John J. (Jack) McGowan
Born in 1948 in New York City, Jack moved to Oregon in 1970. He has been involved in a number of institutions in Oregon.
Currently, Jack is Executive Director of SOLV. 2004 marks the 35th anniversary of SOLV, which was founded by Governor Tom McCall and other prominent Oregonians. As Executive Director, Jack has managed SOLV's expansion from a staff of 2 to 25 and its budget from $35,000 to approximately $2 million. He represents the organization to business, community and government leaders around the state to address community viability and volunteerism. He leads the Board of Directors and staff in long range and strategic planning. Volunteer participation has grown from 5,000 to near 90,000 represented in over 250 Oregon communities. In 2001 Jack, his wife Jan, SOLV's Associate Director, and their son Travis, walked the entire coastline of Oregon, some 427 miles in the SOLV Oregon Legacy Walk. They, along with hundreds of others who walked with them during portions of the hike, undertook this as a statement of unity and shared vision for a better Oregon.
In addition to his duties at SOLV, Jack has served as on-air host for various special televised programs produced in Oregon. Among them, special productions of the Oregon Coast Aquarium, "From Raindrops to Raging Sea," and the award winning "Beyond Eden's Gate, The legacy at the end of the Oregon Trail" and "At Journey's End, Life after the Oregon Trail."
Jack has been involved in civic activities including serving on the organizing committee of the Flight For Freedom, a statewide response to the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11. The Flight For Freedom coordinated the travel of over 1,000 Oregonians to New York City approximately 3 weeks after the attacks, as a nationwide show of solidarity which set an example of spirit and courage in the face of terrorism.
From 1986 - 1989, Jack was a correspondent for KGW-TV. During this time he covered issues and events around the state of Oregon and was station correspondent for various international special programs from Japan, Australia and the Amazon region of Brazil.
Jack served as an assistant to Mayor J.E. Bud Clark of Portland from 1984 - 1986. He worked as the Mayor's liaison to the Portland press and business communities and represented the Mayor on a mission to China. While there he initiated discussions with the Government leaders of Suzhou which eventually led to formal Sister City status between Portland and this Chinese City.
Prior to his position in the Mayor's office, Jack was a partner in the Biggs-McGowan Company, a public relations firm where, along with his partner, he conceptualized and produced the first Mt. Hood Festival of Jazz as a fundraising and image building event for Mt. Hood Community College and the Gresham Chamber of Commerce. He also conceptualized and produced the popular jazz festival poster.
From 1978 - 1981, Jack was the Public Relations Director for the Washington Park Zoo. During his tenure there he conceptualized and produced the "Your
Zoo . . . And All That Jazz" concert series, the first musical series ever held in a zoological park.
Jack served as the Director of Promotion/Public Affairs at KINK FM from 1975 - 1978, in addition to other P.R. and marketing responsibilities.
From 1967 - 1970, Jack worked on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as a floor representative for various stock brokerage firms.
Jack's present and past affiliations include Board of Directors of the Providence Medical Foundation, Governor Kitzhaber's Willamette Basin Taskforce, Willamette Restoration Initiative and New Carissa Review Committee. He is also involved in various community-related causes around the state such as KPTV's One Oregon project. In 2003 Jack was presented with the Oregon Business Association's "Oregon Statesman of the Year" Award.
In 2003, SOLV also received the prestigious, national "Take Pride in America" Award and the President's "National Award on Volunteerism," in addition to receiving the "Outstanding Volunteer Organization" Award presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Jack is married to Jan Van Domelen McGowan, SOLV's Associate Director. They live in the Helvetia area with their son Travis. | 
