MBA student Michael Ashton has been named executive director for Meadowood Springs, a nonprofit serving children with communication disorders and their families.

Michael is a pending graduate of Marylhurst University, where he has completed coursework for his Master's in Business Administration with a concentration in nonprofit management.

He comes to Meadowood Springs following four years as an administrative professional for Classic Pianos, a family owned piano retail store headquartered in Portland. Prior to his role in the piano business, Michael was a program and artistic director for the Pacific Heroic Artists, Musicians, and Entertainers (PHAME) Academy, a nonprofit organization based in Portland that provides artistic education and opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities. In his five years working with PHAME, Michael developed extensive skills in networking, fundraising, marketing and process development.