Relay Resources Appoints Vice Presidents of Employee Experience and Business Transformation

Relay Resources, the Pacific Northwest’s leading social enterprise nonprofit dedicated to advancing disability inclusion in the workplace, has strengthened its executive leadership team with the appointment of two senior leaders. Oscar Rico-Cazares has been named Vice President of Employee Experience and Talent Management, while Paulien van Uden has been promoted to Vice President of Business Transformation.

In his new role, Rico-Cazares will lead the development and execution of a disability-centered talent strategy designed to support the growth, success, and well-being of both disabled and non-disabled employees across Relay Resources. Van Uden will focus on advancing the organization’s most critical strategic initiatives, including leading enterprise-wide transformation efforts that strengthen operational excellence, mission impact, and long-term sustainability.

“The addition of Oscar and Paulien is essential to achieving our ambitious growth and impact goals,” said Dr. Jennifer Camota Luebke, CEO, Chief Disability Inclusion Officer, and President of Relay Resources. “Paulien has already been instrumental in building our Enterprise Project Management Office, and we’re thrilled to see her expand that leadership. Oscar brings deep human resources expertise and a demonstrated commitment to uplifting marginalized communities, making him an exceptional fit for our organization.”

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Oscar Rico-Cazares, Vice President of Employee Experience and Talent Management

Rico-Cazares brings more than a decade of experience across human resources, organizational operations, and workplace culture. Most recently, he spent three and a half years at Latino Network, serving in progressive leadership roles including Director of Human Resources, Director of Human Resources & Benefits, and Interim Deputy Director of Workplace Culture and Operations. In this capacity, he supported organizational leadership and helped manage a $25 million budget while aligning people operations with strategic priorities.

He also serves on the board of Adelante Mujeres and previously worked at Xenium HR, where he spent six years supporting clients as a Human Resources Business Partner. Rico-Cazares holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from Portland State University, along with certifications in CliftonStrengths coaching and adult learning.

Paulien van Uden, Vice President of Business Transformation

Van Uden joined Relay Resources in 2024 and quickly established the organization’s Enterprise Project Management Office, fostering a culture of disciplined execution and change adoption. Her leadership as Enterprise EPMO Director laid the foundation for her promotion to Vice President of Business Transformation.

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Prior to Relay, van Uden spent more than 18 years at Nike, contributing to large-scale transformation initiatives across innovation, manufacturing, supply chain, and sustainability. She later worked as a consultant, helping organizations translate complex strategies into measurable outcomes. Originally from the Netherlands, van Uden now resides in the Portland area and holds a bachelor’s degree in Facility Management, along with certifications in change management and program management.

“Both Oscar and Paulien bring a deeply people-centered approach to leadership,” Dr. Camota Luebke added. “Their dedication to empowering others will play a critical role in advancing Relay’s mission and future growth.”

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