Meet Our Team
Our Staff
Seth Miller, Executive Director
Seth first became involved with Oregon Parks Forever in 2011 as the leader of a Community Partners project for the Harvard Business School Association of Oregon. His team worked with the Foundation Board and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to develop a long-term strategy for the Foundation. He joined the Board in 2014 and later became Executive Director in early 2016.
Seth brings strategic management, marketing, financial and process improvement expertise from several large consumer product and service companies. With more than 30 years of hands-on leadership experience, Seth has a demonstrated talent for developing a fact-based understanding of key success factors that drive both for-profit and non-profit organizations.
Susan Morningstar, Director of Membership and Communications
Susan joined Oregon Parks Forever in 2022 after many years with the Open Space Institute in New York.
Susan brings skills in coordination of communication strategy for online and direct mail fundraising, design and production of online and offline communications, website management, and designing print publications.
Molly Todd, Controller
Molly is our part-time Controller. She oversees our Bookkeeper and prepares our monthly and annual financial statements. She also coordinates with our outside auditors, Kern Thompson, as they perform our annual audit or review. She runs a firm called JNT Accounting & Controller Services, which provides part time controller and bookkeeping services to a number of for- profit, and non-profit organizations like ours.
Board of Trustees
Brigitte Sutherland, Chair
Brigitte is an accountant and shareholder with Perkins & Co. With more than 15 years of public and private accounting experience, Brigitte specializes in tax planning, research and compliance for pass-through entities: S-corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies. She was formerly a senior manager for Reznick Group in Bethesda, MD., where she had client responsibility for tax and assurance services. Brigitte also has experience in private industry as an assistant controller.
Kevin Price, Vice Chair
Kevin Price began helping to connect kids from Portland’s communities of color to the outdoors more than 25 years ago, while working for Oregon State Parks as a Region Manager.
While in his role with Oregon State Parks, Price began leading field trips to the Columbia Gorge for students from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Elementary School. Price has said, “There are people who come from around the world to visit some of these scenic areas, and we have people who live within 15 or 20 miles and they’ve never been”. One of the things that Price experienced both in his professional career and with the visitors to our scenic areas, was a lack of people of color. Of the students Price took to visit the Gorge, often only a couple of students out of a group of twenty to twenty-five had visited there before.
Kevin currently serves on the board of the Oregon non-profits, SOLVE, and Friends of the Columbia Gorge. He retired from OPRD in 2018 as the State’s first black Region Manager after 35 years with the agency.
Katie DiBiase, Treasurer
Katie has been practicing public accounting with Moss Adams since 2013, where she is a Tax Senior Manager. She serves clients in the food and beverage, transportation, and manufacturing and consumer products industries. Katie is knowledgeable in corporation, S-corporation, partnership, and individual tax matters. Prior to switching to accounting, Katie was a pilot for Hillsboro Aviation and Horizon Airlines.
She holds a BS in Accounting from Linfield College, and an AS, aviation science, Portland Community College/Hillsboro Aviation Inc.
Jan McGowan, Secretary
Jan and her husband, Jack, ran SOLVE (the volunteer-based beach clean-up folks) from 1990 to 2008. During her time with SOLVE, she helped grow the non-profit from a volunteer-only organization to one employing more than 30 people, engaging more than 75,000 volunteers annually. She currently works as a consultant to nonprofit organizations throughout Oregon.
Brian Harney
Brian is the Smart Energy Program Manager for NW Natural. Brian also served as director of marketing and communications for the Washington County Visitors Association and Cycle Oregon Ride Director/Senior Events Manager for Peter Jacobsen Productions. He is affiliated with the American Lung Association, Reach the Beach (Founder), and the American Marketing Association.
Randy Jones
Randy is recently retired from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality as liaison for Eastern Oregon Regional Solutions. He is now working part-time for the agency. Randy is also Chair of the BLM John Day/Snake River Resource Advisory Council, and is a Director of the Board for the Oregon Lakes Association. He has been heavily involved and partnering with Oregon Parks Forever providing the vision for and incubating Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute.
Seth Miller (ex-officio)
Seth first became involved with the Foundation in 2011 as the leader of a Community Partners project for the Harvard Business School Association of Oregon. His team worked with the Foundation Board and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to develop a long-term strategy for the Foundation. He joined the Board in 2014 and later became Executive Director in early 2016.
