Lara Damon

executive director

lara@livelihoodnw.org

Lara is the founding Executive Director at Livelihood NW. Over the past 17 years, she has dedicated herself to supporting under-served entrepreneurs to excel and expand their companies through consulting, training, and connecting individuals to business resources throughout Portland, OR. Lara is also an instructor in the School of Business at PSU,  teaching business strategy to undergraduates and guiding students through experiential learning. She spent 14 years leading the PSU Business Outreach Program. 

As a PSU alumna with a B.S. in Business Management, Human Resource Management, and Psychology, as well as a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), Lara has channeled her intuitive people skills, business training, and background to help BIPOC, women, and other under-served entrepreneurs in the Portland community achieve and grow their dreams through small business ownership with the intense determination of closing the wealth gap in our economy.

In addition to founding a nonprofit, supporting small businesses, and being a co-owner in a popular local Portland restaurant, she spends her time with her partner and two children being grateful for all that Oregon has to offer in its people, place, and passion.