Board of Directors

Carter MacNichol is a long-time conservationist with deep ties to both Oregon and Idaho’s Stanley Basin. He has over 35 years of experience in real estate and development, and recently stepped down after 24 years as President and Managing Director of Shiels Obletz Johnsen, Inc., a Portland based project management and development consulting firm. Carter is active in the nonprofit community and currently serves on the boards for Western Rivers Conservancy, Oregon for Climate Action (Treasurer), Oregon Business for Climate (President) and Transition Projects. He was previously on the boards of The Nature Conservancy, Portland Community Land Trust, Children’s Museum, Oregon Zoo Foundation and the I Have a Dream Foundation. Carter earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Lewis & Clark College and a Master’s Degree in Management from Willamette University. He enjoys traveling with his wife and two grown children, with recent trips to Africa, Argentina and Chile. When in Oregon, he can think of nothing better than a day of fly fishing on the Deschutes River.

Eric Adema has been a lifelong fly fisherman, outdoorsman and conservationist. He currently resides in San Francisco, where he is a Principal and founding partner at Elevate Capital Partners, an investment and asset management firm focused on the commercial aviation industry. Prior to co-founding Elevate Capital Partners, Eric spent nearly 15 years with Vx Capital Partners, where he was a Principal and Executive Vice President. His earlier experience included roles with Ocean Power Corporation, Citigroup’s Corporate & Investment Bank in London, Paris and Norway, though his favorite job was serving as an Orvis-endorsed fly fishing guide in Jackson Hole, Idaho and New Mexico. He is currently a board member of the Henry’s Fork Foundation, an Ambassador for California Trout, a member of The Guardsmen, an amateur backcountry pilot, and Co-Founder of Lost Coast Outfitters fly shop in San Francisco. Eric holds a B.A. from St. Lawrence University, and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Bill Brown is a longtime supporter of river conservation and for two decades has been a friend and supporter of WRC. Bill served as President of Green Diamond Resource Company for seven years and as CFO of Plum Creek Timber Company prior to that. He brings invaluable business experience and industry knowledge to WRC. Under Bill’s leadership, Green Diamond’s California operations were certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, and Bill has extensive knowledge of working with conservation organizations to devise creative ways of protecting sensitive natural areas in forested landscapes.

Allen Damon joined Western Rivers Conservancy’s board of directors in 2021 after serving as an active volunteer on the organization’s Bay Area Advisory Committee for several years. Allen has pursued a career in investment management, has held senior wealth management positions with Goldman Sachs and UBS for several decades, and is currently CEO of D4 Capital. Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, Allen grew up on the islands before heading east to school where he received a BA in History and Economics from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Allen has a deep interest in the natural environment and has served on numerous not-for-profit boards including the San Francisco Asian Art Museum (where he chaired the investment committee), the San Francisco Boys & Girls Club, One Purpose School, and JustGive.org. He speaks French, travels extensively, plays tennis and golf, enjoys hiking and, whenever possible, spends time on the river with a fly rod in hand.

Ken Grossman is the founder, president and CEO of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Ken has a long history of community service and a strong interest in the environment. As owner of a large property on Big Chico Creek that includes the principal holding pool for chinook salmon, Ken is dedicated to the stewardship of river ecosystems. He is a Trustee of Sacramento River Partners and a strong supporter of numerous environmental groups. Ken studied chemistry and physics at Butte Community College and California State University at Chico.

Rich Hasslacher is a passionate angler and outdoorsman who is deeply committed to river conservation. Born and raised in rural Ireland, Rich moved to the US in 2010. He is currently Global Head of Alliances & Channels at OpenAI. Rich has over two decades of experience in the tech industry and brings a valuable perspective to communications and outreach efforts. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Commerce from Napier University in Edinburgh and completed executive education courses in Venture Capital and Product Management at UC Berkeley. Rich serves as the chair of WRC’s Bay Area Advisory Committee and in his free time, he enjoys fly fishing, mountaineering, cycling, skiing, playing guitar and cooking.

Lynn Loacker is a philanthropist, conservationist and longtime friend of Western Rivers Conservancy. She is an avid outdoorswoman, has a deep love of nature and is an ardent supporter of the arts and animal causes. She serves on the boards of numerous organizations in Portland, Oregon and beyond. Passionate about viticulture, Lynn and her late husband, Jack, were co-owners and partners of Adelsheim Vineyard in Newberg, Oregon for nearly two decades before becoming full owners in 2017. When she’s not tending to her Chehalem Mountain vineyards, Lynn likes to hike and hunt with “The Girls” (Elli, Oakley and Solo), her three golden retrievers.