Seth brings strategic management, marketing, financial and process improvement expertise from several large consumer product and service companies. With more than 30 years of hands-on leadership experience, Seth has a demonstrated talent for developing a fact-based understanding of key success factors that drive both for-profit and non-profit organizations.
Danny Newman
Danny Newman is a partner in Tonkon Torp’s Litigation Department where he largely focuses on bankruptcy and debtor-creditor issues. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Government Solutions Practice Group, including helping various groups maintain public access to accommodations at or near Oregon’s state and national parks. He maintains an active pro bono practice, including forming and advising nonprofit clients and pursuing civil rights claims. Danny earned his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 2014, and graduated from Rice University in 2010 with a B.A. in Political Science and Public Policy. Outside of work, Danny enjoys sports, politics, international travel, exploring Portland’s restaurants and coffee shops, and hiking everywhere from Oregon’s coast to Bend.
Eric Valentine
Eric and his wife have lived in La Grande since 1970. Earlier, they served two years in the Peace Corps in Tonga, and then spent seven months taking the “long way” home across Asia. With their two sons, they traveled extensively across the State, enjoying its many outdoor recreational opportunities. Eric served as an Oregon trial judge for Union and Wallowa Counties for twenty years. After retiring, he filled in across the state as a Senior Judge for another ten years. He was a Scoutmaster for Troop 514 for twenty years, and continues to help out in the Troop.
After retiring in 2003, Eric and a friend sectioned hiked approximately 1200 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail. He is an avid photographer whose pictures have been published regionally, including the covers of the Oregon Blue Book in 1995/96 and 2001/02
Advisory Council
Governor Barbara Roberts
The first woman Governor of Oregon, Barbara served as Governor from 1991-1995. Barbara has been a long time advocate for Oregon’s parks and has been a quiet, behind-the-scenes supporter of our organization always standing ready to provide counsel and introductions for us.
Bruce Barnes
A long-time former Chairman of Oregon State Parks Foundation. Bruce is retired and pursuing his passion for plant identification through a nonprofit he runs called Flora-id.org.
Cal Mukumoto
Cal is the Director of the Oregon Department of Forestry. Previously he served as Chairman of the Oregon Parks Commission until his term ended in mid-2021. He had served on the Commission as the Governor-appointed representative of Congressional District 4 for nine years, since 2012. Cal has been heavily involved in natural resource management throughout his career. He has worked extensively in the Native American business community, served on the Boards of six Tribal enterprises, and is also a graduate level forester who has managed all aspects of forests.
Chrystal Morris-Murphy
Chrystal Morris Murphy is a strategy and stakeholder engagement maven. In her former role as senior vice president of partnerships at the National Park Foundation, she built the capacity and engagement strategies for park philanthropy and other nonprofit park partners including organizations working in historic preservation, land conservation, environmental education, youth engagement and outdoor recreation. She is now a strategy, stakeholder engagement and leadership development consultant with clients serving the park community. She is also a Western National Parks board member and sings tenor in the Maryland Chorale Society.
Dennis Gleason
Dennis is a Senior Systems QA Analyst with Wells Fargo and owner of Dark Wing Productions, a non-profit focused production company. He chairs and produces the Teen Idol program and was formerly with the OMPA and Westside PAL. He has served on numerous boards including the OLMV and Oregon DECA and brings with him years of experience in project management, volunteer service and human development expertise. A was a recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Service Award for his service to many nonprofits including law enforcement agencies, schools and charities. He was also recognized as an “Everyday Hero” by KATU Channel 2 for his commitment to helping others.
Josh Schlesinger
As CEO and President of the Schlesinger Companies, Josh is responsible for the financial performance of a fourth generation family real estate portfolio that includes, office, retail, industrial, multifamily and commercial parking in Oregon and Washington.
Josh graduated with honors in Political Studies from Pitzer College and received a specialization Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development from Portland State University in 2006. In 2015, Josh earned his MBA with a focus in finance from Portland State. He is currently serving on the Board of Trustees at Pitzer College, the Business Advisory Council at Portland State University and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Schlesinger Family Foundation.
An outdoor enthusiast, Josh enjoys walking and hiking with his wife in Tryon Creek State Park and other Oregon Parks. He is a life-long Oregonian who cares deeply about his community.
