Board of Directors

Sarah is currently the Director of Operations for InnCline Management, which manages three hotels in Lane County along with additional businesses in Oregon and Montana. Sarah began her hospitality career while attending the University of Oregon and has held various positions at InnCline in sales, marketing and operations. She and her husband are both native Oregonians and love raising their two daughters in this beautiful county and state.

John has lived in Eugene since 1982 and has been in the restaurant industry for over 30 years. He is the co-owner of Beppe & Gianni's Trattoria, which opened in 1998. John values finding solutions to challenges by working with people from different points of view and backgrounds.

Pam has been a CPA and a partner in the accounting firm of Emge & Whyte since 1988. She grew up in Kettering, Ohio and moved to Eugene in 1975 to get her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Oregon. She has been with her life-partner Ron Saylor for over 40 years and they enjoy traveling, sailing and their life in Eugene.

Irene joined Obie Companies in 2018 and was promoted to Vice President in 2021. Prior to joining Obie Companies, Irene worked as a commercial Broker with Evans Elder Brown & Seubert, Inc. and was the Executive Director for the Relief Nursery and Oregon’s Festival of American Music. In her free time, she volunteers throughout the community, participates on community boards, travels, spends time with friends and has completed 12 marathons.

Jameson is the CEO and General Manager of Lane Transit District (LTD), serving the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area. Jameson joined LTD in November 2022 after serving as the Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority. He is a 2014 graduate of Leadership APTA and is the Chair of APTA’s Mobility Management Committee. Jameson earned a Master of Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and a bachelor’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania (PennWest). He and his wife Mindy live in Eugene with their four children.

Richard is a Lane County native and a graduate of the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. ln 2001, he became the President of Sycan B Corp., a Springfield-based real estate development company with a concentration in hotel development. He co-founded Merete Hotel Management lnc. in 1993, and became its president. He is active in our community and in the lodging industry, currently serving on the Oregon Tourism Commission and the board of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association.

Corey was born and raised in Eugene and attended Churchill High School and Oregon State University. He has been working with the Lane County Fairgrounds and Events Center for over 23 years.

Allie has been in the Eugene - Springfield area since 2011 and serves as the City of Springfield’s Economic Development Manager. Her favorite thing about her job is touring manufacturing facilities and understanding just how far the products made in Springfield reach. Allie’s work also focuses on bringing development to the community in order to meet Springfield’s current and future needs. When not being Springfield’s biggest fan, she can be found biking, walking her dog or renovating her 100-year-old home.

Julie is an Oregon native, born and raised in Milwaukie. In December 2015, her family planted roots here in Eugene. Her son’s love for raptors inspired her to start volunteering at Cascades Raptor Center, where she joined the staff in February 2017. Julie has worn many hats, from fundraising and donor relations to operational management and future planning. When not working at the Center, she enjoys being creative, getting her hands dirty gardening and doing crafting projects. She also enjoys exploring Oregon’s beautiful landscapes, especially the forests and coastline and spending time with her two teenage children.

Tom works at the University of Oregon as the Associate Director of University Housing and Director of Dining Services. He leads the operations of dining services for residential dining, EMU retail dining, UO catering and UO conference services. Prior to joining the UO, he spent 20 years in the restaurant industry in California, Washington and Oregon, and brings restaurant and hospitality expertise to University of Oregon campus dining through a high-level cuisine and service approach. He is a California native and graduate of San Francisco State University; he and his family made Oregon home upon arriving at the UO in 2000.

Mike joined the University of Oregon administrative staff in October 2008 and is the Senior Associate Athletic Director, working directly with facilities, events and operations. Prior to working with the Ducks, he spent seven years as the Vice President of Arena Programming for ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. He led the efforts of Maloof Sports and Entertainment to grow business through securing and developing events and increasing event attendance. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Public Relations.

Alyssa is the owner/operator of Sweet Springs Family Farm Lodging Retreat and Event Venue. For the past six years, she has enjoyed serving on the Cottage Grove Area Chamber’s Board of Directors, acting as Secretary for two of the six years. She is also a part of the Tourism Committee, Events Committee and works in the Visitor Center, talking with tourists, promoting her town and assisting the office staff on projects necessary to move the Chamber forward. In her spare time, she loves spending time on the farm getting her hands dirty in the gardens with her two young boys and loving on all their animals.

