Portland State Magazine Winter 2010

ALUMNI PROFILE KRISTIN WELLS '97 Home showmakeover pro You want to remodel an unused formal living room or enlarge a patio, but you're not quite sure how to go about it. You have questions. Kristin Wells '97 has the answers. And fortunately, viewers of HGTV need only tune in to her show, Smart Fix, which debuted in October, to tap into her vast knowledge of construction. In each episode of the Thursday morning, half-hour series, Wells, an expert contractor, steps in to help home– owners who think their home improvement projects are too tough to tackle by showing them that, with the right approach and materials, it's easier than they think. Wells, who lives in and films her program in Charlotte, N.C., was born and raised in Greensboro, N.C., in a "do-it-yourself family," she says. At 21, she followed a boyfriend to Portland, where she completed her degree in marketing and advertising at PSU, with an eye toward going into sports marketing. While waiting tables, Wells was offered a job as a sales representative for West Coast Paper Co., which she ended up loving and did for five years. After spending a decade in Portland, she moved back to North Carolina to be closer to family after 9/11. She worked in sales for a design and home-remodeling company, shadowed contractors for no pay during her off hours, and then started her own remodeling company. Then an acquaintance heard that a TV producer was look– ing to cast a show featuring women in construction, and told him about Wells. She landed on the cable show Homemakers, where she helped restore a century-old house. After that network folded, the National Association of Home Builders "picked me up, and we took the idea to HGTV," she says. Wells, who is married with a 2-year-old daughter, hopes Smart Fix will draw viewers and that HGTV will renew it for a second season. But she's not taking anything for granted and is shopping the show to other networks. "You always have to look for something and be proactive." BY CLIFF COL LINS 22 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE WINTER 2010 Dennis Anderson '62 has retired from Boeing in Seattle after 32 years and now vol– unteers for the SeaTac Com– munity Center. His favorite PSC memory is swim classes in the Shattuck Hall pool. Sharron Coulson Easley '62, MSW '69 retired from the Multnomah County Juvenile Services Division and now volunteers with Oregon's high– way cleanup program. Easley's favorite professor was Margaret Dobson. Easley's daughter Cheryl Brooks Johnson '72, MA '76 and son-in-law Richard '69 are also graduates. Doris Coulsey Pollock '63 is a retired teacher and counselor who has worked in South Caro– lina, Okinawa, and Florida. Pollock now volunteers with the American Red Cross and in her Tallahassee, Florida, com– munity. Her favorite memory of PSC is sitting in the student union on a snowy day gazing out the window into the park. Susan Van Winkle '63 is a retired math teacher liv- ing in Portland. Van Winkle volunteers with the Northeast Emergency Food Program and also enjoys tutoring and cooking church dinners. Phyllis Calhoun White '64, MS '70 is retired from full-time teaching but continues to substi– tute teach in Portland. White's favorite PSC memories include working in the Library to earn her tuition and the lntervarsicy Christian Fellowship Club. Jankees Duvekot '64 is a practicing lawyer in Amster– dam, The Netherlands. Joseph WiJliams '65, MST '67 is a retired Portland princi- pal. Williams volunteers with the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol, the Mountain Hoses Program, First Unitarian Church, and as an assistant scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts. Mel Henkle '66 is a self– employed accountant in East Wenatchee, Washington. Paul Parham '65 is a proj- ect manager for information technology at Boeing in Seattle. Parham's favorite memories of PSC are meeting his wife in a U.S. history class, serving as Yell King, and watching his friend, Mike Smith, anchor the PSC College Bowl team. Gerry Scovil '65, MA '68 is a retired director of elementary education at North Clackamas School District. Scovil is a past president of the PSU Alumni Association. His son Steven '05, MEd '09 and daughter Susan '83 both work for the North Clackamas School District. John Polos '66 is a retired civil and electrical engineer with Bonneville Power Administra– tion in Portland. Polos works part time for his son's business, Polos Electronics. He lives in Battle Ground, Washington. Donald Stepp '67 is president and broker of First Real Estate Network in Portland. Stepp recalls chat tuition in 1959 was $100 per term and chat che College Bowl team would study at his cavern, The Blind Onion. David Siegel '68 volunteers his time teaching technology to seniors at the Multnomah County Library, Capitol Hill branch. Siegel received a 2009 Citizen Involvement Award from the county for chis work. RichardWillis '68 is a project supervisor with Willis Homes in Longview, Washington. Willis is also a private pilot and enjoys travel and his grandchildren. Gloria Hanson Craig '69 is a retired Portland teacher, who is now a volunteer receptionist for KBPS radio. Craig writes chat her favorite professor was Alma Bingham, who "gave me a renewed love of children's litera– ture and an excitement to share