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VOTING BEGINS JANUARY 12TH

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Meet the Leaders Behind
STRONGER TOGETHER

Nurses and healthcare professionals from every corner of Oregon, leading with experience, collaboration, and purpose.

When members lead, Oregon wins.

The leaders behind STRONGER TOGETHER represent bedside nurses, advanced practice providers, LPNs, educators, and healthcare professionals from rural communities, major metro areas, and everything in between. Together, they represent decades of experience, deep commitment to members, and a shared belief in what ONA can achieve when we lead together.

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As Board and organizational leaders, they are committed to transparent governance, safe staffing, strong contracts, and a vision of ONA that remains member-driven: every member. every voice.

President / ANA Delegate
Chris Rompala
Vice President / ANA Delegate
Breanna Zabel
Secretary
Frances Robbins
Treasurer
Richard Botterill
Board of Directors
John Nangle
Elizabeth Lepire
Fred Katz 
Benjamin Else
Michelle Chau-Allied Health Professional
Libby Farley-New Graduate RN
Chair of Cabinet on Professional Practice
Linda Bifano 
Chair of Cabinet on Health Policy
Virginia Smith
Labor Cabinet
Crow Bolt

WHEN MEMBERS LEAD, OREGON WINS

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"Standing together in solidarity isn’t just a slogan. It’s how we survive and how we win."

PRESIDENT
ANA DELEGATE

Chris Rompala 

MS, BSN, RN, CNOR

POSITION: Candidate for President / ANA Delegate

WORKPLACE: PeaceHealth SacredHeart Medical Center, Riverbend – Springfield/Eugene, OR

Over the past decade working in health care, most of it in the operating room, I’ve seen firsthand how much our work and our workplaces have changed. Through it all, I’ve learned that strong leadership and genuine connection across our union are what keep us moving forward. Whether it’s at the bedside, in the OR, or in collaboration with the many professionals represented by ONA, I’ve seen the power of solidarity to turn shared challenges into collective action. With major changes happening at both the state and federal levels, now is the time for every member to be informed, engaged, and connected.


For the past five years, I’ve served as Chair of my bargaining unit and participated in negotiations for our last two contracts. When I was first elected to our BU’s executive team, and later became chair, COVID-19 was just beginning to reshape our profession. I made it my priority to ensure that every member, across every unit, had a way to raise their concerns and be heard. That commitment to inclusion and communication continues to guide my work today.


Looking ahead, I believe one of the most important ways we can strengthen our union is by investing in our member leaders. The old “trial by fire” approach may have worked in the past, but getting by is no longer enough. We need to be intentional, strategic, and proactive in how we develop and support leaders. Transparency is also key; members deserve to understand the “why” behind every major decision taken by the Board. Just like in our workplaces, change works best when the people most affected are part of the conversation.


It’s been an honor to serve on the ONA Board of Directors for the past three years and on the Executive and Finance committees for the last two. This work matters deeply to me because it ensures that every member I represent has a real voice at the Board level, and I take that representation very seriously.


In these challenging times, standing together in solidarity isn’t just a slogan. It’s how we survive and how we win. As your president, I’ll keep fighting for what’s right, even when it’s hard, and I’ll keep making sure your voice is heard: every member, every voice. As we all know, we are Stronger Together! I hope my colleagues on the Stronger Together slate and I can count on your support.


ONA Leadership Experience:

  • 2019–present - SHMC-ONA Executive Team, Chair

  • 2022–present - ONA Board of Directors, Member-at-large

  • 2025 - Oregon Labor Candidate School graduate

  • 2023–2024 - Cascade Region Labor Leadership Initiative graduate

  • 2020–2024 - Cabinet on Health Policy

  • 2020, 2024 - AFT delegate

  • 2021, 2023, 2024 - ANA delegate

  • 2021–2022 - Cabinet on Organizing

  • 2020, 2022 - ONA HOD delegate

  • 2021 - ONA Nurse Leadership Institute

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"My goal has always been simple — to make it easier for every healthcare professional to stand up for themselves, their patients, and each other, because when we do that, we change everything."

