ABOUT PSG

Portland Songwriters Guild is an inclusive and empowering community where songwriters can develop their craft.


Our Mission is simple

Creates pathways for songwriters to find their success within and around Portland.

Musician in a casual restaurant playing guitar for an audience seated at tables.
A cozy indoor music event with a female musician playing guitar on stage. Audience members are seated at tables, listening attentively. The venue has a relaxed atmosphere with string lights and soft lighting.
Live music performance featuring a woman playing a trumpet and a man playing keyboard with a guitar, on a dimly lit stage with candles in the foreground and book-themed background decor.

Our Objectives

one

Create avenues for songwriters and musical artists in the Pacific Northwest towards sustainable career pathways.

two

Develop and facilitate a network of songwriters and musical artists.

three

Provide professional learning opportunities for songwriters and musical artists.

four

Foster cooperation and partnership within Portland’s music industry of venues, record labels, and organizations to meet the needs of artists.

Meet the Team

  • Singer performing with acoustic guitar on stage

    Sam Pinkerton (she/her)

    Volunteer Executive Director, Co-founder

    A native Floridian, Sam first discovered Portland while on tour in 2016 and moved shortly after. Before making the trek to the PNW, she earned her degree in songwriting and entreprenerrship from Belmont University in Nashville, TN — the place that sparked her passson for songwriting community. She joins PSG with a background in event planning and marketing, and an obsession for writing songs. Sam works full time at Oregon State University in marketing and recruitment, as well as performs as a solo artist and guitarist for Live Wire Radio and Girlgoyle.

  • Black and white photo of a man holding a clipboard, speaking into a microphone on stage with books in the background.

    Andy Zook (he/him)

    Volunteer Operations Manager, Co-founder

    Bringing years of experience working in non-profit and events management as well as his current role in business operations and sales for a large tech organization, Andy hopes to create structure and sustainability for the growth of Portland's musicians. After a decade of fronting the Seattle bands "Bears and Other Carnivores" and "Sea Fever," Andy now writes and performs under his own name.

  • Person sitting in a room holding a bright blue electric guitar, wearing a brown shirt and blue cap, with drinks and glassware in the background.

    Tim Howe (he/him)

    Board President

    Tim has lived in Portland since 2008. He currently works as a consultant for non-profits and plays in several music projects around town. Tim is energized by the opportunity to create sustainable structures and foster joy within PSG. He's currently seeking the best possible bite of a sandwich in the Portland Metro Area.

  • Black and white photo of a woman playing guitar and singing into a microphone.

    Lisa Fitzgerald (she/her)

    Board Secretary

    Lisa holds a JD from Harvard Law School and currently works as an attorney and mediator. She is also a singer-songwriter and is excited to be part of this growing community of local artists.

  • A person with blonde hair is standing indoors with colorful galaxy-like light projections on their body and face, creating a celestial effect. The background includes a brick wall, a shelf with a lit candle, and a mirror reflecting part of the room.

    Tex Dreier (they/them)

    Board Treasurer

    Hailing from Bend, OR, Tex, (inactive CPA) offers years of experience working as a controller and accountant for many of their clients. Tex’s love for Taylor Swift influenced their exploration into songwriting in recent years. Find them at karaoke, and they’ll prove it.

  • Person sitting in a colorful cafe, leaning chin on hand, with curly hair, wearing a textured top, and vintage-style decor in the background.

    Mack John (she/her)

    Volunteer Event Coordinator, 52 Song Club

    Mack John was raised amidst the vibrant midwest music culture of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and moved to Portland in 2019. After taking a long hiatus from performing music, PSG's inaugural songwriting challenge in 2022 reignited Mack's desire to share and connect through music. You can usually find Mack writing songs, coordinating weddings, organizing songwriter meetups, or playing with her band, Friends Friends.

Keeping Our Community Safe

PSG has a Zero Tolerance Policy to ensure a welcoming and safe environment for all.

The Portland Songwriters Guild is an Oregon nonprofit corporation tax-exempt under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code