Heidi is the owner of JBA—or, as we like to say, the architect. She began her career in financial planning in 1991 as an assistant to Deborah Johnson, our company’s founder. She achieved her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ^™ certification in 1997 and has been devoted to working with JBA clients ever since.

A world traveler and avid photographer, Heidi loves to document her adventures with her camera. Photography is the perfect creative outlet for her. As she says, “It’s a way to capture the spirit of the people we meet, the land and the culture and bring it back to be shared.” Her favorite travel destinations include Zimbabwe, Thailand, Peru, Belize, South Africa, and Scotland.

• Heidi earned her bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in financial planning from Marylhurst University in Portland.
• She has held her CFP^® designation since 1997.
• An active member of the community, Heidi has chaired or served on the boards of many nonprofits over the last 20 years. She currently serves as board Past Chair for Columbia Springs, and also as board Treasurer of Global Sojourns Giving Circle and H-RoC.
• Heidi isn’t just the architect of the firm—she also designed her own home.

Kim’s been a member of the Johnson Bixby team since 1993, starting as a financial planning assistant and working in various roles across the organization. Today she serves as our Lead Financial Planner, helping to mentor and guide the growing team.

A natural problem solver who enjoys teaching others, Kim has worked diligently to improve financial literacy in the community. Not only have clients benefited by Kim’s creative and thoughtful approach, but the Financial Planning Association of Oregon & SW Washington has as well. Through the years Kim’s held several officer positions and has been a committed volunteer.

• She has held her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ^™ certification since 1998 and earned her Certified College Planning Specialist designation in 2006.
• Kim completed her bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in marketing at Portland State University.
• Kim enjoys the international sport of volkswalking—non-competitive goal-oriented group walking. She’s taken her sport overseas, enjoying walks in multiple countries.
• Kim and her husband, Dan, love to hike and do home improvement projects—everything from gardening and painting to plumbing and tiling. No project is too daunting!

Patricia helps clients plan for tomorrow by taking care of today. With a clear understanding of each client’s unique financial vision, she works to develop a tailored path forward. Whether buying a home, saving for college, or planning for retirement.

From her perspective, a healthy financial life begins with a clear picture of your cash flow, so she works with clients to help support their lifestyle without sacrificing their goals. She also gives each client the time and attention they deserve to make sound financial decisions and feel confident they are prepared for the future.

Before joining Johnson Bixby, Patricia worked at Oregon State University in the human resources department. It was here that she learned the ins and outs of retirement benefits and federal compliance.

When the summer sun is shining, you can find Patricia playing beach volleyball or working on her Cuban salsa dancing skills. She loves to have fun, which makes her a great fit at Johnson Bixby.

• Patricia earned her master’s in business administration at Oregon State University.
• Received her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ^™ certification in December 2017.
• Originally from Ohio, Patricia and her Oregonian husband, Kurt are full-on residents of the Pacific Northwest, with a love of hiking, biking, and camping.
• Learn more about Patricia by viewing her Meet the Planner video where she talks about working at Johnson Bixby.

Amanda knows talking about personal finances can feel very private, and sometimes it can be overwhelming. But that’s exactly why she is here combining her love of people and finance. With a master’s in counseling and a bachelor’s degree in business accounting and her recent CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ credentials obtained, Amanda considers it a privilege to guide our clients down a path toward achieving their goals.

Sometimes we don’t exactly know what we think or want until someone asks us pertinent questions, takes time to listen and draws connections about what they’ve heard. Amanda creates space for clients to feel comfortable sharing their values and priorities, so together they build a financial plan that is meaningful and realistic. From budgets to taxes to estate planning, Amanda helps clarify and explain all the financial components to making our clients’ dreams a reality.

Growing up in California, she escaped to the Northwest years ago and still finds pure joy in every waterway she can dip her toes into. Whether it’s swimming, boating, kayaking, hiking near a waterfall or simply sitting along the shore.

• Amanda started her career working in public accounting and then went on to be a part of a number of finance teams of local non-profits.
• On her wish list is learning to horseback ride.
• She enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews, occasionally being asked if she is their older sister.
• Learn more about Amanda by watching her Meet the Planner video where she discusses her thoughts about working at Johnson Bixby.

Whether it’s the game of Gonzaga basketball or the game of personal finance, Zach is a huge fan. After making a 180 degree career change from non-profit work to financial services, Zach is driven by the empowerment and confidence sound financial planning brings to people’s lives.

After graduating with a Psychology Major from Gonzaga University, Zach worked for Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest helping connect volunteers to service agencies across the Pacific Northwest. Zach started working with a financial advisory and planning firm in Portland before transitioning to Johnson Bixby in 2020. He worked on our client services team prior to completing the requirements to become a Certified Financial Planner® professional.

