OUR LEADERS
Diana "Dee" Russo Teem
Interim Executive Director, Community Health & Development Director
she/her
Dee brings 25+ years of leadership and public administration experience from nonprofit, higher education, and public sectors to her role at Olalla Center. Passionate about supporting vulnerable and marginalized people, Dee serves on the boards of the Oregon Relief Nursery Association and Child Development Network; and the IHN-CCO Health Equity Committee and Lincoln County Community Advisory Council; Linn-Benton Health Equity Alliance; Oregon Health Authority Community Partner Collaborative; OHA COVID-19 Response Task Force; Lincoln County Latino Community – Building Back Better; Inter Agency Planning Team and Lincoln County Crisis Outreach Planning Team.
Earlier in her career, Dee worked in youth services at Hale Kipa, Hawaii, residential treatment at St. Joseph’s Children’s Home, Wyoming, and Developmental Disability Services at Venture, Inc., New York. She worked in executive leadership for Community Services Consortium (CSC), Big Brothers Big Sisters and Goshen County Economic Development, where she oversaw functions such as resource development, communications, program development, project management and marketing.
Dee is a former 2 term Oregon State Commissioner with Oregon Volunteers. Received notoriety for the fastest growing mentor program in the nation in 2002. Studied psychology, liberal arts and business at New York State University–Rockland, earned a BA in Political Science from University of Hawaii-Manoa, and completed graduate studies in Public Administration at the University of Wyoming-Laramie.
Denise Leonard, MS, LPC
Interim Executive Director, Clinical Supervisor
she/her
Denise holds a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. She did her internship at the Olalla Center, and upon graduation obtained a position as a mental health counselor at the Lincoln County Health and Human Services office. After two years she decided to return to Olalla. Now with 8 years experience and after serving as Clinical Director and Pegasus Program Manager, Denise is now Executive Director.
Denise believes that everyone has the power to make positive changes within themselves. She employs an eclectic therapeutic approach with an emphasis on supporting clients as they discover tools and develop skills to accomplish their goals. Denise enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters, horses, and all their animals. She has enjoyed living on the Oregon Coast since 2003.
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Maygen, MSW, LCSW
Clinical Director, Child and Family Therapist
she/her
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 7 years of experience working with children and families for Olalla Center. I have worked with children ages 3-17, adults of all ages, as well as natural, foster, and adoptive parents. I have helped many people manage and overcome symptoms of depression, anxiety, anger, resentment, physical, emotional and sexual trauma, behavior/parenting challenges, and more. I have a Master's degree in Clinical Social Work from Boston University and am licensed in the State of Oregon. My clinical approach is eclectic, which allows me to design personalized treatment based on the individual strengths of each of my clients. People are individuals so I believe their counseling should be as well. Some of my favorite techniques utilize narrative therapy and mindfulness practices but that is not appealing to everyone. I believe my job is to help identify what works for you to reach your personal goals and help walk the path toward healing with you.
Boston University- Master's degree in Clinical Social Work
Oregon Board of Licensed Clinical Social Workers- LCSW
Alex Llumiquinga, CHW
Arcoíris Cultural Program Manager
he/him
My name is Alex Llumiquinga. I was born in the country of Ecuador. As a teenager I left Ecuador, to travel around countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Australia performing traditional Andean music. I moved to the US in the year 2001. For many years I worked as a full time musician to support my growing family. A few years ago, I was given the opportunity to work for the LCSD as a bilingual tutor with K-2 students. Currently I work part-time for the Migrant Education Program and the Olalla Center as an OHP Outreach Coordinator. My job provides me the opportunity to have a direct connection to the Latinx and Migrant populations in Lincoln County. I am committed to helping the community and being there when they need me. My goal is to make a difference in people's lives and empower them so they can be the change in the future.
