Camp Blue Spruce is overseen by a highly competent Board of Directors that includes health care professionals, financial and fundraising experts, communications specialists, and parents of children with food allergies. Our programs are managed by camp professionals, certified chefs, and nutritionists. Here’s a little more about us!
Board of Directors
Sharon rhodes, Board Chair
Sharon brings to the CBS Board greater than 2 decades of camp leadership and love of summer camp. She and her husband, Steve, have partnered in their camp management and share their support for the Camp Blue Spruce vision; an inclusion for all children with food allergies, to have the opportunity to be part of a safe, supportive summer camp community. She looks forward to leading CBS in its new camp site into a new and improved 2025 summer camp experience.
sharon@campbluespruce.org
Steve duston, vice president
Steve brings over 30 years of educational experience with him. He has taught Physical Education to children from ages 5-18 for 33 years. He is passionate about making sure all his students succeed, regardless of their challenges. With his extensive background in Adapted PE, he believes all the youth he works with should experience a safe, inclusive, nurturing environment.
These same beliefs have transferred into his decision making while previously working, alongside his wife, Sharon, at summer camps in Camp Leadership positions.
steve@campbluespruce.org
Melanie hughes, secretary
Melanie Hughes is the mother of a teen diagnosed with celiac disease 6 years ago. She has witnessed the challenges facing children with food allergies and celiac and is passionate about bringing the summer camp experience to children whose needs cannot be met by traditional camp. Having attended camp twice, her daughter (now nearly 17) has made lifelong friends and many cherished memories. Most importantly, though, her daughter has learned that her disease does not define her. Melanie looks forward to working with the current Camp Blue Spruce Board to ensure that other children are also given the chance to enjoy food, fun, and friends at summer camp.
Melanie enjoys reading, crocheting, and gluten-free baking. She lives in the Portland Metro with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.
melanie@campbluespruce.org
Richard horsford,
treasurer
Richard is a finance professional that has spent the last 20+ years working for the Nonprofit and Public Services sector. He is currently is the CFO of Oregon Public Employees Retirement System.
Richard was inspired by his daughter’s love for Camp Blue Spruce over the years. He decided to join the board and use his financial expertise as a way to give back to the organization and food allergy community.
richard@campbluespruce.org
Leslie berlin, board member/interim secretary
Leslie has been involved in the Food Allergy community for over 20 years. In 2011, she wrote a children’s book OK 4 Me 2 Eat: My Food Allergies. She says, “It’s been my goal to be able to help to help in anyway I can make sure that all kids with food allergies can stay safe and still be able to enjoy the fun they deserve.” Her most impressive achievements are her two sons Sam & Eddie. She is really excited to volunteer at camp and be apart of the Camp Blue Spruce Board.
leslie@campbluespruce.org
Alex Flannagan, board member
Alex brings a deep passion for inclusive and transformative summer camp experiences to Camp Blue Spruce’s board. With a background rooted in summer camp leadership, Alex previously served as the camp director at Camp Blue Spruce and contributed through consulting work to support its vision for all children with food allergies to have a sense of belonging, trust, and community.
As a board member, Alex is committed to holding space for diverse voices and empowering others to use their unique gifts and talents to strengthen the organization. Alex believes in fostering collaboration and inclusivity to ensure Camp Blue Spruce continues to thrive as a welcoming community for all.
Alex first came to the states from the UK in 2008 to be a summer camp counselor. With a background in hospitality management, outdoor education, and ministry, Alex currently directs Camp Cross for the Episcopal church in Eastern Washington and North Idaho, and fell in love with Camp Blue Spruce in 2020.
alex@campbluespruce.org
Navid Ziaie, Board Member
Dr. Navid Ziaie completed his medical training at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center. Subsequently, he completed his residency in internal medicine at OHSU and fellowship in allergy & immunology at the University of Cincinnati, before returning to his hometown of Portland, OR to join the section of allergy & clinical immunology at OHSU.
Lead Staff and Volunteers
Many counselors and mentors work hard throughout the year to make sure our programs are successful! Most are volunteers and/or work on a part-time basis. We are fortunate to have this amazing group of people making life better for kids and families with food allergies! Meet the leadership team that pulls it all together.
Tracy Wallace,
Development Director
Tracy brings 30-plus years of nonprofit and fundraising experience to Camp Blue Spruce as Development Director. Raising over $35 million throughout her career, she is skilled in Proposal Writing, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Event Management, Securing Sponsors, and Budgeting and Financial Statements. She relates to campers and their families because of her own food allergies and a family member who lived with them. When she’s not fundraising, Tracy enjoys traveling, listening to music and podcasts, working in her garden and spending time with her husband Bill, dog Brownie and cat Bubbie.
tracy@ campbluespruce.org
Julianne perrin, social media, admin. assistant
Julianne has so much love for Camp Blue Spruce and the food allergy community. Her passion for the organization started in 2016 when she attended CBS as a camper. Since then she has come back year after year as a staff member and councilor. Julianne wants to bring each camper the week of a lifetime, just as she experienced at their age. “I met some of my best friends from Camp Blue Spruce. I don’t know where I would be without them.”
In her free time, Julianne dances, works at Trader Joe’s (Where she recommends all the best food allergy-friendly products to customers!), and studies for her Bachelor’s in Business at SDSU.
julianne@campbluespruce.org
Our Founder
Louise Tippens,
Founding Director
Louise loved going to summer camp as a child and wanted her (now-grown) son to have the same formative camp experiences as she did. But because of his life-threatening allergies to 6 of the top 8 allergens, she couldn’t find a summer camp that could safely accommodate him. So Louise, who is known by camper families as “Rudy Rutabega Riversong”, started Camp Blue Spruce. Founding CBS was the culmination of Louise’s career in non-profit management, program development, community involvement, and project planning. Louise loves singing (especially camp songs), laughing, and you guessed it…..camping!