Meet the people who have guided the transition from the Willamette River Initiative to the new Willamette River Network.
Beginning in November of 2017, a dedicated, passionate group of Willamette community members worked together over a year and a half to reflect on a decade of experience through Meyer Memorial Trust's Willamette River Initiative—and on larger needs in the Willamette Basin. They built on years of feedback from WRI grantees and hundreds of attendees of the Within our Reach conference about what would be of most value collectively.
Together, they envisioned the future. They created a blueprint for a Willamette River Network, reflecting feedback during their process. They then served as advisors to recruit the first board and staff for the network. Their dedication has made this transition a true team effort.
Blueprint Advisory Group
MARCELO BONTA, The Raben Group (now with J.E.D.I. Heart)
JOEL CARY, Tualatin Valley Water District
BOBBY COCHRAN, Willamette Partnership
CASSIE COHEN, Portland Harbor Community Coalition
HOLLY CROSSON, Benton Soil and Water Conservation District
SARAH DYRDAHL, Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council
KATHLEEN “KAS” GUILLOZET, Bonneville Environmental Foundation
DAVE HULSE, University of Oregon
KRISTEN LARSON, Luckiamute Watershed Council
JOE MOLL, McKenzie River Trust
MARY ROSE NAVARRO, Metro (now with Meyer Memorial Trust)
MICHAEL POPE, Greenbelt Land Trust
TODD REEVE, Bonneville Environmental Foundation
SUSIE SMITH, Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies
RYAN SPARKS, Oregon Parks and Recreation
KELLY WARREN, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs (now with Ducks Unlimited)
MIKE WILSON, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
ERIC WOLD, The Nature Conservancy Oregon (now an independent consultant)
ALLISON HENSEY, Willamette River Initiative, Meyer Memorial Trust
Board Recruitment Team
GLADYS RUIZ, Gladys Ruiz Consulting
ERIC WOLD, The Nature Conservancy Oregon (now an independent consultant)
CASSIE COHEN, Portland Harbor Community Coalition
BOBBY COCHRAN, Willamette Partnership
ALLISON HENSEY, Willamette River Initiative, Meyer Memorial Trust
Co-Director Search Team
GABE SHEOSHIPS, Friends of Tryon Creek
JESSICA MCDONALD, Greenbelt Land Trust
GREG WOLLEY, Oregon Fish & Wildlife Commission & Creating Tomorrow’s Workforce
ALLISON HENSEY, Willamette River Initiative, Meyer Memorial Trust
JUAN CARLOS GONZALEZ, Centro Cultural & Metro Council (Search 2)