Olga Loza, President
Olga has lived in Corvallis since 1996. She has a Business Information Systems degree from the Oregon State University and currently works for the OSU Ecampus as a Salesforce Developer. Olga enjoys cooking, travelling, reading, outdoors, and spending time with her husband and son.
Ken Haines, Vice President
Ken has moved to Corvallis in 1976 for graduate school. He graduated from OSU with an MS in Agronomy and worked as an Agricultural Extension Specialist in Ghana, West Africa for two years. Upon his return, he worked in the agricultural research field for a few years, then at the Children’s Farm Home. These experiences lead to a secondary science teaching credential and another MS in Special Education. After teaching Special Education for 6 years, Ken had the opportunity to work with his parents and subsequently purchased The Color Wheel Company where he is currently the President and Owner. Ken lives near the oldest park in Corvallis, the Franklin Park.
Stephanie Long Mehlenbacher, Secretary
Stephanie moved to Corvallis in 1986 when her husband became a faculty member at OSU. Together, they raised their two children here. When the Majestic Theatre opened its doors in 1990, Stephanie became a volunteer and has worked onstage and backstage for dozens of productions. For more than 25 years, Stephanie has worked at and is now a co-owner of earthsongs llc.
Laurie Mason, Treasurer
Laurie, a Corvallis native, earned a degree in journalism from OSU before leaving town for careers in newspapers, teaching, law and business innovation. She returned to town in 2008 a semi-retired mediator and enthusiastic theater volunteer, serving on nonprofit boards at the Majestic and in Albany while building a resume of some 30 stage roles. Her parks interests include research into the Avery Park zoo and bear pit that delighted her as a child and sadden her in hindsight.
Mary Buckman
Mary has lived in Corvallis since 1972, spending her younger years in northern Minnesota and northern Virginia. She graduated from Oregon State University with a B.S in Fisheries Science and an M.S. in Statistics. She retired in 2009 after 33 years with the Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife. She has been active in city affairs for many years. She has served on the Corvallis Planning Commission, City Council, Corvallis Open Space Commission and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. She has a daughter who graduated from CHS and the U of O and now lives in Portland. Mary enjoys traveling to to warm, tropical places outside the US but also marvels at the opportunities in Oregon and the US. She likes cooking, reading, walking, music and movies.
Charley Fisher
Charley served 16 years on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and served as Chair of the Board for two terms. His professional career was also involved with sport and recreation. He was the Director of Intramural Sports and Recreational Activities for 14 years at the University of Wyoming. He retired in 2003 after serving for 22 years as the Director of Intramural Sports and Facilities at Oregon State University. Charley also served five years on the Executive Board of the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association and one year as President of that Association.
His hobbies reflect his career and interests in recreation. He plays in the city softball and volleyball leagues; is a marshal and plays golf at Trysting Tree golf course; hikes on the many trails in the area; cycles and has done many organized rides including 15 Cycle Oregon trips; and he loves to “putter” in his wood shop.
Doug Severs
Doug is retired from working over forty-two years in higher education administration. He came to Corvallis in 2009 to be the OSU Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships. He retired in 2009 and became a volunteer coordinator for the Woodland Meadow Park. As volunteer coordinator he schedules volunteer days that include activities like rocking trails, trimming trees and bushes and painting picnic tables. For fun and exercise he plays racquetball.
Lynne Dimmick
Lynne has lived in the Corvallis area since 1969, raising her family, building her network of friends and enjoying the many facets of the Willamette Valley. The Oregon coast captured her heart and drew her away for 17 years, but in 2020 she returned to Corvallis to stay. In her early professional life, Lynne had positions with the Corvallis School District and local social service agencies, aspiring to bring positivity and opportunity to the lives of disadvantage youth. Eventually Lynne’s entrepreneurial spirit and passion for beautiful textiles and art blossomed into several successful wholesale and retail businesses of her own. For over 30 years she cultivated these businesses, traveling throughout the Western states, bridging the gap between artist and art collector. Since retiring, you may find Lynne with her hands in the dirt, nurturing her ever evolving garden, spending time with friends and family, or volunteering and fundraising for the Lincoln county coast arts community organization, or working with the Yachats City Council. Currently her interest is in programs being offered at the C3 for Corvallis’ senior citizens, important to Lynne because she recognizes how essential these programs are to the vitality of the community, and the mental and physical health of our seniors.
