SE Uplift Says Farewell to Land Use and Transportation Program Manager, Bob Kellett
With gratitude and best wishes – SE Uplift bids adieu to Bob Kellett – Land Use Program Manager extraordinary!
Bob Kellett’s last day with SE Uplift was 1/2/2016. He has taken a position with PCC, working on an issue dear to his heart – active transportation. And while we all congratulate him, and his family (who will have him home nights a lot more now) I know I speak for all the staff and volunteers who have worked with him, whether wearing his Land Use hat, or his NA liaison hat – we will miss him.
In all roles, Bob was notable for his ability to keep an even keel when many of those he was working with were heading for the breakers. He honored and made room for all opinions, and was a trusted voice of quiet reason in the, sometimes, hurly-burly of neighborhood association passions.
The list of projects and committees Bob participated in and monitored for our 20 neighborhood associations is long. A few that spring to mind are:
- Helping develop the Building A Better Portland facebook page
- Participating in the development and running of a highly successful inter-coalition demolition forum
- Facilitating the ongoing Land Use & Transportation Meetings
- Writing interesting and informative Land Use Newsletter Articles for the SE Uplift e-news. – What was your favorite? Mine was the “Onion” article!
- Serving and advising on committees including:
- The Tree Code Oversight Committee
- The Foster Streetscape Plan
- The 20s Bikeway Plan
- Division Design Initiative
- Street by Street Unimproved Roadways
- and, so much more!
For myself, I will miss his good judgement and thoughtful insights. Staff, I know, will miss his comradery, and, like me, will remember and be grateful for the many times he helped us navigate challenging situations.
As should come as no surprise, Bob has volunteered to come back to help orient his replacement. We will be collecting well-wishes, fond memories, or the simple thank you – whatever you’d like to let him know – to share with him at that time.
Send your thoughts to: anne@seuplift.org. We will be sure he gets them!
By: Anne Dufay
Executive Director
SE Uplift Neighborhood Coalition
503 232-0010 x311
anne@seuplift.org