Kirk Shimeall, Executive Director and Fiscal Sponsorship & Stewardship Coordinator
Kirk has an MBA in Sustainable Business and a background in conflict management. Kirk, his wife and two sons live in Corvallis. In his free time he enjoys refereeing soccer, whitewater kayaking, and surfing. His favorite thing is to row his family down wild and scenic rivers throughout the West. Email Kirk.
Molly Davis, Fiscal Manager
Molly Davis is the Fiscal Manager at CPRCD and has over 20 years of experience in accounting. She grew up on a grass seed farm in Monroe. Molly now lives on small farm in Scio where she and her family raise cattle and horses. She enjoys spending time with her family, working with horses and barrel racing. She competes in rodeos and barrel races throughout the Northwest. Email Molly.
Connie Barnes, Grants, Contracts & Forest Stewardship
Connie joined the CPRCD in 2014. She brings over 20 years of natural resource education, communications, public relations and non-profit management support and experience to the team. She has a Bachelor of Science in Land Use Planning from Northern Arizona University and a Master’s in Natural Resource Education, Interpretation and Communication from the OSU College of Forestry. She worked as a planner in Arizona then moved to Oregon to pursue outdoor education. She has worked with OMSI, Chintimini Wildlife Center and the Corvallis Environmental Center as Program Director. Connie enjoys hiking, gardening, and spending time with her husband and two boys skiing and mountain biking. Email Connie.
Courtney Gattuso, Western Invasives Network Coordinator
Courtney joined CPRCD in 2022 as the Coordinator for the Western Invasives Network. She earned a dual bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Geography from San Francisco State University. Much of her career, she has worked in natural resource management with various public entities to pursue her passion for conservation. She has also served as 4-County and Columbia Gorge CWMA Coordinator where she provided opportunities for collaborative management, prevention, and awareness of invasive species. She now resides in Milwaukie, OR where she enjoys gardening, cooking, and exploring the Pacific Northwest. Email Courtney.
Mike Madar, Tenmile Lakes Basin Partnership Watershed Coordinator
Mike was born and raised on Tenmile Lakes. After serving in the US Marines, Mike graduated from Oregon State University with a B.S. in Fisheries Science. He has been the TLBP Watershed Coordinator since 1998 after starting with TLBP in 1997 conducting field assessment work. Mike feels very fortunate to be able to live and work where he grew up. Mike strongly feels that Oregon’s Watershed Councils are the most successful natural resource entity created by the state. Mike’s favorite quote is ” Watersheds are about People”. Email Mike.
Megan Kemple, Co-Director, Oregon Climate and Agriculture Network (OrCAN) and Director, Policy Advocacy, Development and Operation
Megan founded OrCAN in November 2017 and since then has engaged a network of over 300 stakeholders interested in climate-friendly agricultural practices and policies that incentivize these practices. Her role with OrCAN focuses on policy advocacy, operations and fundraising. Email Megan.
Emeric Kennard, OrCAN Operations Coordinator & Communications Assistant
Emeric has worked in nonprofit education and administration for over 5 years, with a focus on finance, equity, sustainability, and program development at institutions such as California College of the Arts and the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. They are a freelancing artist and designer with more than a decade of practice at the intersection of art and activism. Emeric loves the thrill of getting dangerously close to their houseplant care capacity maximum. They’ll propagate just a few more, and then they’ll stop, really. Email Emeric.
Sophie Els (she/her), Policy Associate, Oregon Climate and Agriculture Network (OrCAN)
Sophie is a trained policy analyst and writer, with experience in public engagement, conducting surveys, and scientific research. She studied international politics at American University in Washington, DC, and holds a graduate degree in climate science & policy from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Sophie comes from a family of wheat farmers in Eastern Washington, and is passionate about helping producers directly to make agriculture more sustainable. Outside of work, you can usually find her at the local library, trying to beat her lofty Goodreads yearly reading goal.
Melina Barker, Director, Oregon Farm to School & School Garden Network
Melina is the Program Director for the Oregon Farm to School & School Garden Network. Melina has been active in the farm to school and school garden movement for many years. She helped to found Rogue Valley Farm to School in southern Oregon where she served as Program Director for 12 years. Melina holds a MS in Environmental Education and lives on a small homestead in southern Oregon with her husband and two children. She enjoys hiking, gardening, pottery and cooking with her family. Email Melina.
Wren Huff, Operations Manager, Oregon Farm to School & School Garden Network
After ten years of working in the insurance industry, Wren began her farm to school journey working at the Oregon Departmen of Education helping to administer the Oregon Farm to School grants. She has loved every step since. Wren studied musical theater in New York City, and now enjoys annoying her children by belting out broadway soliloquies. She also enjoys baking, gardening, and board games with her family. Email Wren.
Devin Thompson, Executive Director, McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group
Devin’s family has lived along the lower McKenzie since the 1930s and he grew up fishing and exploring the upper river. Devin worked in management in the local wood products industry for over 30 years in both wood product certifications and research and development. He also served in the U.S. Coast Guard on both the east and west coast as a coxswain operating a 44-foot motor lifeboat and as a small arms officer. Devin served on the board of the Northwest Youth Corps for five years, is a committed volunteer for other local nonprofits and enjoys fly fishing, backpacking, cycling and time on the coast with his wife and their dog, Journey. Email Devin.
Nelda Engstrom, Program Director, McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group
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. Email Nelda.
Matt Penberthy, Senior Program Coordinator, McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group
Matt joins the MVLTRG after a year of close collaboration while serving at United Way of Lane County with the RARE AmeriCorps program (2021-22). Prior to joining RARE and the MVLTRG, Matt has worked on environmental policy and governance in international contexts. He enjoys supporting collaboration between organizations to achieve shared environmental development goals. Matt is originally from Buffalo, NY and received his B.S. in Environmental Science from SUNY Brockport. He also holds an M.A. in Global Environmental Policy from American University. Matt can be found enjoying Oregon’s natural wonders out on the trail, whether it’s hiking, running, or biking in his free time.
Mary Ellen Wheeler, Resource Recovery Navigator, McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group
Mary Ellen is a 4th generation proud resident of the McKenzie River Valley, where family members still live on their original property. As the co-founder and President of “McKenzie Locals Helping Locals,” Mary Ellen has been on the ground helping her community with recovery efforts since the first days after the Holiday Farm Fire. Engaging with locals, assessing their needs, advocating on their behalf, and working with County and State officials to help her community has been her call to action. She recognizes these efforts have helped her community come back stronger than ever. In her free time, Mary Ellen spends time with family and friends, organizes community events, and enjoys all the beautiful McKenzie river has to offer. Email Mary Ellen.