Alex Guevara, CHW
Community Health Manager, OHP Assister
she/her
My name is Alex Guevara and I was born in Ecuador. When I was young, I was given the opportunity to travel to the United States and I learned about cultural sensitivity. I am bilingual, I am fluent in Spanish and English. In 2016, I was given the opportunity to assist our community in medical and dental insurance enrollment. This opportunity taught me that the need of our families was greater than only health insurance. Each family lives with other needs, lack of knowledge on how to access services, and barriers to access these resources. This gave me a purpose and motivation to learn about community resources and services available to help families and connect them with agencies, programs and resources to meet their needs.
Jessica Denio, MS, QMHP
Day Treatment Program Manager
she/her
I grew up in Scholls Oregon, a small town in Hillsboro, Oregon. I attended Western Oregon University and received my Bachelor's in Psychology. I earned my Master's of Clinical Psychology from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona. I received 3 years of course work in theoretical modalities, psychopathology, multicultural matters, psychometric testing, and ethics. I had 3 individual yearlong placements including an adolescent inpatient placement, outpatient child facility, and a geriatric neuropsychology testing facility. I worked for 3 and a half years as a child and family therapist for Trillium Family Services at the Children’s Farm Home. I currently work as the weekend center supervisor for the same facility.
I believe that every behavior serves a purpose and in order to understand challenging behaviors, we must look at their function. What benefit has that behavior served in the past and how can we create adaptive behaviors that fill that same function. I draw my therapeutic practices from an eclectic variety of modalities. I utilize techniques from Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Collaborative Problem Solving, and Attachment Theory.
Midwestern University for Masters of Clinical Psychology
Western Oregon University for undergrad BA in Psychology
Robb Davis, MEd
Project Bravery Program Manager
he/him
Robb has lived on the Oregon Coast for nearly six years, but the Northwest has always been home to him. He earned his master’s degree and teaching certificate in 2006, then decided to teach overseas for a decade or so. He taught English lit in Central America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. During that time, he worked with students from ages ten to nineteen, all with unique intersectionalities. In 2015, he returned to the U.S. He loves working with young adults but wasn’t sure he wanted to continue teaching. Then the pandemic happened. Between then and now, Robb pursued a couple of his other passions: espresso and books! Then, through volunteer work with the first Newport Pride celebration in September 2022, he was made aware of Project Bravery. Robb is looking forward to Newport Pride ‘23, and he is really looking forward to working with Olalla Center, Project Bravery, and especially LGBTQIA2S+ young adults throughout Lincoln County!
Amy Shumate
Early Childhood Services Program Manager
she/her
Amy completed her master’s degree in Elementary Education at Western Oregon University in 2017. After teaching in the public school setting in California and Oregon for over 20 years, she decided to expand her career by becoming the owner and director of ABC Educational Center in
Newport. She believes that a positive start to a child’s schooling years gives them the best possible opportunity at continued success throughout their education.
Fervently dedicated to helping and serving the working families and the children of this community, her new position with the Olalla Center will help her continue to bring these services to the families in our area.
While not teaching, Amy loves to spend time with her family. She has two grown daughters and twin boys. She and her husband have made their home in Newport and are dedicated to helping our community in any way possible
Sharon Abercrombie, MS, QMHA
Operations Manager
she/her
I have lived and worked on the Oregon Coast for just over 12 years. I earned my Bachelor’s in Criminology and my Master’s in Special Education from Southern Oregon University. Additionally I received a Graduate Certificate in Infant Toddler Mental Health. I’ve lived in Oregon my entire life and enjoy spending my time driving back roads so I can map the state. My background is in Children’s Behavioral Health where I worked for 7 years coordinating Behavioral Health care for youth in Lincoln County to ensure they had access to supports and services.
I am excited to step into Operations Manager. I look forward to understanding and supporting each program to ensure staff have everything they need to be successful in their work with our community.
BS Criminology Southern Oregon University
MS Special Education Southern Oregon University
Infant Toddler Mental Health Graduate Certificate Portland State University