Board of Directors
CATHY TOrTORICI | SHE / HER
president
Cathy Tortorici has devoted her career to ecosystem conservation. As Division Chief for the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Interagency Cooperation Division at NOAA Fisheries, Cathy oversaw consultations related to habitat/ water quality impacts, oil/ gas/ wind energy development, and other critical projects. Prior to that Cathy served as a Branch Chief at NOAA Fisheries implementing ESA section 7 in the Southeast Regional office of NOAA Fisheries covering nearly 20,000 miles of tidal coastline throughout the South Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean. Earlier in her career, Cathy also led the Oregon Coast/ Columbia River Branch of NOAA Fisheries implementing policy, technical, regulatory and research actions related to the ESA and Magnuson-Stevens Act (essential fish habitat). Prior to her tenure with NOAA Fisheries, Cathy worked for the Environmental Protection Agency (Region VII) as their Missouri River Coordinator on water resource/Big River issues, as well as their TMDL Coordinator, Wetlands Enforcement Coordinator, and as a Senior Reviewer of Environmental Impact Statements (National Environmental Policy Act). Cathy served on Willamette Riverkeeper’s Board of Directors during its early formative years and return to the board when she returned from Washington DC to Oregon a year ago. Cathy brings an incredible breath and depth of knowledge to Willamette Riverkeeper as she takes the reigns as Willamette Riverkeepers Board President.
jessie rohrig | she / her secretary
Jessie has been playing in the rivers and forests of Oregon her whole life and uses the expanse of the trees and the night sky to recharge and refocus. She is a pod leader for Paddle Oregon and supports other WRK adventures, especially,especially during summer. For the rest of the year. Jessie is a middle school science teacher. As a teacher, she hopes to cultivate a sense of wonder and awe in her students, the future generation of citizens and voters. She encourages young learners to follow the evidence and check that any scientific claim they encounter is backed with ample data and sound reasoning. She enjoys sharing stories of her participation in WRK’s mussel research with her students. She believes that no person can complain about the state of things unless they are taking action in some small part, which for her is teaching and advocating for wild places.
Tamara madsen | sHE / HER TREASURER
Tamara moved to Oregon in 2009 with her Oregonian husband, Eric, and their daughter, Elizabeth. Her love for the outdoors, which she brought with her to Oregon, has only deepened as she continues to explore the Pacific Northwest. She is an avid adventurer who enjoys hiking, backpacking, cycling, paddling, fishing, and spending time near both the ocean and the mountains. When not immersed in nature, Tamara is hard at work in her federal government career. She spent 23 years as a labor economist with the U.S. Department of Labor. Her extensive expertise spans financial analysis, project management, human resources, and high level leadership positions.
Tamara's passion for environmental stewardship led her to first connect with Willamette Riverkeepers over 12 years ago when she and her husband participated in Paddle Oregon. Since then, she has remained a dedicated supporter, contributing her time and resources to help the organization fulfill its mission.
STEVE HERNANDEZ | HE / HIM
Steve, a native Oregonian, he grew up exploring the forests and streams near his childhood home a few miles from the Santiam River. He was raised by parents who took him on countless backcountry adventures in the Cascades Wilderness areas. Steve now leads his own family on many outdoor adventures. His daughter has developed a keen eye for shiny rocks, after many paddling trips on the Willamette river. He serves as board member for Straub Outdoors, an organization that provides nature based learning to children and marginalized communities. He enjoys connecting people to nature on an emotional and intellectual level through his 20 + year career as an Oregon State Park Ranger working in various corners of the state. Steve currently works on the Willamette River taking care of Oregon State Park’s Greenway properties.
Steve believes that wilderness-like experiences can be found locally, without all the economic and phycological barriers that often limits access for our unrepresented and marginalized communities. Steve is passionate about the Willamette River, an avid paddler and often can be found participating in Willamette Riverkeeper river events like Paddle and Pulls.
Mark Taratoot | He/Him
Mark loves rivers. A long-time volunteer for WRK, Mark retired from a career focused on water. Mark was a watershed hydrologist at Oregon State University and then worked over two decades as a water conservation and water pollution professional for a municipal government. Mark is a charter member and was a long-time board member for Marys River Watershed Council, served many years on the board of Willamette Kayak & Canoe Club, organized weekend adventures for Lower Columbia Canoe Club, and served on the board for Benton Soil & Water Conservation District. Mark is currently a volunteer SCUBA diver for Oregon Coast Aquarium and works part time for the Campbell Community Center in Eugene guiding seniors on kayak, canoe, and raft trips. Mark loves water!
