Director Gary Hollands was born and raised in Portland where he attended Portland Public schools, graduating from Benson High school. His experiences with dedicated educators and exposure to Career and Technical education put him on a path of lifelong learning and a commitment to providing opportunities to all children. 

Director Hollands served on the Multnomah Education Service District board, working to embed diverse cultural and linguistic voices into the fabric of the organization where he ensured diversity policies and processes were reviewed and updated to reflect the communities Multnomah ESD serves. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Albina Sports Program, a program which serves Portland youth to help them achieve their athletic and academic potential.