Learn about our team!
Connected Lane County Staff Bios
Connected Lane County is a mission-driven organization striving to improve outcomes for underserved youth in Lane County. Our team works collaboratively with Lane County school districts, industry partners, workgroups, and community organizations to create opportunities and prepare youth for their lives beyond high school. Each member of our team provides valuable experience to our organization. To learn more about our staff and access their contact information, keep reading!
Leadership Team
Heidi Larwick
Executive Director
(she/her/hers)
Heidi Larwick is a passionate and committed leader in the nonprofit sector who firmly believes in the power of community organizations to drive positive, equitable change. With almost two decades of experience, she has devoted her career to fighting for labor rights, public health advocacy, and, most recently, educational equity. READ MORE
Justin Thibedeau
Associate Director & Spark Program Manager
(he/him/his)
Justin Thibedeau played a crucial role in the establishment and growth of Connected Lane County's Spark program, making significant contributions to its development from the beginning. His commitment is unwavering - he tirelessly developed curricula, acquired necessary supplies, managed equipment, trained staff and mentors, and directly interacted with young people. As the Associate Director and Spark Program Manager, Justin continues to enhance the program and expand the organization's impact throughout the county. With extensive experience coordinating maker spaces and engineering labs, he empowers young people to explore STEM fields and computer science pathways through hands-on design challenges and innovative curricula. Justin's dedication to youth education and community empowerment greatly contributes to the success of Connected Lane County, positively impacting the lives of numerous young individuals.
David Ross
Program Manager for Elevate and Navigate
(he/him/his)
David brings over ten years of nonprofit experience to Connected Lane County. He has worked in youth mentorship, teaching, and program management throughout his career. David has a master's degree in nonprofit management from Arizona State University. David is originally from Chicago and spent an amazing two years in Sudan, but he has happily called Eugene his home since 2015. Outside of work, you can find David playing recreational sports, running at Mt. Pisgah, or toiling away on his wheels. If you meet a giant Golden Retriever named Marshall, feel free to say hello to David as well.
Hablo Español
Lizzie Brown
Operations Manager
(she/her/hers)
Lizzie has been a vibrant, enthusiastic Connected Lane County team member for over five and a half years. She was raised on the border of Eugene and Springfield and is a product of the Eugene 4J school district and, most importantly, to Lizzie, the Spanish Immersion program. Her academic achievements led her to the University of Portland, where she had the time of her life before graduating in 2015. Lizzie's love for her community brought her back to Lane County shortly after graduation to kickstart her professional career.
Lizzie's commitment to equitable access to quality education and programs for ALL youth continues to fuel her. It has propelled her as she's grown into various roles at Connected Lane County. She is now the organization's Project Manager, working closely with administrative team members. She brings magnetic energy to every interaction, always leads with kindness, and enjoys each stage of the professional relationship-building process.
Recently married, Lizzie and her husband enjoy hosting summer barbecues, venturing to Lane County wineries, biking to summer shows at the Cuthbert, and supporting local restaurants.
Becky-Jo Samples
Marketing Director
(she/her/hers)
Becky-Jo is passionate about increasing access to educational opportunities. As a first-generation college student and Ford Scholar, she knows the importance of having strong mentors and support systems. She first got involved with Connected Lane County as a marketingJAM judge and event speaker. Becky-Jo served on the Downtown Languages board of directors from 2017 to 2021. In 2021, she joined the board of directors for Plaza de Nuestra Comunidad (formerly Centro Latino Americano), where she helped the organization merge with Downtown Languages and Huerto de la Familia.
A proud Duck, Becky-Jo holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Oregon and a master’s in business administration from Bushnell University. She enjoys reading and learning new things, traveling, cooking, gardening, and spending time outdoors with her husband, Josh, and two dogs, Mufasa and Albus.
Iliana Lang Lundgren
Development Manager
(she/her/hers)
Iliana is committed to helping community-based nonprofit organizations increase their financial sustainability while measuring, enhancing, and sharing their impact. In her early career, she supported international nonprofits to crowdfund online and managed donor-advised funds for corporations, family foundations, and individuals.