Mark has long spent his vacations on rivers; rowing or paddling during the day and sleeping in the dirt at night. While Mark loves the whitewater of rivers such as the Rogue, the Owyhee, the Salmon, and the Alsek, Mark also finds beauty in quiet time in a canoe on the upper Willamette. Sometimes it feels even more remote on the Willamette than on a wilderness river. Even in the most populated part of Oregon, the intact riparian forest, lack of vehicle noise, and relative solitude give the feel of a wilderness setting. While some rivers can be challenging to navigate, Mark has long said, “You don’t conquer a river; you dance.” Let’s dance!
Rosemary Furfey | she/her
Rosemary is passionate about protecting, restoring, and enjoying rivers. She has spent her career working on watershed health, river protection and restoration, and salmon recovery. Rosemary recently retired from NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service in Portland where she spent 20 years managing recovery of six Endangered Species Act (ESA) threatened salmon and steelhead in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. Rosemary coordinated multi-year public processes resulting in NOAA's adoption of ESA recovery plans. Prior to NOAA, she worked as a Principal Planner at Metro in Portland coordinating water resource planning and adoption of Metro's Regional Stream and Floodplain Protection Plan (Title 3). She has worked internationally in Sudan for CARE where she managed a rural development project. She was also a Peace Corps Volunteer in Botswana where she taught high school science. Rosemary enjoys river rafting, backpacking, skiing, and cycling with her family throughout the Pacific Northwest. She served on Willamette Riverkeeper's Board of Directors during its early years and she's excited to return to the Board.
Sandy Cutler | He/Him
I have been kayaking and rafting for 47 years and am passionate about all rivers, especially the Willamette River. My wife and I own a lovely home on the Middle Fork of the Willamette River in Oakridge. We spend most of our time at our Riverhouse, and enjoy gardening, kayaking, rafting, and hiking the trails near Oakridge.
The majority of my working career was spent as the founding State Director of the Oregon Small Business Development Center Network (OSBDCN). The OSBDCN has small business centers at 14 community colleges and one university. The OSBDCN helps small businesses get started and assists existing businesses to operate successfully and profitably.
My river experience includes kayaking and rafting most of the rivers in Oregon, Idaho, Northern California. I’ve also been the head guide on numerous river trips, including the Colorado, Middle Fork of the Salmon, Main and Lower Salmon, Rogue River, and many other rivers.
I became interested in Willamette River Keepers after participating in two Paddle Oregon trips, and witnessing the wonderful work WRK does to help preserve and protect the Willamette River.
Besides rivers, my other interests include hiking, swimming, golf, pickleball, and reading.
JOrdan Horrell | She/her
I am a true Oregonian, born and raised. I grew up in the country with a deep respect and curiosity about my surroundings. My love for plants, animals, nature and water has always been a part of my hobbies and my time well spent. I grew up hiking and exploring and always had access to the Willamette River!
I also have background working in non-profits.
My happiest of places has always been the outdoors and a place I find a lot of grounding from all of life's daily hustle & bustle.
My initiation and introduction to WRK was during the great willamette clean up, where I organized a group of volunteers to help remove trash from the Willamette river. Ever since I was hooked and wanted to continue helping keep our Willamette River healthy, clean, and be able to share my love and enjoyment of our waterway!
maleek mckenzie | he/him
Since childhood Maleek has wanted to be part of the fight against climate change. With a background in Electrical Engineering, and Industrial Technology, he has made it his life mission to use engineering principles in a manner that is sustainable, and in service to society. He seeks to do this by combining his technical background with his experience growing up in low income communities throughout New York City. Providing him unique insights that allow for creative, multi-faceted solutions which ensure our most vulnerable community members aren't left behind.
A public advocate and political activists for nearly 20 years, Maleek is no stranger to working with communities to combat issues such as human trafficking, cuts to higher education, and global climate change among many others. Whether it's lending his voice at public hearings, hosting community events to raise awareness on topical issues, or helping people register to vote, Maleek places community at the forefront. Guided by a strong belief that empowered communities are healthy communities, collaboration is at the heart of what he does.
Maleek's passion for environmental protection has led him to the Sierra Club Oregon Chapter where he takes part in campaigns to help protect the Willamette from disastrous fuel spills, Oregon's forest from logging, and our air from fossil fuel emissions.
