Who we are

Staff

Rob Zako

Executive Director

Rob Zako has been working for the last twenty-five years on transportation, land use, and climate change issues. He is…

Claire Roth

Program Manager

Claire began her position as Safe Streets Coordinator in September 2018, coordinating BEST’s advocacy efforts to enhance walking and biking…

Interns

Rosemary Betros

Policy Analysis Intern

Rosemary is a second-year master’s student in Community and Regional Planning at the University of Oregon. She bought her first…

Caitlin Donnelly

Policy Analysis Intern

Caitlin (she/her/hers) is finishing up her second and final year as a Master’s of Community and Regional Planning student at…

Clara Kaplan

Graphics Intern

Clara (She/Her/Hers) is a junior at the University of Oregon studying Sociology, Public Policy, and Comic and Cartoon Studies. Her…

Evan Lacey

Better Streets Intern

Evan is currently a senior at the University of Oregon, where he is studying Marketing as well as City Planning,…

Carolina Stewart

Development Intern

Carolina began working for BEST in 2023. She is a Master’s of Nonprofit Management student at the University of Oregon,…

Board of Directors

Marianne Nolte

President

Marianne is a former BEST employee, and now works in Lane County’s land management department. She holds a masters degree…

Mike Eyster

Vice-President

Mike has served on and chaired multiple local and regional boards such as Lane Transit District, Springfield Area Chamber of…

Jennifer Hayward

Secretary

Jennifer has worked at Lane Community College for 23 years holding positions including Recycling Coordinator and Sustainability Coordinator.  Her current position…

Rachel McCoy

Treasurer

Rachel has been a happy Eugene resident for the last 18 years by way of Massachusetts, Montana, and a brief…

Steve Bade

Steve is a 15-plus-year resident of Eugene, and to try “to be the world you want to see” served two…

Michael DeLuise

Now retired, Mike served as chair of the Downtown Neighborhood Association and was a member of the Eugene Active Transportation…

Tiffany Edwards

Tiffany Edwards is currently the Vice President of Policy & Community Development for the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. From…

Betsy Hunter

Betsy Hunter has a lengthy background in real estate development that promotes housing affordability and economic development.  She has directed…

Annie Price

Annie is a second-year master’s student in Community and Regional Planning at the University of Oregon. She began with the…

Board of Advisors

Jon Belcher

Julie Daniel

Lisa Fragala

David Funk

Mark Furman

Gerry Gaydos

George Grier

Kaarin Knudson

Sarah Mazze

Terry Parker

Bob Passaro

Brittany Quick-Warner

Shane Rhodes

Matt Roberts

Brett Rowlett

Seth Sadofsky

Marc Schlossberg

Laura Sedwick

Joshua Skov

Carmel Snyder

Claire Syrett

Fred Tepfer

Kari Turner

Jenny Ulum

Sue Wolling