Rika Ayotte (pronouns: she/her/hers) is the Deschutes Land Trust's Executive Director. She is responsible for managing and administering the work of the Land Trust, supervising staff, and overseeing the financial and operational performance of the organization. She lives and works from Terrebone and in our Bend office.
Rika was born and raised in Southern Oregon and has lived in Central Oregon since 2015. She holds a B.A. in history from the University of Washington and an M.A. in museum management and an MBA in nonprofit management from John F. Kennedy University. She serves on the Boards of The Children’s Forest of Central Oregon and the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation, and sits on the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund Commission. When she’s not working or volunteering, you will find her hiking and camping with her family and her dog and chasing after her energetic toddler.
Email: Rika Ayotte
Phone: (541) 330-0017
Email: Natasha Bellis
Phone: (541) 330-0017
Email: Pat Cohen
Phone: (541) 330-0017
Peter Cooper (pronouns: he/him/his) is the Deschutes Land Trust's Stewardship Associate. Peter assists with the management and monitoring of our protected lands, as well as helping implement restoration projects and engaging with the local community. He works and lives in Bend. Peter earned his B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon. After graduating, Peter worked as a seasonal restoration and stewardship associate for the Eugene-based McKenzie River Trust, where he helped with a wide variety of restoration projects. Peter has lived in Oregon his entire life and enjoys the variety of climates and landscapes that make this state so great. In his free time, you will find Peter exploring new places, backpacking, skiing, cooking, going to see live music, playing sports, and hanging out with his friends and family.
Email: Peter Cooper
Phone: (541) 330-0017
Prior to joining the Land Trust in 2004, Amanda worked as the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Central Oregon Environmental Center and as a naturalist for the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory. Amanda is a volunteer at the local Humane Society and at Westside Village Magnet School, and is involved with SOMA (Southern Oregon Monarch Advocates) and MACO (Monarch Advocates of Central Oregon). Amanda and her family spend their free time exploring Oregon's great outdoors and snorkeling tropical waters. (Photo by John Williams)
Email: Amanda Egertson
Phone: (541) 330-0017
Email: Jana Hemphill
Phone: (541) 330-0017
Email: Sarah Holcombe
Phone: (541) 330-0017
Gabriel has a decade's worth of experience in residential and agricultural land care. He also has an extensive background in the fly fishing industry and managed a local fly shop where he was able to engage the angling community in respectful resource use and cold-water habitat stewardship. Gabriel was born and raised in Bend and is grateful to have the opportunity to work alongside the Deschutes Land Trust to preserve the places he cherishes the most. During his free time, Gabriel enjoys playing the classical guitar, gardening, foraging, and spending time with his wife and rescue dogs.
Email: Gabriel Juarez
Phone: (541) 330-0017
Email: Katie McGee
Phone: (541) 330-0017
Sarah is an Oregon Master Naturalist and is a co-founder and on the leadership team of Central Oregon Womxn in Conservation. She has served as Faculty and on the program committee for national and regional Land Trust conferences, and has published articles in True North Magazine, Cascade Journal, Bend Magazine, Central Oregon Magazine, plus several local newspapers. Sarah volunteers or has volunteered for Central Oregon Womxn in Conservation, Westside Village Magnet School, Bend Parks and Recreation, Planned Parenthood, and the Technology Association of Oregon's STEAM committee. Sarah grew up in Portland, but spent most of her time trying to escape to Bend. When not working or volunteering, she enjoys being outside swimming, gardening, hiking, canoeing, or skiing with her family.
Email: Sarah Mowry
Phone: (541) 330-0017
Mo Odell (pronouns: they/them/theirs) is the Deschutes Land Trust’s Community Engagement Associate. They assist with Land Trust communications and provide support for Land Trust events. Mo began their work with the Land Trust in 2023. Before the Land Trust, they worked with various communications teams across the country, including in Wyoming, northern Idaho, and Baltimore. They have a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Outdoor Leadership from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. Mo can be found outside of the Land Trust backpacking, bike commuting, running, and paddle boarding.
Email: Mo Odell
Phone: (541) 330-0017
Allen Pfeiffer (pronouns: he/him/his) is the Deschutes Land Trust’s Volunteer Program Manager. He is responsible for recruiting, engaging, and supporting the Land Trust’s corps of volunteers. Allen lives and works in Bend. Allen has a B.S. in Natural Resources from Oregon State University and prior to joining the Land Trust, he worked with volunteers donating their time to end hunger in their community. In his spare time, you can find Allen hiking, kayaking, enjoying all kinds of music and pop culture, and adventuring with his wife and their two dogs.
Email: Allen Pfeiffer
Phone: (541) 330-0017
Michael Rubovits (pronouns: he/him/his) is the Deschutes Land Trust’s Operations Director. Michael is responsible for the overall operations and financial management of the Land Trust. He lives and works in Bend. Michael holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Reed College and an MBA in Sustainable Enterprise from Dominican University. Prior to joining the Land Trust, Michael worked and lived in Hawaii, Colorado, and California before coming home to Central Oregon. Most recently he was the CFO at Bronwen Jewelry, and has also served as Director of Finance at the League to Save Lake Tahoe. Michael is most happy and free in the open spaces of the high desert, on his skis or bike, and gets excited about planning the next adventure to a far-flung destination with his wife and daughter.
Email: Michael Rubovits
Phone: (541) 330-0017
Mike Vernon (pronouns: he/him/his) is the Deschutes Land Trust’s Conservation Manager, helping identify and complete land protection projects for the Land Trust. He graduated from Humboldt State University with an M.S. in Natural Resources in 2017. Prior to graduate school, Mike spent several years working as a field botanist with researchers at Oregon State University and the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station. For the last four and a half years, he has been working on youth education and restoration projects with the South Santiam Watershed Council. He has also contributed to applied forest management research with the Blue Mountains Forest Partners in eastern Oregon. In his free time, Mike can be found hiking, biking, and floating through the amazing landscapes of Central Oregon.
Email: Mike Vernon
Phone: (541) 330-0017
Email: Jen Zalewski
Phone: (541) 330-0017