Staff
Alex studied rivers and forests as a curious kid, eventually turning that curiosity into studying Biology at the University of Oregon. After earning his bachelors degree, Alex took a break from science, and with his college tennis experience he pursued a career as a professional tennis coach for several years. Eventually, his passionate volunteer work with rivers and fish inspired him to pursue a Masters in Conservation Leadership from Colorado State University. Since earning his degree, he has worked in human dimensions and social science research and consulting for policy and decision making, and in oak and prairie conservation here in the Willamette Valley.
Alex started working for Molalla River Watch as Executive Director in 2024, and is looking forward to taking all of his different backgrounds into a bright future for the watershed. Alex is a religious angler and fly tyer, and is frequently found knee to chest deep in a river looking for steelhead, salmon, and trout. He also loves hiking, backpacking, a challenging hit on the tennis court, tasty things to eat and drink, and good quality time spent with his girlfriend, dog, and two cats.
Avarie was first introduced to the fields of sustainability, natural resources, and environmental education while she was in high school, during a climate-focused outdoor education program through North Cascades Institute. This experience launched her into her studies at Portland State University where she was an Urban Honors College Sustainability Scholar, earning her B.S. in Environmental Science and later a graduate certificate in Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
Bringing her experience as a former National Park Service park ranger and educator with a variety of nonprofits and local governments, Avarie endeavors to exercise her abundant curiosity for all things to help uplift the watershed’s human and ecological communities.
She enjoys spending her time cooking elaborate meals with her partner, expanding their permaculture garden, and collecting a variety of crafting/DIY hobbies.
Board of Directors
Cub Hale
Board President
Cub was born and has lived in Canby his whole life. He graduated from Canby High School in 1974. Cub worked in construction until 1986, then began a career in Facility Maintenance until retirement in 2019.
Having owned property on the Molalla River north of Canby his whole life, Cub decided to get involved in the preservation and restoration of the river where he has spent many hours swimming, fishing, and hiking along. Cub has also been a volunteer since the early 1990’s in the “Whale Watch Spoken Here” program on the Oregon coast, where he helps track the number of Eastern Pacific Grey Whales migrating from the Arctic Ocean to the lagoons in Mexico to calf.
Bill Taylor
Vice President
Bill, a native Oregonian, is passionate about the outdoors and especially the Molalla River. He is an avid mountain biker and has spent countless hours building and maintaining the Molalla River Corridor trail system. Another interest of Bill’s is riparian restoration planting.
Bruce Parker
Treasurer
As young adult driving a tour boat at Crater Lake and later working for DEQ, Bruce developed a love for nature and respect for the environment. Over twenty years ago, Bruce discovered the Molalla River Corridor while cycling. It has since remained his favorite bike ride and he loves taking friends up the Corridor. A cycling friend called it a miniature Cycle Oregon. Hiking Table Rock and the multitude of other trails in the Corridor is another favorite past time. He has been involved in trail maintenance and in SOLVE clean up projects with the Molalla River Watch. His professional career was an optometric physician for Kaiser Permanente for 35 years.
Bruce hopes to continue improving the stewardship of this salmon and steelhead wild river, the recreational corridor and the water source for Molalla and Canby.
Laurence Grisanti
Board Director
Laurence moved to Oregon from New York in 2006 pursuing his love of natural places and wetlands. He currently works as a psychiatric nurse in Portland and has been stewarding and restoring Camp Colton which holds tributaries of the Molalla river since 2015. Some of his favorite things include spending time with family and friends, observing and being in nature and the indulgence of a good afternoon nap.
Megan Jones
Board Director
My name is Megan Jones, I am a born and raised Oregonian. I grew up in SE Portland, but have been in Clackamas County for the last 20 years. I have 3 children, 2 girls and 1 boy. I have been a cook for over 20 years. I enjoy raising farm animals and building gardens.
I moved to Molalla in 2022. Through the years I have enjoyed the Molalla Corridor. Hiking, kayaking and fishing are my favorite outdoor activities. Rivers mountains and trees are where I find peace and happiness. I am really excited to be a part of MRW. Cleaning up our forest and waterways is very important to me. I want to help keep our Molalla Corridor beautiful and safe for future generations to come.
Jereme Jones
Board Director
My name is Jereme Jones and I’m married to Megan Jones. I am a stepfather, brother, and son. I was born in Portland, Oregon and raised in the small town of “Redland” rural Oregon City. Adventures of camping, fishing, hiking and travel were, and continue to be, my passion for Oregon and its beauty. With a deep understanding of impacts made by humans on nature, I have dedicated my focus to help create a better solution for future generations to enjoy and recreate in our public lands. I look forward to working with the community!
Phoebe Hills
Board Director
Phoebe grew up in Mount Angel and has enjoyed exploring the Molalla river for all her life. After studying Biology at University of Oregon she has spent the last 8 years working with salmon and steelhead in rivers throughout the northwest, from the Snake river in eastern Washington to the Metolius in Central Oregon. She is now located again in the Willamette valley and spends any moment she can exploring next to or in rivers. Her favorite activities include running, biking, fly fishing, and rafting, all of which are better done in well cared for watersheds.
Her biggest passion for the Molalla River is to preserve and improve the habitat for wild salmon and steelhead populations. You are likely to run into her on the trails or in the river up the Molalla corridor, always accompanied by her two dogs Béla and Orca.
Tracy Buckner
Board Director
A native Oregonian, Tracy has spent most of her life exploring the Pacific Northwest and seeking out the hidden gems of the area. Endless summer days fishing with her grandfather on the Deschutes and area lakes, as well as family trips to all corners of the Northwest helped shape her views on conservation and the need to preserve our natural resources. Tracy was fortunate enough to live abroad for 5 years and traveled extensively throughout Japan and the Far East. She has also spent time living in Arizona, Tennessee, and Connecticut – always searching for the road less traveled.
Tracy continues to foster her need for all things wild and free and gets out into the world at every opportunity. When they aren’t out rooting for their favorite footy club, Tracy and her husband, an avid hunter, fly-tyer, and artist, love to pack up their little teardrop and hit the road searching for adventure…and wild, native fish!