Zada Spiess (she/her) is a visual artist, producer, and community organizer with an intense passion for making art and comedy accessible to the Portland community. Originally from Colorado, Zada moved to Portland nearly twenty years ago to attend Reed College where she majored in Studio Art with a focus on costume and performance. She fell in love with Portland’s vibrant art scene and has been contributing ever since. She is currently working for a local non-profit while attending sketch comedy classes and volunteering at Kickstand. She is excited to contribute to Kickstand’s growing vision as an accessible comedic and creative space where all are welcome to express their individuality.

Laz Romankiw (he/him) is a program manager with over a decade of experience with designing, coordinating, and implementing ongoing projects and programs. He combines private and public sector experience with an education in Organizational Leadership to bring equitable and process-oriented programs to life. Laz is a longtime theater kid and proud Leo, and he believes that laughter is a critical way to bring communities and organizations together. As a graduate of the BIPOC program at Kickstand, Laz is passionate about continuing to operationalize Kickstand’s mission to make comedy inclusive and accessible for communities that are typically underserved in formal comedy spaces.

Alonya E. Lowe is a performer, writer, and photographer from Mendocino, CA. She studied history and film at UCLA while simultaneously getting involved in the SoCal acting and comedy scene. Over the years she has performed in comedy festivals across the U.S. doing sketch and improv. Alonya currently lives in Portland where she runs her boutique portrait photography business, Alonya Photography. She also teaches photography, coaches and directs comedy, and is honored to be on the Kickstand board of directors.

Trinity Honaker-Hwang (she/they) is a marketing specialist with experience spanning administration and event coordination. She enjoys organizing human-centric systems that help initiatives run smoothly. A longtime fan of comedy–especially improv–Trinity values its power to spark connection, creativity, and collective joy. She is excited to support Kickstand’s mission to cultivate welcoming, collaborative spaces, particularly for underserved communities.

AJ Park (She/Her) is a marketing and communications leader with over a decade of experience helping Portland companies and non-profits amplify their voice and build cultures where people are celebrated. A graduate of Kickstand Comedy's BIPOC program, she knows first-hand the powerful impact an intentional, inclusive space can have. As a board member, AJ is passionate about championing Kickstand's BIPOC community, making sure their interests are represented at all levels of the organization.

Madison Ford (she/her) is a professional musical theatre performer and Portland-based singer with a background in finance and data analytics. As both an artist and analyst, she brings creative passion and practical problem-solving to her work with Kickstand Comedy. Having spent years performing and building community through the arts, she cares deeply about spaces where artists can take risks, experiment, and grow. Madison believes strongly in the power of improv to help performers discover their voice and in the arts’ ability to empower people both onstage and off. She’s excited to support Kickstand’s continued growth and the artists who make its community vibrant.

Matthew Douglass (he/him) is a business and technology leader with a passion for positive impact. He brings a unique blend of strategic thinking and people-centered leadership to the nonprofit world. From leading large-scale global programs to developing impactful business strategies, Matthew enjoys tackling complex challenges and driving meaningful results. He believes in the power of comedy and improvisation to connect ideas, foster community, and inspire action.

Iggy Perillo (she/her), founder of WSL Leadership, works with leaders and organizations to cultivate trust, respect, and justice. Holding a MS in Experiential Education, Iggy has decades of experience training leaders in the wilderness via canoe and dogsled and in less exciting beige conference rooms. When not working with leaders to throw away their garbage code of conduct and discipline procedures, she can be found playing with her generous and clever improv team. Iggy embraces comedy as the fastest path to connection.

Amanda Keasberry (She/They), a transplant from the coast of Alabama, has called Portland home for the past decade.  As the Science and Stewardship Manager at Cascade Forest Conservancy, she connects people with nature through hands-on educational experiences. She joined Kickstand’s board in 2024 after being an improv student and Pit Crew volunteer. With eight years of experience in the nonprofit world, she brings her passion for community engagement and grant writing to support Kickstand’s mission.

(He/Him)
Zack Poitras is a recently returned Portland native who has been doing comedy for twenty years. He wrote for and performed on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, The Kids Tonight Show, and made a comedy-science show for HBO Max and Discovery that he also co-starred in called High Science. Before that he was head writer of Funny or Die, a writer for The Onion, and taught sketch, performed and directed at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theaters in New York City and Los Angeles. He’s got a great wife, kids, dog, and cat. In his free tim,e he makes lamps where the on/off switch is a urinal flush lever. 

Rachelle Cochran (she/her) is an accountant, standup comedian, and the head of the finance committee for Kickstand Comedy. With over ten years of experience performing in Portland, Oregon, she brings a unique combination of financial expertise and creative passion to the comedy scene. As co-host of Kickstand's Comedy in the Park, Rachelle aims to help create a vibrant, inclusive environment that brings laughter to thousands each week. All the while she is dedicated to supporting Kickstand Comedy’s growth while fostering the local comedy community.

