We are area governments, businesses, heritage advocates, tribes and private citizens.
The Willamette Falls & Landings Heritage Area Coalition formed in 2006. It is a partnership of public, private and nonprofit organizations with a shared passion for the 56-river-mile heritage area: its rich heritage, natural beauty, agriculture and recreational opportunities. We are working collaboratively to see it established as a National Heritage Area.
Our Mission
Leading efforts to enhance, assist and promote the Heritage Area.
Our Vision
The Heritage Area is a region of profound change and opportunity, where visitors and residents can discover and experience the diverse places, stories and abundance of its rich culture and history.
Our Heritage Area
A unique region with a diverse record of historical cultures, discoveries and settlement since time immemorial. We strive to ensure that our board reflects the diversity of the Heritage Area, and that we partner with a wide range of organizations to increase awareness and education of the region’s broad and complex history, including neglected and untold stories. Unearthing this history and seeking to discover and tell all stories is core to our work. We believe that promoting diversity and equity helps us share a true and more complete history. Our goal is to grow stronger together through understanding our shared and unique heritage, and respecting our diverse traditions, cultures, and experiences.
About Our Organization
The Willamette Falls and Landings Heritage Area Coalition is a federally designated not-for-profit organization, with a 24-member board of directors representing key stakeholders and experienced professionals in government, business, industry, tourism, arts, heritage, historic preservation, and others. The WFLHAC Board includes representatives from seven governments operating within the boundary (Metro, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Clackamas County, and the cities of Oregon City, Lake Oswego, West Linn, and Willsonville.)
While there is no monetary contribution required to be on the board, the Coalition has been favored with substantial financial support by a few entities who have championed the Coalition’s vision and mission and provided the bulk of its funding base. That amount of financial support entitles them to select their own representative to be a member on the Board. Those members are also held to the expectation of time, treasure, and talent, as well as the shared commitment to equity and inclusion.
Management and Operations
Jon Gustafson
President
Lake Oswego Resident, Former city council member, Business owner
Andy Cotugno
Vice President
Former Metro staff, Locks Commission Appointee
Jon A George
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Tribal Council member, Tribal Council Secretary
Jody Carson
Treasurer
West Linn, former City Council Member
Jim Mattis
Immediate Past President
West Linn, Retired Attorney
Russ Axelrod
Immediate Past Mayor of West Linn
Martha Schrader
Clackamas County Commissioner
Charlotte Lehan
Secretary
City of Willsonville
Britta Mansfield
Executive Director
Newberg
Shannon Powers
Executive Assistant
Board of Directors
Yvonne Addington
The Ice Age Floods Institute
Danielle Cowan
Former Executive Director, Clackamas Co. Tourism & Cultural Affairs
Dan Klug
Interpretive Ranger at Champoeg State Heritage Park
Greg Leo
Friends of Historic Butteville/Champoeg State Heritage Area /Advocate
Christine Lewis
Metro
Jackie Manz
City of Lake Oswego
Denyse McGriff
City of Oregon City
Claire Met
Small Business Owner
Alice Norris – Founding President
Former Mayor of Oregon City, CCC Board, Willamette Falls Legacy Project
Samara Phelps
Executive Director, Clackamas Co. Tourism & Cultural Affairs
Mini Sharma Ogle
Portland General Electric
Rachel Thomas
George Fox University/ Newberg Area Historical Society
Eric Underwood
Portland General Electric
Jules Walters
Mayor, City of West Linn
Mike Watters
President, Friends of the McLean House
Ben Williams
Friends of French Prairie
Gail Yazzolino
Executive Director, End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
Our Partners
Thank you to the following governments and business for their financial support.
Our Sponsors
Thanks to the following sponsors for supporting our Heritage Area work with in kind and cash donations
Become a
Sponsor
It takes time, talent and treasure to lead the effort to become a National Heritage Area. We need community support and your donations to make sure our collaborative efforts reach and convince Congress and the National Park Service to designate us as a National Heritage Area.