VICE PRESIDENT ANA DELEGATE

Breanna Zabel

BSN, RN

POSITION: Candidate for Vice President / ANA Delegate

WORKPLACE: Providence Medford Medical Center, Medford, OR – Southern Oregon Region

I’m proud to stand with the STRONGER TOGETHER slate because our union needs leadership grounded in real bedside experience, disciplined in its approach, and focused on strengthening the power nurses have earned. My experience caring for patients in hospitals across the country has shaped a deep commitment to safer, more respectful workplaces. Today, as an RN at Providence Medford Medical Center, that commitment drives my work for safe staffing, strong patient protections, and dignity for every healthcare professional.


My work as an ONA Board member, Staffing Committee Co-Chair, and Local President at PMMC has provided me with a clear understanding of what effective union leadership entails. I helped lead the largest healthcare strike in Oregon history, not because it was easy, but because it was necessary. And I have been deeply involved in implementing and enforcing Oregon’s first-in-the-nation safe staffing law, pushing to ensure that it produces measurable improvements where they matter most: in the quality of care our patients receive, and in the working conditions our nurses depend on.


I am currently pursuing my Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) degree, developing the clinical and analytical skills that will shape my future practice and strengthen the nursing profession. My doctoral work reinforces a belief I’ve held throughout my career: frontline nurses must have meaningful influence in the systems that govern their work.


My leadership has also connected me with nurses and unions across the country who are organizing for safer workplaces and stronger contracts. STRONGER TOGETHER is the platform that reflects what I know from experience: when we are coordinated, steady, and united, we win. I’m running to ensure ONA keeps moving in that direction.


ONA Leadership Experience:

  • 2025–present | President, Providence Medford Medical Center (PMMC) Bargaining Unit 

  • 2025–present | Director, ONA Board of Directors

  • 2025–present | ONA-Providence Coalition Coordinating Committee

  • 2025-present | Member, ONA & Providence Healthcare Workgroup

  • 2025 | Collective Bargaining Institute, University of Oregon – LERC

  • 2024–present | Vice President, ONA Constituent Association 4 (CA4) 

  • 2024–present | Co-Chair, PMMC Nurse Staffing Committee 

  • 2024–present | Union Steward, PMMC

  • 2023–2025 | Contract Action Team (CAT) Leader, PMMC

  • 2024 | Delegate, ONA House of Delegates (CA4)

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"My passion for advocacy began in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps, and it has guided every step of my work since."

SECRETARY

Frances Robbins

DBA, MIH, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC

POSITION: Candidate for Secretary

WORKPLACE: Chemeketa Community College and NeuStart Psychiatry & TMS | Region 4

I’m proud to be part of the STRONGER TOGETHER slate because our union needs unity, stability, and leaders focused on delivering real results for nurses across Oregon. I have been a registered nurse for more than 30 years and a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner for 13 years. I am the owner and founder of NeuStart Psychiatry & TMS, an outpatient practice led by PMHNPs, and I teach nursing at Chemeketa Community College. My career has centered on supporting patients, strengthening colleagues, and improving the systems that make high-quality care possible.


My passion for advocacy began in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps, where I led behavioral health and suicide-prevention initiatives. That experience taught me the importance of clear communication, sound organizational practices, and collaboration built on trust. These values are core to the STRONGER TOGETHER platform: a functional union culture, a member-driven approach to decisions, and respect for the professional expertise of ONA’s staff and elected leaders.


With a Doctorate in Business Administration, I bring extensive experience in operations, leadership, and strategic planning. I know how to navigate complex systems, support effective teams, and keep decisions grounded in evidence and long-term goals. STRONGER TOGETHER is committed to rebuilding stability at ONA, strengthening our power, improving communication, and ensuring members have real influence while staff have the autonomy they need to do their jobs effectively.


I’m running to refocus ONA on its core mission: protecting our practice, advancing safe patient care, and ensuring every member’s voice is valued and heard.

