Stephanie Brown

About Stephanie Brown

Preservationist with a passion for breathing new life into historic buildings, carousels…

Experience

1. Executive Director

   Elk Rock Garden

   Dec 2024 — Present · Portland, OR, US

   As Executive Director of Elk Rock Garden, I am largely focused on planning the restoration and revitalization of one of Portland’s most significant historic landscapes: a 10-acre site which includes both a 1916 Ellis Lawrence-designed manor house, and an expansive garden created with input from John C. Olmsted and Emanuel Mische. Under my leadership, Elk Rock Garden is quickly evolving into a vibrant public resource and center for environmental education, preservation training, and cultural engagement. I have expanded the garden’s educational mission through strategic partnerships and new programming. For example, in 2025, the garden has- welcomed students from Clackamas Community College for tree identification exercises and Portland Community College for perspective drawing classes- collaborated with the West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District to educate the public about Oregon oak and ash trees and the invasive insects threatening their survival- hosted expert-led talks, such as a joint presentation by Bartlett Tree Experts and the Association of Professional Landscape Designers on growing healthy trees amid climate change, and a lecture by public historian Eileen Fitzsimons focused on the history of Elk Rock Garden- offered hands-on learning opportunities including welcoming students from Clatsop Community College’s Historic Preservation program for an intensive two-day window restoration workshop, during which 15 original wood windows were returned to working order by replacing broken sash cords and missing weights—advancing both preservation skills and Oregon workforce developmentCurrently, I am working to expand Elk Rock\'s educational reach by engaging with local K–12 educators to develop field trip opportunities and hands-on learning experiences focused on habitat restoration and the study of native plants and wildlife.

Skills

• Writing
• Public Relations
• Photoshop
• Media Relations
• Social Media Marketing
• Grant Preparation
• Press Releases
• Newsletters
• Interior Architecture
• Graphic Design
• Interior Design
• Furniture
• Grant Writing
• Space Planning
• Public Speaking
• Strategic Media Relations
• Copywriting
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Social Media
• Fundraising
• Marketing
• Renovation
• Non-Profit Leadership
• Event Planning
• Teaching
• Historic Preservation
• Blogging
• Community Outreach
• Research
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Editing
• Microsoft Office
• Grassroots Fundraising
• Photography