Southern Willamette Forest Collaborative
Coming Together for Healthy Forests & Communities
SOUTH WILLAMETTE SOLUTIONS BOARD MEMBERS/ SWFC STEERING COMMITTEE
South Willamette Solutions (SWS) is the fiscal agent of the Southern Willamette Forest Collaborative. The SWS board oversees the activities of the SWFC as well as community projects such as the Community Firewood Program.
David Chamberlain
Greater Oakridge Area Trail Stewards
David Chamberlain holds a BA from Oxford and a PhD from UC Berkeley. He teaches Greek and Latin at all levels for the University of Oregon. He has published articles on Herodotus and has strong interests in the intersection of technology and learning. David served as Chairperson for the Greater Oakridge Area Trail Stewards before joining the SWFC.
Dov Weinman
Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council
Born and raised in Eugene, Dov brings a deep connection to the Willamette watershed. He holds an M.S in Environmental Justice from the University of Montana and a graduate certificate in natural resources conflict resolution from the Center for Natural Resources & Environmental Policy. After three years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines, Dov worked in the Sierra Nevada coordinating and facilitating natural resource collaboratives with a focus on forest and watershed health and increasing the resilience of disadvantaged rural communities. When he’s not working Dov enjoys creative writing, photography, and trail running.
Brian Cutchen
Oakridge Mayor (Advisory)
Bryan grew up in Maine, graduating from Maine Maritime Academy with a BS in Nautical Science and holds a Master of Arts degree in Strategic Studies from Air War College. He served as the Oakridge City Administrator from 2019-2022. Bryan is currently an independent management consultant. As a retired Navy Rear Admiral, he has lived and traveled throughout the world and brings a unique perspective to the board.
Rob Mickey
Middle Fork Ranger District (Advisory)
Rob is currently the Operations Staff for the Middle Fork Ranger District. He grew up in the North Santiam Canyon and after high school he served 4 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. After being discharged he attended the University of Montana where he received bachelors degrees in Forest Management and Forest Operations. Rob started his Forest Service career working on the Detroit Ranger District where he held positions in Hydrology, Silviculture, Logging Systems and Pre-Sale. In 2017 he accepted his current position as a member of the District leadership team where he supervises the Operations department and assists in the development and implementation of land management projects. When not at work, Rob enjoys hunting, fishing and exploring the outdoors in the Pacific Northwest.
Susan Obermeyer
Community Member at Large
No stranger to service, Knudsen Obermeyer brings 30 years of volunteering and board experience to the position. She served 12 years on the Oakridge School Board and held the position of Board Chair, coordinated and organized Oakridge’s Mini-Olympics, Outdoor School Program for students and the Senior Citizen’s Christmas Basket effort in Oakridge. During her time with the Forest Service, Knudsen Obermeyer also served as Treasurer for the Forest Service Union.
Laurie Patty
Community Member at Large
Laurie grew up in Pennsylvania and studied pharmacology at Temple University. Laurie moved to Oakridge thirty years ago and stayed to raise her two children. As owner of the Postal Pharmacy, Laurie has been involved in Oakridge community organizations for many years and was a driving force behind bringing the Orchid Health Clinic to Oakridge. Laurie is a founding member of the SWFC. In her spare time, Laurie likes to run, hike and explore the mountains.
Sue Cathcart
Community Member at Large
Sue moved to Oakridge 7 years ago, drawn by the great outdoors and fresh air. After a fulfilling career as a civil engineer, she now spends her time in the bike and recreation industries. She’s passionate about creating community and being outside.
Jason Nehmer
Community Member at Large
Jason has a background in cultural anthropology and archaeology, receiving his Bachelors of Science from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. He has a K through 8th grade teaching certification with 12 years of education experience (mainly teaching 7th and 8th grade language arts and social studies). He brings his years of experience being a co-land manager of 1,000 acres of timber conservation land on the Central Oregon Coast. As those who know him can attest, he is an avid disc golfer and course designer (5 designed courses and counting). He is also a founder of Pacific Upshot Consulting LLC, a disc golf service provider business. In addition, he was the Oakridge/Westfir Chamber of Commerce Vice President for a two-year term. When he’s not busy with disc golf and community work, he is a bike mechanic and employee of the Willamette Mountain Mercantile. Usually, you can find him outside.
Craig Marcus
Community Member at Large
Craig Marcus is a professor at Oregon State University. He received his doctoral training from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has been working in the field of environmental toxicology for 40 years. He has lived in Oregon for 14 years and divides his time between Oakridge and Corvallis. Craig is interested in the adverse effects of chemicals in the environment on humans as well as other organisms in our complex PNW ecosystems. He is concerned with the potential harmful effects of chemicals released into the environment by humans during production, usage, and from waste streams and waste sites. He is also interested in the potential adverse effects of combustion products released into the environment during wildfire from urban and forest environments. In his free time, Craig enjoys fishing, hiking, kayaking, biking, skiing and snowshoeing.
D'Lynn Williams
Westfir Mayor (Advisory)
D’Lynn was raised in Pleasant Hill, Oregon— the 4th generation within Lane County— so Oregon is home to her. She worked for the Forest Service in Oakridge and retired after 40 years of many different positions. She loves working with kids of all ages, and really enjoyed helping with the YCC program and the environmental education programs through the Forest Service. Previously, she represented the Forest Service on the Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council’s Education Committee. She also enjoys being involved in her local church as a secretary and pianist and a praise team leader. She loves learning new things, and is definitely learning a lot in the position of Mayor for Westfir!
Kathy Holston
Community Member at Large
Kathy has previously served as Oakridge Mayor and on Oakridge City Council. She retired from the University of Oregon in 2018, where she worked in Stewardship and Donor Relations since 1990. Living in a mountain town has spurred her to learn more about the relationship the community has with the surrounding forests and the benefits to both forest and community, while also learning how to expand those benefits. She feels the SWFC has been a perfect vehicle for doing that, having participated with the Collaborative even before becoming involved in local government, she saw community service and becoming a Collaborative board member as a perfect match for her enthusiasm for outdoor recreation and community development.
