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…