After moving to Eugene, Oregon, and completing her master’s degree in nonprofit management at the University of Oregon, she is thrilled to contribute directly to support youth from diverse backgrounds to gain the confidence and skills they need to thrive in their lives. Outside work, she enjoys yoga, hiking/exploring, and trying new restaurants and food carts with her husband, Hunter, and dog, Rori.
Mary Bell
Finance Manager
(she/her/hers)
Mary brings over twenty years of extensive knowledge and experience in accounting, finance, and administrative work to her role at Connected Lane County. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Oregon and has experience working in various fields, including finance and accounting, program and staff management, office administration, reception, fundraising, event planning, and coordination. Mary uses her finance and payroll knowledge to help support smooth operations.
Mary is an outdoor enthusiast and spends her free time hiking, biking, rafting, and volunteering in nature!
Admin Team
Michelle Martin
Administrative Specialist
(she/her/hers)
Michelle Martin has over 30 years of experience in administration. In her Human Resources role, Michelle ensures a smooth orientation for new employees and manages benefits for a fast-growing team. She coordinates office functions and bookkeeping and supports Connected Lane County’s Board of Directors and the many innovative projects and initiatives our team has created. Michelle enjoys camping and spending time with her family in her free time.
Shannon Pocan
Development Coordinator
(she/her/hers)
Shannon is passionate about community building and working towards brighter futures for youth in Lane County and beyond. Shannon spent her childhood in the Bend and Tualatin areas before relocating to Phoenix, Arizona, where she lived for seventeen years. She always knew she wanted to return to Oregon and made that dream a reality in 2018. Coming from a low-income background, where she had to leave high school early to work, she truly understands how important and life-changing the opportunities provided by Connected Lane County are for underserved youth. She has a background in nonprofit resource development, marketing & graphic design, project management, and volunteer coordination.
In her free time, she enjoys birding, nature photography, long walks, riding her bike, drawing/painting/anything crafty, hanging out with her dog and cats, and eating good vegan food.
Jade Luther
Graphic Designer & Marketing Assistant
(she/her/hers)
Jade is Connected Lane County's Graphic Designer, Marketing Assistant, and Photographer, all in one! She helps the marketing and fundraising team develop new and engaging ways for youth and partners to interact with the organization. Jade is always striving to learn new skills and wants to learn as much as she can about visual designs of any kind.
She is dedicated to using her passions to help the underserved community and wants to see youth thrive and grow in environments outside of school that help them succeed and discover new paths. She has always believed in a serving mindset and is ready to lend a hand when and where needed. Jade loves spending time with her family and pets in her free time, playing video games, running, and swimming! Some of her favorite things are the color blue, dragons, and cold sunny days.
Eva Camacho
Communications Assistant
(she/her/hers)
Eva is passionate about her local community and understands the importance of thoughtful and effective communication. Eva contributes to everything communication-based, including social media, website updates, newsletters, and media relations. A lifelong Duck, Eva was raised in Eugene, where she attended the University of Oregon, earning a Bachelor's degree in Public Relations with a minor in Legal Studies. Eva is experienced in client relations, social media management, ambassador relations, copywriting, and PR strategy. Eva is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Advertising and Brand Responsibility.
Eva enjoys being entertained by her cat, spending time with her friends, family, and partner, and getting lost in imaginary worlds.
Matt Nelson
Tech Coordinator
(he/him/his)
Matt joined Connected Lane County with a diverse background rooted in community service and technology. Originally from a rural community in Arkansas, Matt moved to the West Coast and spent over a decade working with nonprofits to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in residential, recreational, and vocational settings. His experiences led him to explore ways community organizations could better utilize tech to improve workflows and efficiency, building on his lifelong appreciation and love of tech as a hobby. Matt earned CompTIA's A+, Network+, and Security+ IT certifications to demonstrate his knowledge and skills, equipping him to build stable, secure tech solutions that support Connected Lane County's mission.
