Who We Are

	Greg Dyson, Executive Director.  Greg is formerly the Ecosystem Defense Coordinator for HCPC, holding that position for 2 years, from 2003 to 2005.  All told, he has 15 years experience advocating for forests and wildlife.  He is founder and former Executive Director (and Campaign Director, Staff Attorney, Development Director and Volunteer Coordinator) of the non-profit forest advocacy group Bark, in Portland, OR.  He has traveled much of the Hells Canyon, Wallowas and Blue Mountains area on foot, mountain bike, skis and snowshoes.  He holds a J.D. from the University of Cincinnati and a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from Indiana University, and is an active member of the Oregon Bar. greg at hellscanyon dot org
	Brian Kelly, Restoration Coordinator.  Brian received a B.S. from Cornell University where he studied Plant Sciences and Forestry.  He was the Urban Forestry Consultant for the City of La Grande from 1996 to 2005.  During that time Brian was the liaison to the Landscape and Forestry Commission, found volunteers for urban forestry activities, spoke extensively about urban forestry, and was responsible for planting over one thousand new landscape trees.  Brian established close relationships with people in the city of La Grande and developed a positive approach to resolving problems in this closely knit community.  He has won awards for his work from the National Arbor Day Foundation, Oregon Community Trees and Oregon Department of Forestry.  Brian is a Certified Arborist. brian at hellscanyon dot org
	Jennifer Schwartz, Staff Attorney/Campaign Director.  Jennifer has been committed to protecting public lands and wildlife for the past twelve years. Her commitment stems from growing up exploring the desert and mountains of southern Arizona. She received a B.A. in Politics from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School, with a certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law. She is a member of both the Oregon and Washington Bar Associations. Although, Jennifer enjoyed her four years spent in Portland and getting to know the Cascades, she is thrilled to make drier NE Oregon her new home and to continue recreating in this region’s amazing wildlands. jennifer at hellscanyon dot org
	Renee Tkach, Development Outreach Coordinator. Renee comes to HCPC with a great knowledge and passion of the Hells Canyon areas. She spent four years as a whitewater river guide in Hells Canyon and the Salmon River, connecting people to the beauty and inspiring a deep love for this world class area. Recently, Renee worked for Friends of the Columbia Gorge as their Outdoor Programs Director, coordinating recreation opportunities and outreach programs. Her love for Hells Canyon and surrounding areas has brought  her back to be a part of the HCPC team. renee at hellscanyon dot org
	Danae Yurgel, Office Administrator.  Northeast Oregon is Danae's home.  She lives on the breaks between the Grande Ronde and Minam/Wallowa canyons, and her life is creating partnerships between the land and the people here.  She is seriously thrilled to be part of HCPC after decades of working with various non-profits and cooperatives. danae at hellscanyon dot org
	David Mildrexler, Ecosystem Protection Coordinator. After completing a M.S. in Forest Science at the University of Montana’s College of Forestry and Conservation and exploring the Northern Rockies, David was thrilled to settle in the Wallowa Mountains of northeast Oregon. David is equally thrilled to now be working with the Hells Canyon Preservation Council, the only organization working towards a protective and restorative management approach that is worthy of the incredible Hells Canyon - Wallowa and Blue Mountains Ecosystems. David’s interest in public lands advocacy stems from his childhood explorations of Oregon’s National and State Forests. He has strived to ensure that sound, science-based practices are incorporated into public lands management across the Pacific Northwest and beyond for over a decade and is excited to focus on the incredible wildlands and ecosystems that HCPC monitors. david at hellscanyon dot org