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ONA Leadership Experience:

  • 2025–Present - Business Owner Member, Workforce & Talent Development Board (Governor-Appointed), Advise Oregon on equitable workforce and training strategies across sectors.

  • 2024–Present - Secretary, Nurse Practitioners of Oregon (NPO), Elected officer of ONA’s advanced practice group; responsible for board coordination and communications.

  • 2024–Present - Member, ONA Health Policy Cabinet, Advise on statewide nursing policy, including behavioral health and workforce development.

  • 2024–Present - Nursing Instructor, Chemeketa Community College, Lead faculty for Oregon’s first LPN-to-RN Apprenticeship Program; mentor diverse nursing students.

  • 2024 - Delegate, ONA House of Delegates (At-Large), Represented at-large constituents in ONA’s highest decision-making body.

  • 2022–2024 - District Representative, Nurse Practitioners of Oregon (NPO), Represented regional NPO members and contributed to statewide policy work.

  • 2017–Present - Small Business Owner, NeuStart Psychiatry, Operate a multi-site outpatient mental health practice serving Oregonians across regions.

  • 2007–2017 - U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps Officer, Held multiple leadership roles including Element Leader and Launch & Recovery Nurse during global deployments.

  • 2014–2016 - Program Director, Substance Abuse & Suicide Prevention, U.S. Air Force (Kadena AB), Led prevention and behavioral health programs for a military population of 14,000.

  • 2003–2006 - Diabetic Foot Care Specialist RN, Port Townsend, WA, Provided diabetic teaching, foot and nail care in local nursing homes; supported residents and staff with preventive care.​

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"I am committed to strengthening our union so every nurse in Oregon receives the safety, respect, dignity, fair treatment, wages, and healthcare we have earned and deserve."

TREASURER

Richard Botterill

BSN, RN

POSITION: Candidate for Treasurer

WORKPLACE: Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR

I’m proud to be part of the STRONGER TOGETHER slate because I believe our union needs thoughtful, experienced leadership that brings financial discipline, respect for members, and a commitment to protecting the wins we’ve achieved together. I came to nursing later in life, graduating with my BSN from the University of Portland in 2010 at age 57. While at UP, I served as president of the Oregon Student Nurses Association and as a board member of the Student Nurses Union.


Before becoming a nurse, I worked in information technology in London and New York, and after moving to Portland in 1978, I spent 25 years at US Bank as an assistant vice president and IT network and distributed computing manager. Those years in management gave me substantial experience in budgeting, systems oversight, and organizational leadership; skills that would directly support my work as Treasurer.


For the past 15 years, I have been an RN in the Providence Portland Medical Center Emergency Department and have served on five negotiating teams. Since August 2021, I have chaired both the ONA PPMC executive team and the negotiating team, and I also serve as an Emergency Department representative on the HNSC.


For the past three years, I have served on the ONA Board of Directors. I am committed to continuing this work and to representing nurses across Oregon as we fight for the safety, dignity, fair treatment, wages, healthcare, and sick time we have earned.

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ONA Leadership Experience:

  • 2024–2025 - Emergency Department Representative PPMC Nurse Staffing Committee

  • 2022–Current - Board Member, Oregon Nurses Association Board of Directors

  • 2019–2021 - Vice Chair PPMC ONA Executive & Bargaining Team

  • 2017–2018 - Chair PNCC

  • 2015–2018 - Officer PPMC ONA Executive & Bargaining Team

  • 2013–2014 - PPMC Steward

  • 2010 - OSNA Convention Director

  • 2009–2010 - President University of Portland Student Nurses Union

  • 2009–2010 - Board Member Oregon Student Nurses Union

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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"More than twenty years of ONA leadership have taught me one truth: when nurses lead, our profession moves forward."

John Nangle

RN, CEN

POSITION: Candidate for Board of Directors

WORKPLACE: St. Charles Health Center Bend, Bend, OR – Central Oregon Region

I’m proud to be part of the STRONGER TOGETHER slate because our union works best when experienced leaders stay focused on stability, collaboration, and strengthening the voice of nurses across Oregon. I am a registered nurse on the PACU at the Bend St. Charles facility, and I began my nursing and union advocacy career at Kaiser Oakland, working in the medical ICU and serving as the California Nurses Association ICU unit representative.


