Investor Partner Spotlight: Roxanne Seaton

Meet Roxanne Seaton! Roxanne is one of our incredible Investor Partners. We got to connect with her and ask her some questions about her work with SVP, her day job, and her passions.

Why did you join SVP Portland and how are you involved?

I enjoy bringing other people's visions and stories to life, and have a calling to use my skills to make products and services with a positive societal impact. I am passionate about community building, having spent much of my adult life absent of it. My adolescence was community-rich due to my mother's volunteerism and servitude. I honor her memory by leaning into projects that help build moments where we share in each other's stories and lives.

I joined SVP Portland because I saw being able to do that work but with a team of skilled professionals with like-minded goals. 

What superpowers do you bring to your engagement?

I blend technology, art, and UX to create innovative experiences. 

I am a digital experience designer and creative leader with over 15 years of experience in interactive, product, and service design across various industries and technologies. I’m also a multi-disciplinary artist with 20+ years of experience in fine art, murals, and social art.

For the last decade, I have been primarily focused on the multi-housing industry, building eMarketing solutions. I was the system architect, designer, and front-end lead for the software that automated or digitized the jobs to be done for the company’s service line. This included a website builder that produced thousands of sites, a web app builder and content hosting platform, and a custom content management system where I designed and built over 40 microservices and features. 

I have designed and built over 30 website theme templates and produced hundreds of websites. I oversaw teams of designers, software developers, photographers, 3D artists, marketing specialists, web developers, resource planners, and customer reps. 

What do you find most rewarding about being a Partner?

There have been a few things, including the opportunity to champion other people’s dreams. Another is being part of a collaborative team that supports and advocates for others, which is incredibly fulfilling. I appreciate the chance to help those impacting our next generation in such significant ways. 

I love the opportunity to nurture something for the long term. There’s something profoundly fulfilling about tending to something over an extended period. The slow, deliberate growth—the way roots dig deeper, ideas unfurl, and bonds strengthen—holds a magic that can’t be rushed. 

Why are our early childhood goals important to you?

Early childhood goals hold immense significance for me. Since March 2022, I’ve been volunteering weekly at p:ear, a nonprofit organization that provides creative mentorship to houseless youth in Portland. Through this experience, I’ve discovered a truly exceptional sense of community at p:ear. It has heightened my awareness of the marginalized individuals' systemic challenges and the intricate web of barriers they encounter in their daily lives. As I continue to advocate for and mentor these young adults, I feel compelled to contribute to solutions that can prevent more youth from enduring similar hardships.

What is your day job?

My day job revolves around being a consultant and a creative entrepreneur at my company, Poprox. I engage in a dynamic blend of client projects and proprietary startups. One of my exciting endeavors involves transforming Old Town Chinatown into an open-air art museum. This project has led to me creating several art installations, art pop-ups, captivating window displays, and co-running a community-focused gallery. 

Later this year, I’ll be working with other local artists, designers, and engineers to create a six-series immersive art show (Womb to Tomb) that aims to inspire our audience to reflect on their own lives and values and appreciate the preciousness and diversity of life. My exhibition will explore connections and how they help us leave our mark on the world. 

What motivates you in life?

I have an inner need to make and create. The act of creation is both a mirror and a window. It reflects my inner landscape while allowing glimpses into others’ souls. Through art, I connect, express, and discover. 

My drive emerges from an unfortunate past of adversity. Having survived abuse, I carry within me the scars and resilience of those moments. They’ve etched empathy into my bones. I heal by being for others what I needed in those moments.

What do you like to do to put a smile on your face?

I am easily inspired by what others are passionate about. For me, passion is contagious. When I encounter someone deeply immersed in their craft, their enthusiasm ignites my own spark. I also really enjoy learning and being helpful.