Testimonials
“Christine provided exceptional leadership and expertise in developing a comprehensive business plan for the Independence Historical Trust’s anticipated operation of the First Bank of the United States on behalf of the National Park Service. Christine brought invaluable experience from her prior work with other National Park Service sites, which enabled her to understand immediately the unique responsibilities and expectations inherent in this public private partnership. She demonstrated a deep appreciation for the significance of this opportunity, both for the Trust and for the future accessibility of this national historic landmark.
Throughout the planning process, Christine skillfully navigated the complexities of federal partnership requirements, nonprofit operational considerations, and the Trust’s long term strategic goals. She ensured that board members, staff, and stakeholder voices were fully heard and appropriately integrated into the final recommendations. Her detailed and well-constructed pro forma was particularly impressive. It clearly articulated the potential financial structure and revenue opportunities associated with the First Bank’s operation and served as an essential tool for board decision making. Christine’s ability to translate financial data into a meaningful roadmap was instrumental in shaping a shared vision for the path ahead.
The Independence Historical Trust benefited greatly from Christine’s guidance, clarity, and dedication. I wholeheartedly recommend her to any organization seeking strategic counsel grounded in strong analytical capability and a genuine commitment to mission driven outcomes. We all walked away extremely impressed with Christine as a person and as a professional. She exceeded expectations and was an absolute joy to work with.”
- Jonathan Burton, Independence Historical Trust
“I had the joy of working closely with Christine to develop a comprehensive and community-centered five-year strategic plan for the NAYA Family Center. From the start, Christine prioritized inclusive engagement, ensuring that voices across our entire staff were heard and reflected in the plan. Her thoughtful approach, responsiveness, and clear organization made my role as staff liaison and project manager on the NAYA side feel seamless. Christine was not only a fantastic collaborator, but also a steady and insightful guide throughout the process. The result was the most actionable and robust strategic plan our organization has ever had. Rather than sitting on a shelf as many strategic plans do, it has served as a guiding organizational document to help us stay aligned and navigate challenging times".
- Kaelyn Rushforth, Native American Youth and Family Center
“1000 Friends of Oregon partners with a wide range of Oregonians - farmers, ranchers, foresters, developers, architects, and Oregonians who live, work, and enjoy every corner of Oregon. That means our attention can be pulled in a lot of different directions, misunderstandings can happen about what success looks like, and conflicts can arise about resourcing. Christine built new structures for the board, staff, and statewide membership to come together to adapt, create, and take care of one another in new and stronger ways. Christine has an innate ability to bring people together to focus, practice discipline, and set out on a shared path with clear roles and responsibilities. Nothing feels better than having someone help you level up your abilities while bringing excitement and energy to a shared future."
- Sam Diaz, 1,000 Friends of Oregon
“Christine's thoughtful, holistic and action-oriented approach proved to be the exact driving force Portland Songwriters Guild needed. Christine was at ease with our band of artists in a way that allowed our creativity to shine through the visioning process. Since our sessions, we have consistently used our work with Christine as goal posts that have more than doubled our membership, established new revenue streams, and built out programming for songwriters throughout the Pacific Northwest. Christine's process of guiding by listening is considered by our board the most influential turning point our organization has yet experienced."
- Tim Howe, Portland Songwriters Guild
"I am so impressed with the expertise of Christine Rontal. This is the second successful strategic plan that we have developed together. She brings deep knowledge of the needs of nonprofits and I highly recommend her services."
- Paul Lumley, Cascade AIDS Project
"Christine jumped in to lead our strategic planning process after Friends of the Columbia Gorge failed to complete a planning process the year before. She faced skepticism and fatigue among staff and board members and produced an engaging and inclusive process. People felt heard and we created a clear and inspiring plan. Christine was the right person at the right time to help us through a rough patch!"
- Kevin Gorman, Friends of the Columbia Gorge
"Christine Rontal brought a rare blend of professionalism, empathy, and strategic insight to Portland Oromo Community Association (POCA) as we embarked on creating our first-ever strategic plan. Her approach was both thoughtful and empowering—she took the time to understand our community's values, strengths, and challenges, and helped us articulate a shared vision for the future that felt both authentic and achievable.
What stood out most was her ability to guide us through a structured process while remaining flexible and responsive to our needs. Christine didn’t come in with a one-size-fits-all model; instead, she tailored each step to fit our organization’s culture and pace. Her facilitation helped build trust among our team, encouraged honest dialogue, and turned complex discussions into clear, actionable goals.
Throughout the process, Christine was a steady and supportive presence. Her clarity, calm demeanor, and genuine interest in our success made what could have been an overwhelming task feel inspiring and even enjoyable. The final plan not only reflects who we are—it has become a tool we actively use to guide our decisions and stay focused on what matters most."
- Moti Felema, Portland Oromo Community Association