I’ve been a bedside nurse for 26 years and moved to Bend in 2002. Since then, I’ve been consistently involved with ONA both locally and statewide, advocating for stronger contracts, fair working conditions, safe staffing, and Just Cause protections for nurses and allied caregivers. I’ve chaired every local ONA Bend committee, including serving as bargaining unit chair and staffing committee co-chair. I’ve also led multiple CAT campaigns and served as an ONA release-time nurse on several major contract efforts.


From 2017 to 2019, I served on the ONA Board of Directors, helping strengthen our member-driven structure and ensuring decisions were grounded in transparency, preparation, and practical leadership. I currently serve on the ONA Labor Cabinet, continuing that work.


STRONGER TOGETHER is committed to a union that functions effectively, supports staff expertise, and gives members the tools they need to advocate for themselves and for the profession.


I’m running to help keep ONA member-led, stable, and focused on what matters most: protecting our communities and strengthening our power statewide.

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ONA Leadership Experience:

  • 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022 ONA Negotiating Team Member (2013 – 2018 BU Chair) – St. Charles Bend

  • 2012–2022 - Staffing Committee ED/SSU Representative (2016–2020 Co-Chair) St. Charles Bend

  • 2007, 2010, 2018, 2022 - CAT Lead  (2018, 2022 ONA Release Time Nurse) St. Charles Bend

  • 2017–2019 - ONA BOD Member

  • 2015–2017 - Oregon Nurse Staffing Collaborative

  • 2011–2014 - Initiated a Shared Governance Model – St. Charles Bend

  • 2007–2012 - PNCC Member (2009 – 2012 Chair) – St Charles Bend

  • 2004–2008 - Unit Representatives Chair – St. Charles Bend 

  • 2003–2007 - Initiated a Green Council to reduce medical waste – St Charles Bend

  • ​1999–2001 - California Nurses Association Unit Representative – Kaiser Oakland

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"I’ve sent mothers to other hospitals for their safety when staffing was limited. This shouldn’t be a part of a family’s birth experience."

Elizabeth Lepire

BSN, RN, RNC-OB, IBCLC

POSITION: Candidate for Board of Directors

WORKPLACE: Providence Newberg Medical Center, Newberg, OR

I’m proud to be part of the STRONGER TOGETHER slate because I believe nurses deserve a union that listens to every member, strengthens our voice at the bedside, and fights for the staffing and safety our patients depend on. I became a labor and delivery nurse in 1995 because I loved being part of the extraordinary moments families experience as they welcome a new baby. Over the years, I’ve been a preceptor for new nurses, taught nurse orientation classes, and led community birthing classes, all opportunities to share the positive advances in nursing practice that can profoundly support birthing families.


But I’ve also seen how patient care can be limited by unsafe staffing. As a charge nurse in L&D, I often had to make difficult leadership decisions, including diverting pregnant patients to other hospitals when staffing at ours was unsafe. Those experiences drove home how essential it is for nurses to have a powerful, united voice.


Five years ago, I joined the ONA bargaining team at PNMC and had the privilege of negotiating for Providence nurses from September 2023 to February 2025. That work showed me how much we can accomplish when our union is strong, focused, and prepared.


As chair of the ONA executive team at Newberg Hospital, I will continue to support and unite PNMC nurses. As a member of the ONA Board, I would be dedicated to advocating for nurses and caregivers across Oregon: every member, every region, every voice.
Vote STRONGER TOGETHER. Our slate brings the strength, steadiness, and unity our union needs to move ONA into the future. 

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ONA Leadership Experience:

  • 2025 - Present- President, Providence Newberg Medical Center ONA Bargaining Unit

  • 2023–2025 - Co-Chair for PNMC ONA Executive Team

  • 2020–2023 - Treasurer for PNMC ONA Executive Team

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"My commitment is to improve the lives of healthcare professionals through unity, transparency, and empowerment."

