Debi Coleman '74 is another illustrious local Brown graduate. She is the Managing Partner of SmartForest Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Portland. She is also the former Vice President of Operations, Chief Financial Officer, and Vice President of Information Systems and Technology at Apple Computer. She currently is on the Board of Directors at Applied Materials, Synopsys, Finatus, and Teseda Corp. 1) What made you come to Oregon? I moved to Oregon in November 1992 to take a position with Tektronix as VP Materials/Operations. Originally, I thought it would be a two-year assignment, but I've been here in Portland for 11+ years!

2) Please briefly describe your job and company.

Currently I am co-founder and co-managing partner of SmartForest Ventures. We are an SBIC-licensed, $75M venture capital firm located in downtown Portland. We focus broadly on high technology (semiconductor food chain and information technology). Most of our portfolio companies are in the Portland metro are and are "early stage."

3) What is your outlook for the Oregon economy? How about high tech in general?

My outlook for the economy for 2004 is very positive. I feel that the electronics/high tech industry will have a strong recovery and that Oregon will benefit from this. Also, the state's business plan is focused on the right goals and on cooperation among business leaders throughout the state. Hopefully, we can weather our short-term financial problems and get better in 24 months.

4) What's your funniest Brown memory?

My funniest Brown memory is when the Sciences Library was being built in 1970-71 on Thayer Street. A classmate nicknamed "Spider Man" (Peter Blotman) scaled that (and many other Providence edifaces) and went on "To Tell the Truth" TV show. I nicknamed the building "the new hi-ri-bi-phy-psych-sci-1" and it stuck.swer).

5) What's your favorite restaurant in Portland?

My favorite restaurant in Portland is McCormick & Schmick's.