined UCP Oregon’s Board in 2023 because she feels like has the experience and voice to contribute. She has so much respect for UCP and the services it provides, and is proud to help in any way she can.