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
Jesse Nelson
Executive Director
(he/him/his)
Jesse Nelson joined Connected Lane County as the Executive Director in January 2025. Connected Lane County’s clear and unwavering commitment to expanding opportunities for youth and young adults, an incredible staff team, and a host of dedicated community partners make this his dream job!
Justin Thibedeau
Program Director, Spark and Excelerators
(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, 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 Connected Lane County team member for six years. She is a Eugene 4J and Spanish Immersion program alumna, and her academic achievements led her to the University of Portland, where she graduated in 2015. Lizzie's love for her community brought her back to Lane County shortly after graduation to kickstart her professional career. Her commitment to equitable access to quality education and programs for ALL youth continues to fuel her and propel her growth into various roles at Connected Lane County. After many years supporting the design and development of CLC's programs, she is now the organization's Operations Manager, working closely with administrative team members on back-end functions. She brings a love for process, organization, and people-centered thinking to her new role.
In May of 2024, Lizzie and her husband welcomed their daughter into the world. They are eager to raise her in a community that they both love.
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 has over 30 years of experience in administration. With a detail-oriented perspective, she coordinates office functions, provides bookkeeping assistance, and supports Connected Lane County’s Board of Directors and the many innovative projects and initiatives our team has created. In her free time, Michelle enjoys being a grandma, spending time with her family, and being outdoors.
Jessie Arrowthwack
HR Generalist
(she/her/hers)
Jessie joined the team in 2025 as Connected Lane County’s first full-time Human Resources Generalist. With over 10 years of experience in HR and HR-adjacent roles, she is passionate about supporting a work environment based on trust and respect, where all team members feel valued. In her leisure time, she enjoys thrift store bargain hunting, spending time outdoors, and participating in medieval reenactments (ask her about combat archery)!
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. She contributes to everything communication-based, including social media management, media outreach, application logistics, and more! A lifelong Duck, Eva was raised in Eugene, where she attended the University of Oregon and completed her undergraduate degree in journalism: public relations. She is now working toward a master's 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, their two daughters, and dachshunds Finn and Oscar.
Program Leads
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!
Grace Chollar-Webb
Program Lead, Elevate
(she/her/hers)
Grace has over a decade of experience teaching and leading in the non-profit outdoor education sector. Hailing from Santa Cruz, Grace graduated from UCSC with a degree in Environmental Studies and Education. She found her way to the Willamette Valley after coordinating education programs on a local farm and leading kayaking tours in the Monterey Bay. Before her time at Connected Lane County, Grace was Garden and Programs Manager for Nearby Nature and Nature Programs Coordinator for Corvallis Environmental Center. Unless she’s cooking, baking, or fermenting something in the kitchen, you will find Grace outside with her family and various pets, hiking, biking, stretching, gardening, or swimming in a river.
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 for 4J School District, 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. Mónica helped spearhead the BIPOC Blueprint and Mentorship Programs for our youth, ensuring that future leaders from diverse backgrounds are supported and empowered.
When not working, she enjoys hiking, leading her book club, cooking, dancing, teaching yoga, and spending quality time with her partner, family, friends, and Yorkie.
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
Program 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)
As a Resource Navigator, Olivia supports her caseload of youth in achieving their short- and long-term career and educational goals. 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 is currently enrolled in the University of Oregon's Couples and Family Therapy Program to get her Master of Science. 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. Olivia grew up and continues to live in Lorane and is passionate about encouraging rural youth to follow their dreams.
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.
Rae 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!
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.
Sasha Chang
Youth Outreach Coordinator, Spark
(she/her/hers)
Sasha grew up in the Eugene/Springfield area and attended the University of Oregon for both her bachelor's and master's degrees. Her passion lies in education, and she comes to Connected Lane County with nearly nine years of teaching experience. She is committed to protecting the safety and well-being of all Black youth during their K-12 education, having navigated the public school system as both a student and an educator. In her free time, she enjoys reading large chunks of books in one sitting, rewatching the same shows and movies for comfort, and Beyonce.
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.
Jared Tarr
Youth Outreach Coordinator, Excelerators
(they/them/theirs)
Pulling inspiration from their lived and professional experiences, Jared brings a passion for mentorship, advocacy, and alternative life pathways to their work. Experiences of instability in childhood and early adulthood combined with their identities as queer, genderqueer, and neurodivergent have granted them essential wisdom in how to survive and thrive in the world. They hope to support and inspire youth much like themselves to pursue joy and self-determination.
Jared’s diverse professional path has included conservation work, community organizing, arts and cultural event production, industrial project management, bicycle mechanics, and managing programs for some of Eugene’s most beloved nonprofits. This circuitous career path gives them the perspective and experience necessary to advise youth with diverse needs and experiences across Lane County, especially within the Excelerator program. Today, Jared loves experiencing nature (often with a bike and a fly fishing rod in tow) and building community alongside their partner and pup.
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.