Board & Advisors

The following individuals provide strategic leadership and oversight to the organization as we carry out our work to fix more rivers.

We’re fortunate to have an impressive Board of Directors overseeing the activities of The Freshwater Trust.

Marcelino Alvarez Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Photon Marine

Marcelino Alvarez is Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Photon Marine, a startup that is developing the world’s most powerful and intelligent electric outboard motor system and fleet management software, tailored to commercial boat fleets in tourism, transportation, and mariculture industries. Marcelino is a savvy digital pioneer and a lifelong boater who grew up fishing and scuba diving in South Florida. He began his career in advertising, producing digital campaigns at Crispin Porter + Bogusky and Wieden + Kennedy. His passion for creative and compelling digital solutions quickly drove him to cutting edge product solutions. Afterwards, he founded Uncorked Studios, a product design firm that helped companies such as Samsung, Nike, Google, Intel, and adidas bring innovative software and hardware products to market. Uncorked was acquired by Fresh Consulting in 2019. He sits on the board of The Freshwater Trust and holds a B.A. in Political Science from Duke University. Marcelino and his wife Margaret have two sons, Caleb and Mateo; daughter Lucia; a dog named Luke; and a cat named Calvin.

Hank Ashforth, Immediate Past Chair Executive Vice President of The Ashforth Company

Hank Ashforth is Executive Vice President of The Ashforth Company. He concentrates on providing strategic direction and sales for The Ashforth Company’s third party service subsidiaries and serves on the company’s investment committee. Prior to his current position, Mr. Ashforth was Chairman of Ashforth Pacific, Inc., the West Coast affiliate of The Ashforth Company located in Portland, Oregon. He created Ashforth Pacific in 1995 and helped grow the portfolio from 600,000 square feet to over 3 million square feet. While Chairman of Ashforth Pacific, Mr. Ashforth developed and still maintains a strong working relationship with the city of Portland. This relationship led to the 3.3 mile extension of The Portland Streetcar into Portland’s Lloyd District and Central Eastside neighborhoods. In addition, he led the creation of and is the current Chairman of the Lloyd Enhanced Services District, a private/public partnership, which focuses on economic growth, transportation and security issues in the District. Mr. Ashforth also helped spearhead the development of the Lloyd EcoDistrict, a partnership with the city of Portland, which focuses on economic development through sustainable practices.

Tim Boyle, Emeritus Chief Executive Officer and President of Columbia Sportswear

Tim Boyle, a native Oregonian, is the Chairman, President & CEO of Columbia Sportswear Company – one of the world’s largest outdoor and active lifestyle apparel and footwear companies. Boyle’s career with Columbia Sportswear began during his senior year at the University of Oregon, when his father, who had been running the company since 1964, died suddenly of a heart attack. His mother quickly enlisted Tim's help in order to continue the aggressive expansion that her husband had initiated and that had expanded the company's sales that year to $1 million. Boyle has served in several different roles at Columbia Sportswear over the course of his 50-year long career, including chief executive officer, president, and chairman of the board.

Chad Brown, Advisor Founder & President, Soul River Inc.

Chad Brown is the founder and president of Soul River Inc., a nonprofit organization that focuses on connecting veterans and introducing diverse urban youth of color to the outdoors, nature conservation and growing young leaders into advocacy for our public lands, wildlife and freshwater. Recently, Brown has launched a new nonprofit Love is King that he leads with the mission to dismantle the hate, bigotry, ignorance and racism in the outdoors for BIPOC and all marginalized groups to have the opportunity to roam further and bolder in the outdoors and create wonderful memories for themselves without having to face any aggression.

David Chen Principal of Equilibrium Capital

Dave Chen is the CEO and Chairman of Equilibrium, leading the firm’s growth, overseeing its strategy, and heading its investment product development. In 2008, Equilibrium was formed with the goal of being a global leader in sustainability-driven asset management for institutional investors, delivering sustainable alpha returns and creating intentional positive impact on society and the environment. Before establishing Equilibrium, Dave was a general partner with OVP Venture Partners from 2000-2007. Prior to joining OVP, Dave was founder and CEO of GeoTrust (acquired by VeriSign 2006); founder of The Ascent Group, a global strategy consultancy firm; Vice President Marketing at Mentor Graphics; associate at McKinsey & Company; and an early team member Solectron (1978-1985).

