Timber Talkers is a Beaverton-based club that has been around since May 1st, 1996. When people visit our club, they always comment on how supportive and friendly we are. We tend to agree. Please stop by if you are interested in developing your oral communication and/or leadership skills. We are part of District 7, Division H, Area 93.
Member Spotlight:
Steve Schmitt: When he is not public speaking, Steve Schmitt accompanies his Cavalier Spaniel, Sadie, on her outdoor adventures.
Jennifer Anderson is the author of the Amazon Bestseller for career advice: “Plant Yourself Where You Will Bloom.” Jen has spent the last 15 years teaching thousands of people the concepts of how to create a thriving career and discover their perfect work. An “Early Settler” of the professional coaching industry and a Professional Certified Coach, Jennifer is a trainer at Coach University, a faculty member of Portland Community College, and the University of California at Davis – Extension. Jennifer is a mother of two and a ridiculously proud grandmother of one. She is also an avid fan of University of Kansas Basketball. Rock Chalk, Jayhawk! Please visit www.jenniferanderson.com for more information.
Kristin WT: Kristin has been in Toastmasters since 2010. She is currently 
completing her first Competent Communication manual. A coworker invited her to her first Toastmasters meeting to watch her speech.After that she saw two people at work with varying levels of speaking skills and appreciated the more experienced speaker. That was the impetus she needed to start looking for a club she could attend. She enjoys the myriad of interesting speeches brought to the club.
Terry Wood joined Timber Talkers in Oct 2014. He regularly teaches classes on Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE), which requires him to be in front of people for over an hour in each class. Toastmaster’s has been invaluable to him for polishing his presentation/speaking skills. To learn more about TRE please go to www.treclasses.com.
Hilary Greenebaum: Despite a lifetime orbiting K-12 schools, Hilary still gets excitedly nervous when giving a prepared speech. Toast Masters, Timber Talkers specifically, helps her remain more relaxed. She really enjoys the group, learns a lot, and has fun! The rest of the week, Hilary works teaching people how to transition to a healthy, plant based lifestyle. She created, Better Eating for Life an online educational video program that advocates a healthy vegan lifestyle that includes exercise and stress reduction. In her spare time she likes to eat (!!!), read, garden, walk with her two adorable dogs, and have fun with friends.
Scott Chavin: Having been with Toastmasters for close to seven years I have enjoyed the many benefits it brings. Beyond the benefits of public speaking and leadership training I have been able to make many personal and business connections. Joining the Toastmasters family has allowed me to develop a better connection to my community at large. If you are interested in learning to better yourself in a safe and friendly environment then you have come to the right place. Please join our diverse and open club. You’ll be glad you did.
Tom Cronkrite: Tom likes to garden as you can see by the large potato he is holding! Below he is addressing the group (probably discussing corn or tomatoes!) in December 2015.
Christopher Aedo: Christopher moved to Portland from Los Angeles in 2014 but asks that you not hold that against him. He has two boys and an amazing wife and in his spare time he reads, brews beer, builds things and is on a quest to learn how to do everything.
Mandi Montplaisir: Mandi joined Timber Talkers and Toastmasters in January 2017 to build her speaking and communication skills. Her interests include healthy living, Zumba, business, gardening, traveling and reading. Most days she is managing the roles of wife, mother, and small business owner with agility and deftness.
Cathy M Nguyen-Tran: I joined OED (Oregon Employment Department) since 2009 when our office is still located in Milwaukee office. I’m currently a Beaverton claim lead worker since July 2015. I’m currently attending Leadership Lab in Salem on every first week of the month until the first week of June. I decided to join Toastmaster because I need to improve on my speaking skill; in additional, I want to do this about 10 years ago but I don’t have the opportunity to do so. Here I am. I always want to learn the new thing; this session will help me to learn a technique to be an effective speaker, comfortable to speak in front of the group and confidence when I do a presentation.
I am married and live in Northeast Portland. I normally listen to music or listen to the news while I’m commuting to work every day. I have two kids, a daughter and a son. They’re in Kindergarten and 1st grade. They love to eat popcorn in our living and pretending that we are at the theater. My kids are learning both English and Vietnamese on home. I’m volunteering teaching 1st grade at Van Lang Vietnamese School. I have 22 students they are all amazing kids. I love to travel. I have had traveled to Jamaica, Cancun, Mexico (twice) and went back to visit Vietnam last year. My next travel destination is Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and Europe.
Leissa Gebert has rejoined Timber Talkers after a five year hiatus. She is a past President and VP of Membership. Leissa recently retired from a 40 year career as a mortgage broker and is now developing an internet based business to educate folks on how to prepare for and get their best home loan possible. She does a lot of video work in her business and finds that being a Toastmaster is a huge help in being comfortable (and coherent!) in front of the camera. To balance out her life; Leissa finds enjoyment in being a watercolor artist, hanging with her two beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs and the occasional travel with friends. She is a transplant from Montana; but has been in Portland since 1982; which she figures probably qualifies her for native status.
Dave Hiller is a 59 year old transplant from Minnesota that lives in Tigard for the past 19 years and 
married to Mina for 23 years. Has one dog named Chance that came to us from Oregon Dog Rescue 6 years ago. Working for Delta Industrial Automation in sales. Toastmasters DTM, past club officer, past area governor, past division governor, past district office including District 7 Governor in 1995-96.
Group photo at our Holiday Meeting 2015, our meeting theme was “Holiday Movies”!
Left to Right: Terry, Steve, Hilary, Parisjat, Sopha, Kristin, Scott, and Tom
We are Club #4421 of the esteemed Toastmasters International.
Annually, we compete in Area 94 and 95 competitions, District #7.
The names “Toastmasters International,” “Toastmasters,” and the Toastmasters International emblem are trademarks protected in the United States, Canada and other countries where Toastmasters clubs exist. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
