Creating Substantial Impact, New Opportunities Through Sport: A Conversation with Sport Oregon President Emeritus Chris Van Wagner — Sport Oregon Voices
As she transitions to her new role as president emeritus of the Sport Oregon board of directors, Chris Van Wagner reflects on her productive term as board president, and on her extensive experience with the non-profit organization whose mission is to drive economic growth and enhance positive social impact in Oregon through sports.
Looking back at your term as board president at Sport Oregon, what are some of the organization’s achievements you are most proud of?
“Sport Oregon has changed significantly in the past two years, but at the same time, it has stayed focused using its expertise in bringing sport-related opportunities to Oregon. Numerous new opportunities were supported and/or promoted in the past few years that will have an everlasting impact on Oregon. NASCAR, the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four in 2030, IRONMAN, and the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 in 2022 are just a few examples of programs Sport Oregon has touched. The relationship with Travel Oregon and Travel Portland, as well as other statewide tourism groups, supports the approach Sport Oregon has focused on. This has broadened the economic development and support from many partners, the city of Portland and all sport stakeholders across Oregon to embrace sports as a catalyst for change. The organization has also grown and developed the Sport Oregon Foundation through the grassroots efforts of the staff and partners. The SHE FLIES initiative was launched in the foundation, in support of women athletes and coaches and offering grants to community partners with like goals. The amazing, diverse board of directors has supported all of these opportunities, recognizing the value Sport Oregon brings to them as community leaders. But what am I most proud of? That would definitely be the amazing staff who work every day in the Sport Oregon office supporting these initiatives. Their work in telling the stories, developing events, to supporting all the board members is stellar! They are each leaders in their work, and the organizational changes, opportunities and successes have all started with them.”
What inspired you to get involved with Sport Oregon?
“For my entire life, as an athlete and currently an active adult, I have had a passion for sports. My professional career led me down a path that offered me the opportunity to lead programs that supported the health, wellness and prevention of injuries for athletes of all ages. Being part of Sport Oregon since 2013, I have been involved in many different programs, together with the staff, that supported these very passions. As a woman leader, I was able to further that work as the president of the board. I have helped launch the future of Sport Oregon through the efforts of the foundation and, specifically, the SHE FLIES initiative supported by the foundation. It is a natural link for me to be involved in all things sport, both socially and professionally, and I hope to continue to be part of the sports fabric in Oregon through my many contacts with Sport Oregon.”
What do sports mean to you, and what value beyond the field of play do you think sports provide?
“Being involved in sports through college and beyond was a privilege. Although, sports at any level provide an opportunity to learn skills that are used throughout one’s life. In sport, you learn new skills that challenge both your body and your mind. You take direction from an expert, and learn to trust others for their own part in the game. You learn how to communicate with others, both professionally and with your family. You learn resiliency through wins, losses, injuries and frustrations. But most of all, and especially for women athletes, you learn leadership. I am extremely fortunate to have been a leader for most all of my career, and now, I have another privilege in returning to my alma mater, Pacific University, to use those skills once again as a Boxer! My hope is that the efforts of Sport Oregon continue to grow in their support to create youth sport opportunities and influencing, through sport, our future community members and leaders.”
Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of Sport Oregon, and sports in our state?
“The team at Sport Oregon has supported, developed and led several initiatives in Oregon, through sport, that will bring visitors, teams and fans to Oregon. This work will be present to everyone who travels through and/or lives in this beautiful state. To be part of this for the past 10 years, and especially as the board president working close to the team for the past two years, has been an honor. Sport Oregon is changing how sport is viewed in Oregon and it will only continue to grow!”