Staff & Board

Brandi Crawford Ferguson - Interim Executive Director

Brandi is a third-generation McKenzie resident, growing up on the lower river.  Coming from a logging family, her grandparents moved to Blue River in 1946.  Brandi worked in land conservation for the McKenzie River Trust for 14 years.  Prior, her work took her across the nation working closely with Chambers of Commerce and economic development corporations in mid-sized communities, helping to support tourism and economic development. Since the Holiday Farm Fire of 2020, Brandi has worked and volunteered alongside fire-affected community members and watershed partners to help replant and rebuild a resilient watershed and thriving community.  In her free time, Brandi enjoys exploring her home watershed, backpacking, photojournalism, kayaking and is learning to row her driftboat, so her husband can flyfish!

Braden Ravenscraft - Special Programs Manager, RARE AmeriCorps Member

Braden grew up in a small town in Arizona and moved to Oregon to attend the University of Oregon, where he recently graduated with his degree in Planning, Public Policy and Management. A lifelong love for the environment has led him to launch a career exploring how humans can adapt to a changing climate and world. He joined the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program to further explore those interests and help rural communities in his new home state. RARE is an 11-month service program run by the University of Oregon, and Braden is now in his second consecutive year of service working with MCLT. He is excited to be working with MCLT, as his career interests include climate adaptation, affordable housing, and land trusts. In his free time, Braden likes to spend time outside, hiking and camping, as well as playing sports and cheering on the Ducks. 

Lane Tompkins - Founding Board Member and President

Lane was raised in McKenzie Bridge and is a graduate of McKenzie Schools. He and his younger sister were raised by his mother in McKenzie Bridge. Growing up, securing affordable, quality housing was a challenge. He thrived in the supports the McKenzie community provided, experiencing many world expanding opportunities such as athletics, clubs and travel through the kindness of the parents of peers and the broader school community. Since his sophomore year of high school, he knew he wanted to work in education and help provide similar opportunities for all students, especially those from underrepresented groups. He graduated from the University of Oregon (B.A. History ‘04) and Eastern Oregon University (Master of Teacher Education ‘06) with his first teaching position taking him to the rural Union County town of Imbler in eastern Oregon. Lane returned to McKenzie and has worked as middle/high school social studies teacher, coach, Assistant Principal, Principal and eventually Superintendent. He and his wife Joan have three children and are former foster parents for adjudicated youth. 

Douglas Murkley - Founding Board Member and Vice President

Doug grew up near Rainbow, Oregon, graduated McKenzie High and became a licensed architect. He is a University of Oregon alumni, husband, and father of one special little girl. He has been active in fire recovery efforts supporting families and business owners in navigating the permit process. His interest in this project and others is the long standing viability of the McKenzie community, lending both his architectural and land use experience. He serves on the building committee of the McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group as well. Doug spends his time with his family remodeling their home, enjoying live music, engaging in local wine and beer tasting, and exploring new places.

Karl Morgenstern - Founding Board Member and Treasurer

Karl recently retired from the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) in Eugene, Oregon. Karl was the Watershed Restoration Program Manager for EWEB leading the response and recovery efforts to the devastation of the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire on the McKenzie Watershed, Eugene’s sole source of drinking water. He worked for EWEB for over 22 years managing the water quality team and drinking water source protection program. Prior to EWEB, Karl spent 10 years at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and seven years as an environmental consultant managing high priority cleanups at abandoned hazardous waste sites and responding to hazardous material spills.  He received a bachelors degree in geography from the University of Kansas. He also serves on the Board of the Upper Willamette Soil & Water Conservation District.

Melanie Stanley - Founding Board Member and Secretary

Melanie is a Blue River fixture operating Meyer's General Store in downtown Blue River for the past 20 years along with her twin sister Melissa Norlund. The Stanley family has a long tradition of service to the community. The Blue River Fire Station was named in honor of their mother Patrica "Pat" Stanley in recognition of her contributions to the district. Their father Ed, continues to volunteer for the Fire Department. Melanie continues the family tradition of being community oriented by serving on the boards of the Blue River Water District, Blue River Park District, Upper McKenzie Rural Fire Protection District and McKenzie Valley Locals Helping Locals. Following the Holiday Farm Fire, Melanie has provided support, organization and advocacy for survivors on many levels. During the evacuation phase, Melanie was a trusted communicator to those displaced to Eugene/Springfield area hotels liaising between survivors, the American Red Cross, Lane County as well as other supporting non-profits. During the recovery phase, Melanie supported clean up efforts of the properties of Blue River working with the Cascade Relief Team. She continues her work in recovery as a Disaster Case Manager assisting survivors in navigating and accessing resources to get back home.