As a Eugene City Councilor, Randy is dedicated to fostering a strong local economy, supporting businesses and creating living-wage jobs. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Planning, Public Policy & Management from the University of Oregon and completed graduate studies there, along with the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy. He served as Fire Chief and Executive Director of Eugene Springfield Fire. His lifelong commitment to public service drives his work building a safer, more prosperous and more inclusive Eugene.

John serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA). With over 19 years of experience at ORLA, he oversees the organization's daily operations, including finance, staffing, accounting, communications, marketing, educational programs, business development, membership, cost-saving initiatives and association events. He is a graduate of the Institute of Organizational Management program and was recently appointed by Governor Kotek to the Oregon Travel Information Council.

After 30 years of being self-employed, Bettina brings an entrepreneurial vision to the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce’s purpose. She is dedicated to the Florence community and works hard to share the many ways to enjoy Oregon’s Coastal Playground. With a passion for art, she has helped to promote Florence’s many art destinations by hosting monthly exhibits in the Visitor Center lobby. Her desire to help build sustainable economic development drives her to serve from her heart.

Having grown up in a family-run business in Lane County, Georgia developed a deep appreciation for our community. She graduated from Cottage Grove High School and chose to raise her family here, embracing all the beauty and opportunities this region offers. Through her work at the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, she supports local businesses and fosters economic growth and tourism, ensuring that Cottage Grove remains a vibrant place to live, work and visit.

Jonnie grew up in Portsmouth, Virginia, and graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary and Secondary Physical Education. In 1989, she moved here to start a life with her Oregon-born husband, Aaron. She taught in Toledo, Oregon and in Eugene before starting a family of fourth-generation river guides. She and Aaron own A. Helfrich Outfitter and Helfrich McKenzie Rafting, which offer guided rafting and fishing trips on the McKenzie River.

Ben hails from a tiny village in North Dakota and has a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in theatre with a focus on directing. Prior to joining the City of Eugene, Ben served as an Executive Director for regional and community theatres and arts associations in North Dakota and Minnesota. He is also a lecturer on nonprofit marketing and nonprofit strategic planning at the University of North Dakota. In 2016, he moved to Oregon to work for the City of Eugene as the Marketing Director for the Library, Recreation & Cultural Services Department and is currently serving as the department’s Interim Executive Director.

Mayor Knudson is an architect, writer and educator with more than 25 years’ experience in design, sustainability and community building. In 2017, after a decade in architectural practice, she organized the public-interest project Better Housing Together to address Lane County’s housing crisis. This work supported the creation of Eugene’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Lane County’s first Affordable Housing Action Plan and Oregon’s landmark middle housing reforms. Mayor Knudson teaches planning and urban design at the University of Oregon and she speaks at regional and national conferences about sustainable cities, housing and the work of guiding community change. She is co-author of the new textbook, The Sustainable Urban Design Handbook (Routledge).

David is a six-year Navy veteran, life-long entrepreneur, developer and former pastor, world-wide missionary and teacher of men. His journey toward a political endeavor is typical of his approach to life. David believes in rolling up his sleeves, working hard and applying vision to the issues facing Springfield and Lane County. David has been married to his wife Nita for over 40 years.

Megan joined the City of Florence team in February 2013 and served in various roles within the administration until she became Assistant City Manager in December 2020. She serves as the City’s Public Information Officer and oversees their communications work. In December of 2020, she also assumed the role as Director of the Florence Events Center. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Linfield College and her Master of Public Administration from Portland State University with a focus on local government. She enjoys living in Florence and experiencing all it has to offer with her dog Mabel.

Vonnie is a native Oregonian, a small-town girl and an adventurer at heart. She spent the first sixteen years of her career in Japan working as a World's Fair promoter and subsequently as a programming executive for Cartoon Network Japan. She’s a founding member of the Springfield Indoor Track Committee, serves on the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Government Affairs Council, and is a member of the National Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and the Western Association of Chamber Executives.

Steve joined Lane County in May 2014 and has served in county government leadership in Oregon, Nevada and Wisconsin for over 22 years. He is also the President of the National Association of County Administrators. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Marquette University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin and is a public policy graduate of the Les Aspen Center for Government in Washington, D.C.

Josh moved to Eugene in 1991 and is a proud alumnus of both Sheldon High School and the University of Oregon. His work in the arts and culture sector of Eugene began in 1996 when he took a job as Stage Manager for Eugene Ballet. In July of 2016 he was named Executive Director of Eugene Ballet. In that role, he also oversees the daily operations of the Midtown Arts Center. In addition, he currently represents our local arts and culture community while serving on the board of the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

Michael has lived in Lane County nearly his entire life. He started as a radio personality entertaining the local listeners and became active in the telecommunications industries in the 1980s, working with telephone, voice, data, wireless and phone systems. In the late 1990s, he developed Thanks For Holding, providing telephone system recordings for businesses locally and around North America. He studied in college in Eugene and Spokane, WA. He is married to his wife Jeana, and they have two children, Ryan and Alayna.