Before stepping into the role of Interim President in mid-2024, Nelson served as Vice President of Western Rivers Conservancy and head of the lands team for five years. He developed a passion for all things rivers while working as a whitewater guide in the Sierra Foothills in the 1980’s. After a stint practicing law in California, Nelson followed his passion and went to work managing The Trust for Public Land’s river conservation efforts in the West. During his 27-year tenure with the organization, he worked to conserve more than 100,000 acres of land with recreational, historic and environmental significance. Nelson grew up in the foothill town of Placerville, California, and presently resides with his wife, Joanne, in Bend, Oregon, except when his college-age children grace them with their presence. He earned a B.A. in Economics from U.C. Davis and a law degree from U.C. Los Angeles. He is a member of the California Bar. Nelson continues to lead trips as a whitewater guide and serves on of the board of directors (and as former board chair) for the American River Touring Association (ARTA), a private, nonprofit rafting company. Nelson also serves on the board of trustees for the High Desert Museum in Bend and is an avid fly fisherman and skier.

Nan McKay provides consulting services to nonprofit organizations and foundations. She worked for six years for The Russell Family Foundation, guiding the design, implementation and evaluation of the foundation's environmental sustainability program. Prior to that, Nan worked for three Washington governors, serving as Chair of the Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team for seven years and Executive Director and Deputy Director of the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority for 10 years. She has served on non-profit boards and task forces focused on environmental protection, research and education, youth, libraries, sustainable development, community development, energy conservation, mental health and international relations.

A resident of Colorado, Jim Smith is a long-time conservationist with deep ties to the Pacific Northwest. He is a past chair of Great Outdoors Colorado and past chair of Colorado's chapter of The Nature Conservancy and has served on the boards of Point Serve, The Colorado National Bank, Critical Path, Stellar One, The Children’s Hospital and the Public Education Network. Jim has 28 years experience in the telecommunications and directory publishing industries. A river-lover through and through, Jim spent summers when he was growing up on Oregon’s Deschutes River, where his Grandfather ran the Warm Springs hatchery. He also has strong connection to the history of the North Umpqua, where his great grandparents homesteaded and operated the river’s first fish hatchery. Jim is an avid outdoorsman with a passion for fly fishing, sailing, skiing, golfing and biking.

Liam Thornton brings a rich knowledge of commercial and recreational real estate to Western Rivers Conservancy. Prior to his current role at Live Nation, Liam was a Principal at Trinity 3 Investment, Playa Associates and Thinkwell Development, and was a senior real estate investment and development executive at House of Blues Entertainment, Universal Studios, and Disney Development Company. Liam holds a Bachelor of Science from Santa Clara University’s School of Civil Engineering and a Master of Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology's School of Architecture and Planning (Center for Real Estate). An avid outdoorsman, Liam loves skiing, mountain biking and spending time on rivers enjoying his new-found love of fly fishing.

Bruce has more than 40 years of experience in banking and investment counseling. He received a Bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1991. Bruce recently retired from the Board of Trustees of the Arizona Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, which he served for 20 years. He served as Chairman from 2000 to 2003. An active member of St. Barnabas on the Desert Episcopal Church, Bruce has served on the Vestry and Finance Committee and is a past chairman of the Stewardship Committee. Finally, Bruce is a passionate fly fisher and casting instructor. He has Master Casting Instructor and Two-Handed Casting Instructor certifications, and currently serves as Chair of the Flyfishers International Casting Board of Governors. Bruce and his wife, Stephania, met at Vanderbilt, and they have been married for 44 years. They have two sons and two granddaughters.

Tim Wood served as Director of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department from 2004 to 2014 and as Assistant Director prior to that. As head of OPRD, he championed Western Rivers Conservancy’s efforts to create Cottonwood Canyon State Park. During his time at OPRD, Tim was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the park system, planning, engineering, natural resources and recreation programs, property management and identification and acquisition of new park properties. In 1996, Tim completed 24 years of active duty service with the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of colonel. Tim holds an undergraduate degree in Parks Administration from Ohio State University and a master’s in System Management from the University of Southern California.

Denise Wulfekuhle is a native Washingtonian and part-time Oregonian. She joined Western Rivers Conservancy’s board of directors in 2024 and has been a supporter of our work for many years. Having grown up near the Yakima River and on the John Day River, she has a deep connection with the rivers of the West. Denise worked in the retirement plan administration business and has served on the Board of Washington’s National Park Fund. She and her husband, Tim, live in West Seattle. In their free time, they enjoy hiking, gardening, cooking, and traveling. They are strong and active advocates for the purchase, protection, and preservation of public land and access.