Gavin D'Avanther

Director of Programs

Gavin has been with Livelihood NW for over 10 years. As Director of Programs, Gavin provides oversight for our contract and mission metrics and outcomes. She also manages several of our programs and provides one-on-one business support for growth-focused businesses. Through Livelihood, 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 run a business with no formal business skills. I felt like I was constantly trying to reinvent the wheel… in the dark. I want entrepreneurs to have the tools they need to make strong strategic decisions.”

A lifelong Girl Scout, Gavin is a lover of wild things and places, a proponent of the importance of lifelong learning, and shows a strong preference for cooking over an open flame.