Board and Staff - Oregon Consumer League | Consumer Rights Protection

Joel Shapiro

President

Joel Shapiro is an attorney and consumer advocate. He has represented consumers and crime victims through his solo law practice. Joel has been involved legislative advocacy on a range of issues. Joel's background includes consumer protection policy work at both the state and federal level, including serving as Chief Counsel to U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, and as Political Outreach Director for the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association. He has also worked as a legislative assistant in the Oregon Legislature, and as a deputy district attorney and policy counsel for Multnomah County.
In addition to consumer protection, Joel devotes considerable time and energy to protecting the interests of victims of human trafficking. Joel is the Executive Director and a co-founder of the Trafficking Law Center. He is a graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School and Grinnell College. Joel joined the board of the Oregon Consumer League in 2013.

Perry Kantor

Vice President

Perry Kantor is a passionate advocate for consumer rights, and cares deeply about Oregonians' needs when it comes to interacting with corporations and markets. He brings prior wrongful foreclosure litigation experience and current litigation experience in furtherance of consumer rights to the Oregon Consumer League board.

Perry currently practices law with Graves & Swanson, LLC, in personal injury, family law, and sex abuse victim's rights areas. Perry graduated cum laude from Lewis & Clark Law School, served on both the Ninth Circuit Review and as an Associate Editor for Environmental Law Review, and was the first person to ever appear twice as a competitor for the law school Regional Trial Team. Prior to joining Graves & Swanson LLC, Perry worked as a Certified Law Clerk for Chenoweth Law Group, PC. He has previously served as a Federal Judicial Extern to the Hon. Marco A. Hernández, and as a law clerk for the Oregon Department of Justice in the Child Advocacy Section.

Perry is also currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Portland, where he teaches and coaches the school’s successful Mock Trial Program. He was awarded College of Arts and Sciences Faculty of the Year for 2022. Additionally, Perry regularly serves as an appointed mentor for law students, undergraduate students, and serves on the Sexual Assault Resource Center of Oregon Board of Directors, and is a member of the Oregon Hispanic Bar Association and the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association.

Michelle Druce

Executive Director

Michelle Druce is a lawyer and prior in-house legal counsel with 35 years’ experience practicing law. A graduate of the University of Utah and Willamette University College of Law, she is experienced in a wide variety of financial services and focuses on consumer law and privacy issues. Michelle is a certified privacy professional (International Association of Privacy Professionals).

Michelle currently serves as a consumer representative on the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation Insurance Advisory Committee, and on the executive committee of the Oregon State Bar Consumer Law Section. She is also a member of the Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation board. Michelle has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for youth in foster care and as a committed volunteer for access to justice serving on The Lawyers’ Campaign for Equal Justice Advisory Board, Multnomah County Legal Aid Board, and as a volunteer pro bono attorney. Michelle joined the board of the Oregon Consumer League in 2015.

Mayra Ledesma

Treasurer

Mayra is a personal injury attorney at Pickett Dummigan Weingart LLP where she represents the Latine community in workplace injury cases. With a special focus on farmworkers who often encounter significant barriers within the legal system, Mayra’s dedication sets her apart as a compassionate and determined advocate for those who often go unrepresented. Her journey to becoming a lawyer is deeply rooted in her personal background. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and raised in Hood River, Oregon, she is the daughter of farmworkers who suffered numerous injustices at work and faced barriers to accessing information about their legal rights. These early experiences ignited a profound passion within her to make a meaningful difference in her community. Prior to joining Pickett Dummigan Weingart, Mayra worked at the Northwest Workers' Justice Project, where her practice was centered on representing farmworkers in employment law cases. Outside of work, Mayra enjoys her love for travel and food. She also finds solace in the great outdoors, particularly through hiking, and cherishes every moment spent with her family.

James Davis Ed. D.

Board Member at Large

Dr. Jim Davis is a social psychologist, gerontologist, educator and advocate. He has been a member of the Oregon Consumer League Board for nearly 20 years, including serving 5 years as President and 3 years as Vice President. He is currently the Chair of the Oregon Insurance Advisory Committee, which he has served on for more than 30 years. He is the chair of the state Older Adult-People with Disabilities Behavioral Health Advisory Council. He retired in 2016 after serving for 11 years as an associate professor in the Human Sciences Department at Marylhurst University, including coordinating the Psychology and Social Sciences Programs and winning the 2013 Excellence in Academic Service and Teaching Award. Dr. Davis served as the Chair of the Oregon Disabilities Commission under Governor Brown and also served a commissioner on the Governor’s Commission on Senior Services under 3 governors. Dr. Davis is also the long-time executive director of the Oregon State Council of Retired Citizens and United Seniors of Oregon (both of whom he has served since the 1970s), state affiliates of the National Council on Aging, where he chaired the National Coalition of Consumer Organizations on Aging for 13 years.

Steve Weiss

Emeritus-Past President

Steve Weiss has actively engaged in social justice work in Oregon as a volunteer advocate since 1999. He was born and raised in New York City and holds a BA Degree in Comparative Literature from California State University at Los Angeles.
In addition to serving as board president of the Oregon Consumer League, Steve has also served as board president for Oregon State Council for Retired Citizens, Independent Living Resources for 20 years, and served on the board of the Community Alliance of Tenants. He also served as board vice-president of United Seniors of Oregon. Steve was previously chair of the Department of County Human Services Community Services Community Budget Advisory Committee.

Steve’s work is appreciated and has not gone unnoticed. He is a recipient of the following awards:

City of Portland Day of Recognition Proclamation, 2013
Spirit of Portland Award from the City Council, 2013
Tenant Hero Award from the Community Alliance of Tenants, 2013
Multnomah County Volunteer Awards, total of six
Oregon Governor’s Volunteer Award 2007, Oregon Volunteers
Advocate of the Year 2006, Elders in Action
Oregon Consumer League Lifetime Board Service Award

OCL Board & Staff

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