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Our Coalition

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 Willamette Falls & Landings Heritage Area is a region where residents and visitors experience the places, stories and abundance of 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. 

Who We Are

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

Russ Axelrod
President

Immediate Past Mayor of West Linn

Christine Lewis
Vice President

Metro

Victoria Meinig
Treasurer

CEO/Economic Development Officer, Oregon City Chamber of Commerce

Jim Mattis
Immediate Past President

Willamette Falls Heritage Foundation

Jody Carson
Secretary

West Linn, former City Council Member

Jon A George

Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Tribal Council Member, Tribal Council Secretary

Kenny Gunn

PGE Cultural Resources Lead

Samara Phelps 

Executive Director, Clackamas County Tourism

Britta Mansfield
Executive Director

Newberg
Brooklyn Robinson; a white woman in a checkered shirt on a brown leather couch in front of a window

Brooklyn Robinson

Executive Assistant

Board of Directors

Yvonne Addington
The Ice Age Floods Institute

Danielle Cowan
Former Executive Director, Clackamas Co. Tourism & Cultural Affairs

Greg Leo
Friends of Historic Butteville/Champoeg State Heritage Area /Advocate

Christine Lewis
Metro

Andy Cotugno

Former Metro City Planner

Katie Dunwell

City Council Member, Wilsonville

Jeff Gudman

Former Lake Oswego City Councilor, Lake Oswego Heritage Council

Jennifer Burns

Old Aurora Colony Museum Director

Eric Underwood

City Manager, Donald

Rachel Verdick

Council Member, Lake Oswego

Martha Schrader
Clackamas County Commissioner 

Kenny Gunn
Portland General Electric

Mary Baumgartner
Council Member, City of West Linn

Ruth Offer

Old Oregon Volunteer, Willamette Main Street Board Member

Jason Padden

Council Member, Canby

Katie McFall

Taste Newburg, Deputy Director

Stephen Greenwood

Executive Director, Museum of the Oregon Territory, Clackamas County Historical Society, Stevens-Crawford House

Doug Sam

Our Partners & Sponsors

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.


Make a
Donation

We've achieved state heritage area status. But gaining national recognition from Congress and the National Park Service requires hard work, persistence and a constant outreach and contact. That takes resources in time and money. Your gift counts! Please donate to help us continue our efforts.

Make a Donation ›

Contact

Email info@wfheritage.org

Phone 503-419-6340

Mailing Address
PO Box 387
Marylhurst, Oregon 97036

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