Michelle Chau

LPN, BS

POSITION: Candidate for Board of Directors – Healthcare Professional, Non-RN

WORKPLACE: Multnomah County Health Department, Portland, OR

I’m proud to be part of the STRONGER TOGETHER slate because our union is strongest when members from diverse practice areas and every size bargaining unit have a real voice in shaping ONA’s direction. I have been a Licensed Practical Nurse since 2009, working at the Multnomah County Health Department in Portland, Oregon. My passion for advocacy began when I saw how critical it is for healthcare professionals to be heard in decisions that affect patient care, safety, and the daily realities of our work.


I’ve served as a member of the ONA Labor Cabinet, as bargaining chair for the Multnomah County unit, and as an ONA Board member. These roles have strengthened my skills in collaboration, communication, and problem-solving, and they’ve shown me how essential it is for the Board to include nurses from diverse practice settings, classifications, and bargaining unit types. When only one segment of our membership is represented, our union loses perspective. When we include everyone, we make better decisions.


My commitment is to continue improving the lives of healthcare professionals and strengthening the quality of patient care through unity, transparency, and genuine empowerment of members. STRONGER TOGETHER reflects the values I believe ONA must celebrate: respect for all members, support for staff expertise, transparent governance, and a clear focus on results that improve members’ lives.


I’m running to ensure that every member, in every role, has a voice that counts.

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ONA Leadership Experience:

  • 2024-Present- ONA Board Member

  • 2024-Present- Chair, Multnomah County Bargaining Unit

  • ONA Labor Cabinet member

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"Accountability isn’t punitive — it’s how we protect the standards we fought for."

Linda Bifano

DNP, MPA, RN, FGNLA

POSITION: Candidate for Chair of the Cabinet on Professional Practice-Board of Directors

I’m proud to be part of the STRONGER TOGETHER slate because ONA needs experienced, steady leadership that strengthens member voices, supports functional governance, and keeps ONA focused on supporting members across all care settings. 


After twelve years in acute care across multiple specialty areas, my passion for nursing led me to a rewarding career in community practice. My practice experience includes hospice, home health, nursing education, curriculum development for statewide training, and serving as a State of Oregon–approved nurse consultant for residential care communities.


I have been an ONA member for more than twenty years. During that time, I have bargained contracts, walked picket lines, served as an ONA/ANA delegate, chaired both the Health Policy Cabinet and the Nursing Practice Cabinet, raised funds for PAC, testified at public hearings, and represented ONA to state agencies and regulatory bodies. I also served on the Governance Committee and chaired the 2024 Bylaws Committee, helping advance reforms that increased responsiveness and strengthened opportunities for member-driven initiatives.


I believe strongly that what is good for our members is good for patients. Chronic understaffing is one of the most dangerous and costly failures in healthcare, and safe staffing ratios are essential for patient outcomes and for addressing inequities in underserved communities. The rise in workplace violence, with healthcare workers accounting for 73 percent of non-fatal workplace injuries, demands stronger enforcement.


Protecting these hard-fought gains, and growing our power, requires unity, clarity, and every member’s voice. We are truly Stronger Together.

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ONA Leadership Experience:

  • 2026–present - Gerontological Association of Oregon BOD President

  • 2024–present - ONA-AFT-AFL-CIO presidential campaign volunteer

  • 2024–2026 - Cabinet on Health Policy 

  • 2023–2026 - Bylaws Committee

  • 2023–2024 - Governance Committee

  • 2020–2024 - Cabinets on Practice & Research and Ethics

  • 2007 - Fellow Geriatric Nurse Leadership Academy

  • 2000 - Standing member OSBN and ODHS Rules Advisory 

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"The future of nursing depends on nurses organizing into a cohesive voice that advocates for our profession, our patients, and justice alike."

