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Zeth Owen

President

Zeth is a native Oregonian with a true affinity for the natural world and a love for the Pacific Northwest.  He works as the Director of Community Relations for a senior housing company as well as owning a rain gear company called Lifestyle Northwest. Zeth was attracted to the Corvallis Environmental Center and decided to get involved  after seeing the positive impact that the local organization has towards making a healthier community and a more sustainable future.

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Jordan Beamer

Vice President

Jordan grew up in Central Oregon spending most of his time outside working or playing around water. Once an appreciation was developed for the environmental and natural resources, he pursued a career in water resources and now works as a Hydrologist for the State of Oregon. He has lived in Corvallis since 2011, and enjoys spending time with his family, raising two young kids, along with two dogs. His interest in joining CEC stems from a passion to make a positive impact on the local community, provide environmental education to youth, raise environmental awareness and address social justice issues.

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William Simonson

Secretary

William Simonson, who goes by “Si,” originally came to Corvallis in 1974 to join the College of Pharmacy as faculty. After moving to the East Coast for some time, Si has recently returned to Oregon to teach part time at Oregon State University. Professionally, he specializes in senior care pharmacy.  These days, he also spends much of his time and energy on the newly established “Oak Creek Conservancy,” which is just north of Bald Hill in Corvallis where he lives and is also working to restore an oak woodland.  

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Matt Samples

Board Member

Matt is a native Oregonian, originally from The Dalles. After a collegiate sojourn, he returned for law school at the University of Oregon in Eugene. He enjoyed living in this part of the state but after graduating his legal career and life took him across the Country and internationally to Asia and the Middle East. However, his heart always was in Oregon. Eventually, he and his wife had an opportunity to return to the Willamette Valley and they seized the chance to set down roots. Matt can now be found at his small hobby farm tending to a fruit orchard and vegetable garden. He also enjoys hiking, bird-watching, taiko-drumming, traveling, and playing board games. Matt is very excited to help his community as a member of the Board of Directors of CEC. 

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Kim Townsend

Board Member

Kim is currently an instructor and research assistant in the Department of Crop and Soil Science and the Sustainability Double Degree Program at Oregon State University. Kim’s teaching experience includes SUS 350 Sustainable Communities, environmental science and soil related classes and labs both on campus and online. Kim grew up in the Hudson Valley and Adirondacks of New York state, where she cultivated a love of the natural world. She attended Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, earning a degree in History of Science and studying feeding habits of detritivores. She earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Science at Oregon State University examining soil carbon stabilization as affected by detrital manipulation.  In her spare time, Kim enjoys taking advantage of the amazing recreational opportunities that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. She especially enjoys backpacking, climbing Cascade peaks, and biking.

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Chris Anderson

Board Member

Chris joins the Board with professional experience as a Dining Services manager at Oregon State
University. There he has worked to implement several sustainably-focused initiatives and knows the
interconnected nature of food, community, and education. Father to two 509j students, Chris is eager
to help the good works of the Corvallis Environmental Center. He spends his recreational time exploring
Oregon’s waterways and mountains, disc golfing, and generally being outside. Growing up in Bend and
rural California, Chris has lived in Corvallis since coming to Oregon State University in 2001 to pursue
undergraduate degrees in History and Education.

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