• At 6’7” Zach jokes about his ability to see above the fray and into the financial future (we just love that he can reach high shelves in the office.)
• In college, Zach studied abroad in Zambia focusing on chimpanzee behavior and group dynamics.
• He lives in Salmon Creek area with his wife, young daughter and son, and English bulldog, Penelope.

In the noisy and complex world of capital markets and investing, Lynn knows how to simplify and keep the conversation relevant to one’s personal goals. Afterall, it’s something he’s been doing his entire life, thanks to being raised in the heartland of Nebraska with Warren Buffet and Berkshire Hathaway as sources of inspiration.

Prior to joining the Johnson Bixby team, Lynn held a variety of financial roles including positions at U.S. Trust, Columbia Mutual Funds and Janus Mutual Funds.

Perhaps one of his most notable roles is the one as a father to three teenage daughters, who have all adopted their dad’s love of math as one of their favorite subjects.

• Lynn earned his Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2003. He also has an MBA with a finance focus from the University of Colorado along with a Bachelor of Arts from Saint John’s University in Minnesota.
• In college, Lynn spent time in an honor’s travel abroad program in Greece, Turkey and Italy, where he met his wife of 24 years.
• For fun, you can find Lynn running marathons and fly fishing the streams of Oregon, Montana and Colorado.

Ask Cyndi what she loves about her job and the answer is simple: people and purpose. Her energy and enthusiasm for helping both team members and businesses grow and succeed is evident in her work over the last 25 years.

Before joining Johnson Bixby in 2020 as our CFO and COO, she held multiple finance and client relationship roles in a variety of industries – from recruiting to medicine to real estate. Don’t be surprised if you see her name pop up when researching items related to financial planning, investing, parenting or travel as she’s published articles in dozens of magazines through the years.

• Cyndi is Board Chair/Past President of the Financial Planning Association of Oregon and SW Washington and is on the Board of Directors for the Portland chapter of Financial Executives International.
• Make sure to swap your unique travel experiences with Cyndi. She has visited a musk ox farm in Alaska, cruised through Greenland and glided down the Nile in a felucca.
• Cyndi’s preferred mode of transportation? Segways and riding ATVs!

Mandy is a natural at building rapport with clients, something she likely picked up after working the bulk of her career in family law. We’re thrilled she made a leap to the financial industry after looking for a career change, as she’s a great addition to the Johnson Bixby client services team.

Hailing from the land of 10,000 lakes (Minnesota), Mandy moved to the Pacific Northwest after college and considers Vancouver an ideal place to live. It’s a perfect location to hike with her yellow lab, Tova, and enjoy the great outdoors. Plus, it’s not far to Portland International Airport when the travel bug hits her (which is quite often.)

• Mandy graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth with a major in business administration and a minor in human resources.
• Mandy attained her Series 65 designation in 2019.
• Next on Mandy’s list to visit? The Scandinavian countries. Although she admits it’s hard to beat a good road trip!

Whether she’s explaining the complex in simple terms, or unraveling a particularly tangled web, Haley brings her passion for learning and finding answers to the work she does every day. But these aren’t just abstractions. Her extensive background in volunteering shows that she’s in this to better the lives of people.

Haley started working in financial services in 2008 after an unexpected career change, but that was all the chance she needed. Since then, she has worked her way up, and built a formidable career helping clients achieve their financial goals. Now we get to benefit from her hard work, dedication, and serious problem-solving skills.

When she’s not working, Haley enjoys spending time with her husband and going to Timbers games. Yep, Haley is a super fan.

• Haley adores her two rescue dogs, Comet and MJ.
• She volunteers whenever possible.
• She looks forward to kayaking and camping trips throughout the year.

Prior to joining our team, Brigg could be found on the walls of SW Washington coaching and guiding young rock climbers, helping them understand the technical aspects of the sport and encouraging them to take the next step.

In his role on our IT team, he offers the same support but for our team in responding to our IT woes and troubles. Brigg is quick to analyze, troubleshoot and evaluate any technology issues that comes across his plate. Like in the sport of rock climbing, the pathway isn’t always clear but if you have the desire to move forward – a route can be found to help you get to your goal.

• Brigg is born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. He lived in Bozeman, MT during his college years.
• Brigg will gladly hike, climb and camp wherever possible, actually preferring to sleep outside rather than inside.
• Ask Brigg about what Libby is currently reading, that’s the online app he uses to listen to audiobooks.

A fresh graduate from the University of Portland, José joined our team in May 2022. With a degree in finance and a minor in Spanish, José joined the financial profession because of his strong belief that everyone deserves a seat at the table when it comes to their financial relationships. Working toward obtaining his CFP® designation, he looks forward to giving clients and local community the tools to become financially empowered.

