Sho Dozono, Board Vice Chair
President and CEO of Azumano Travel/American Express

By Shelley Hanson

Sho Dozono was born in Japan, but returned to his mother’s Portland homeland as a young boy. Since then, Sho has been a community activist and leader in Oregon, shaping communities and the services they provide for their citizens.

Early in his career, Sho was a Portland school teacher. In 1976 Sho left his teaching position to join his father-in-law’s business, Azumano Travel. In 1987, Sho became CEO of Azumano Travel and went on to run the successful family business and further his efforts at shaping a healthy Portland community.

In 1997, Sho joined the Spirit Mountain Community Fund board as one of the original trustees. He has faithfully served the Tribe on the Fund’s Board of Trustees for the past 12 years and is firmly committed about supporting the Grand Ronde Tribe and it’s growth. He said, “Grand Ronde has proven itself as a leader. I am passionate that Native American’s in Oregon are recognized for their current and historical contributions to the State.” It’s also inspiring to Sho that Native American youth are regaining their cultural identity and pride while becoming strong leaders.

Here’s a list of some of the volunteer work that Sho has done throughout his career in Portland. It’s apparent that Sho believes in service and makes an on-going contribution to Portland and the State.

• United Methodist Synod: National Board of Directors 1979-1982
• Portland YMCA: Trustee 1992-96Salvation Army, Cascade Division: Board of Directors 1988-1991 Japanese American Citizens’ League: Board member 1977-1981, President, 1979 Metropolitan Human Relations Commission: 1979-1989 Portland Oregon Visitors Association (POVA): Board member, including President, 1986-1994, President 1992 Port of Portland Commissioner: 1989 - 1993 Portland Metropolitan Chamber: Board member 1991-2003, Chair 2001
• Portland Art Museum: Trustee 1992 - 1998 & 2000-2007Museum at Warm Springs: Board of Governors, 1993 - present Oregon Sports Authority: Board member since 1994 Portland Public Schools Foundation: 1995 - 2001, President 1997, 1999 White House Conference on Travel & Tourism: Oregon Delegate 1995 Japan America Society of Oregon: Board member since 1995, Board Chair 1995 – 1997 March For Our Schools: Co-chair 1996 President’s Summit on America’s Future: Portland Delegate 1997 Portland State University Foundation: Board member 1998-2004 Oregon International Trade Commission: member 1999 - present
• United Way of Columbia-Willamette: Board member, 2001, Board Chair 2006, United Way Campaign Chair, 2004
• International Air Service Committee: Co-chair 2001-present
• AIDSWalk 03: Honorary Co-Chair
• Mercy Corp: Board of Ambassadors 2005 - present
• Governor’s Task Force on Equality: 2006
• Multnomah County Task Force on Aging: August 2007 - present

Reynold Leno, Tribal Council Vice Chair
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

Reyn was elected to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Tribal Council in 1996. He’s currently the Vice Chairman of the Tribal Council, and fills in for the Tribal Chairperson in her absence.

Reyn began serving on the Spirit Mountain Community Fund board six years ago. He came on the board originally as a peacemaker and a bridge builder during a time of change and growth between the Fund’s board and the Tribal Council. Since that time, the Trustees and Tribal Council have built a strong relationship and mutual understanding of the role of the Fund and its operational parameters.

Reyn is proud of his service on the Community Fund board and is especially proud of the new Oregon Tribal grant program. As a Tribal Council representative, Reyn worked with the team that negotiated the change to the Tribe’s gaming compact that allowed funding to be granted to our Oregon tribal friends and neighbors. This tribal funding program had been a vision of the Grand Ronde Tribe for a number of years, so accomplishing this change for the Fund was a historic occasion. The first grants through the program were made in 2008 to six of the nine Oregon federally recognized tribes.

Children and youth are Reyn’s passion. He’s especially enjoyed learning about community programs that affect the lives of the next generation. During his tenure on the Fund, visits to Woodburn’s Farmworker Housing Development Corporation’s housing development allowed him to learn first-hand about the unique needs of that community. A visit to Family Building Blocks was informative in seeing the community needs around young families, and proven methods to build healthier families and children.

As a Tribal Council member and Fund trustee, Reyn enjoys opportunities to meet with local people and learn about their history. He also enjoys educating others about our tribal history and values, and enjoys seeing the parallels between our Tribal history and that of some of our neighbors.

Reyn was born and raised in Grand Ronde and has a long-standing commitment to tribal members. He said, “I’m born and bred Grand Ronde.” One of his concerns for the Tribe is that we are losing touch with our elder’s stories and our history—it’s important to preserve that piece of who we are and ensure that all of the members continue to know where we come from and who we are.

Prior to his service with Tribal Council he worked in the timber industry. Reyn and his wife Liz raised their three children in Willamina and are proud grandparents and are active in the local community.