Al comes to Connected Lane County with a drive to build a world worthy of our youth. Pulling at a common thread of relationship-based work, Al’s career includes staffing a Skid Row soup kitchen, certified birth doula work, collecting oral histories and sorting archives of social movements, and direct support of families and individuals of all ages across the country. She is excited to leverage her strengths-based and trauma-informed practice to empower youth and advocate for their futures. Al finds nourishment in playing the piano, a strong cup of coffee, the ocean, puzzles, and biking along the river to work.​

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. 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.

Cassy graduated from the University of Oregon, where she received a B.S. in Business Administration and a B.A. in Spanish, with a minor in Latinx Studies. Having once taken part in many Connected Lane County programs herself she is now excited to be involved in creating those same experiences for other young people in the community. She loves working with students, getting creative, and working hands on. Outside of work Cassy loves playing board games, spending time with friends and family, and hanging out with her pets!

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.

Iliana is passionate about helping community-based nonprofit organizations strengthen their financial sustainability while measuring, enhancing, and sharing their impact. Early in her career, she supported international nonprofits with online crowdfunding efforts and managed donor-advised funds for corporations, family foundations, and individual philanthropists. After moving from the East Coast to the West Coast and earning her master’s degree in nonprofit management from the University of Oregon, she found the next stage of her journey at Connected Lane County. There, she applies her experience and skills to securing resources that help youth from diverse backgrounds build the confidence, connections, and skills they need to thrive, alongside a talented and dedicated team.

Jade is Connected Lane County's Brand and Graphic Designer. In 2022, she helped the organization rebrand itself and continues to improve and evolve the brand to better communicate their message. She also helps the marketing and fundraising team develop new and engaging ways for youth and partners to interact with the organization. She is dedicated to using her skills to help youth and young adults thrive and grow in environments outside the classroom and loves seeing them discover new pathways. In her free time, Jade loves spending time with her family and pets, playing video games, running, and swimming!

Jared brings a passion for mentorship and alternative career pathways to their work coordinating the Excelerators program. Their circuitous career path has included work in conservation, community organizing, industrial manufacturing, bicycle mechanics, and managing programs for numerous nonprofits; all of which have imparted them with valuable perspectives to advise young adults with diverse goals, needs, and life circumstances. Living proof that one can survive and thrive despite adversity in childhood and early adulthood, Jared treasures opportunities to inspire youth and young adults whose journeys have been rockier than they should be to pursue joy and self-determination.

Julia is Mnicoujou Lakota of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe located in South Dakota. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education and Ceramics from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. She also has a background in racial equity work, youth and community event programming, youth mentorship, and curriculum development. Prior to joining the Connected Lane County team, Julia taught high school and middle school visual art, including ceramics, glass arts, jewelry, drawing, painting, and digital design. In her spare time, Julia enjoys art making, being outdoors, doing home improvement projects, and spending time with her family.

Justin played a crucial role in the establishment and growth of Connected Lane County's Spark and Excelerator programs, tirelessly developing curricula, securing funding, managing equipment, and training staff, mentors, and youth. As Program Director, Justin continues to support the program teams and expand the organization's impact throughout the county. With extensive experience coordinating maker spaces and engineering labs, he favors empowering young people to explore STEM fields through hands-on design challenges and innovative projects to help them gain a sense of agency.

KB is passionate about providing hands-on learning experiences in a safe-to-fail environment. Originally from North Carolina, KB received their undergraduate degree in Environmental Science while playing soccer at Lenoir Rhyne University. KB then completed their Master of Arts in Teaching with a focus in Earth Science from Montclair State University in New Jersey. Before Connected Lane County, KB was a middle school science and STEAM teacher at Cheldelin Middle School in Corvallis and also coached the girl's soccer & basketball teams. Outside of work, KB stays active by playing soccer, basketball, mountain biking, and snowboarding!

Lizzie joined Connected Lane County in 2018 to help launch the Elevate program and has grown alongside the organization ever since. After spending more than five years on the program side of the work, she transitioned into operations, where she now focuses on strengthening backend infrastructure, supporting administrative staff, and aligning business processes with program goals. A graduate of the Spanish Immersion Program and Sheldon High School, Lizzie earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Portland. In her free time, she loves nothing more than being with her husband, Nate, and their two children, Caroline and Auggie.

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!

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.

Mónica is passionate about fostering connections & amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities. With over two decades of experience working with youth as a CASA of Lane County, a mentor/tutor for 4J & Bethel School Districts, coordinating Elevate’s programming, and leading our BIPOC Blueprint and HealthBeat programs, her work is guided by a deep commitment to representation, community building, and breaking down linguistic barriers. Helping others has always been an essential part of her identity, and she believes in the power of community to uplift & create lasting change. When not working, she enjoys teaching yoga, dancing, hiking, reading, & spending quality time with loved ones.

NB is a plural system that recently moved here from the Oregon coast. They have been working with and supporting Queer, Neurodivergent, Disabled, and trauma-impacted communities for almost a decade. They are passionate about autonomy, activism, and fighting injustice. Their studies in psychology and sociology help them learn and navigate the social world humans built - they also know that together, we can support each other and change that same world for the better through small, meaningful connections and action. In their downtime, NB loves gaming, music, reading, mixed media art, interacting with the natural world, and watching their comfort shows ad nauseam. 

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 General Manager. When Ryan is not working, he is busy coaching soccer for Eugene Metro Futbol Club and flag football or basketball. He also enjoys camping and spending time with his wife and two kids. He hopes to help make Lane County a great place for all youth to prosper and succeed!

Sam hails from sunny 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. They are excited to bring their knowledge of these subjects to their work in hopes of serving diverse populations of youth in the community. Outside of work, Sam enjoys spending time with friends, their partner, and their cat, reading sci-fi and fantasy books, practicing American Sign Language, and dancing

Shannon is passionate about building community and creating brighter futures for youth in Lane County and beyond. Guided by her values of connection, curiosity, and thoughtful collaboration, she is committed to expanding access to opportunity for youth. Coming from a low-income background, where she had to leave school early to help provide for her family, she understands firsthand the impact that meaningful opportunities can have on a young person’s future. Shannon brings experience in nonprofit development, marketing, graphic design, and project management. Outside of work, she enjoys birding, nature photography, biking, creative projects, and being with her family and pets.

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.