Akbar Chisti Founder & President of Seamus Golf

Akbar Chisti is the Founder and President of SEAMUS GOLF, maker of craft accessories for the finest golf destinations in the world, including Bandon Dunes, Pebble Beach, Augusta National and Pinehurst.

Arthine Cossey van Duyne, Advisor Managing Partner ― WaterFunder, LLC

Arthine Cossey van Duyne is CEO & Founding Partner of WaterFunder, LLC, an infrastructure finance advisory firm accelerating water equity and water stewardship solutions.  Arthine has global management experience in the public, private, start-up, and non-profit industry sectors. Previously, she spearheaded growth and expansion strategies for development banks, foreign direct investment agencies, capital markets firms, and Silicon Valley tech giants. Arthine is also an Army veteran with previous roles in data management, military intelligence, and civil affairs. She is a recent Aspen climate policy fellow, has an BA in Economics from UC Davis and an MBA from IMD in Switzerland.  She is an ebullient mother of two creative and ambitious sons. Arthine swims most weekdays and has completed a swim from Alcatraz.

Scott Demorest Former Principal of Acme Business Consulting

Scott Demorest is the Former Principal of Acme Business Consulting, a business consulting firm that guides clients who want to build their organizational capability, make "transformational" changes, and manage programs and complex technical projects. ACME was purchased in 2015 by North Highland, a worldwide consulting company.

Peter Doubleday Retired Managing Partner of Ernst & Young LLP

Peter Doubleday is the Retired Managing Partner of Ernst & Young LLP, a multinational professional services firm.

Gary Fish, Secretary Founder of Deschutes Brewery

Gary Fish is the founder and chairman of Deschutes Brewery. The 30-year-old company began as a modest public house and restaurant in Bend, Oregon, and is now heralded as one of the country’s original and most successful independent craft breweries. In addition to the pub and manufacturing headquarters in Bend, Deschutes Brewery has an additional location in Portland, Oregon, and plans to build in Roanoke, Virginia. The company employs more than 530 people nationwide and is on tap or in the beer aisle in 29 states and the District of Columbia. After graduating in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in economics, Gary continued working his way up in the restaurant industry. He and his wife Carol moved to Bend in the late 1980s to open Deschutes Brewery, where he remains active guiding the company and giving time to serve on boards of directors for various regional business, industry and non-profit groups. For every barrel of beer sold, Deschutes Brewery donates $1 to non-profits, upholding one of Gary’s long-held business values to build healthy communities everywhere the company operates.

Paul Fortino Of Counsel of Perkins Coie

Paul Fortino is retired of counsel of Perkins Coie, an international law firm headquartered in Seattle. In 1983, Fortino moved to Oregon to start a branch of the international law firm Perkins Coie. During his time in Oregon, two friends introduced him to fly fishing and the acclaimed trout of the Deschutes.

“They took me there once, and I was immediately hooked,” he said. “It’s really all it took for me to start getting involved.”

Fortino is The Freshwater Trust’s longest-standing board member. He served as an advisor as Oregon Trout transitioned to TFT and has been critical to ensuring the organization’s financial and programmatic success over the years.

Graciela Gomez Cowger, Advisor Chief Executive Officer, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt PC

As Chief Executive Officer at Schwabe, Graciela Gomez Cowger fosters a client-centric approach and leverages her training as an engineer to deliver efficiencies and bring diversity of thought to the historically slow-changing industry. Cowger practiced as an intellectual property attorney for over 20 years, helping individuals and companies protect innovations in technology and healthcare and build enduring brands. As an IP lawyer, she experienced the rapid rate of change in technology and the ever-increasing flow of data and information. 

“We have never been more interconnected than we are now. I am passionate about finding strategies to help our clients adapt to the ways that these rapid changes impact the markets in which they operate.”