Alongside his technical credentials, Matt holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Science from Portland State University. He resides in Eugene with his wife Kristi, children Astoria and McKenzie, and dachshunds Finn and Oscar.
Izzy Davies
Facilities Coordinator
(he/him/his)
Izzy has been a dedicated problem solver in maintenance and construction for the last twenty years! He looks forward to ensuring that staff and youth can focus on their work worry-free by maintaining safe and fully functioning spaces. Izzy was born and raised in the Eugene-Springfield area in a low-income environment. Because of his experience in juvenile and adult justice systems, he understands the importance of youth support and programming. Izzy looks forward to being part of an organization that provides resources and support for youth in our community. In his free time he enjoys music, soccer, basketball, volleyball, fishing, spontaneous road trips, and spending time with his kids and grandson.
Program Management
Annie Dropek
Program Lead, Navigate
(she/her/hers)
Annie has a master's degree in Education from the University of Oregon and has always had a passion for empowering and guiding youth. She started her career as a middle school Language Arts teacher and then an elementary Montessori teacher and is now excited to bring her dedication to community building and youth growth to Connected Lane County. When she isn't working, she spends her time drinking lots of tea, caring for her numerous plants, and hanging out with her partner, friends, and three-legged cat.
KB Burwell
Program Lead, Spark
(they/their/hers)
KB is passionate about providing youth with hands-on learning experiences and opportunities in a safe-to-fail environment. Originally from North Carolina, KB was a long-time camp counselor, leading them to pursue their undergrad degree in Environmental Science while playing soccer at Lenoir Rhyne University. Later, moving to New Jersey, KB completed their Master of Arts in Teaching with a focus in Earth Science from Montclair State University while working as a Mission Commander at the Buehler Challenger & Science Center.
Before Connected Lane County, KB was a middle school science and STEAM teacher at Cheldelin Middle School in Corvallis, where they developed the STEAM program and coached the middle school girl's soccer, girl's basketball, cross country, and track teams. Outside of work, KB stays active by playing soccer, basketball, mountain biking, and snowboarding!
Program Staff
Ryan Chamberlain
Industry Outreach Coordinator
(he/him/his)
Ryan is a fifth-generation Lane County resident. He attended Lane Community College, Colorado State University, and Portland State University before graduating from Oregon State University. Ryan brings over 25 years of management experience as a business owner, private contractor, and, most recently, as general manager of a local manufacturing company for the last ten years.
When Ryan is not working, he is busy coaching soccer for Eugene Metro Futbol Club or flag football, basketball, or baseball for Emerald Kidsports. He also enjoys camping and spending time with his wife and two kids. Ryan looks forward to utilizing his existing connections in the community and expanding them to connect youth to many opportunities. He hopes to help make Lane County a great place for all youth to prosper and succeed!
Hablo Espańol
Mónica Reynoso
Community Outreach Coordinator, Elevate
(she/her/hers)
With over 20 years of experience dedicated to youth-focused mentorship, volunteerism, and advocacy, Mónica is passionate about fostering connections and amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities. Throughout her career, she's had the privilege of participating in medical mission trips as a translator, mentoring and tutoring in Eugene and Springfield and serving as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate of Lane County. Her work has been guided by a deep commitment to representation, community building, and breaking down linguistic barriers through her bilingual skills in Spanish and English.
Helping others has always been an integral part of her identity, and she believes in the power of community to uplift and create lasting change. In addition to helping build her new role, Mónica also helped spearhead the BIPOC Blueprint and our Mentorship Program for youth at Connected Lane County, ensuring that future leaders from diverse backgrounds are supported and empowered.
When she's not working, she enjoys walking, hiking, leading her book club, cooking, dancing, teaching yoga in both languages, and spending quality time with her partner, family, friends, and two Yorkies.
Shimea Jordan
Youth Outreach Coordinator, Elevate
(she/her/hers)
Shimea Jordan joined our team in October 2022 with the motivation to be more involved with youth in Lane County. Her previous experience includes managing the food and beverage department of some of Eugene’s most prestigious hotels; she brings years of event coordination experience to this new role. In her free time, Shimea can be found outside playing a pickup game of basketball or volleyball. For her, basketball has been and always will be her first love. Her passion for food and adventure makes her an avid thrill seeker with an enviable appetite for life.
