Gavin D'Avanther

Director of Programs

gavin@livelihoodnw.org

Gavin has been with Livelihood NW since 2012. As Director of Programs, Gavin provides oversight for our programs and services, contracts and outcomes, and supports our Advisor Team. She also manages our core programs and still provides limited one-on-one business support for growth-focused businesses. Through Livelihood NW, Gavin has worked closely with over 250 Oregon businesses in a wide range of industries, supporting them to grow their business skills to support their dreams. Gavin is frequently asked to be a guest speaker on topics including leadership, teamwork, management, entrepreneurial mindset, and the power and tools of financial analysis.

With a bachelor’s degree in theater and philosophy, Gavin enjoyed a 20-year career in the live events industry. As she grew in her career, working her way up from floor sweeper to senior management, Gavin became increasingly interested in the “business side of the business.” This led her to earn her MBA from Portland State University in 2012, where she discovered a whole world of knowledge, skills, tools, systems, and strategies that she had been craving. Her passion for Business Development now stems from her deep and personal understanding of the transformative power of business education. “I know what it’s like to try to run a business with no actual business skills. I felt like I was constantly trying to reinvent the wheel… in the dark. I want entrepreneurs to have access to the tools and skills they need to make strong strategic decisions.”

A lifelong Girl Scout, Gavin is a lover of wild things and places, a gardener, a slam poetry fan, an advocate for lifelong learning, and shows a strong preference for cooking over an open flame.