Lorrie is a native Eugenian and has a deep love for the community and surrounding areas. She has been a business owner for many years and enjoys the people, culture and diversity of the area.

Brittany is proud to serve as the president and CEO of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce in this beautiful community. Originally from the Midwest, she moved to Eugene in 2012 and quickly fell in love with the Pacific Northwest. Her driving passion for community work revolves around helping individuals, businesses and our community meet our fullest potential. She currently represents the business community on various boards and commissions throughout the region and serves at a national level as a board member for both the Western Association of Chamber Executives and the National Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Tina has been in the hospitality industry since she came to America over 30 years ago. She emigrated from India in the early 1990s and very soon after found herself in hotels from an early age. She fell in love with hospitality immediately and she is still enjoying her passion. She earned her associate degree at Lewis and Clark College and is an active member in the Eugene and Springfield Community, participating in the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association Board and the Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

George has been in the hospitality industry in Lane County for many years. He is currently the General Manager of Graduate Eugene. He was also the General Manager of Valley River Inn for nine years. Prior to that, he was the General Manager of Doubletree Eugene/Springfield. He has also worked in the Portland market as General Manager of Doubletree Downtown and worked at Jantzen Beach. He is excited to be back in Eugene and enjoys contributing to the vibrant tourism culture that exists in our county. He and his family see this region as the perfect place to live.

Bev is the Executive Director of Kidsports and Director of Civic Park in Eugene. She grew up in Canada and arrived in Eugene to attend the University of Oregon and play basketball in the late 1970s. Her impressive basketball career includes medaling in the Pan American Games, three Italian championships and two European Cups. She returned to Eugene and served as the University of Oregon's women's basketball coach before going on to be the Assistant Coach for the Canadian Women's National Team, leading them for many successful seasons. Basketball has brought her great joy and she is a proud member of the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and the Pac-12 All Century Team.

Tim is the Vice President of Operations for Merete Hotel Management, located in Springfield. His role is to provide a structure of support and strategic guidance to the operations leadership team in order to achieve excellence across the portfolio. He directly impacts the customer by establishing systems and processes that result in high levels of guest service and works closely with the sales and marketing teams to ensure their hotels lead their market in topline performance.

Cathryn came to the Eugene Airport in January 2007 where she is now the Airport Director for the City of Eugene. An Accredited Airport Executive, she serves as a National Director on the American Association of Airport Executives Board of Directors and Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She also serves on the Oregon State Aviation Board. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Technical Journalism from Oregon State University and a Master of Science in Applied Information Management from the University of Oregon, which makes her a platypus! She enjoys travel, both business and pleasure, and has absolutely no fear of flying.

Vanessa is a community-driven leader with a deep passion for collaboration, advocacy and service. She is the President of the Tree Planting Festival, works closely with RAIN Catalysts, local entrepreneurs and the Uptown Business Revitalization on Main Street and with many other local nonprofits. After earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Vanessa transitioned from education to entrepreneurship, founding Vanessa Tharp LLC - Events and Consulting. She is particularly passionate about small, creative projects that focus on education, travel, community-building and inclusivity. Vanessa was raised in Oakridge and believes strong relationships drive progress and has a knack for turning strangers into friends.

Dana founded Turell Group because she wanted to inspire people and make a difference in the world. She has nearly 30 years of marketing experience and her agency in downtown Eugene has been serving the community for over ten years. Turell Group serves dozens of clients of all sizes and specialties. Dana also serves on the boards of several local nonprofit agencies. Early on, she pursued a career on stage and is still known to treat the office to a spontaneous showtune.

Michelle was elected to the Springfield City Council in 2022. She was born in Cottage Grove and lived in Lane County until her family moved to the Newport area. In 1996, she moved back to Lane County to raise her children. She enjoyed a 30-year career in commercial banking, which is also where she met her husband, Bruce. They moved to Springfield in 2010 and are proud to call Springfield home. Michelle has served in many volunteer roles including as a Springfield School Board member, Springfield Education Foundation Chair, Lane Transit District Board member, Springfield Public Library Board Treasurer and as a Springfield Rotarian.