Staff
Kelley Beamer Executive Director
Kelley Beamer serves as the Executive Director at the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts, and has more than nine years experience developing strategic advocacy campaigns to advance land conservation. Prior to joining the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts, Kelley served as the Advocacy and Outreach Manager for the Cascadia Green Building Council, where she implemented stated wide public awareness and advocacy campaigns, and managed a branch network in Portland, Bend, Klamath Falls, and Eugene. Kelley began her conservation work in Oregon in 2006 as the Conservation Organizer for Friends of Columbia Gorge, where she organized public support for protecting the unique values of the Gorge and advocated for Land and Water Conservation funds to support the US Forest Service land acquisition program in the Gorge.
Kelley’s extensive experience forging partnerships with diverse communities earned her recognition as one of Oregon’s “35 Innovators Under 35” by 1,000 Friends of Oregon. Prior to coming to Oregon, Kelley worked as a Policy Assistant for the Wildlife Refuge Program of the Wilderness Society in Washington, D.C. where she helped secure more funding for the national wildlife refuge system. Kelley has an effective history of working on local and national conservation campaigns and a lifelong passion for place-based advocacy. In her free time, you will find Kelley fly fishing or hiking with her husband Paul and their dog Lucy.
Kelley holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame and a Masters of Arts in Environmental Policy from American University, School for International Service.
JEN NEWLIN Communications Director
Jen Newlin serves as COLT’s Communications Director. Before joining our team, she was a director of creative strategy for Metropolitan Group—a strategic consulting firm—supporting the company’s environmental focus area. Her clients included NASA’s Earth Science Division, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Save the Redwoods League and Audubon Society of Portland. Previously, she worked as a senior storyteller for a content strategy firm and, before that, spent seven years as a creative manager with The Nature Conservancy.
Jen found her career in conservation when working for The Cheetah Conservation Fund (yes, ask her about the cats) after serving in the Peace Corps. Now she volunteers for The Circus Project—connecting homeless and at-risk youth to circus arts—and she’s a board member of CLAWS, a nonprofit working to integrate the needs of predators and local livelihoods worldwide. She and her partner, Ken, are often found exploring the wilds of Oregon. (They tried, but their cat refuses to join them as an adventure pet.)
MIKE RUNNING Administrative Coordinator
Mike Running serves as the part-time Administrative Coordinator for COLT (among other duties). From 2014-2018, he was our Communications and Outreach Manager before beginning a graduate program at Portland State University in counseling in the Fall of 2017. Mike graduated from the University of Oregon with a BS in Political Science in 1999, then a Master’s in Community and Regional Planning in 2002 also from U of O. He began working for the McKenzie River Trust, a local land trust based in Eugene, in October of 2000. He eventually became the Managing Director, helping to expand the scope and mission of the organization into all of Lane and Douglas Counties.
In 2005 Mike become a Buddhist monk, living in monasteries in California, Missouri, and Taiwan, where he studied Chinese intensely. After spending many months in reflection, in December 2013 Mike decided to leave monastic life and return to his home state of Oregon. He currently lives in NE Portland with his wife, stepson, and aging cat. He enjoys (nearly) all things Oregon, loves every kind of rain, commutes by bike, and appreciates sincerity.
Hugh Morrison Strategic Advisor/Volunteer
Hugh Morrison is a long-term volunteer at COLT, dedicating time every week to aiding with projects from outreach events to operations to environmental policy. Hugh has undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Environmental Studies, and a Masters in Public Administration—Natural Resource Management all from the University of Washington. In addition to work at COLT, Hugh is the part-time Network Coordinator for Oregon Outdoors, focused on advocacy for outdoor recreation and the associated industry. Prior to entering non-profit work, he spent 19 years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including time in Washington, D.C., Denver, and Portland.
A sixth-generation Oregonian, Hugh was born in Astoria and raised in Eugene. He developed his connection to place and commitment to conservation in the coastal rain forests near Arch Cape (including North Coast Land Conservancy’s Rainforest Reserve project). Outside of work, Hugh spends his time enjoying the wonders of Oregon with his wife, Jenny, and daughters, Olivia and Ella.
NANCY Duhnkrack Pro Bono Program Manager/Volunteer
Nancy Duhnkrack is a long-term volunteer at COLT, managing our pro bono program. She's a 1985 graduate of Northwestern School of Law, Lewis and Clark College.
She retired in 2014 as Staff Attorney/Law Clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit after 20 years at the Court. She was an Adjunct Professor at the law school from 1990-2010 and is a frequent speaker on conservation easement design and enforcement. Nancy coordinates our pro bono program and provides pro bono
legal advice to COLT and our members.
Jacqueline O'Keefe Legal Extern
Jacqueline O’Keefe currently attends Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon, pursuing a degree in environmental law. Jacqueline grew up in Winthrop, Washington, where she developed a love for the wilds while hiking, riding horses, and skiing with her family and friends. Jacqueline first became motivated to pursue a law degree while working at a land trust in her hometown, as well as during her five summers working as a wildland firefighter, where she realized the impacts law and policy have on the lands she loves. Jacqueline is very excited to become a member of the COLT team and assisting our pro bono program.
Partners
If our name wasn’t evidence enough, we’re big believers in the power of partnership.
The work of conservation in Oregon could not be done without a greater community of passionate individuals and organizations who care deeply about our natural world, our culture, our history and our future.
Sincere thank you to these core partner organizations for all you do to help people and nature thrive.
- Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon
- Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs
- Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Oregon Department of Agriculture
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Oregon Department of Forestry
- Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board
- USDA US Forest Service