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…
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,…
Sydney Shirazi
Better Streets Intern
Sydney (she/her/hers) is a senior at the University of Oregon studying city planning, policy, and nonprofit management. She has experience…
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,…
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…
Bob Passaro
Secretary
Bob is co-owner of a web development and design agency based in downtown Eugene. He had been a newspaper reporter…
Rachel McCoy
Treasurer
Rachel has been a happy Eugene resident for the last 18 years by way of Massachusetts, Montana, and a brief…
Laura Potter
Past President
Laura is a residential real estate broker working with buyers, sellers, and investors. Before moving into residential real estate as…
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…
Lisa Fragala
Lisa Fragala worked for over 25 years as an K-2 elementary educator, primarily in Eugene 4J Schools. During this time…
Jennifer Hayward
Jennifer has worked at Lane Community College for 23 years holding positions including Recycling Coordinator and Sustainability Coordinator. Her current position…