Cliff Richardson - Founding Board Member, Executive Committee

Cliff is a life long resident of the McKenzie River Valley and proud graduate of McKenzie High School, Oregon State University & Pacific University. He and his wife Connie raised four sons in their home in Blue River. He has worked in many of the watersheds of Lane County and Western Oregon during his career in the timber industry. A second career brought him to the classroom teaching Science at McKenzie High School. He has mentored many youth in the valley, coaching baseball & basketball as well as through YCC summer work crews. Cliff sees the immense need for affordable, quality housing in our community to retain families. Many of those who grew up on the banks of the McKenzie can no longer afford to buy a home and give their children the same opportunities they had growing up. Cliff also serves on the board of directors for the McKenzie Valley Locals Helping Locals as well as the McKenzie Community Track and Field.

Darren Cross - Founding Board Member

Darren grew up with a love of the outdoors near Yosemite National Park. This love led him to study Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology at UC Davis. Darren is the District Ranger for the McKenzie River Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest.  Previously, Darren served in various roles within the Methow Valley, Detroit, Middle Fork and Mt. Adams Ranger Districts.  As District Ranger, Darren has seen a lack of affordable housing directly impact his Forest Service employees and sometimes open positions are unfilled.

Lacey Joy - Founding Board Member

Lacey is a third-generation McKenzie River resident living on the river for 35 years. She graduated from McKenzie High School, attended Johnson and Wales University (Providence, RI) receiving a degree in criminal justice and then University of Oregon, where she earned a bachelor’s in sociology. Lacey has been working as Special Programs Director for the McKenzie School District for 17 years. Lacey has two sons, with her eldest son graduating from McKenzie and now attending Oregon State University, and the youngest being in 5th grade at McKenzie. Lacey is involved in local non-profits, serving as the Treasurer for the McKenzie River Community School, the Treasurer for the McKenzie River Food Pantry, and Secretary of McKenzie River Locals Helping Locals and Chair of the McKenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group. In her free time, Lacey enjoys working in her yard, floating the McKenzie River and camping and hiking with her dog, Beau.

Robin Meacher - Board Member

Robin spent her childhood in a small rural community in northeast California, an area devastated by the Dixie Fire in 2021. Her roots there built a foundation for her interest in supporting communities in self-expression and renewal in the face of economic and landscape change. Currently, Robin works at the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board in a program providing resources to support the ongoing viability of farms and ranches across Oregon. Previously, she spent half a decade with McKenzie River Trust, focusing on conservation easement and fee title acquisitions. She has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara and holds a J.D from the University of Oregon School of Law. She remains a member of the Oregon State Bar and previously worked in land use and environmental law. Robin enjoys time spent in the woods or on the water, most often trying to stay upright atop a mountain bike, kayak, or headstrong horse. 

Kiger Plews - Founding Board Member

Kiger grew up on the McKenzie River and attended McKenzie High School. He received his Bachelors of Science in New Media Communications from Oregon State University and then switched gears and chased a dream career as a personal trainer. He has ran a personal training business based out of Vida for 8 years. He recently purchased property in Vida and is invested in and cares deeply about our local community and it’s future post-Holiday Farm Fire. In his spare time he loves lifting weights, spending time with family and friends, golfing, and has an affinity for 80`s rock and pop music. 

Austin Willhite - Founding Board Member

Austin was raised in and still resides in the McKenzie River area with his wife Kara and two small children. The opportunity to be a part of the MCLT is very exciting for him as housing is one of the biggest needs here on the McKenzie, making this the perfect opportunity to be a part of something helping this community.  He is a real estate broker at Willhite Real Estate and when not working he enjoys spending time with his family or doing anything outdoors.

Samantha Winningham - Founding Board Member

Samantha was born and raised in Blue River. She graduated from McKenzie High School and has been a member of the Upper McKenzie Rural Fire Department for 8+ years. She is passionate about bringing the community back after the fire and creating opportunities for families to live and call home. She personally has a love for this community and the river and has chosen to build her life here with her family, raising two kiddos and recently purchasing a home. Her roots here are deep and she wouldn't have it any other way. 

Jane Wilson - Board Member

Bio and photo coming soon!

Joel Zeni - Founding Board Member

Joel was born and raised in the McKenzie Valley and is the Fire Chief for the Upper McKenzie Rural Fire Protection District. After living throughout the state of Oregon, Joel and his wife Emilie have settled in Vida with their two children.  Joel also owns a construction company.