Portland State Magazine Fall 2012

t I PSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Pride of place PORTLAND FARMERS MARKET has an impressive record: international press coverage, $8 million in annual sales, and up co 33,000 shoppers at the height of the season. Ir operates open-air markers in seven locations in the city, the biggest one raking place right on campus in the Park Blocks every Sarurday from March through December. Ar the helm is Trudy Toliver '84, who has been the executive direccor since January 2011. "It's a great job for me because most of the things it requires are what I like doing. I like bringing people cogether and making deals happen," she says. Toliver negotiates with farmers, businesses, neighbors and city officials co make sure the markers run smoothly and main– tain their worldwide reputation. Last year, reporters from five overseas newspapers and magazines coured and wrote articles about the quality of the Portland markets. "Being located at PSU has a lot co do with it. Bur it's also the values of this organization-the bedrock principles about quality food," says Toliver, who recently became certified as a nutritional therapy practitioner. All food sold at the organizations seven markers comes straight from farmers and food artisans themselves, most of whom bring in their produce, meats, cheeses, pickles, and pies ALUMNI IN THE NEWS Barbara Kienle '98 has received the 2012 Achievement of Excellence Award from the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators. Kien le is director of student services for the David Doug las School District in Portland. She also oversees the district's special education programs and crisis response team. Brisa Peters Trinchero '01 is a musical theater producer on Broadway in New York. She is currently producing The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, which won a 2012 Tony Awa rd for Best Musical Revival. David Solano '02 was recently hired as a sports anchor-reporter for WXYZ-TV in Detroit. He was previously a sports reporter for KIAH-TV in Houston. Solano began his journalism career as a sports writer for Portland State's Daily Vanguard. from less than 75 miles away. It's kind of a Portland thing. "We care a heck of a lot about food . Much of that attitude comes from wanting co live active healthy lives," Toliver says. She lives an active life herself. She reaches yoga, and also Trudi Toliver '84 is executive director of the seven Portland Farmers Markets. likes co hike, camp and kayak. Toliver grew up in Portland, bur attained a whole new feeling for her native city while srudying urban geography with PSU Professor Carl Abbott in the College of Urban and Public Affairs. ''I've always been a naruralist, and I'm interested in public spaces and how they fit with the human dimension. My experience at PSU gave me a real appreciation for Portland and an interest in watching it grow and change," she says. Nicholas Deshais '08 was a finalist for a 2012 Livingston Award, which honors American reporters under the age of 35. He was nominated for his work as a news editor for the Pacific Northwest Inlander. He now works as a free lance journalist out of Spokane, Washington, where he lives with his wife, Sara. Bob Hatton MS '09 is program coordinator for the Portland Fruit Tree Project. The nonprofit faci litates the ha rvest and ca re of urban fruit trees among neighbors. In 2011, the group coordinated 63 harvesting events resulting in over 39,000 pounds of fruit that would otherwise have gone to waste. Megan Vandecoevering MSW '11 was recently hired as a psychiatric social worker by the Oregon State Hospital. She writes, "Iam learning amazing th ings every day. Thank you, PSU School of Social Work, for preparing me to land a great job!" ■ STARTING WITH THIS ISSUE of Portland State Magazine, we are no longer including multiple pages of alumni notes. But we still want to hear from you and include a few notes in the magazine, and many more on our website at pdx.edu/alumni/notes. Email us with your news at psualum@pdx.edu or mail your information to Portland State University, Office of Alumni Engagement, PO Box 751, Portland OR 97207-0751 . FALL 2012 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 27