Board of Directors
The responsibility of the Eugene Parks Foundation’s Board of Directors is to advise, govern, oversee policy and direction, and assist with the leadership and general promotion of the Foundation so as to support access for all and ensure that every person living within the City of Eugene is able to use the City’s parks and recreation facilities.
Board Officers
Claire Syrett
President
Former Eugene City Councilor, Labor Union Representative
Claire Syrett serves on the Eugene City Council representing Ward 7 and is employed by the Oregon Nurses Association as the labor relations representative for nurses at Lane County PeaceHealth hospitals. A resident of Whiteaker, Claire and her husband, Davey, along with their dog, Archer, enjoy walking, playing disc golf, and birding in Eugene and Lane County parks.
Kevin Alltucker
Vice President
Community Do-Gooder
Kevin Alltucker grew up in Eugene and had two professional careers. One as a construction engineer and the other as a UO professor in Family & Human Services. Growing up, his parents would tell him “Go play in the park, and don’t come home until the streetlights come on.”
Mark Shumaker
Treasurer
Retired, CPA
Mark has been a resident of Eugene since 2007. Before his retirement, he worked for a CPA firm in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mark has over 35 years of experience providing accounting and audit services for profit and not for profit organizations. He has assisted numerous organizations set up and monitor financial systems. He enjoys outdoor activities and traveling.
Valerie Perrott
Board Secretary
Growth Facilitator and Avid Hiker
Valerie is a facilitator and coach developing team leadership, healthy work environments and supervisory skills. Her past work experience is primarily in nonprofit management and governance. She is an avid day hiker and lives in Eugene with her husband and children.
Board Members
Kenneth Helphand
Board Member
Scholar of landscape
Kenneth I. Helphand is Knight Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Oregon. He is the recipient of distinguished teaching awards from UO and the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture. Helphand has guest lectured at dozens of universities and is the author of award-winning books. Helphand is the recipient of the Bradford Williams Medal.
Kearstin Krehbiel
Board Member
Problem Solver
Kearstin, with 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, civic work, and community engagement, now serves as the Chief of Strategy at SF Parks Alliance. She’s previously held key roles at United Way Bay Area, and SF Beautiful. Kearstin, her wife, and two young kids recently moved to Eugene, her wife’s hometown, and love it.
Jesse Maldonado
Board Member
Public Leader and Campaign Expert
Jesse was elected to the Lewiston, Idaho City Council at the age of 18 in 2013. During his term, he worked tirelessly to improve parks and recreation in the community. Jesse now calls Eugene home, where he is working towards his Master’s Degree at the U of O.
Colin McArthur
Board Member
Landscape Architect and Track Coach
Colin grew up in the Columbia Gorge and moved to Eugene to attend UO, study landscape architecture and planning, and compete in track and field for the Ducks. He is an owner and director of planning practice at Cameron McCarthy Landscape Architecture & Planning and an assistant track and field coach at Lane Community College.
M. Dusty McCourt
Board Member
Podiatric Surgeon
Dusty was groomed to be a concert trombonist. In college he was bit by the skiing bug and has never been the same. After working in the ski industry for 10 years he finished his degree in Outdoor Therapeutic Recreation and worked in Utah with at-risk youth. Though he now practices Podiatric Medicine, access to recreation is a strong focus. He lives with his wife and two kids in Eugene.
Andrew McIvor
Board Member
General Surgeon
Andrew McIvor has lived in Eugene off and on since 1994, and has long been impressed by its parks system. As a long-time naturophile, he has a strong belief that bringing nature into the city enhances everyone’s life. He works as a general surgeon at McKenzie Willamette Medical Center in Springfield, and hikes and bikes and canoes whenever he can. He lives with his wife Maura in southeast Eugene.
John Winquist
Board Member
Park Enthusiast and Supporter
John and his family have been, and continue to be high-level consumers of parks and open spaces. In collaboration with his wife, Pem, they are honored to support the “Rivers to Ridges” vision. The Eugene Parks Foundation is part of Pem and John’s commitment to “pay it forward” for parks.
Terry Smith
Board Emeritus
Retired, City of Eugene
Terry, now retired, was staff for the Mayor’s Parks & Open Space Committee in 1998. Terry worked for the City of Eugene for over 30 years in numerous senior positions including Deputy Director of Public Works, Director of Library, Recreation & Cultural Services, and Assistant City Manager. He has been an active outdoorsman since childhood.
Linda Wheatley
Board Emeritus
Community Volunteer
Linda retired from the Springfield School District in 2001 where she taught English and ESL. After retiring, she worked for Pacific University as a student teacher supervisor until 2007. She recently co-chaired the Riverloop Connection project with her husband Steve. She spends her free time traveling, walking, hiking, and enjoying music, dance, and theater.
Ex-Officio Members
Craig Carnagey
Division Manager
Parks and Open Space, City of Eugene
Craig has been in public service for 18 years working as a landscape planner, urban forester, parks and facilities manager, and now as the Parks and Open Space Division Director for the City of Eugene. He is passionate about working to integrate nature into our city and believes parks and recreation are what help people to be healthy, build community, and protect our local environment.
Craig Smith
Division Manager
Recreation Services, City of Eugene
Craig Smith was raised in the national forests of the great Northwest and learned to love the maintains, lakes, rivers, and the coastal lands that are so accessible to us all. Craig earned his master’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Oregon in 1991, and applied those values and strategies to marginalized youth in the Eugene area, prior to joining the City of Eugene in 2001.
Staff
Ariel Lissman
Executive Director
Ariel is originally from Israel, where he worked for more than 20 years in various leadership roles in the parks and recreation industry. Ariel brings a collaborative mindset and vast experience in community outreach and engagement. Ariel’s wife, Dana, is a Ph.D. student in the special education department at UO, and their three young daughters are running the show in Edison Elementary School.