Grace Rathbun
Projects Assistant, Elevate
(she/they/them)
Grace is a semi-recent Eugene transplant from rural western Massachusetts. They graduated from Connecticut College in 2022, where she focused her studies on intersectional feminism, environmental justice, and other social movements. She also worked for the college's LGBTQIA Center and Women's Center, providing essential services and programming to queer and gender-diverse students. Grace has recent experience as a restorative justice practitioner working with adults charged with and impacted by crimes in Lane County. They are excited to apply their passions to supporting and empowering Lane County's underserved youth. In her free time, Grace enjoys walking her sassy senior dog Tina, reading, spending time with friends, camping, and singing in the car.
Yazzie Chee
Projects Assistant, Elevate
(he/him/his)
Yazzie has lived in Lane County for most of his life and faced barriers of houselessness and financial struggles. Yazzie is passionate about advocating for youth who grew up in similar conditions. With his experience growing up in Lane County, his Indigenous background, and his work in social sciences and Native studies at the University of Oregon, Yazzie holds a unique perspective. When he's not working, he enjoys painting and making music.
Olivia Goodheart
Resource Navigator, Navigate
(she/her/hers)
Olivia Goodheart is a Resource Navigator for Connected Lane County’s Navigate program. Olivia serves youth in Cottage Grove and Creswell and supports them in achieving their short- and long-term career and educational goals. Olivia grew up and continues to live in Lorane and is passionate about encouraging rural youth to follow their dreams.
After graduating from Churchill High School in Eugene, Olivia attended Williams College in Massachusetts. She graduated with a BA in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Political Science, and Spanish. She brings experience in the classroom and direct support work with adults with disabilities. In her free time, Olivia enjoys snuggling her four cats, reading, and curating her vast collection of indoor plants.
Desireé Marquez-Pacheco
Resource Navigator, Navigate
(they/them/elle)
Desireé comes from East Los Angeles, where their community faced many barriers to resources, including a lack of knowledge and accessibility to available resources. Coming from a diverse background and being a plus-size person of color, gender non-conforming, and queer, they understand the barriers that may interfere with accessing equitable resources. They are passionate about advocating and ensuring resources can be equitable, inclusionary, and accessible to all folks.
When they are not working, Desireé is spending time with their cats and partner, typically being a homebody and playing video games or cooking. They also enjoy watching horror films, being in the sun, and supporting the music scene.
Hailey Johnston
Resource Navigator, Navigate
(she/her/hers)
Hailey graduated from Montana State University with a degree in psychology and has experience working with college students and youth ages 5-24. She also has experience in social work, mental health treatment, community support, and housing rights. Hailey is passionate about serving her community, mentoring, and creating opportunities for youth to grow into the best versions of themselves. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, watching documentaries, and spending time with her beloved cats, Olly and Cosmo.
Kayley Salgado
Resource Navigator, Navigate
(she/her/hers)
Kayley graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.S. in Psychology and has a wealth of experience working with youth. Kayley worked with a neuroscience lab and a student success program centering BIPOC, first-generation, and low-income students during her time at the university. Following six years of working with special education and behavioral children as an educational assistant and behavioral interventionist, Kayley is excited to merge her educational and work experiences in her role. Kayley enjoys taking trips to the coast, hiking, and reading when not serving youth.
Hablo Español
Adriana Santiago
Resource Navigator, Navigate
(she/her/hers)
Adriana is passionate about helping youth accomplish their educational and career goals. She has volunteered with numerous organizations, including Springfield High School’s Multicultural Student Association, Downtown Languages, and Centro Latino Americano. Additionally, she has served as the President of the LCC chapter of Mecha, participated in the Oregon Student Association as an Oregon Students of Color Coalition board member, and was a student in the Puertas Abiertas Leadership Academy.
