---
title: 'Built Oregon appoints new board chair'
date: '2025-05-28T12:23:26-07:00'
type: post
word_count: 214
char_count: 1542
tokens: 279
categories:
  - Portland
---

# Built Oregon appoints new board chair

As part of the new leadership at Built Oregon, the organization has [appointed a new chair to lead the board activities](https://medium.com/built-oregon/built-oregon-announces-new-board-chair-813342dcf588), long time consumer products expert [Karmen Olson](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karmeno/). Karmen had previously held a board seat at Built. Other existing board members remain in similar roles.

> Karmen brings invaluable experience as Head of Strategy at WLCR.io and founder of XOKO Food & Beverage Strategy. Her impressive background includes serving as Director of Strategic Partnerships and New Ventures at Anheuser-Busch, where she drove innovation and growth, including launching the company’s first Black founder-led venture. She also founded The pH Experiment, successfully bringing multiple new products to market and building strong co-creator communities.

*Fun fact: Karmen will also be serving as the host of the [upcoming “Where are they now…?” fireside chat event on June 10, 2025](https://www.meetup.com/pie-portland-startup-community/events/307820658/).*

For more on Karmen’s experience and the reasoning behind the promotion, see the [blog post from Built executive director Katharine Reinhold](https://medium.com/built-oregon/built-oregon-announces-new-board-chair-813342dcf588).

*\[Full disclosure: I am the cofounder and former interim director of Built Oregon. I now serve in an advisory capacity for the org.\]*

More Portland startup news
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