Fred Katz

RN, BS, MS

POSITION: Candidate for Board of Directors

WORKPLACE: Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, Medford, OR, Southern Oregon Region

I’m proud to be part of the STRONGER TOGETHER slate because I believe ONA needs steady, experienced leadership that builds on our historic wins, respects all members’ voices, and focuses on results rather than internal conflict. I practice in the cardiac telemetry department at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, with a two-year hiatus in Home Health and Hospice. Throughout my career, I have been committed to encouraging people to enter the profession and mentor coworkers with empathy and patience.


For the past 14 years, I’ve served as chair of the RRMC bargaining unit, negotiating four contracts and helping ensure that nurses in Southern Oregon have a strong presence in ONA. I also served on the practice council, the Medication Safety Committee, and the Nurse Staffing Committee as both a departmental representative and co-chair, along with statewide service on the Policy Committee and ONA Board of Directors.


These experiences have shaped a clear belief: a strong union depends on collaboration, transparent governance, and respect for the professional expertise of both members and staff. STRONGER TOGETHER is committed to a collaborative organizational culture, improving communication, strengthening our union’s influence, and ensuring all members have a voice, not just those in large bargaining units or major metro areas. A healthy union reflects all of its membership, not only the loudest voices.


My mission is to uphold ONA’s values and to serve openly and honestly, ensuring that our union is focused on protecting the profession, improving patient care, and building a stronger future for every ONA member. 

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ONA Leadership Experience:

  • 2025-present - ONA Policy Committee

  • 2024-present - ONA Board Member 

  • 2024-present - Staffing Committee Representative, Asante RRMC Cardiac Unit

  • 2012-present - President, Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center BU

  • 2022-2024 - Co-Chair Nurse Staffing Committee

  • 2015-2022 - Staffing Committee Representative, Asante RRMC Cardiac Unit

  • 2012-2018 - Unit practice council

  • 2014-2016 - Medication Safety Council

  • 2010-2011 - Vice Chair - RRMC BU

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"I will fight for nurses and health care workers in Oregon by working with our legislators to fight against the ongoing federal threats that endanger our communities."

Virginia Smith

BSN, RN-BC

POSITION: Candidate for Chair of the Cabinet on Health Policy-Board of Directors

WORKPLACE: Providence Williamette Falls Medical Center, Williamette Falls, OR

PROTECTING OUR PROFESSION

I believe in the strength and solidarity we have as nurses and health care workers across Oregon. We set the standard for our professions across the country, both as a union and through strong state legislation. With the federal limits on student loan funding, declaring that nursing and other health care specialties are no longer considered professions, restrictions on teaching health equity, and cuts to health access, it is critical to have strong nurse leadership in Salem and Washington DC to protect our profession and our communities. 

 

I have seen how the power of nurses and healthcare workers can make lasting positive change for Oregonians—I have testified in both 2013 and 2023 about being a bedside nurse when short staffed in order to get our Nurse Staffing laws passed, I have led my bargaining unit through two strikes against corporate healthcare for better working conditions, and I have served on our ONA Board of Directors since 2021 to make our union strong for the nurses and healthcare workers of Oregon.

 

As Chair of the Cabinet on Health Policy, I will fight for nurses and health care workers in Oregon by working with our legislators to fight against the ongoing federal threats that endanger our communities, ensure that our union has a voice on the national stage, and that the Oregon Nurses Association continues to be instrumental in the healthcare of Oregonians.

 

ONA Leadership Experience:

  • 2021-2026 - ONA Board of Directors, Director

  • 2023-2026 - ONA Bylaws Committee

  • 2025-2026 - ONA Policy Committee

  • 2020-current- PWFMC Unit-Based Council Chair

  • 2016-current - PWFMC Bargaining Unit Chair

  • 2010-current - PWFMC Nurse Staffing Committee Co-Chair

  • 2017-2019 - Oregon Nurse Staffing Advisory Board, Direct Care Representative

  • 2010-2016 - PWFMC Professional Nursing Care Committee

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“I believe we are stronger together. Every nurse should feel empowered to speak up without hesitation.”