• Born in Puerto Rico, José spent the first 11 years of his life in Austin, Texas, before relocating to the Pacific Northwest with his family.
• A self-proclaimed homebody, José enjoying watching movies, tv series, and enjoying a good podcast. On weekends you’ll probably find him visiting his parents to enjoy a good meal and an exciting soccer match.

An inaugural member of our first Johnson Bixby internship program, Kailee joined us in the summer of 2022 before coming onboard full time in the fall. She’s a graduate of the University of Portland, with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in Finance.

A member of our Client Services team, Kailee assists our financial planners by offering efficient, kind, and compassionate service. She chose the financial profession because she knows dealing with finances alone can feel overwhelming and intimidating at times. But with a knowledgeable team behind you, those financial stressors can be alleviated and she’s happy to be on the team helping.

• Kailee enjoys spending time outdoors, and you can often find her on our patio taking her lunch break. On weekends, when the weather is nice, you’ll find her paddleboarding, enjoying a yummy picnic, or taking her kitties – Yuki and Tama – out to play in the sunshine.
• Kailee studied abroad in London in college, where she fell in love with all things international travel. She had the opportunity to see Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy and is always looking for future travel recommendations!

What Karen loves most about her job is helping others. It’s in her nature, whether she’s working with her clients, taking care of family, or connecting with the community through her church. You can attribute her penchant for hospitality to her Southern roots.

Karen joined JBA when she and her late husband relocated to Vancouver in 2004. She’s a 20-year veteran of the financial planning industry and has been working in a support role for more than 40 years.

Karen enjoys music, dancing, hiking, biking, and Jazzercise. She looks forward to exploring more of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. She has two grown sons.

• Karen holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama.
• With her father in the Navy and Civil Service, Karen lived in five different Southern states as a young girl and then enjoyed time with her husband and family living in Mississippi; Alabama; New Brunswick, Canada; and Indianapolis before moving to Washington.

Details are Lana’s forte. And with more than 20 years of experience in the financial planning world, Lana knows exactly what details to look for. She has a laser-like focus on accuracy and completeness—a natural gift we appreciate greatly here.
Lana and her husband moved to the Northwest from Colorado, drawn to its proximity to the spectacular beauty of both the mountains and coast. She misses the Rockies and occasionally goes back to get her “Colorado fix,” but home is where the rain falls. Lana lives with her husband and their two children.

• In her free time, Lana enjoys hiking, biking, and camping.
• Lana wants to take her family snorkeling in Honduras and Belize, where she and her husband traveled before they had children.

Some might view the world of compliance as a hindrance, and even an annoying obstacle to everyday business. But those people haven’t had the pleasure of working with Cindy as their compliance person. With her quiet demeanor, Cindy helps our business run smoothly and safely, while demonstrating compliance is about helping and protecting the people you work with, and the clients you serve.

Cindy relocated to the Vancouver area after 30 years in the financial services industry in Seattle. The move allowed her and her husband to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law and expand her love of gardening beyond the porch pots.

• Throughout her career, Cindy has attained her Series 7, 63, 65 and 24 designations.
• Cindy loves cross-stitch but her cats, Pepa and Maynard, make the task difficult to perform with their love of thread, ribbon and yarn balls.
• Drama has followed Cindy throughout her adult life but not in the way you might imagine. Her now retired husband has a Master’s in the fine arts and together they ran local theatres.

Karen is our office manager at Johnson Bixby and likely one of the first faces you’ll see when visiting us. She oversees the day-to-day logistics of running our front office while supporting our Client Service team. With a lifelong enthusiasm for organization and order, she channels those attributes making our team’s professional lives more manageable and streamlined.

Before joining Johnson Bixby in September 2021, Karen worked in a variety of office management positions with a specialty in financial services.

• Originally from a small Texas town, she started her career in Los Angeles. In 2015 she moved to Portland becoming acquainted with the metropolitan area as a Mobile Notary and Notary Signing Agent.
• Karen loves traveling – especially alone on the road! She says solo road trips are excellent opportunities for quiet introspection, loud sing-alongs and visiting far-flung friends and family.

Juli brings her enthusiasm for people and her vast experience in human resources to Johnson Bixby, and our sister company, Integrated Tax Services. She helps us recruit new talent, designs and implements key people strategy programs, all while making sure we stay a safe and compliant workplace.

A Pacific Northwest native, Juli is a mom of two, who went to school while raising her kids. She graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in Personnel Psychology and Human Resources Management. She also holds a minor in Psychology and has several human resource professional designations including Professional in Human Resources (PHR), SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and Certified Compensation Professional (CCP).

Depending on the season, you’ll find Juli enjoying any number of activities – hiking, kayaking, outdoor concerts, yard work or wine tasting.

