Staff

Anne joined Friends of the Children as a freelance grant writer in August 2019 after a cross-country move from Massachusetts. She was hired as full-time Director of Development and Marketing in June 2020. Anne holds bachelor's and master's degrees in English and brings more than 25 years of experience in public relations, marketing, and writing from multiple settings, including book publishing, museum design, higher education, and, most recently, the Klamath Falls City School District. Passionate about social justice, Anne has spent much volunteer time supporting A Better Chance, Habitat for Humanity, and other organizations that empower families to create healthy lives for themselves and their children. She is thrilled to have found a role that combines her professional skills and personal interests. Anne lives in Klamath Falls with her husband Tom and their two daughters.

Crystal believes in the core values and the power of connection provided by Friends of the Children. She was excited to join the staff after having served on the chapter's Ambassador Board. Crystal is almost a local, having lived in Klamath Falls since she was 12. She is a graduate of Henley High and earned a bachelor’s degree in communication with an emphasis in marketing from Oregon Tech. Aside from a brief stint in graduate school for library and information studies through the University of Washington, she has dedicated her career to building a better community in the Klamath Basin, working primarily in education (Klamath Learning Center, Oregon Tech and Klamath Union) and nonprofit arts management (Ross Ragland Theater, Arts on the Flyway). She is proud to hold connections to Linkville Players, SMART Reading, the Downtown Association, Discover Klamath, the Chamber of Commerce and more: "They all work hard to help our tiny corner of the world shine like the gem it is."

Amanda became Executive Director of Friends of the Children – Klamath Basin in late 2016. She came to the position with demonstrated leadership experience from her role as Education Director for Klamath’s Ross Ragland Theater, the creativity of her degree in Communications: Theater, and a great passion for children’s success. Amanda has been a true youth advocate in Klamath, serving on the boards of the Klamath Promise, the Ross Ragland Theater, the Chiloquin First Coalition, and the Citizens Police Advisory Team, and working with various state agencies that impact children, such as the Department of Health Services. Amanda has been thrilled to watch the growth of the national network and has led the Klamath Basin chapter in its own growth plan. During her tenure, the chapter has increased total youth served by 40%, established a full-time development position, launched the 2GEN mentoring model, and begun planning for a capital campaign project. Amanda resides in Klamath Falls with her husband Phillip and their two children.

Jordon Falconio joined Friends - Klamath Basin in October 2021 as the chapter's first Family and Community Engagement Specialist. In this role, Jordon works closely with caregivers, empowering them to access resources and build on strengths to achieve family well-being. "I'm a positive person by nature, and I'm excited to bring positive energy to families striving to reach long-term goals," said Jordon, who earned a degree in criminal justice at Southern Oregon University and has years of experience working with families facing generational poverty and other obstacles. His work supports and extends our chapter's 1:1 mentoring model by freeing Friends to focus their full attention on program youth and by strengthening caregivers' ability to support all children in the home. Jordan enjoys playing golf, camping, and watching sports.

Born in Klamath Falls, Jose is the first generation in his family born in the United States. His parents emigrated in the 1970s from Mexico and taught their four children to work hard, be kind to others, be honest and ethical, and enlighten the next generation about their culture and passions. Jose has taken those lessons to heart. He enjoys fishing, hunting, and traveling, and he attempts to incorporate athletics among other talents into the lives of his two children and his mentees. Jose attempts to open the eyes of children to the small details in life, and to take pause for moments that create cherished memories, learning opportunities, and time to regroup. Jose feels honored to have touched the lives of many mentees, walking alongside them as they have navigated a world different from when he grew up. In return, he has learned as much as he has taught. He feels great accomplishment when past graduates from the program call to update him on their lives and successes, and he gives thanks.

Naomi grew up in Portland and chose Klamath Falls as the “perfect fit” to raise her own family. Prior to joining Friends in 2020, Naomi worked in the Goals/Bridges classroom at Klamath Union High School, where she loved helping teens with special needs become successful. “As a Friend, I get to support kids in their hopes and dreams K-12 instead of just a handful of years,” she says. “I think every kid needs someone who cares that isn't family. I was lucky enough to have a few of those when I was a kid and truly look forward to being that for others.”