Tom Kirch
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Meredith Petit, Ex Officio
Meredith stepped into the role of the Director of the Corvallis Parks and Recreation Department in 2020. She has a broad background in parks management and recreation programming. Her previous work includes leadership positions at the City of El Segundo and the City of Agoura Hills in southern California. In those roles, Petit oversaw large-scale capital improvement projects, developed innovative revenue programs, and collaborated with community partners on shared recreation facility projects.
Board Application:
If you are interested in becoming a Member of the Friends of Corvallis Parks and Recreation Board of Directors, please fill out and submit the Application below. Board Member Responsibilities document is provided for your reference. Please send the completed and signed application to [email protected].
Click below for past Board members
Jennifer Meisel
Jenny has served with the Board for ten years. She is the Resource Conservationist for the Marion Soil and Water Conservation District in Salem. In her job she coordinates the Native and Invasive Plants Programs, and provides education and outreach activities within the district. Before working at Marion SWCD, Jenny worked as a wildlife biologist and technician for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, as a wildlife biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and for the US Geological Survey. She received a BS in Biology from from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and a MS in Wildlife Science from Oregon State University. While not at work Jenny enjoys birding, camping, hiking and working in her yard and garden.
Audrey Hatch
Audrey moved to Corvallis in 1997 to attend graduate school, and loves the area’s parks, trails and open spaces, with Washington Park on the LBCC Benton Center campus at her doorstep. She has worked in natural resources conservation for the state of Oregon since 2004, as a biologist at Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and currently as a Natural Resources Specialist at the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. While not at work, Audrey enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends.
Roberta Sperling
Roberta Sperling grew up in New York City and graduated from City College of New York with a degree in French. She taught for several years before switching to journalism as a career. She and her husband publish a magazine for rubber stamp artists called RubberStampMadness. They also publish a poetry magazine, Cloudbank, and poetry books. Roberta enjoys time spent in Corvallis parks, which is why she became a Friends board member.
Kristin Shreeve
Kristin has lived in Corvallis for 20 years and works as an on-line math tutor. Active in the Corvallis Aquatic Team for 14 years, she served as a Board Treasurer, Member, meet director and office manager. Her interest in the Friends group developed because of her connections with Osborn Aquatic Center, home base for Corvallis swimmers.
Jessica Beauchemin
Jess, is dedicated to improving health and fitness: both her own and others. She grew up on the East Coast and taught high school science, health and physical education for 8 years. Jess now teaches natural movement classes in Corvallis and in several area parks and playgrounds.
Betty Griffiths
The Friends of Corvallis Parks and Recreation lost a great Friend. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Betty Griffiths, who passed on November 17, 2014. Her vision to establish the organization exemplifies her care and love for our city.
Board members will miss her leadership and drive. The following are a few comments from Board members about Betty Griffiths.