Before joining Schwabe, Graciela served as managing partner at StoFoCo LLP, a firm she founded and managed with two other partners. Prior to becoming a lawyer, she was a design and manufacturing engineer for Hewlett-Packard Co. in San Diego.

Deb Hatcher Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of A to Z Wineworks

Since the four founders began A to Z in her kitchen in 2002, Deb Hatcher has been the soul of the brand. From hand-selling and delivering A to Z’s early wines to developing all packaging and messaging for what is now one of Oregon’s largest wineries, Deb continues to be responsible for the brand’s integrity. With A to Z’s purchase of REX HILL in 2006, she led efforts to reduce, reclaim, and refine the legacy brand to focus only on the highest quality befitting the premier REX HILL of today named an Extraordinary Winery in the Americas by Michelin’s Wine Advocate. A to Z Wineworks was honored with Vinnie awards for marketing excellence in 2019 and 2020.

Natalie Hocken Senior Vice President, Berkshire Hathaway Energy

Natalie L. Hocken is senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy. Hocken is responsible for managing all of the legal, corporate communications, environmental policy, human resources and insurance functions for the company. Prior to taking this position, Hocken served as senior vice president in various legal and operational roles at PacifiCorp, including strategic initiatives and transmission and system operations where she was responsible for opportunities focusing on federal regulatory priorities and overseeing transmission development, open access transmission services and transmission planning for one of the largest privately held transmission systems in the western U.S. Hocken serves as a director of PacifiCorp, AltaLink Management Ltd., Kern River Gas Transmission Company and Northern Natural Gas Company and president of NVE Insurance Company, Inc. Prior to joining PacifiCorp in 2002, Natalie was an energy attorney with the law firms of Heller Ehrman LLP and LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae LLP. Hocken is a graduate of the University of Washington and the University of Oregon School of Law.

David Howitt, Advisor Founder & CEO, The Meriwether Group

David Howitt is an accomplished entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience providing business strategy and brand counsel to thriving start-ups, small businesses and Fortune 100 companies. The author of Heed Your Call, an integrated business book for entrepreneurs, David is an inspiring innovator and guiding mentor in the world of commerce.  David's ability to foster the growth of iconic consumer brands started right after law school. While serving as Corporate Counsel for adidas, the brand experienced explosive growth and David was invited to serve as Vice President of Licensing and Business Development. In this capacity, he oversaw a $250 million dollar licensing portfolio and drove successful acquisitions for several corporate entities including TaylorMade and Salomon.  Always an entrepreneur at heart, David supported his wife, Heather Howitt in the launch of an iconic tea-based product, Oregon Chai in 1994, where they grew sales of the home-crafted brew from twenty thousand to two-hundred thousand dollars within their first year of business. Within six short years, the brand had spread to forty countries and across five continents. In 2004, Heather and David sold the company for seventy-five million dollars.  David founded Meriwether Group, a boutique private equity, business accelerator, and advisory firm that supports some of the most disruptive and recognizable consumer brands. He and the firm are committed to transforming the way human values are expressed through business. Meriwether Group supports universal shifts in commerce by helping founders to “Fulfill their Journey,” as David and most of the team has personally done.  Meriwether Group has provided financial, operational, and strategic guidance to these companies: Stumptown, Pendleton, adidas, Voodoo Doughnut, Salomon, yogitoes, Klim, Bloch, Dave’s Killer Bread, Oregon Chai, ABC Carpet & Home, Living Harvest, Laughing Planet, Nautilus, ChefWorks, Barre3, Xterra, and many more.