Jeff has been a mentor at Friends of the Children since December 2018 and loves being able to work with kids through the Friends' 1:1 approach. Prior to becoming a Friend, Jeff was a theater teacher and youth camp director through programs at the Ross Ragland Theater. He received a master's of fine arts degree in theater directing from East 15 Acting School in London before moving to Klamath Falls in 2014. While Jeff doesn't do as much theatre as he used to, he still enjoys directing and acting when he has a chance. He also enjoys going on adventures and exploring new places, from local nature trails to foreign cities. His biggest goals in life are to keep learning and growing as a person while also fighting for equity for the youth within our community.

Anne was born and raised in Klamath Falls and attended Klamath Union High School. After high school she left Klamath for a few years to pursue education and various AmeriCorps positions. She loves her mentoring job because of the relationships she gets to build with her youth and their families. She enjoys getting to be a true friend to them. Outside work Anne enjoys spending time with her family, in the woods fishing & hunting, and taking long road trips to explore new places and study the geology of the land.

As spouse of Executive Director Amanda Squibb, Phillip Squibb was well-versed in the Friends mentoring model when he became Friends – Klamath Basin’s Chiloquin Friend in 2022. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with two decades of experience in special education, mental health, and disability services, he also was well prepared for the work of empowering youth to overcome obstacles and thrive. “Youth are the experts of their lives and who they are,” said Phillip. “A Friend doesn’t direct or control, just comes alongside to support and help them be the best humans they can be.” Phillip is part of the Klamath Kiwanis Club and a Board Member for Solid Ground Equine Therapy and the Klamath County Developmental Disabilities Advisory. He enjoys traveling, coaching, running, swimming and really anything that keeps him active and learning new things.

Sarah was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Florida International University. After traveling a little bit of everywhere, Sarah settled in Klamath Falls in the summer of 2017. Sarah’s love of community support and belief in equitable access to resources encouraged her to pursue involvement with Friends of the Children in May 2022. In her free time, Sarah is involved in community theater, plays dungeons and dragons and spends a lot of time crafting and traveling.

Kayla grew up in Santa Cruz, California, where she earned her bachelor's degree in film and digital media production. She moved to Klamath Falls in 2018 and became a Friends of the Children mentor in 2022, drawing on experience working with children in the childcare facility of an outpatient treatment center and teaching video production to middle school students. Kayla is fluent in Portuguese and strongly values preserving and exploring cultural identities. In her free time, Kayla is pursuing a master's degree in social work through Boston University and enjoys crafting projects, boxing, skating, and spending time outside with her family and two dogs.

Michael joined Friends of the Children in May 2022 after a 12-year career in information technology, eager to provide youth the kind of positive, supportive advocacy he was fortunate to experience as a child. Michael believes that all children deserve the chance to safely and comfortably pursue their life goals, and he is eager to support program youth with the passion for imagination and playfulness he brings to everything he does. "As the great Fred Rogers so eloquently put it," Michael says, "it’s the things we play with and the people who help us play that make a great difference in our lives." Outside of work, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter.

Cheyanne was born in Klamath Falls and grew up on a small ranch in nearby Chiloquin with cows, horses, cats, dogs, and chickens. She attended Chiloquin schools, graduating from Chiloquin High School in 2010. Cheyanne is an enrolled member of the Klamath Tribes. She is married to her high school sweetheart, and together they have a daughter, a Rottweiler named Major, and a cat named Trevor Lahey. Cheyanne enjoys sports, attending concerts, snowboarding, traveling, music, and holidays. She was first introduced to Friends of the Children when she started coaching Little League Softball. Once she learned of the program and all it stands for, she knew she had to be a part of it. She worked for several years as a Friend before transitioning to more part-time work as Tribal Engagement Coordinator, a role that helps the chapter provide culturally inclusive programming for its Indigenous youth.