BOARD CHAIR

Jared is the Grants Management Specialist for the Upper Willamette Soil and Water Conservation District. He was born and raised in Eugene and is now raising three children here, who enjoy spending time at their grandparents’ home in Rainbow. Jared holds a master’s degree in environmental studies and a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Oregon. During the Holiday Farm Fire, Jared was serving as the chair of the Lane COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) and managing United Way of Lane County’s Wildfire Response Fund, which has invested over $900,000 in community-based organizations to assist survivors.

VICE-CHAIR

Lisa, an Oregon resident since 1993, has dedicated her career to healthcare and serving underserved populations. With a background in Occupational Therapy and later becoming a physician assistant, she has worked in rehabilitation centers, provided home health care, and practiced in family medicine departments, always with a focus on marginalized patients.

Lisa and her husband settled in Eugene, where she spent 25 years as a primary care provider at Oregon Medical Group. Alongside her professional endeavors, Lisa has embraced the outdoor wonders of Oregon, indulging in activities such as mushroom hunting, hiking, snowshoeing, rafting, boating, crabbing, and fishing. She is also a talented potter and cherishes the harmonious moments of music with her family.

With a deep appreciation for friends, family, and community, Lisa embodies compassion, creativity, and a love for the beauty of Oregon.

SECRETARY

Nancy, a fourth-generation Oregonian, made the life-changing decision to move to the picturesque McKenzie River Valley in 1999. For 18 years, she commuted weekly via Amtrak, balancing her role as an information systems professor at Washington State University with her loving husband and their McKenzie home. Following her husband's passing and retirement in 2017, Nancy has embraced full-time residency in the valley. Actively involved in the leadership of McKenzie Valley Presbyterian Church in Walterville and various organizations, Nancy channels her passion for singing, gardening and cooking into enriching her community and nurturing her relationships with friends and family. Her journey exemplifies unwavering commitment, personal growth, and finding joy in life's simple pleasures, inspiring those around her in the McKenzie River Valley.

TREASURER

Mandy Jones is an accomplished retired banking executive and former CEO of Oregon Community Credit Union (OCCU), where she spearheaded significant growth, effectively doubling the organization's size during her tenure. With a wealth of experience in building memberships, managing assets, and investing in the community, Mandy has consistently demonstrated her dedication to making a positive impact.

Beyond her professional achievements, Mandy has actively engaged in volunteer work with various organizations. She has generously contributed her time to initiatives such as the Children's Miracle Network, United Way of Lane County and served as the esteemed board chairperson of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce.

As a longstanding resident of the McKenzie River Valley for over two decades, Mandy's deep connection to the region fuels her passion for community involvement. Currently, she serves as a valuable volunteer board member for the McKenzie River Discovery Center, contributing her expertise and insights to promote the center's mission.

In response to the devastating Holiday Farm Fire in 2021, Mandy's leadership skills were recognized, and she was appointed by the Governor as the Co-Convenor for the Oregon Solutions Project for Fire Recovery, Locals Helping Locals. In this role, she plays a pivotal part in coordinating efforts to facilitate the recovery and rebuilding process, providing critical support to affected communities.

Recognizing Mandy's exceptional capabilities and dedication, she was recently welcomed as a board member of the McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group. This appointment further showcases her commitment to aiding the region's long-term rehabilitation and underscores her ongoing commitment to helping local communities thrive.

BOARD MEMBER

April Matson has worked in public relations and marketing roles, both in-house and at agencies, primarily in the Seattle-Tacoma area, for the past 20 years. Her experience includes crisis and proactive communication strategy, execution, and management in the utility, art, tourism, future of work, philanthropy, and hospitality industries. Most recently, April oversaw the marketing team at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Wash. Previously, she led public relations, social media, brand voice, and community relations efforts at Chihuly Garden and Glass, which she helped to open in 2011. 

April relocated to Eugene in May 2022 to lead communications and member engagement at Lane Electric Cooperative. A native of Washington, Oregon has been a welcome new adventure full of hiking, camping, paddleboarding, skiing, and biking. 

BOARD MEMBER

Nelda is a Texan by birth, but an Oregonian by choice. Hurricane Ike hit her small island community of Galveston, Texas in 2008. The storm surge devastated her home and business and forever changed the landscape of the city. It took many years to recover and she relied on many generous and knowledgeable people for help and guidance. She’s now paying it forward and strives to help others navigate the difficult process of rebuilding and recovering. Nelda believes the best is yet to come for the McKenzie Valley.

In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and friends and exploring the unmatched beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

BOARD MEMBER

Charlie Conrad is fortunate to have lived in Dexter for the past 23 years with his wife Andee, where they raised their son. He is a fourth-generation Oregonian, born in Corvallis and raised in a career Army family.  Charlie earned his BS in Wildlife Science from Oregon State University in 1994 and his Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Colorado in 2012. He has worked as a public employee since 1998, and most recently served as Oregon State Representative for House District 12 from 2023 – 2025. 

