Friends of the Columbia Gorge

As executive director, Kevin oversees all the activities of Friends of the Columbia Gorge, as well as its land trust, which currently owns 1,000 acres of land. Kevin joined the organization in 1998 and during his tenure Friends has grown from eight staff and one office to 17 staff and three offices; net assets have grown from $750,000 to $18 million. Kevin helped lead the $4.5 million Cape Horn land acquisition campaign and assisted in created two nonprofits in the Gorge: the Klickitat Trail Conservancy and the Cape Horn Conservancy. Kevin was previously the associate director of Oregon Natural Resources Council (now Oregon Wild) and has served as board president for the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts and EarthShare Oregon, a workplace giving organization. Prior to his non-profit adventures, Kevin was the creative director of an advertising agency in Detroit, MI.

Dan eagerly joined Friends in early 2018 as director of the Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust. In this capacity he oversees the acquisition, management and disposition of lands held by the land trust. Dan’s experience includes more than a decade with the Nature Conservancy in both Oregon and North Carolina, including seven years as the Willamette Basin conservation director. While there, he oversaw complex real estate, habitat restoration and land stewardship programs. He has extensive experience in partnership development, and a deep background with land trusts, serving as executive director of the Sandhills Area Land Trust (Southern Pines, NC) and as a board member with the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts. Dan grew up outside Denver, has an affinity for southern hound dogs, and holds a B.S. in Forest Sciences from Colorado State University and a J.D. from North Carolina Central University.

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Burt brings over 20 years of public affairs experience working on pressing policy issues from climate change to international development. Before joining Friends, Burt worked for over nine years at The Pew Charitable Trusts and National Environmental Trust where he developed and managed opinion media outreach and editing/writing projects on an array of conservation, energy and health campaigns. He most recently served for as communications director for InterAction in Washington, D.C.

Michael is Friends of the Columbia Gorge's longest-tenured staff member, having joined in 1993 as forest and land use coordinator; he has served as the conservation director since 1995. Michael oversees all aspects of our monitoring and litigation program, as well as working with allies and the media to promote Friends' priorities and playing a key role in our lobbying efforts. Michael has intimate knowledge of the Management Plan that governs the Gorge, having reviewed development proposals and worked with county planners and Columbia River Gorge Commission staff throughout his tenure here. Prior to joining Friends, Michael directed campaigns for several electoral candidates and voter initiatives.

Paige is responsible for financial management, human resources, and office operations, providing administrative, project management and process support to the organization. A Linfield College graduate, Paige joined Friends in August 2013 and has degrees in business administration and religious studies. She is delighted to have returned to the majestic Northwest, after living in Pennsylvania and Illinois, and making her volunteer passions and interests into a career. She is excited to collaborate with Friends staff joining in the efforts to protect the beauty and splendor of the Gorge for generations to come. Prior to entering the non-profit world Paige worked as a buyer, inventory manager, and outside sales representative in the uniform/footwear industry.

As Senior Staff Attorney, Nathan is responsible for managing the organization's legal efforts to protect the resources of the Columbia River Gorge. Since Nathan joined Friends in November 2000, Friends has participated in more than one hundred legal cases, losing less than fifteen percent of them. Nathan is licensed to practice law in both Oregon and Washington. He has edited and written for several legal publications on environmental and land use topics. While studying at Lewis & Clark Law School, he served as student body president and worked as a law clerk for the Pacific Environmental Advocacy Center (now Earthrise Law Center) and as the Law School's alternative transportation coordinator. 

Mika develops and implements our Gorge restoration stewardship program, bringing a passion for connecting people with the natural world and to Friends of the Columbia Gorge. Mika views stewardship as an approach to building robust communities and fostering symbiotic relationships between people and nature. Before joining Friends, Mika spent several years as a human resources manager and operations lead, where she organized people and programs for positive change. She also supported a local watershed council in volunteer recruitment, outreach, and crew leader training. As a native of the Pacific Northwest, Mika grew up exploring the wonders of the Columbia River Gorge and enjoys rock climbing, mountaineering and backpacking.
 

Kyle provides operational support, helps manage Friends’ member database, and answers member questions. Originally from San Diego, Kyle moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2007 to attend Whitworth University in Spokane, WA, and joined Friends' staff in 2014. He has come to love the Northwest for its culture and natural beauty, from the Puget Sound to the Gorge. Kyle enjoys connecting community members with the work that nonprofits are doing, and recently received a Certificate in Nonprofit Fundraising through Portland State University and Willamette Valley Development Officers.

As field representative, Peter is responsible for building support and activism among Gorge residents for protecting the Columbia Gorge. A Friends staff member since 2003, Peter is a Hood River resident who has been active in a number of local conservation causes and organizations. Peter is a former president and board member of the Hood River Valley Residents Committee and helped the Hood River Waterfront Community Park Association create the Hood River Waterfront Park. He was elected to the Hood River City Council in 2014. Prior to moving to Hood River, Peter led a family-owned manufacturing business.

Pam joined Friends' staff in February 2014 to work with the development team, specializing in grant management, major gifts, and planned giving. Pam comes from a development background spanning fifteen years and has worked as development director for river-protection organizations in the southeastern U.S. She spent the first part of her career in sales and marketing for a global healthcare company. Pam previously worked as Director of Development at DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital in Portland, and in her spare time was an enthusiastic Friends volunteer, helping with fundraising initiatives and donor database research. When Pam is not riding her bicycle around the Pacific Northwest, she and her husband Bob enjoy the fine food and libations the region has to offer, as well as showing off the Gorge to visiting friends and family.