Taylor Keen, Advisor Instructor, Heider College of Business Administration in Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Creighton

Taylor Keen is a full time instructor in the Heider College of Business Administration in Strategy and Entrepreneurship. Keen is also the Founder of Sacred Seed, a not-for-profit entity whose mission is to propagate tribal seed sovereignty, battle for tribal sacred geography and the seek cultural revitalization among tribal peoples. Currently, Keen is embarking on a journey with indigenous seeds of the upper Missouri River tribes to grow, harvest and celebrate the cosmology of the 4 Sisters (corn, bean, squash, and sunflower). Additionally, from his book-in-progress, he incorporates teachings of the sacred masculine / feminine of tribal peoples including the cosmology of Mother Corn and the Earth Mother goddess.  Keen holds a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College as well as a Master's of Business Administration and Masters of Public Administration from Harvard University, where he served as a Fellow in the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. Taylor is the author of the book-in-progress entitled "Rediscovering America: Sacred Geography, the Ancient Earthen Works and an Indigenous History of Turtle Island”. Keen is Trustee Emeritus of the Nebraska State Historical Society, Board member Emeritus of the Humanities Nebraska, and Chairman Emeritus of the Blackbird Bend Corporation (The Omaha Nation of Nebraska and Iowa’s Economic Development Corporation).

Randy Labbe, Emeritus President of Kerr Pacific Corp

Randy Labbe serves as the President of Kerr Pacific Corp, a private, family-owned company with a long history in grain based foods and foodservice distribution.

David Laurance Chief Executive Officer of Confluence Rx

David Laurance is the Chief Executive Officer of Confluence Rx, a consortium of long term care pharmacies around the country.

Kim Malek CEO and Co-Founder of Salt & Straw

An industry leader, innovator, and disrupter, Kim Malek is the CEO and Co-Founder of Salt & Straw. Malek built the company from the ground up, from a humble ice cream cart into a fast-growing, family-run company with 18 locations in just seven years. Under Malek’s leadership, Salt & Straw has become known for doing things the hard way—the right way. Her vision and leadership at Salt & Straw have caught the attention of many, from Disney to Vice Presidents to Hollywood.  Prior to Salt & Straw, Malek was director of Global Innovation at Starbucks Coffee and marketing director for (RED), with prior marketing roles at Yahoo! and Adidas. Her recent efforts have landed the brand as editor’s pick in Food & Wine, on Food Network, and the brand has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Martha Stewart, O Magazine, Saveur, TIME, Cooking Channel, TODAY, and Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods.

Molly McCabe Founder & CEO of HaydenTanner

Molly McCabe is the CEO of HaydenTanner, a development and investor advisory firm accelerating impact and sustainability in the built environment. A veteran of commercial real estate finance and capital markets, she serves as a bridge between risk and return, visionary development and the bottom-line, to create financially and environmentally resilient buildings and vibrant, sustainable cities. Experienced in leading through complexity, she has also helped launch and guide several start-ups, new ventures and change management initiatives. In addition to sitting on the board of The Freshwater Trust, City Craft Foundation and is co-founder and board member of The Lotus Campaign, providing housing-driven solutions for homelessness. She is also the past Chair of Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Responsible Property Investment Council, founder of a VC funded, commercial mortgage-backed securities firm, and manager, institutional real estate capital markets group, as well as the author of “Practical Greening: The Bottom Line On Sustainable Property Development & Investment” and “Financing and Driving Value: Responsible and Resilient Property Investing in the New Millennium.”  Industry leader on investment, climate change, social-impact and resilience. Mom, dog-lover, amateur “handy-woman,” serial entrepreneur (currently focusing on the intersection of climate and prop tech).

William Neuhauser Founder of FBR CoMotion Venture Capital LP

Will Neuhauser is Founder of FBR CoMotion Venture Capital LP, a venture capital firm focusing on early stage investments in the Pacific Northwest. Prior to co-founding CoMotion, Neuhauser served in a variety of executive management, marketing and engineering positions during 20 years in software industries. His work history includes Walt Disney's Infoseek/Go Network company after it acquired Quando, multimedia company Media Mosaic, later recast as Quando, as well as six years with Paris-based Chorus Systèmes. Additionally, he worked with SA, maker of distributed microkernel operating systems for large OEM applications and served as President of its US operation, Chorus Systems, in the USA for three years.

“Primary "drivers" in my work have been to create and work with world-class teams that build great products and to participate in growing entrepreneurial companies.”

