SICA Board Members
Suzanne, Amber, Susan, Arianna, Michael
Susan Locke: board member since 2026
I feel being part of the SICA group is exactly what I need in my life and I think my experience could be an asset to the team. Throughout my career in the apparel business, I’ve been the person who just took care of things. I had nice positions in local, mid-sized apparel companies with responsibilities ranging from product ideation to surplus liquidation. In my most recent gig (as a long-term consultant), I was one of the original team members in a merino wool based e-commerce apparel company. This experience feels like it’s very applicable to the SICA board. If you didn’t know something, you just figured it out by doing research, testing processes, and asking experts. I started in the e-commerce business as a technical designer/merchandiser and after working on website management, marketing, and sourcing, I ended up being responsible for the warehouse operations, including inbound import logistics, along with being responsible for the accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting for the business. Efficiency and austerity were the key aspects of how we grew the business from 4 people to around 28 people over 7 years.
My main volunteer experience was working with the Pendleton Round-up, the world’s largest 4-day rodeo. For about four years, I took vacation from my job to help out the Pendleton, Oregon community and their week-long celebration. We worked hard and had a lot of fun. I’m proud of my efforts, along with the Director of the Office, to design, build, and stock (with exclusive, branded merchandise) a new 900 square foot retail store in the Round-Up Hall of Fame, but I’m the most proud of how the locals welcomed and accepted me into their community.
I really enjoy being retired and the freedom it allows me to be creative and spend time with friends and family. I do miss feeling like I’m being a productive member of a community, so having a purpose of helping the SICA community feels like it could be a really good thing. After being an island resident for over 30 years, it’s about time I give back!
Arianna Trames: board member since 2026
Amber Powell: board member since 2025
Suzanne Cooper: board member since 2023
My name is Suzanne Cooper, and I moved to Sauvies Island Oct 17th, 2022. Previous to that date, I drove almost every day for the last 6 years to Sauvies Island from my home in NE Portland, as my daughter and I had our horses boarded at Sauvies Island Stables.
I remember how it felt to see the three mountains from the Sauvies Island Bridge and feeling the tension and stress of the city fall away as I drove along the dike road. What a dream to get to move here.
I worked as a nurse practitioner for Kaiser for 15 years and still work 2 days a week, just to keep my hand in. Prior to that, I worked as an RN at OHSU for 12 years in a variety of areas—Emergency, Family Practice, Post Anesthesia Recovery, Cardiac step-down unit. I really enjoyed working with the interns and residents. At OHSU, as part of the NCAP (Nurse Career Advancement Program) I wrote protocols for the travel clinic on malaria prophylaxis and recommended vaccines for international travelers, among other things.
Prior to that, I was one of the few women to work as a paramedic for Buck Ambulance, now AMR. It has been quite a health-care education.
My son Wilson is currently staying with me and he just finished teaching a quarter of statistics at Portland State. My daughter Julia is a devoted horse woman and works as a social worker for Providence.
I very much appreciated the SI Grange panel on the CEI (Critical Energy Infrastructure) or “Tank Farm”, along Highway 30, and hope to encourage our politicians to clean up that site for the safety of us all.
As I learn to drive a tractor and try to improve my pastures, I am deeply grateful to the friends and neighbors of Sauvies Island, who have been so kind and supportive.
Michael Rubenstein: board member since 2017
Many of you may know me as ‘Mr Carolyn’. My wife Carolyn recently retired after teaching at the Sauvie Island school for 37 years. We have lived on the island for 32 years.
I retired two years ago after 26 years in Kaiser Permanente’s insurance administration. During my career my focus was on patient access, rights and advocacy. During my last year at Kaiser I was the patient and staff liaison for resolving ACA Cover Oregon insurance and care access issues. In all those years, coming home from work each weekday and crossing the bridge onto the island reinforced how special it is to live here.
Retirement has allowed me to pursue volunteer paths which I hope help enhance the safety and quality of life here on the island.
I am currently a member of the Sauvie Island Fire District and got my Oregon Emergency Medical Responder license last year.
I am a member of the Multnomah County Bicycle and Pedestrian Citizen Advisory Committee. One of my goals is to enhance the safety of bicyclists and motorists on the island’s roadways.
Disaster planning for the island is a concern of mine. I believe that SICA can play a key role in planning and implementing solutions for potential disasters.
On Tuesdays you may see me and the other ‘Ivy Warriors’ clearing invasive plants at the school, Wapato and other island locations.