- Betty’s commitment to things she believed in was amazing. She saw the big picture but knew it took attention to lots of details to realize that big picture. Her contributions spanned every aspect of the group. For Friends, she worked through the paperwork and bureaucracy to get our non-profit status; she met with potential donors and potential Board members one on one; she spoke at events large and small; she got the web page started; she edited grant proposals; she kept the task list organized and ran meetings. And she did all these varied tasks with energy and enthusiasm. —Mary Buckman
- Betty was a good friend and a pillar of our community. Her commitment to, advocacy for and dependability in supporting a good cause or the right course of action to take were all incredible. Whether as an ardent environmentalist, a long-time city councilor, a Greenbelt Land Trust supporter, a Corvallis Sustainability Coalition advocate, or as a strong supporter of parks, open spaces and natural areas, she took leadership roles in making our community a better place for all of us. Her service to her community is a stellar example for all of us to try to emulate. —Kent Daniels
- I didn’t know Betty for very long, but her dedication and determination, even through her personal struggle, were a huge inspiration to me. —Kristin Shreeve
- Along with her efforts to provide funding and support for Corvallis Parks, Betty didn’t forget friendship and support for those around her. When applying for membership to be on the Friends Board, I remember Betty’s encouragement to join. We had never crossed paths before, yet she took me in and found ways I could contribute. Her positive feedback on what was done has been so helpful. This is the kind of person one wants to have in one’s corner. Corvallis has benefitted in so very many ways from Betty Griffiths presence in our city. —Roberta Sperling
- Betty Griffiths was instrumental in creating the Friends of Corvallis Parks and Recreation in October, 2012. She clearly understood the need to find alternative funding to support the local parks and recreation system that so deeply affects the quality of life for all people. Through her leadership, a group of interested people were brought together that soon became the first board of directors of the Friends. Betty served as the first and only President until her passing. Betty always found time to make the community a better place. Betty was a great role model! —Karen Emery, Director, Corvallis Parks and Recreation
Thank you Betty.
Betty lived in Corvallis for 46 years. She received her B.S. from Madison College, Harrisonburg, Virginia and master’s degree in psychology and counseling from Oregon State University. Betty worked for more than 26 years both as a volunteer and as professional in the field of human services and mental health. She has worked with organizations such as Community Outreach, Corvallis Community Day Care, Corvallis Neighborhood Housing Services and neighborhood groups to assist low-income residents. She retired in 2000 from the Linn County Department of Health Services where she was Director of the Alcohol and Drug Outpatient Program. From 1992-2006 she served on the Corvallis City Council including service as President and Vice President of the Council. On the Council she was a champion of sound planning in support of neighborhoods, spearheaded efforts to increase open space, was a strong supporter of local businesses, and an advocate for increasing local and State support for parks, affordable housing and other social services.
In 2007, she was a founding member of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and serves on their Board as well as their Housing and Land Use Action Teams. She currently serves on the Board of the Greenbelt Land Trust, the Corvallis Parks Natural Areas and Recreation Advisory Board, where she is the current Chair, and the League of Women Voters Planning Committee.
In her spare time Betty enjoyed outdoor activities especially biking, hiking, skiing, and rafting. She and her husband also traveled far and wide.
Kenny Davidson
Kenny was elected to the Friends Board of Directors in January 2013. Due to a serious illness Kenny was forced to resign from the Board in March 2014 and subsequently passed away on June 1, 2014. Memorial contributions in his name can be made to the Heartland Humane Society. Kenny was a lifelong Oregonian who lived in Corvallis for five years. He was a US Army veteran and a homemaker. He served as Chair of the Linn County Democrats and as a member of the Albany Planning Commission. Kenny was an avid volunteer for the Grand Kinetic Challenge. He enjoyed biking, walking, reading, gardening and cooking.
Kent Daniels, Vice President
Kent graduated from Ohio State University after serving two years in the Peace Corps in Tanzania, East Africa. He has lived in Corvallis for 34 years. He retired in 2001 as Co-Director of the Office of International Research and Development at Oregon State University. He served on the Corvallis City Council from 1987 to 1990 and as a Benton County Commissioner from 1990 to 1997, where he was always a strong supporter of parks, natural areas and recreation programs. He has served on the Corvallis Parks, Natural Areas and Recreation Advisory Board and on the Corvallis Civic Beautification and Urban Forestry Board, and is currently serving on the Benton County Parks and Natural Areas Board and the Corvallis Planning Commission.
Kent enjoys traveling in the US and overseas with his wife, hiking all over Oregon, particularly in the Cascade Mountains, and is an avid houseplant and floral gardener.
Karen Emery, Ex Officio
Karen served as the Director of the Corvallis Parks and Recreation Department 2008 – 2020 and has worked for the Department in varying capacities since 1989. She has made public service her career due to her commitment to improving public health through recreational services and parks and natural area stewardship. She is a native Oregonian with two grown children. In her spare time she enjoys playing squash, golfing, biking, cooking and spending time with her family.