Mike Pohl Board of Directors with ThinkAnalytics

Mike Pohl is a member of the Board of Directors with ThinkAnalytics. ThinkAnalytics is the leading provider and most widely deployed real-time personalized content recommendations engine. Imagine Communications Corp. is a global leader in video and advertising solutions serving the media and entertainment, multi-channel video programming distributors and enterprise markets, spanning 185 countries. Ascent Media Group, Inc. provides end-to-end media and technology services for the creation, management and distribution of media content.

Brad Preble President of Carr Auto Group

Brad Preble serves as the President of Carr Auto Group, a dealership selling and servicing GMC, Buick, Chevrolet, Subaru, Cadillac and Nissan vehicles in the greater Portland, Oregon area.

Scott Sandbo, Chairman Founder, Former Chairman and CEO at Pacific Crest Securities Inc.

Scott Sandbo is the Founder and Former Chairman and CEO at Pacific Crest Securities Inc., an investment-banking firm that provides financial advisory services to public and privately held technology companies. The firm was founded in 1990 initially focused on the Pacific Northwest region then in 1998 the firm shifted to focus solely on the global technology sector in institutional equities (research, sales, trading) and investment banking (mergers and acquisitions and public offerings). Pacific Crest was an active managing underwriter for technology initial public offerings including Alibaba, Facebook, and Workday.

Gia Schneider CEO and Co-Founder of Natel Energy

Gia Schneider is a cofounder and the CEO of Natel Energy. Gia holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from MIT and has 20 years of experience in the energy industry. While in the utility practice at Accenture, she provided strategic solutions around asset management to major energy companies. After Accenture, she worked at Constellation Energy on optimizing generation asset value. Gia left Constellation in 2004 to help start the energy trading desk at Credit Suisse; and in 2005, she started the carbon emissions trading desk at Credit Suisse, growing it to a profitable business in its first year. Gia co-founded Natel in 2009 with her brother, Abe Schneider, motivated by the theme of climate change driving changes in water patterns and focused on the opportunity for innovative hydropower solutions to be force multipliers for positive change given hydro's position at the energy-water nexus.  Gia is passionate about finding economically viable solutions to mitigate climate change, foster sustainable development, and produce inexpensive renewable energy. In her spare time, she can be found surfing, kiting, and cooking with friends and family.

Marian Singer, Advisor Cofounder & CEO of Wellntel

Marian Singer is a water entrepreneur and co-founder and CEO of Wellntel, a water technology business developing intuitive products and information systems to help people learn about, manage and sustain their water resources. She also serves as Partner in FiveTwelve Group, a leading research/strategy consultancy known for open and creative methods used by Global F250 clients, particularly in Water and Energy markets. Marian is committed to tackling and finding solutions to freshwater challenges as a director for Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust (Sweet Water) and advisor to University of Wisconsin Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences Professional Science Master’s Program.

Dr. Sara Spangelo, Advisor Senior Director of Satellite Engineering

Dr. Sara Spangelo of SpaceX was the co-founder and CEO of Swarm, the company that is developing the world's lowest-cost global communications network with breakthrough satellite technology and ground hardware for customers in remote locations. Swarm was acquired by SpaceX in 2021, where she is now the Sr. Director of Satellite Engineering. Before starting Swarm, Sara worked on small satellites and autonomous aircraft at the University of Michigan and was a lead systems engineer at both NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) and Google X. Her expertise is in modeling and optimizing satellite constellations to maximize impact and business opportunities. Sara holds a PhD in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan and in 2017 was a Top 32 Canadian astronaut candidate. Sara also likes to fly small planes.

Fee Stubblefield Founder & CEO of The Springs Living

Fee Stubblefield is the founder and CEO of The Springs Living, an investment, development, and management company dedicated to building communities and services for older adults. 

Stubblefield serves on the Board of Directors of the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC) as a member of the executive committee and inaugural vice chair of strategy. He served as the chair of the Oregon Health Care Association (OHCA) and has served as the chair of the Providence Milwaukie Foundation. 

Stubblefield’s book, A Culture of Promise, published by Forbes, reveals his story of building a company and culture that cares for others.