Libby Farley

BSN, RN

POSITION: Candidate for Board of Directors-Recent Graduate RN

WORKPLACE: McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, Springfield, OR 

My name is Libby Farley, and I am running for the Recent Graduate position on the ONA Board of Directors as part of the STRONGER TOGETHER slate. As a nurse with two years of experience in the Emergency Department, I have learned what it means to advocate fiercely, not only for our patients, but also for each other.

 

Working in the ED has shown me the urgency of the issues nurses face every day: unpredictable staffing, rising patient acuity, workplace safety concerns, and the emotional and physical toll of constant high-pressure care. As a new nurse, I understand the unique challenges faced by recent graduates, including steep learning curves, risk of burnout, and the need for stronger support systems as we grow into our roles.

 

I am running because I believe we are STRONGER TOGETHER. New nurses deserve a clear, influential voice in shaping the future of our profession. My goals include strengthening mentorship opportunities, enhancing communication between leadership and bedside teams, and ensuring that recent graduates feel empowered to speak up without hesitation.

 

If elected, I will bring the perspective of someone who is close to the bedside, close to the challenges, and deeply committed to positive change. I will listen, collaborate, and work tirelessly to ensure that the experiences of ED nurses and new graduates are represented at the decision-making table.

 

I would be honored to earn your support and your vote. TOGETHER, we can build a STRONGER, safer, and more supportive workplace for every nurse, new and seasoned alike.

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“The voices of all stakeholders are important to me, and I work hard to represent those voices—not just at my facility, but for nurses all over Oregon.”

Crow Bolt

BSN, RN

POSITION: Candidate for Labor Cabinet

WORKPLACE: McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, Springfield, OR 

I served on Labor Cabinet in 2025 and would like to continue to serve my fellow nurses in that capacity. My perspective on the Cabinet is formed by my service at my mid-sized Level III hospital (ED RN, ED UPC Chair, Education Committee Secretary, Nurse Staffing Committee Co-Chair, Steward, former Executive Committee Secretary and former Chair, and core member of the ONA Bargaining Team at my facility for our last 3 contracts), and, before that, by my service at a Level II county hospital, Level I teaching hospital, and Level IV CAH. I am involved in my community, helping organize and volunteering on street medic and pop-up clinic teams with Medic Action Collective Eugene. Before nursing, I was a worker/owner in a collective bakery for 13 years and, concurrently, Secretary-Treasurer in a consensus-based 501c3 building and managing low income housing. The voices of all stake-holders are important to me and I work hard to understand and represent those voices, not just at my facility, but for nurses all over Oregon.

 

ONA has grown 60% in 3 years, giving us a lot of new voices to advance in a challenging political and regulatory environment. ONA has worked to put strong tools in our hands, like the recent staffing law, HB2697, but those tools are only as strong as our determination and skill in using them. Thank you for the opportunity to serve and advance conditions for all nurses in Oregon in these turbulent times. We are ONA. We are Stronger Together.

 
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“Safe ratios and strong education are essential for nurses and I’m committed to both.” 

Benjamin Else

BSN, RN

POSITION: Candidate for Board of Directors

WORKPLACE: PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center-RiverBend, Springfield, OR 

My name is Benjamin Else, and I am proud to be a part of the Stronger Together platform because I believe ONA needs leadership that listens to nurses, protects our profession, and strengthens our collective voice across every region of Oregon.

 

I bring 18 years of diverse healthcare experience, working nights, days, and swing shifts that have shaped my understanding of patient care at every hour of the day. This perspective is essential in advocating for policies that support nurses across all settings and shifts, not just in ideal conditions, but in the realities where care actually happens.

 

Throughout my career, I’ve worked in many roles across the healthcare system, including CNA, Ward Clerk, Mental Health Technician, Float Pool Nurse, Emergency Department Nurse, Emergency Department Charge Nurse, and now as a Vascular Access Nurse.

 

I have always appreciated the support that ONA provides to nurses and all healthcare professionals. I am committed to advocating for safe patient-to-nurse ratios, expanding access to high-quality education, and promoting nurse well-being. My goal is to help drive positive change for our profession and the patients we serve.

 

I would be grateful for your vote for a position on the ONA Board of Directors.

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