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
The Willamette Falls & Landings Heritage Area Coalition is leading efforts to enhance, assist and promote the Heritage Area.
Our Vision
The Heritage Area is a source of pride and prosperity, where visitors and residents experience the places, stories and abundance of culture and history.
Supporting BIPOC
Willamette Falls and Landings Heritage Area Coalition is committed to incorporating the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the governance and operations of our organization. The Board derives much of its strength from the fact that its members are representative of our community: BIPOC, emigrants, women (make up the majority), and the LGBTQ+ community. No monetary contribution is required to be elected to the Board. But all must agree to give generously of their time, treasure, and talent.
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.
We promote equity and diversity because it is our belief we all grow stronger together when we understand our shared and unique heritage, respect 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 23-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 all six 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.)
Willamette Falls and Landings Heritage Area Coalition is committed to incorporating the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the governance and operations of our organization. We promote equity and diversity because it is our belief, we all grow stronger together when we understand our shared and unique heritage, respect our diverse traditions, cultures, and experiences.
Management and Operations
Jon Gustafson
President
Lake Oswego Resident, Former city council member, Business owner
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
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
Eric Underwood
Portland General Electric
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
National Heritage work takes time, talent and in-kind and financial support.
Our Sponsors
Thanks to the following for supporting our Heritage Area work.
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.