Stan is one of Friends' voices, writing for and maintaining our website, social media and public-relations communications, in addition to curating Friends' large collection of fantastic Gorge photographs. An Atlanta native, Stan came to Friends in 2012 with a background in journalism and educational publishing. In addition to his work with Friends, Stan sings, plays bass guitar and writes songs for a Portland indie-rock band called the Zags. 

As membership coordinator, Kate is responsible for the development and retention of members and helps manage Friends' member database. Kate joined Friends in October 2012. Originally from Whidbey Island, WA, she moved to Portland in 2006 to attend Lewis and Clark College and received a B.A. in English. Before coming to Friends, Kate worked on a residential energy savings program at Portland Energy Conservation Inc. She's hiked many miles on trails across the Pacific Northwest and Europe and is fascinated by the role that outdoor recreation has in different communities. She's happy to be part of Friends to put her passion for the Gorge to work. 

As Friends' outreach manager, Maegan oversees our communication, recreation, events, and volunteer efforts. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Hillsboro Schools Foundation and volunteered as a hut warden with the Department of Conservation in New Zealand. A native Oregonian who grew up on an agricultural farm in the Willamette Valley, Maegan has a deep connection to nature and appreciation for the Gorge's inspiring beauty, and looks forward to becoming a wildflower expert. 

Kate joined Friends in 2014 to help support our outreach and advocacy activities. Kate believes in the importance of experiential education and sustainable outdoor recreation for all ages, and she has taken the lead on Friends’ Hike Program and Explore the Gorge Outdoor Youth Education Program. Prior to moving to Portland in 2007, she spent several years with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), and has spent time backpacking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, on the South Island of New Zealand, and in the North Cascades. She enjoys hiking with her family and exploring the great food, wine and beer found in Gorge communities. In 2012 Kate and her husband were married on Thunder Island in Cascade Locks. 

As development assistant, Libby helps manage the day to day activities to keep Friends’ fundraising work run smoothly. Prior to Friends, she worked with a variety of nonprofit organizations as a development consultant. Born and raised in Oregon, Libby attended the University of Rochester, studying anthropology and public health, and studied international health and development at the Universiteit van Amsterdam before returning home. She is also a member of the WorldOregon’s Young Professionals Steering Committee and has worked with non-governmental organizations abroad in Uganda, Cambodia, and Guatemala.

Kate, a third-generation Hood River native, joined Friends of the Columbia Gorge in May 2006 and served as land trust manager until the end of 2017. As land trust manager, Kate oversaw the acquisitions and management of the land trust's 900-plus acres. She brings intimate land use knowledge from her previous 13 years as a real estate agent in the Gorge. Kate served for over 7 years helping with land use decisions as a planning commissioner for the City of Hood River and was appointed to the Hood River City Council in 2012. As co-chairman of Citizens for Responsible Growth, she helped stop the proposed Walmart megastore in Hood River. 

As staff attorney, Steve works to protect the scenic, recreational, cultural, and natural resources of the Columbia River Gorge by ensuring that decisions made by federal, state, and local permitting agencies follow applicable laws. Before joining Friends in 2016, Steve spent seven years as a staff attorney with 1000 Friends of Oregon, protecting Oregon’s farms and forestlands from development. When he is not helping to protect special places, he likes to hike, backpack, run, cook, and spend time with his family. 

Ingrid joined Friends in March 2017 to assist with organizing Preserve the Wonder events. Prior to joining the Friends staff, Ingrid worked for Cycle Oregon for 10 years, managing customer service and volunteers. In her spare time, Ingrid loves to hike (particularly in the Gorge!), bike, and enjoy everything the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Ryan joined Friends in June 2013. For six years prior to moving to Oregon, Ryan lived in Austin, TX where he worked as an environmental organizer and activist with Public Citizen and Greenpeace. His work there included actions against proposed and existing coal plants, the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, and a nuclear plant expansion. A native of Cleveland, OH, Ryan has also worked for Ohio Citizen Action and has spent months at sea volunteering for oceanic wildlife protection and conservation. He has a degree in Communications from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania and has worked as an independent film maker as well as in the theater business at The Cleveland Playhouse and other venues. 

Ali joined Friends in early 2018, after 18 months of volunteering with the organization. She oversees the expanded Trailhead Ambassador Program, a Friends collaboration with Travel Oregon and the U.S. Forest Service to enhance education and safety in the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood region. Originally from a small town near Buffalo, NY, she moved to Portland about three years ago and fell in love with the people, land and overall energy. Before joining Friends, she received her Bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and geography at Ohio Wesleyan University and worked in customer service in the outdoor apparel industry. She just returned from three months of volunteering on organic farms in New Zealand and enjoys hiking, running and climbing in her spare time.

Renee returned to Friends of the Columbia Gorge in 2011 as the project manager for Gorge Towns to Trails, a project that supports land protection, recreation enhancements and economic development. Renee originally was the organization's outdoor program coordinator, but left in 2010 to serve as development outreach director for Hells Canyon Preservation Council. Renee is also a founding member of Cape Horn Conservancy and serves on the board of Trailkeepers of Oregon. Her enthusiasm for the Gorge and the people who enjoy it is contagious. Renee is eager to share with the public the ways Friends is working to promote more hiking opportunities in the Gorge. 

Sara joined Friends of the Columbia Gorge in 2015. As stewardship coordinator, Sara takes a lead role on stewardship and restoration of Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust properties. Sara has been working in the natural resource field for over a decade and has a diverse background in researching birds, fish, butterflies, plants, and forest carnivores, butterflies. Sara studied at Paul Smith's College and Plattsburgh State University (New York State), respectively completing an A.S. in Ecology and a B.S. in Environmental Science. After settling in the Gorge in 2003, she completed a Master’s degree in Environmental Management at Portland State University. Sara strongly believes in volunteering and continues to do so via the Oregon State University Master Gardeners program, Hawk Watch International, and Cascadia Wild.