New Partners: Yassi and Aresh Irajpanah

(from the November 2008 Newsletter)

Yassi Irajpanah and her brother Aresh are our newest SVPP Partners -- our first brother-sister Partner unit.

Yassi is the Community Development Manager at The Commerce Bank of Oregon. In her role, she leads the corporate responsibility and nonprofit business development efforts of the Bank. She began her career in banking while obtaining her Master of International Management degree at Portland State University. She has worked in human resource management, with an emphasis in employee training, stakeholder engagement and group facilitation. In addition, Yassi continues her efforts as co-chair of the GROW Conference, a conference she launched in 2007 with the aim of connecting the business and nonprofit community. She also serves on the World Affairs Council Young Professionals board, and the Oregon Community Foundation Leadership Council.

Yassi is a Portland native and holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Santa Clara University. When not at home in Portland, Yassi loves to travel. Her fondest memories are from traveling – either with family and friends or solo “enlightenment” trips. Through a variety of academic programs, she has studied in France, China and Japan. Yassi is fluent in Farsi, English, semi-fluent in French and is learning Chinese. Walking is also a favorite pastime. She believes this is a great way to explore the city (either in Portland or while traveling), or just think things through. Yassi also loves to entertain, though she confesses she can’t cook. Says Yassi, “For now, I am doing my part in stimulating the economy by having local restaurants and catering companies on speed dial.”

Aresh Irajpanah recently moved back to Portland this past June to help manage his family business, World Wide Products INC., which specializes in aviation telecommunication distribution. Prior to that, he started his career at Citigroup Smith Barney as a manager in their private wealth division. Aresh received his B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Southern California where he was very much involved in leadership and continues his efforts as V.P. of Finance for the Gamma Eta Alumni Association. In his spare time Aresh will be taking flying lessons, learning Mandarin and training for the Los Angeles Marathon, which will take place in May of 2009.