Engagement and Enthusiasm: A Conversation with Chris Van Wagner — Sport Oregon Voices
Photo by Scott Bisch
As part of her lifelong involvement with sports in Oregon, Chris Van Wagner now embraces her new role as president of the board of directors for Sport Oregon. Chris, who is the director for sports medicine at Providence Health & Services, first joined the Sport Oregon board in 2013, serving as treasurer beginning in 2017, and vice president of the board starting in 2019. As she transitions to her new position, we recently sat down with Chris to get her thoughts on the many exciting developments at Sport Oregon – past, present and future.
First off, what are your overall thoughts on becoming the board president at Sport Oregon?
“The timing is amazing. Sport Oregon has done some wonderful things over the years, creating a foundation that will serve us into the future. These past few years have been difficult, but Jim Etzel and his team have been able to create a plan for sports in Oregon. Once we can safely be on the other side of the pandemic, we can embrace the energy and excitement for getting out and enjoying our state.”
“I am looking forward, as the incoming board president, to supporting the various initiatives that will promote engagement with our board and our communities. We have a lot to be proud of in Oregon and our efforts will create ways for Oregonians and our visitors to enjoy sports of all kinds in our state. Sport Oregon is in the perfect position to lead this work.”
What are some of the developments Sport Oregon has endeavored over the years since your initial involvement that really stand out?
“I think the brand name change to Sport Oregon is really exciting, as it is something new and fresh. People can identify with sports in Oregon, and there are so many ways that we’ve all been exposed to that. The brand offers a fresh and exciting look and feel that we can grow from, creating new memories for our communities.”
“Additionally, the staffing for Sport Oregon has been significantly expanded in the past few years. This group has incredible energy, passion and vision in who they are. Their ideas and efforts have created new programs even in this last year. The SHE FLIES initiative to support girls in sports is incredible. The Fuel the Future event this past year provided a way to bring funding to youth in the community including those who have food insecurities. That program is a match for sports and is really supporting a community-driven need, which is super exciting for me, personally. We have other events to look forward to in the future, like the Sport Oregon Youth Series (formerly Track Town Youth League), the Oregon Wine Country Half Marathon, and also the IndyCar Grand Prix of Portland event. Supporting such a unique event has been a lot of fun for a lot of people. It’s a very different type of sporting event that brings out community members from across the state and many new visitors to our area.”
On that note, how important is Sport Oregon’s work in attracting events, athletes, enthusiasts and spectators alike to the state, especially now?
“I think right now the need to bring people here to experience Portland in a positive way is really important. I think it’s also important to note that Sport Oregon is about Oregon, and the whole state benefits from the work that they we do. There’s just so much that can happen to bring people back into Portland and to Oregon, to see the beautiful country state that we live in. They come for events, and they come to participate in things they enjoy. Those events are really important for our economy and for communities to continue to grow and benefit from sport. There is a lot of crossover between what we can do in the sports industry to support the state getting back to who we were, and we’re really hoping to make a difference for our future.”
You are obviously passionate about sports, considering all of your involvement. Where did that start, and how has your lifelong pursuit progressed?
“I am originally from Astoria and was involved in a lot of sports in high school and went on to play basketball at Pacific University in Forest Grove for four years. My kids were all involved in sports, and over the years, through their growth, I coached youth basketball and volleyball for about 18 years. I am a power walker and have loved participating in races like the Rose City Marathon, Portland Marathon, and Hood to Coast. These community-based sports programs for people of all ages continue to be the cornerstone for Oregon’s healthy lifestyle.”
“I’ve enjoyed sports in many ways: as a participant, through coaching or as a spectator, or professionally as a physical therapist. My career started in Providence and I was able to develop the sports medicine program. Working with athletes of all ages has been a big part of my life, creating ways for athletes to stay successful and stay in sports. As the director for sports medicine at Providence, my work has been focused on creating injury prevention programs and health education that we offer through sport. Through Sport Oregon we have been able to support several initiatives that also work to keep kids and others active...it’s a perfect match for me to be involved in!”
Looking ahead, what do you hope for the organization during your time as the board president?
“We have an incredibly engaged board of directors and Young Professionals Board who are community leaders. I feel like this group of people are excited to get involved. As the president of the board, my hope is to learn their interests, talents and experiences, and find meaningful opportunities for each of them. Through Sport Oregon, our involvement could be endless. Whether it's supporting a foundational event like Fuel the Future, to attending the World Outdoor Track & Field meet next summer in Eugene. My hope is that the organization can continue to grow our current programs as well as look to support new incoming events and programs and keep our board active in this work. Together, we can accomplish great things for the state of Oregon, through sports.”