Anthony Trunzo, Treasurer Partner at Gryphon Investors

Tony Trunzo is a Partner at Gryphon Investors. Previously, Trunzo served as the CFO at FLIR Systems and Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of FEI, a designer and manufacturer of microscope technology.

These emerging business leaders, disrupters, decision-makers and influencers help us drive the next generation of creative and networked conservation and philanthropy.

Jacob Bieze

Jacob Bieze is a Senior Associate at Homestead Capital, a San Francisco-based farmland investment firm, where he is responsible for deal sourcing, transaction execution, and operational oversight of Homestead’s 3,500-acre permanent crop portfolio. Jacob’s dedication to The Freshwater Trust’s mission stems from his intersecting personal and professional interests in food, agriculture, and conservation.

Stasia Brownell

Stasia Brownell has worked with gas and electric utilities for over a decade to help deliver renewable energy and carbon offset programs to their residential and commercial customers. In her current role at Portland General Electric, Stasia manages their residential Green Future products, ranked #1 in the nation with over a quarter of a million participants.

Patrick Goodman

Patrick Goodman is a Commercial Insurance Broker at Parker Smith & Feek based out of their Portland, OR office, and he primarily focuses on serving and collaborating with clients in commercial real estate, but also has a diverse amount of experience working in a variety of business verticals, such as manufacturing, timberland investment, not-for-profits, and construction/development. Founded in 1937, Parker Smith & Feek is one of the 55 largest insurance brokerage firms in the nation based out of Bellevue, Washington.

Iván Resendiz Gutierrez

Iván (pronounced “ee-v-AA-n”) Resendiz Gutierrez is a litigation and appellate attorney on Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP’s appellate, education, and employment and labor relations teams. He handles complex cases and situations, providing practical advice and finding creative solutions for clients from such diverse industries as education, energy, and manufacturing. Iván is a proud “Double Duck”; he earned his bachelor’s degree (psychology and political science) at the University of Oregon before walking across the Eugene pond to receive his law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law. A first-generation college student and second-generation Mexican American, Iván is highly engaged in several community and professional organizations, currently serving as Co-Chair of the Oregon Minority Lawyers Association, Vice Chair of Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Services of Oregon, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Oregon Law Center. Iván is the proud son of Mexican immigrants and brother to a U.S. Marine and a U.S. Navy reservist.

“In the 1994 film, Andrew “Andy” Dufresne tells his friend Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding, “get busy living or get busy dying.” As a former rugby player, aspiring hunter and boxer, and kayaker, I am always on the go looking for the next aventura (adventure).  During the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of us “opted outside” (because you can only watch all nine seasons of The Office so many times).  I hope people realize that having the option to enjoy the great outdoors—whether you prefer the river, the lake, the ocean, the mountain, or the wilderness—does not just happen; this option is the result of intentional actions by organizations like TFT.  This is why I support—and will continue to support—TFT.” – Iván Resendiz Gutierrez

Jesse Lange

Jesse Lange is the winemaker and GM at his family’s farm and winery, Lange Estate Winery, founded in 1987 atop the Dundee Hills. Jesse has also served on several industry boards including: President of Oregon Pinot Camp, President of the Dundee Hills Winegrowers Association, board of Willamette Valley Winegrowers Association, and Yamhill County Water and Soil Conservation District. The appropriately ambitious vision and kinetic purpose of TFT make have him thrilled to be part of Team and the Headwaters Council.

“There has never been a more pressing time to consider the stark realities of the environmental state of the planet. The appropriately ambitious vision and kinetic purpose of TFT have him thrilled to be part of the Freshwater Team and the Headwaters Council.” – Jesse Lange

Lars Lider

Lars Lider is Head of Operations and Finance at Hadrian, a manufacturing company that builds autonomous, software-defined precision component factories.

