PRESIDENT

Born into a family that grew most of their own food, Beth learned early the value of fresh locally grown produce. Summers were spent picking and canning fruits of their labor to support them through the winter. Beth is a Registered Nurse with project management experience related to health-related research projects. She serves as a board member on two non-profit boards, and is also an active member of the Oregon City community where her children and grandchildren reside. Now retired, Beth loves spending time with her grandchildren, gardening, playing in the dirt, growing flowers, fruits, & veggies.

VICE PRESIDENT

Susan’s professional career includes over twenty years in natural resource management, including work as a US Forest Service manager, a regional expert in economics and land management, a research scientist working on topics in forest economics, policy, and interdisciplinary studies; as well as numerous jobs in applied forest management and education. Susan’s volunteer work includes educating the community as a Master Gardener serving on the Juneau Community Garden board in Alaska for 17 years. Now retired, Susan’s hobbies include mycology, gardening, fishing, making wildcrafted products such as salves and teas, and she is trying to learn to sew.

TREASURER

Byron brings 18+ years of accounting experience to the HOEC Treasurer position and feels a strong connection with Home Orchard Education Center's mission and values. Most recently working as a Director of Accounting Operations of a publicly traded Canadian company she has proven herself as a leader of a team and her commitment to improving the accounting functions and day to day accounting operations. Byron enjoys engaging her kids and foster kids in the wonders of the outdoors and hopes to pass on her love of nature and all that it can provide.

SECRETARY

Alexis started volunteering at HOEC in 2022 after attending a grafting workshop, and has continued volunteering regularly while serving on the Board of Directors. The orchard has given him the hands-on opportunity to learn about and practice horticulture in a way that he never had access to growing up, as well as connection to a diverse community brimming with knowledge and experience to share. He brings 5+ years of administrative experience, and multiple years volunteering with other organizations, to the role of Secretary.

CO-SECRETARY

Jean (she/her) has worked in the agriculture equipment industry for many years, overseeing multiple projects and stakeholders. She holds an MBA in sales management, and works as a Product Manager for a local company, which involves marketing, training and development. Over the years, Jean has been an active community volunteer and fundraiser, both for HOEC and other local organizations. When not volunteering with HOEC, she loves to spend time with her family in her her yard and garden, working on projects around the house, taking long walks, hikes and bike rides, and learning new skills.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Tonia is a long time community educator and experienced Horticulturist. She shares her skills as a part time faculty member for the Horticulture department at Clackamas Community College, where she first earned her AAS in Horticulture, and is the owner of Fruitscapes - an edible landscape design and consulting company. Tonia first became interested in fruit production when she took a fruit and berry course in 2010 that sparked a deep dive into the wonderful world of fruit-growing. She began working in the Arboretum as an intern that same year, and in 2012 she assumed the role of Orchard Manager. She has since dedicated over eleven years to the space, teaching the community about growing organic fruit at home. This project would not be possible without Tonia’s amazing commitment to the space, the programming, and all of the volunteers. She cannot wait to welcome new students through the HOEC gates!

ORCHARD ASSISTANT

Jennie grew up frolicking in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Her mother helped inspire a love of gardening and she spent her 20s in ‘the backwoods’ reveling in native plants. Jennie worked as a cook, delighting the palette by never being shy with herbs and spices. Fascinated by the intersections of identity, culture, communication, and symbolism, she earned degrees in Linguistics and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The forest called Jennie and her partner to Clackamas County where she became a regular attendee at Tree School and Small Farm School. Since 2018, Jennie has nurtured a study of qigong and recently launched her qigong instruction business, QiCurious Qigong. She is grateful to enjoy the natural bounty of life and the new opportunities to experiment and learn which arise with each cycle of the seasons.

COMMUNICATIONS

Melissa brings 12+ years of experience as a multi-platform journalist and communications specialist. She loves helping people learn new things about the world! Melissa recently moved to the Pacific Northwest from Hong Kong, where she worked for an international news network as a writer and producer. She also founded an aerial dance and yoga studio, and is passionate about encouraging creative exploration and mindfulness. In her free time, Melissa is probably starting a new home renovation project or trying to keep her beagle puppy out of trouble.