Jim Garcia, a professor and advisor at LCC, inspired her to follow her dreams, be active in her community, and reclaim her indigenous roots. Through her extensive community involvement, she has gained the skills to help others. Adriana hopes that with her experience, community resources, and skills, she can help other youth like herself accomplish their long-term goals. When Adriana is not active in the community, working, or studying, she likes exploring new places, being outdoors, listening to music, reading, dancing, spending quality time with friends, or tending to her plants!
April Schultz
Resource Navigator, Navigate
(she/her/hers)
Growing up in Oregon, April spent time in several foster homes, an experience that ignited her passion for helping young people navigate their challenges. For the past two years, she has been deeply involved in supporting and empowering youth to reach their goals. April is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work and balancing her studies with hands-on work. When she is not working or studying, she enjoys experimenting with new recipes, spending quality time with her fiancé and their two Australian Shepherds, and exploring the outdoors. April also cherishes moments with my family, going on long drives, and immersing herself in nature.
Meg Watson
Project Coordinator, Navigate
(she/her/hers)
Meg applies her lived experiences and professional knowledge in her role at Connected Lane County. Her involvement with the ASPIRE program while a student at the University of Oregon ignited her passion for supporting youth in achieving their post-secondary goals. She supports the team in providing expansive services through the Navigate program. You can often find her at our monthly Wonder Wednesday events in Eugene or during drop-in hours in Springfield.
When not at work, Meg enjoys starting (and occasionally finishing) DIY projects around the house, spending time with friends, and singing parodies to and about her dogs, Arthur and Winifred.
Amber Kotvis
Program Assistant, Navigate
(she/her/hers)
Amber grew up in Beaverton, Oregon, and attended Central Washington University before transferring and completing her Bachelor of Arts in Family and Human Services from the University of Oregon. She has experience working with youth during summer camps and in outdoor school settings. Additionally, she has experience in social work and supporting unhoused adults with the necessary resources to get them into long-term, stable, and affordable housing. Instructing in non-traditional spaces gave her insight into how youth connect to learning experiences specific to their interests.
Amber is passionate about reducing barriers to exciting experiences! When she is not at work, she can be found spending time with friends and family, hiking, paddleboarding, reading, or playing video games.
Parker Bracy
Projects Assistant, Spark
(he/him/his)
Parker was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, and attended Willamette High School. Parker started out as a program youth in Invention Lab before moving into additional roles as a mentor and as a part of our Agency. He looks forward to introducing STEM and garment manufacturing to underrepresented youth in our community. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends and family, designing clothes, traveling the world, reading manga, and cooking.
Hablo Un Poco Espańol
Samm Cobiskey
Program Coordinator, Excelerators
(he/him/his)
Samm was born and raised here in Lane County and is a graduate of Springfield’s Academy of Arts and Academics, with graduate focuses in Technology and Music Performance. Through his lived experience being neurodivergent and queer, he is passionate about breaking down stigma, judgment, and other barriers to access in the community. Samm has worked in the non-profit sector in Eugene since 2021, bringing three years of program creation and management experience to Connected Lane County.
When he is not working, Samm is an active member of the music scene in Eugene and has been performing in various groups throughout Oregon for over ten years. At home, he enjoys spending time with his partner and cats, working on home projects and vehicles, or playing video games.
I speak American Sign Language (ASL)
Sam Hamilton
Career Navigator, Excelerators
(she/they/them)
Sam comes from Mountain View, California, and moved to Eugene in 2021 to pursue a bachelor's degree in Family and Human Services at the University of Oregon. With a focus on neurodivergence, special education, and disability studies, they gained valuable experience through internships in adaptive recreation and early childhood special education, as well as engaging in research on evidence-based educational practices and weight stigma.
Outside of work, Sam enjoys spending time with friends and their cat, reading sci-fi and fantasy books, practicing American Sign Language, and dancing.
Working at Connected Lane County
We are committed to creating a work environment and culture where our team members grow and thrive. Our team works hard every day to directly impact the lives of youth in Lane County. Want to join our team? Visit our careers page to see open positions.