About Us

 

 

Leadership Team
Sam Diaz headshot

Sam Diaz, Executive Director

sam@friends.org | (503) 694-3892

he/him/his

Mary Kyle McCurdy photo

Mary Kyle McCurdy, Deputy Director

mkm@friends.org | (503) 694-3896

she/her/hers

Lauren Creany on a rock

Lauren Creany, Development Director

Lauren@friends.org | (503) 694-3560

she/her/hers

Lily standing

Lily Burnett, Operations Director

lily@friends.org | (503) 694-3890

she/her/hers

Staff
Photo of Ben Asher

Ben Asher, Office Project Assistant 

ben@friends.org | (503) 497-1000

he/him/his

Blair Batson 2022

Blair Batson, Staff Attorney

blair@friends.org | (503) 783-8093

she/her/hers

Jon Chenchar 2022

Jon Chenchar, Transit Oriented Development Research Fellow

MPA Student, University of Colorado Denver

he/him/his

A photo of Krystal Eldridge

Krystal Eldridge, Communications Manager

krystal@friends.org | (971) 420-0939

she/her/hers

Greg Holmes, Food Systems Program Director & Southern Oregon Advocate

greg@friends.org | (503) 783-8086

he/him/his

Devin Kesner

Devin Kesner, Associate Staff Attorney

devin@friends.org | (971) 420-0922

she/her/hers

Photo of Brett Morgan

Brett Morgan, Transportation and Metro Policy Manager

brett@friends.org | (503) 925-5361

he/him/his

Andrew Mulkey, Senior Staff Attorney 

andrew@friends.org | (971) 420-0916

he/him/his

Lou Ocampo, Executive Coordinator

Lou Ocampo, Operations Manager

lou@friends.org | (971) 420-0915

he/him/his

Zeke (a.k.a. Zeekers), Director of Office Shenanigans

zeke@friends.org | (503) 497-1000

Board of Directors
Nellie McAdams in a barn

Nellie McAdams | President

Oregon Agricultural Trust | Portland

Issei Saida | Vice President

Craft3 | Portland

Christine headshot

Christine Rontal | Chair, Nominations & Governance Committee

Solid Ground Consulting | Portland | Pronouns: She/They

Gil Kelley

Gil Kelley | Chair, Policy Committee

Urban and Regional Planner | Mt.Hood-Parkdale

Greg Macpherson, Board Member

Greg Macpherson | Secretary/Treasurer

Bannockburn Farms | Albany

MJ Harris, Board Member

Margaret Jane (MJ) Harris | Chair, Fundraising Committee

Farmer | Cornelius

John Alcott Photo

John Allcott, MD

Applegate Medical Associates | Eugene

Dallas Defrees

Dallas Hall Defrees

Sustainable Northwest | Baker City

Jackie Dingfelder, Board Member

Jackie Dingfelder

Portland State University | Portland

Andrew Haden

Wisewood Energy | Portland

Ken Hayes Photo

Ken Hayes

Farmer & Consultant | Gaston

Eloise Grout Koehler

Educator | Portland

Alee Langford

Alee Langford

Oregon Department of Transportation | Portland

Baker Lyon Headshot

Baker Lyon 

Affordable Housing Developer | Portland

William Miller

William Miller

Native American Youth and Family Center | Portland

Victor Platt

Victor Platt

Andina | Portland

Christian Richmond Photo

Christian Richmond 

Star Mooring Farm | Newberg

Jeremy Sacks

Jeremy Sacks

Stoel Rives | Portland

Libby Wilson

Libby Wilson

Country Natural Beef | North Powder

Jim Wood Headshot

Jim Wood

Rancher & Veterinarian | Post

We are always looking for passionate people to join our board and our board committees. 

Join our board

 

Forestry and Agriculture Advisory Committee

Our Forestry and Agriculture Advisory Committee (FAAC) is the voice of Oregon's working lands. The FAAC assists us in ensuring that Oregon maintains the land needed for future generations of farmers, foresters, and ranchers.