Welcoming PDXWIT's new Executive Director

The search is over: we’re excited to welcome Hazel Valdez (she/her) as PDXWIT’s new Executive Director! 

Hazel was previously the Associate Director for the Oregon Bioscience Incubator (OBI & OTRADI). Hazel worked with the executive director on various initiatives including partnering with entrepreneurs and early-stage bioscience and digital health organizations on their facility and resource needs (equipment, mentors, events, education, funding, etc.). She also focused on OBI's DEI initiatives. 

Prior to joining OBI, Hazel was the Operations Manager at PDXWIT, so she may be a familiar face. She has been part of the tech community for over 11 years, working for Zapproved, the state of Arizona's Department of Health and Human Services, and several high profile healthcare organizations in California. 

An immigrant from the Philippines, having arrived in the states when she was five years old, Hazel grew up in Southern California and studied English at UC Irvine, and earned a BA in Culinary Management from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. 

Hazel is very active in various communities throughout Portland and beyond, serving on the board of directors and executive committee for Saturday Academy, as well as volunteering time to USA Boxing as an official, BWISTEM 2.0, Feed the Mass, Street Roots and the Portland Food Bank. 

In her free time, Hazel loves spending time with her wife Crystal, traveling, trying out new food items from around the world, cooking, boxing, and hanging out with their cat Maple.

Q&A - Hazel Valdez with PDXWIT Data & Communications Manager, Isabel Rodriguez

Isabel Rodriguez: 

You first joined PDXWIT in 2017 as a part-time events coordinator and became the Operations Manager in 2019. What motivated you to come back as our Executive Director?

Hazel Valdez:

I was motivated to apply for the Executive Director role because of the community impact and impression it left on me. I left PDXWIT to learn how to become an Executive Director. It’s almost been two years since I left the organization and the education I received by being the Associate Director for OBI-OTRADI has been immense. I learned how to report to a board, how a well-run organization functions, the different roles and responsibilities, and policy, how to bring one forward and how to get it in front of lawmakers. 

When the Executive Director role became open, I jumped at the opportunity to apply because I wanted to take what I learned and put it into practice. PDXWIT gave me the opportunity to thrive and flourish during a dark career period in my life, and I have never forgotten that. To be able to pay it forward by way of leading an organization and its program offerings is something I want to continue doing. 

Maybe fate smiled at me and said, “Hey, let’s get Hazel back here…” or maybe, in some grand design, it was meant to be. In any case, PDXWIT has and will always be that organization that impacted my life.

Isabel Rodriguez:

Imagine we’re celebrating together a year from now, what did we as the PDXWIT community achieve together?

Hazel Valdez:

Imagination is a wonderful thing to have because it gives us aspirations. Aspirationally, in a year from now, I would like to have achieved the following:

  • Beginning stages of PDXWIT growing nationally

  • PDXWIT partnered with various community organizations to fulfill a grant or some opportunity that allowed said organization to be as successful as PDXWIT

  • Events programming for the year was full and robust — other hybrid and virtual events running parallel for most of the year’s programming

My practical side would also like to celebrate the following:

  • Getting to know the team, board and volunteers

  • More staff in place to better carry out our programming, mentorship and scholarship initiatives

  • Processes reimagined to carry out all our programming and initiatives

  • Engagement with our sponsors and solidify our partnerships with them

  • Board governance in place to allow for strategic planning as we continue to scale up PDXWIT’s offerings

Isabel Rodriguez:

What do you think other people and organizations should know about PDXWIT? 

Hazel Valdez:

I would like people to know that PDXWIT is a great community of folx dedicated to uplifting each other. If you’re new in tech, stepped away and are back in tech, new to Portland or the state, PDXWIT is a great place to find community and resources. There are many facets to tech and PDXWIT is a wonderful place to spread your wings!

Isabel Rodriguez:

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the community? 

Hazel Valdez:

I’ve met a lot of folx within this community and those folx have introduced me to other communities, all with wonderful life and learning experiences; and for that, I would like to say thank you! That kind of support and optimism really fuels my own personal mission to always include and encourage one another to do well. Community is our place to hold together. It’s our way to make the world a better place even when it’s hard. 

The power of one can be exponential when we work together towards a common goal. I’m looking forward to meeting and working with all of you. 

PDX Women in Technology