Afrita started Improv journey a few years ago and fell in love with the art form.  While new to improv, she is no stranger to being in front of crowds.  She began her oratory practice in high school, where she participated in her school local forensic club. She continued to built those skills into a business and her current day job as a facilitator and personal developer coach.  Her talent for humor always took a back seat to the more serious nature of speaking until she took an improv class at Kickstand Comedy.  She co-founded "The Humans," a local Portland improv group, and has performed with other groups over the years.  She is a kind and expressive performer who sees the humor in the routine crevices of life.

Lauren is an improviser and artist with over a decade of experience performing in Portland. Originally from the Midwest, Lauren’s style is very supportive and listening-based, with lots of room for organic moves and games. 
She is currently on the teams Quiet Women, Sinner & Williams, and the Tuesday the 13th Part III (an improvised slasher show). Other highlights include performing in the Del Close Marathon (NYC), Vancouver International Improv Festival, Loose Threads, as well as the sketch show, Show Ridiculous. She is also the founder and host of Night Cheese—an absurdist art/food/comedy variety show. 
Outside of comedy, Lauren is an editor, writer, mentor, teacher and critic who focuses on contemporary fiber and textile work. When it comes to fun, non-comedy stuff, she loves reading horror, playing video games, and thrifting.

Jhordan began her comedy and improv journey at Chaos Bloom theatre in Denver, CO. 
Since moving to Portland, she has performed on Kickstand’s Harold teams, in various sketch productions, Velodrome, and Secret Aardvark. She has also performed at Curious Comedy’s Friday Night Fights and numerous Sunday School events.
She believes in seeing the whole performer and leaning in on the strengths and abilities we carry as individuals to build us up on stage. Education through empathy is a value she has carried with her from her time as a school teacher into her new role as a teacher with Kickstand Comedy. 
You can see Jhordan performing with the indie team No Pockets, as a cast member on Kickstand's Mosaic nights, or simply reading on her patio with her two cats, or trying to remember where she set things down or why she came into a room.

Mary C. Parker is a performer, applied theater facilitator, and independent international scholar. As a performer, Mary has performed improv comedy in Portland, OR, London, UK, and Pittsburgh, PA teams in 175+ in-person shows including the Improv Festivus (Richmond, VA), Edinburgh Improv Festival (Scotland), Pittsburgh Comedy Festival (Pittsburgh, PA), and 2nd Best Fest (Richmond, VA). Her online improv has reached global audiences with over 6,300 views. In her applied theater work, Mary employs humor to deepen humility and disrupt fragility, one laugh at a time using a praxis of applied improvisation, playback theater, and theatre of the oppressed.

Jon began teaching improv in the early 2010s in Austin, TX at The Hideout Theatre and co-produced The Out-of-Bounds Comedy Festival. He has since traveled to London, Japan, Switzerland, Germany, among others to teach and direct niche forms of improvised theater and comedy. His favorite classes, however, will always be working with newcomers and watching them gain confidence, awareness, and the power of being present. He strives to make everyone feel comfortable, safe, seen & heard.

Jon began teaching improv in the early 2010s in Austin, TX at The Hideout Theatre and co-produced The Out-of-Bounds Comedy Festival. He has since traveled to London, Japan, Switzerland, Germany, among others to teach and direct niche forms of improvised theater and comedy. His favorite classes, however, will always be working with newcomers and watching them gain confidence, awareness, and the power of being present. He strives to make everyone feel comfortable, safe, seen & heard.

Thea is a local improviser, aspiring gardener, and shark-aficionado. Thea performs regularly as a member of the Breaking News improv team and hosts the Kickin' Off Your Weekend with Kickstand Comedy show on XRAY.fm. With 11 years of improv experience, 4 years in the Kickstand community and nearly twenty years as a self-proclaimed "comedy nerd" - Thea is thrilled to bring her passions for community, comedy, and life-long learning to her role as a teacher. 

Dana Murphy is a midwest transplant with a passion for comedy. Since joining the Portland comedy scene in 2017, she’s performed improv with various groups around town including current teams HONK, For Ginger, and Hot Dip. While improv holds her heart, you can also see her writing and performing sketch comedy with Pretty Kitty Glitter Party.

When she’s not performing, Dana loves hunting down delish vegan spots, having solo concerts in her car, and smoochin’ on her little dog named Tuna.

Natalie is an improviser, actor, and karaoke enthusiast who found her love for improv during her time earning a degree in Theater Arts back in 2013. Since then, she’s trained with UCB New York, The Brody Theater, The Liberators, and found her home at Kickstand Comedy. Their career highlights include performances with groups like Portland’s WAFE and Show Ridiculous, alongside touring engagements with the Kickstand Cvlt ensemble. Natalie has performed in festivals such as the Del Close Marathon and the Vancouver International Improv Festival, consistently delighting audiences with her infectious enthusiasm. Beyond the stage, Natalie is deeply committed to fostering a nurturing environment for aspiring improvisers through her teaching. They are dedicated to cultivating a supportive space that ensures students can confidently explore the art of improv comedy.