Chris Otis
Chris has a rich background of more than 30 years in nonprofit leadership. In June 2022, after almost 12 years leading the statewide literacy nonprofit SMART Reading, Chris retired to start her next chapter as a consultant and coach for nonprofit leaders. With a history of successfully leading nonprofits of various sizes, Chris is known to be a highly analytical, strategic leader with a proven ability to think creatively, execute on time and on target, and bring out the best in staff teams and volunteer leaders. She has a clear understanding of what it takes to navigate the invigorating yet challenging role of the Executive Director and the vital world of the nonprofit.
As Executive Director for SMART, Chris led the organization through a decade of steady financial and programmatic growth. With Chris at the helm, the organization achieved its highest service levels in its 30 year history - serving 12,000 students across the State of Oregon at 300 service locations. She led the organization successfully through the pandemic which required a complete rethinking of services and service delivery. And she was the catalyst for a just-completed merger between SMART and Children’s Book Bank, a literacy organization serving young students in the Portland Metro area.
Prior to joining SMART, Chris served as executive director for the Children’s Relier Nursery, a child abuse prevention program serving high-risk children and families in Portland. She has also served as the executive director of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Oregon Chapter; the Oregon Alliance of Senior and Health Services; and the California Association of School Psychologists. In 2022, Chris was among those named Executive Director of the Year by the Portland Business Journal. She was an adjunct faculty member of the University of Portland, where she was recruited to design and teach a course on nonprofit management for MBA students at the University’s School of Business. Chris received both her MBA and Bachelor’s degrees from California State University - Sacramento.
Chris is excited to join the NPN team in order to support the growth and capacity building of the sector. She is particularly excited about the opportunity to work with new and newly-placed Executive Directors as they begin the exciting work of leading a new organization.
In her free time, Chris and her husband Jon are exploring their new home town of Walla Walla, Washington. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, the area is home to more than 120 wineries and miles and miles of good cycling routes. Chris is spending plenty of time enjoying both while also making room for violin practice and time with her puppy Jax.