Mitsu Iwasaki
A former Board Member of Oregon Parks Forever, Mitsu is the CEO of American Alpine Club . He is a passionate adventurer at work and at play.
Ric Luyties
Ric is a Senior Vice President, Regional Investment Manager for Walls Fargo Bank. He works with executives, families and foundations to preserve and grow their wealth, tailoring portfolios to their specific goals in a highly personalized manner.
Scott Bricker
Scott is the Interim Vice President of Destination Development at Travel Oregon, working to create robust, sustainable destinations and tourism economies that offer world-class experiences and that preserve, enhance, and celebrate local landscape and culture. Scott is a former non-profit Executive, leading America Walks for six years and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance with roles of Executive Director, Policy Director, and Education Director over 11 years. Scott earned a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University and Bachelors in Political Science at SUNY Albany. Scott loves to wander, eat and drink his way across Oregon and the globe. Scott lives on an urban farm with wife, daughters, chickens, bees, gardens, and various pets.
Susan C. Hanson
Susan retired after 9 years at the Oregon Department of Transportation where she
managed community outreach and public information for projects that included the
Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail and the Oregon City/West Linn Arch
Bridge rehabilitation. She currently serves on the Wilsonville Public Library
Foundation Board.
Tim Wood
Tim is a retired Director of the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department. He is a former Board Member of Oregon State Parks Foundation and led the campaign to build the Cottonwood Canyon Experience Center. He is passionate about photography and travels the state extensively in pursuit of great pictures.
Walter Grebe
Walt is the Chairman emeritus at Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt PC. He served on the Board of Oregon State Parks Foundation for many years.
Founding Trustees
Brian G. Booth (Portland)
Lucille S. “Lu” Beck (Lake Oswego)
Cynthia J. Ford (Portland)
Robert A. “Bob” Meinen (Salem)
William S. “Bill” Naito (Portland)
Lynn W. Newbry (Portland)
Nancy N. Russell (Portland)
L.L. “Stub” Stewart (Portland)
A. William Sweet (Portland)
David G. Talbot (Black Butte)
Former Trustees
Jennifer Allen (Portland)
Terry B. Armentrout (The Dalles)
Nicole R. Palmateer Armstrong (Salem)
Bruce Barnes (Pendleton)
Carol A. Beckley (Elkton)
Vicki Berger (Salem)
Rhonda R. Bishop (Portland)
John L. Blackwell (Portland)
Laurie Munro Bloch (Portland)
Mary V. Bishop (Portland)
B. Bennett Burns (Portland)
Michael “Mike” Carrier (Salem)
Marjorie C. Chandler (Bend & Portland)
Lorrence “Larry” Cotton (Portland)
David R. Davis (Reedsport)
Lisa Dawson (Joseph)
Lea Ann Easton (Portland)
John Edmundson (Heppner)
David F. Evans (Lake Oswego)
Orcilia Zúñiga Forbes (Portland)
Dennis Gleason (Portand)
Ronald B. “Ron” Gould (Portland)
James Gorter (Portland)
Walter Grebe (Portland)
Mollie Gunderson (Lake Oswego)
Mary Jane Guyer (Baker City)
Stephen Hatfield (Portland)
Theodore G. “Ted” Herzog (Portland)
Robert A. “Rob” Hinnen (Portland)
Paul J. Holman (Florence)
Gerald R. “Jerry” Hulsman (West Linn)
Mitsu Iwasaki (Portland)
Lee J. Jimerson (Portland)
David P. Kottkamp (Bend)
Sandra “Sandy” Lazinka (Pilot Rock)
Elizabeth “Betsy” McCool (Bend)
Jennifer McCormick (Portland)
Nancie S. McGraw (Portland)
Richard K. “Dick” McLaughlin (Medford)
Lisa D. Fisher Miller (Milwaukie)
Janet Neuman (Portland)
Rebecca A. Owen (Portland)
James D. “Jim” Parr (Portland)
Kristen Stram Pempel (Portland)
Rudolf “Rudy” Rada (Pendleton)
Charles F. “Chuck” Sams III (Pendleton)
Lisa Sumption (Salem)
Daniel H. Skerritt (Portland)
Jon P. Stride (Portland)
Wendy Veliz (Woodburn)
Laurie A. Warner (Salem)
Tim Wood (Lake Oswego)
Kyleen Zimber (Silverton)