The Deschutes Land Trust is pleased to announce its first cohort of Emerging Conservationists of Central Oregon (ECCO). The first ECCO cohort includes 31 individuals from throughout Central Oregon who bring a wide variety of skills, expertise, and passion for conservation to the Land Trust.

"The Land Trust is thrilled to work with this amazing group of people to generate excitement, knowledge, and interest in conservation here in Central Oregon. Together we are building the future generation of conservation leaders we need to conserve and care for the lands and waters of our region into the future," said Rika Ayotte, the Land Trust's Executive Director.

Emerging Conservationists of Central Oregon, or ECCO, is a new Land Trust program that works to engage millennials and connect early- and mid-career professionals with opportunities for community leadership growth. ECCO members donate 10-15 hours of their time a year and serve for one year with an option to extend their service for an additional two years. Learn more.

2024-2025 ECCO Cohort

Maggie Anderson, Environmental Engineer
McKenzie Boyd, Civil Engineer at Parametrix Engineering
Jordan Burcham, VP, Business Client Advisor at Summit Bank
John Dalman, General Manager at Laughing Planet
Adam Foster, Co-Owner at Hush Hush Coffee
Erin Gerhardt, Sales & Ecommerce at Birkenstock/Bend Shoe Co
Amber Gomes, Managing Associate at Koya Partners
LB Gossett, Kindergarten Teacher at Bend Forest School
Kimi Guerra, Student at OSU and personal pet sitter
Haley Lebsack, Grant Writer at Friends of the Columbia Gorge
Emily Long, Recreation Planner at Deschutes National Forest
Lena Macomson, Design Program Manager
Veronica Malby, Parent
Samy Metcalf, Marketing Coordinator at Oregon Adaptive Sports
Gabrielle Monia
Hailee Newman, Education and Volunteer Manager at Think Wild Central Oregon
Amy Paul, Senior Director of Professional Services at Vital Wave
Ali Peman-Dupier, Senior Business Lender at Craft3
Presley Quon, Communications & Community Relations Manager at Mt. Bachelor and Sun Country Tours
Abby Rachwalski, Nurse and Naturalist Guide at Wanderlust Tours
Ben Rubin, Senior Project Engineer at Amaeresco
Max Rutledge, Director of Growth at Reverb Films
Lisa Sanco, Executive Director at Worthy Environmental
Hannah Tanler, Business Analyst at Blue Sage CFO
Nick Tierney, Program Coordinator in Community & Economic Development at COIC
Fenix Van Tassel, Planning & Environmental Coordinator at Bureau of Land Management - OR/WA
Tristin Vaughn, Graduate student at OSU - Environmental Science
Sarah Wavers, Account Executive at Heffernan Compliance Management
Grant Wheeler, Service Shop Manager (Bike/Ski) at The Gear Fix
Alysia Wolf, Nature education outreach professional
Cara Woodard, Strategic Client Success Manager at Conduent Healthy Communities Institute

Learn more:

• About the ECCO program.