Board of Directors
The responsibility of the Eugene Parks Foundation’s Board of Directors is to advise, govern, oversee policy and direction, and assist with the leadership and general promotion of the Foundation so as to support access for all and ensure that every person living within the City of Eugene is able to use the City’s parks and recreation facilities.
Board Officers
Scott Sanders
President
True Private Wealth Advisors
Scott has helped build connections between the business community and Eugene’s recreational possibilities. Raised in the Springfield-Eugene area, he recognizes the beauty and utility of Eugene’s many recreational opportunities.
Terry Smith
Secretary
Retired, City of Eugene
Terry, now retired, was staff for the Mayor’s Parks & Open Space Committee in 1998. Terry worked for the City of Eugene for over 30 years in numerous senior positions including Deputy Director of Public Works, Director of Library, Recreation & Cultural Services, and Assistant City Manager. He has been an active outdoorsman since childhood.
Board Members
Rodney Bohner
Board Member
City of Eugene
Since graduating with a B.S. in Park, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Rodney has worked in a variety of recreation settings from ski resorts to state parks, even spending a year working with at-risk youth aboard a historic tall ship. Always admiring the historic and cultural resources tied to parks, he has decided to pursue dual master’s degrees in historic preservation and city planning.
Lori Bumgardner
Board Member
Goddess of Grants
Lori J. Bumgardner is an experienced management professional with a successful track record directing higher education and government-related research and projects in politically charged environments in the U.S. and abroad. Lori earned her master’s degree in Planning, Public Policy and Management from the University of Oregon in 1992. Her nonprofit consulting business, Goddess of Grants, has brought more than $250M in grants into the community over the past two decades.
Kirsten Haugen
Board Member
Presenter, Writer, Facilitator
Kirsten Haugen, MA, has lived in Eugene since 2001. She is an educational consultant with specializations in nature-based education, supporting children and families with special needs, educational technology and behavioral support. She is also a writer, editorial team member, and curator of Wonder, the nature newsletter at Exchange Press, an Educational Specialist with Nature Explore, and a consultant to the World Forum for Early Care and Education.
Chris Pryor
Board Member
Retired, Eugene City Councilor
Chris has over 35 years experience in senior positions directing organizations and managing operations, budgeting, marketing and communication, research and data analysis, fundraising, community and economic development, and volunteer support. He has served 27 years in elected office, first on the Eugene School Board and then the Eugene City Council.
Claire Syrett
Board Member
Eugene City Councilor, Labor Union Representative
Claire Syrett serves on the Eugene City Council representing Ward 7 and is employed by the Oregon Nurses Association as the labor relations representative for nurses at Lane County PeaceHealth hospitals. A resident of Whiteaker, Claire and her husband, Davey, along with their dog, Archer, enjoy walking, playing disc golf, and birding in Eugene and Lane County parks.
Linda Wheatley
Board Member
Community Volunteer
Linda retired from the Springfield School District in 2001 where she taught English and ESL. After retiring, she worked for Pacific University as a student teacher supervisor until 2007. She recently co-chaired the Riverloop Connection project with her husband Steve. She spends her free time traveling, walking, hiking, and enjoying music, dance, and theater.
Ex-Officio Members
Craig Carnagey
Division Manager
Parks and Open Space, City of Eugene
Craig has been in public service for 18 years working as a landscape planner, urban forester, parks and facilities manager, and now as the Parks and Open Space Division Director for the City of Eugene. He is passionate about working to integrate nature into our city and believes parks and recreation are what help people to be healthy, build community, and protect our local environment.
Craig Smith
Division Manager
Recreation Services, City of Eugene
Craig Smith was raised in the national forests of the great Northwest and learned to love the maintains, lakes, rivers, and the coastal lands that are so accessible to us all. Craig earned his master’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Oregon in 1991, and applied those values and strategies to marginalized youth in the Eugene area, prior to joining the City of Eugene in 2001.