When you meet Kara Bader, you’re immediately struck by her warmth, curiosity, and sincere compassion. A Bridges parent and board member, Kara brings a unique blend of professional expertise, nonprofit experience, and lived understanding of the neurodiverse community. Her journey — from the Montana mountains to a leadership role strengthening our mission — reflects both resilience and heart.
From Big Skies to Big Ideas
Kara grew up just outside of Glacier National Park in Kalispell, Montana, surrounded by nature and animals. “It was beautiful, but also very small,” she recalls. “I was eager for more opportunity and perspective.” Showing horses in 4-H as a child, she developed a lasting love of community and hard work.
After a year at the University of Montana, Kara joined the National Student Exchange program and spent her sophomore year attending the University of Delaware. She loved it so much that she ended up transferring and finishing her undergraduate studies on the East Coast. She earned her Public Relations/Communications and Political Science degrees and had dreams of working for the United Nations. However, practicality won out. “I had too many student loans to chase that dream just then,” she laughs. “I needed to start building my career.”
Building a Career and Life in Oregon
After graduation, Kara joined her sister in Portland. Officially planting roots in Oregon in 2000. She took a big leap of faith, moving without a job lined up. Nevertheless, she landed at Enron where she coordinated broadband mapping projects before moving to their west trading desk. “I was there when Moody’s downgraded Enron, and it could no longer be traded. So I basically rode that ship down!”
After the collapse of Enron in 2001, Kara took a product manager role with TransCore, a transportation technology company. After a number of years of product management under her belt, she tried her hand at application development, bridging the gap between end users and business partners.
“I’m scrappy,” she says. “See a need, fill a need. That’s just how I’m wired.”
Her next professional chapter took her to Nike, where she spent nearly a decade as global content integration manager for NIKEiD.com (now Nike by You) and later led global strategy for tennis and youth athletes on Nike.com. “I didn’t even play tennis,” she admits with a smile. “But, I loved connecting with global teams and creating something meaningful for athletes around the world.”
In 2015, Kara pivoted back to her passion for positive community impact. She earned a Master’s in Public Administration with a nonprofit focus from Portland State University. With degree in hand, she began consulting for organizations like KairosPDX, Friends of the Children, and Unity Center, keeping her focus on equitable opportunities for youth of color.
A Mother’s Search Leads to Bridges
Kara’s connection to Bridges began, like so many other families, with a moment of heartbreak and hope. Her youngest son, Sampson, was struggling in traditional school after the pandemic. “I was a heartbroken mom doing a frantic search for the best schools for kids with ADHD,” she recalls. “When I found Bridges, I had no idea such a school existed.”
After Sampson’s shadow day, Kara asked what he thought. His answer? “It was like going home.”
That was all she needed to hear. “Before Bridges, I was out of tools,” she admits. “To have a school that totally gets these kids, that was unfazed by their challenges, was such a relief!”
She credits the social-emotional focus of the 5th and 6th grade classrooms as transformative for Sampson — and for her. “I’m positive I’ve become a better parent because of what I’ve learned from the teachers and staff here.”
Joining the Board
Kara joined the Bridges Board in 2024, bringing with her a strong background in fundraising, nonprofit management, and the current parent perspective. “In my career, I’ve worn lots of hats. Board member. Consultant. Volunteer. Staff member. So I understand how all the pieces fit together.”
Her goals include leveraging her expertise to expand fundraising and grant opportunities, raise awareness of Bridges within the broader Portland community, and amplify the school’s voice as a resource hub for families navigating neurodiversity.
“There are so many families who need Bridges but don’t know about it,” she says. “We could become a central resource for neurodiverse students and their families. Connecting them with information, support, and hope.”
Kara is also passionate about expanding scholarship opportunities, ensuring more children can access Bridges’ life-changing programs. “We have something special here. I want more families to have this opportunity.”
Life Outside of Bridges
Outside of her professional and volunteer life, Kara cherishes time with her family — her husband Jordan, her children Jake, Hannah, and Sampson, and their menagerie of animals: three alpacas (Zelda, Bucky, and Chewy), two cats, one bunny, and their beloved rescue dog, Maisy.
She loves traveling to far-flung places, gardening, reading, and spending time in the outdoors hiking, kayaking, and fishing with Sampson. Being in nature and working her “pseudo-farm” reminds her of home in Montana. “I’m a terrible gardener,” she jokes, “but I love it anyway.”
A Collective Vision
When asked what keeps her inspired, Kara returns to the idea of community: “To be successful, an organization, like Bridges, must be a collective to be sustainable.”
That collaborative spirit, along with her experience, compassion, and steady optimism, makes Kara an invaluable part of the Bridges family.