Kristi believes in the power of story to connect us, move us, and transform lives. As our Chief Marketing Officer, she is a writer, brand and messaging strategist, and workshop facilitator with a knack for finding stories and creating pathways to help great ideas become remarkable experiences.

For 25 years, Kristi has worked in marketing for companies including Moda Health, Kaiser Permanente, Microsoft, Apple, Nike and others. She has more than 15 years’ experience in the financial services industry, working with clients from Registered Investment Advisor firms to larger brands such as Charles Schwab, Morgan Stanley and Prudential.

• Kristi fell in love with the Pacific Northwest after moving here 21 years ago from Iowa. She received a bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism from Iowa State University and has a certificate in integrated marketing communications from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
• Outside of the office Kristi writes poetry and is an avid reader of non-fiction. She also enjoys hiking, cooking, baking, eating, drinking, and laughing.
• In 2020, Kristi co-founded the Block Aid Project, a grassroots effort to care for – one block at a time – houseless neighbors who live on the streets of Portland. Once per month, the group makes, packages, and delivers food and basic supplies for some of the most vulnerable among us.

Rachel is an optimistic realist helping promote the JBA brand in all the ways that matter—whether that be to existing clients, future clients, employees or community partners. A natural people person who gets an extrovert classification on every test she’s taken, she tackles each communication challenge that comes across her plate with grace and enthusiasm.

A lifelong communicator who had childhood dreams of becoming a news broadcaster, she spent her early career years in public relation and marketing roles. After more than a decade in corporate communications, she moved to a local creative agency in account services where she realized she had a passion for promoting brands for smaller businesses.

Away from the office, Rachel enjoys entertaining friends and family over a homecooked meal—especially ones that contain vegetables from her garden.

• Although born and raised in Vancouver, Rachel spent her college years away, attending Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
• She’s married to her husband, Kevin, and has two daughters: Adelaide and Amelia.
• Follow her garden progress on Instagram with the #GorrettaGarden

Paula Lee is a people person—not a numbers person. Bringing out the best in her coworkers is what she does best. With her background in human resources, Paula thinks outside the box. It helps her inspire, direct and support those around her. Calm by nature, Paula handles just about any situation with precision, grace and humor.

Paula is the JBA team’s go-to person for everything from recruiting and onboarding new employees to managing public relations, marketing and organizing events.

When Paula isn’t juggling multiple projects, you’ll find her in her garden. Paula also enjoys traveling to sunny, warm locales and spending time with friends. She lives in Washougal, Washington, with her husband.

• Paula managed a travel agency in Vancouver for a number of years and grew the firm into one of the top five in the Pacific Northwest in sales with the Walt Disney Travel Company.
• She conducted a children’s choir for 17 years that performed musicals in Washougal.

Bob McMahan joined our team in 2022 and oversees all aspects of the use of information technology and information security for Johnson Bixby and our sister company, Integrated Tax Services.

With a positive attitude, strong work ethic, attention to detail and belief in always doing the right thing, Bob is a charismatic and natural fit to our organization. He has more than 25+ years of experience leading Fortune 500 and public sector organizations through digital transformation, educating and guiding business leaders in advancing digital dexterity, delivering quality services that support business objectives, and championing the importance of information risk and cybersecurity.

Bob holds a bachelor’s degree from Linfield College.

Vivian loves the art of untangling an accounting challenge. With a keen attention to detail and superior organization skills, she’s a natural fit to our team. Working in the accounting industry for more than a decade, Vivian previously worked as a financial consultant for a California based music start-up. In her role as Senior Accountant she supports Johnson Bixby and Integrated Tax Services with various finance related activities.

• Vivian grew up in San Jose, California and graduated from San Jose State University with a dual concentration in Accounting and Finance.
• Growing up, she had no idea finance was a destined career choice for the entire family. Today, her three siblings all work in financial-related fields.
• Vivian lives in West Linn with her husband, two children and two shih tzus, Zuki and Max.
• Away from the office you can find her trying new restaurants, breweries or enjoying time on the water with the family wake boat.

Need something painted or furniture assembled? Don’t worry! Jim is on the job. Calm and resourceful, Jim is instrumental in keeping our building running smoothly. And best of all? He’s a delight to be around.

Prior to joining our team, Jim held a facilities position at a Portland bicycle shop. To say biking is a passion for Jim is an understatement. Whether a mountain trail or commuting to work – Jim prefers to cycle whenever and wherever he can.

When not fixing something or biking, you may find Jim relaxing with his cat, Lulu, or jamming to Kool & the Gang and KC & the Sunshine band (both performed at his high school graduation!)

Jim is not affiliated with Securities America, Inc.