Throughout his public service career Charlie has volunteered on various public advisory committees, including the Lane County Planning Commission, and he currently serves on multiple non-profit boards.

BOARD MEMBER

Dale has lived and worked in the McKenzie Valley since 2003 when he moved to the area to provide his son with benefits the Valley provides. He devotes as much time as possible to restoring the Valley and getting people back home.

BOARD MEMBER

Eric and his wife Tish Hathaway live on the McKenzie River east of Vida, Oregon. Just before the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire, they purchased their dream home on the river only to have it burn to the ground. After much soul searching a year later they began the process of rebuilding and committing to becoming part of the McKenzie Valley community.

Eric retired from 42 years as a technology educator in the Eugene School district to actively engage in rebuilding their home. Along with teaching full time in Eugene 4J schools, his work as an educator included 30 years as a part time career adjunct instructor teaching Information Design and Media Marketing courses for the Arts Administration graduate program at the University of Oregon. Eric also trained teachers and system administrators in educational technology curriculum design and implementation for the US Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DODDS) traveling to Japan and Okinawa military bases over a period of six years. He also ran a two week live-in Summer Computer Camp at the University of Oregon for twenty years with a highlight for campers each year rafting the McKenzie River from Blue River to Helfrich landing.

Eric and Tish quickly became part of the McKenzie River community after rebuilding and settling into their home. They found great support and friendship with folks with Locals Helping Locals, and engaged in community activities, attending and volunteering at events, and making friends at the local eateries and venues. 

Members of the Locals Helping Locals and McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group learned of Eric’s technology and marketing teaching experience, and work as a board member of the documentary non-profit, Encircle Films in Eugene, and invited him to become a board member of the MVLTRG and work in in a representative capacity with the Locals Helping Locals Committee. His immediate goal is to focus on community connections and communication for residents and businesses in the McKenzie Valley Corridor using a variety of technologies, including monthly newsletters and a website resource and information base.

Eric’s outdoor pursuits include fly fishing, rafting, camping, hiking, cross-country skiing, and playing softball. He is also very passionate about motorcycles, riding his Harley out to the Sturgis Rally in South Dakota every year. Eric also enjoys spending time with his three step-daughters and their husbands , two in Portland, and one in Bend.

BOARD MEMBER

Megan Romero is a dedicated community advocate and lifelong Oregonian with a deep commitment to improving the health and well-being of individuals and families across Lane County. As the Community Partnerships Strategist for PacificSource Lane CCO, Megan plays a pivotal role in fostering collaborative relationships between healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and public agencies to ensure equitable access to essential services and support systems.

With a background rooted in public service, Megan began her career as a volunteer firefighter and EMT, later serving as a wildland firefighter with the Oregon Department of Forestry. These early experiences instilled in her a profound respect for resilience, teamwork, and the importance of showing up for others in times of crisis—values that continue to guide her work today.

Megan brings a unique blend of strategic insight and grassroots connection to her role, leveraging her lived experience and professional expertise to bridge gaps in care and champion community-driven solutions. She is especially passionate about helping individuals navigate complex systems and access the resources they need during life’s most challenging transitions.

Outside of her professional life, Megan is a proud mother of two boys and an avid outdoorswoman. She finds joy and renewal in Oregon’s natural beauty through gardening, hiking, camping, hunting, and paddleboarding. Her deep ties to the land and community inform her holistic approach to health and wellness.

Megan’s leadership is grounded in empathy, action, and a steadfast belief in the power of connection to transform lives.

BOARD MEMBER

Rob May is almost a native Oregonian, having moved from Columbia, Missouri to Salem at age five. Rob attended the University of Rochester (N.Y.), where he met his wife Nadine. They later settled in Salem where Rob attended law school at Willamette University. After law school Rob worked briefly in the entertainment industry as associate general counsel for Live Nation concerts and entertainment.  The excitement of entertainment law wore off quickly and Rob then spent the next 25 years as an active trial attorney in Portland.  He joined a local Eugene firm in 2025 where he continues his litigation practice.      

Rob and Nadine first visited the McKenzie River Valley in 2023 and were immediately drawn to the natural beauty of the area.  Six months later, they moved to Rainbow and have been full-time residents ever since.

Rob was immediately struck by the impact the Holiday Farm Fire continues to have on local residents and business. In addition to his work with the Long Term Recovery Group, Rob and Nadine volunteer at the McKenzie Community School and are excited to build community with their river neighbors.

Rob is an average golfer, a below-average fisherman and not nearly the skier he used to be. Still, he can often be found floating the McKenzie River in his prized Keith Steel drift boat or exploring the many local hiking and biking trails with Nadine.