“I believe that my contributions to TFT fuel scalable solutions rather than attempts at change.  TFT operates efficiently, spends wisely, and takes an innovative approach to systematically solving the problems our rivers are facing.” – Lars Lider

Michelle Mark

Michelle Mark grew up in SW Portland playing and exploring the banks of Fanno Creek, enjoying sweet Oregon tap water, and boating any chance she could.  Today, she is the Creative Director and founder of the design + branding studio, Morning Assembly.  Her work is based on empowering clients through thoughtful development of their visual identities.  With over a decade of experience she has worked with some of the most visible brands in Portland.   When she is not in the studio, she can usually be found with her husband, son and border collie-retriever enjoying the outdoors — preferably near a body of water.  It was this deep appreciation for water combined with the reality of the California water crisis that triggered her overwhelming desire to find a cause that could make a real environmental impact. The quantified conservation work and the passion of the individuals of The Freshwater Trust is what drew her in to learn more about the organization, experience the impacts first-hand, join the Headwaters Council, and eventually create the re-brand for The Freshwater Trust.

Matt Milletto

Matt Milletto grew up around the coffee industry and has worked in coffee steadily for the last twenty years and has helped hundreds of small and large coffee businesses open up and succeed around the world. In addition to his role as CEO/Founder of Water Avenue Coffee, Matt runs operations at Bellissimo Coffee Advisors with his father, where he serves as vice president and co-owner. Matt is also the current President of the Oregon Coffee Board.

Mary Moerlins

Mary Moerlins is the Director of Environmental Policy and Corporate Responsibility at NW Natural where she works to continue raising the bar for responsible and effective, environmental programs, operations and community support at Oregon’s largest Natural Gas utility. Prior to joining NW Natural, Mary worked in environmental nonprofits in Atlanta, GA, focused on greenspace conservation, sustainability and environmental education. Mary received a Masters of Public Administration from Georgia State University and Bachelors in Biological Sciences from Agnes Scott College.

“I believe bringing innovation to conservation is the best way to change the course for the better. The work they impact and implement in my home river basins and beyond means my kids and future generations will have the opportunity to see healthy rivers and water systems.” – Mary Moerlins

Ryland Moore

Ryland Moore is a principal owner and Managing Director of business development for Arnerich Massena and been with the firm for 9 years. His focus is in private equity and impact investments focused on water, agriculture and renewable energy technology assets. Arnerich Massena is one of the leading investment advisory firms in the Western US. He also assists buyers and sellers acquire and sell recreational ranches throughout Oregon with Live Water Properties. Ryland is passionate about the conservation of rivers and spends as much time as he can fly fishing for anything with fins. Raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, he eventually made it west to Oregon for grad school, with a brief stint prior in the Tetons, before finding his forever home in the Beaver State. Ryland lives with his wife and three children in Hood River.

Michael Richardson

Michael Richardson is the VP of Publisher Products at Xandr, part of AT&T. He grew up in rural Oregon and Idaho, on the Zumwalt Prairie and next to the Weiser River in Council Valley, Idaho. After attending Reed College and studying predictive models of voter turnout in local elections, he focused on honing his coding skills and eventually cofounded Urban Airship. He took on many different roles at Urban Airship, including opening up the European offices in London. He later left Urban Airship to join AppNexus, the second largest global advertising exchange, which was acquired by AT&T in 2018. Michael lives in Portland with his wife and two daughters, and spends as much time as possible working in the garden with his family.

Kristin Russell

Kris Russell is a corporate lawyer at Stoel Rives LLP, primarily working to facilitate financial transactions for mid-market clients based in the Pacific Northwest. After attending Reed College, she attended the University of Virginia School of Law and then worked in New York and London before returning to Portland, where she lives with her husband, kids, cats, and dog.

“I’m excited to support The Freshwater Trust because it’s composed of clever, caring people who are working to amplify the results of their measurable, long-term projects completed thus far, and their experience building partnerships, in order to really make an impact on the rivers at the heart of the communities where my clients, my family, my friends and I live, work and play.” – Kristin Russell

Max Schlesinger

Max Schlesinger is a Commercial Real Estate Broker at Apex Real Estate Partners based in Portland, OR. He primarily focuses his time on assisting clients with both office leasing and investment sales of all product types. Max is a fourth generation Oregonian who cares deeply about preserving and protecting the natural wonders and resources that make the state and region so special.