Jack Halsey, Executive Director

Jack Halsey (jack@oswegowatershed.org) joined Oswego Lake Watershed Council in September 2019 as the new Coordinator. His title now is Executive Director.  Jack grew up in Oregon and began working with watershed councils in 2013 as a Fish Passage Intern with the Johnson Creek Watershed Council. Jack received his Environmental Analysis degree from Pitzer College, with a focus on Environmental Science. He was a seasonal Park Ranger at Tryon Creek State Natural Area for two years, working to improve recreation opportunities, educate visitors, and restore degraded habitat. Jack served as a Confluence AmeriCorps Member from 2018 to 2019 with Johnson Creek Watershed Council as Outreach and Riparian Specialist. In that role, he planned and implemented riparian restoration projects, volunteer events, and environmental education for student groups from under-served communities.

In his role with Oswego Lake Watershed Council, Jack most enjoys managing restoration projects and ensuring access to natural resources for all who live, work, and recreate in the watershed  In his free time, Jack enjoys hiking, going to concerts, and making ceramic art.

Henry O’Dell: GIS Mapping Intern

Henry grew up in Gladstone, deeply connected to the natural beauty of the region, with two Oregon white oaks in his parents’ backyard that inspire his commitment to conservation.

He earned a degree in History and a minor in Geography from the University of Oregon before teaching abroad in Mexico City, Nanjing, and Bogotá. He also completed a Master’s in Education at Lewis & Clark College.

Currently pursuing a GIS certificate at Portland Community College, Aaron is eager to contribute his skills to OLWC. Outside of work, he volunteers with the Sunnyside Shower Project and enjoys hiking, backpacking, photography, and supporting local sports teams.

Thomas Bland, Director, Chair

Thomas Bland (tom@oswegowatershed.org is a Certified Public Accountant. He has extensive experience in financial operations, taxation, board relations, corporate governance, risk management, operational administration, treasury and human resources.

He is the Chief Operating Officer for Cascadia Green Building Council, a green building organization headquartered in Portland’s Pearl District. Tom is also president of Sequoia Financial Consulting, PC a Tax and Accounting firm. He has a BS from the University of California and an MS from the University of Arizona.

Tom has lived in Lake Oswego for 19 years. He is on the board of directors for Friends of Springbrook Park, the Uplands Neighborhood Association as well as being on the board of the Oswego Lake Watershed Council.

Susan Yesilada, Director, Treasurer, Secretary
(Village on the Lake Homeowners Association Representative)

Sue Yesilada has been living in Oregon since 1998 and is retired from a career in wealth management and financial planning. She has lived in California, the Midwest and overseas. She has a BA from the University of California, Berkeley and her MA from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She is currently on the board of the Village on the Lake Homeowners Association and been involved in the Friends of Lily Bay. Her love of nature is reflected in her pastimes of hiking, skiing, and swimming and her local commitment to addressing the impacts of climate change. She enjoys travel, learning languages, and spending time with family.

Mike Buck, Director

Michael Buck (mike@oswegowatershed.org) is a business person who has lived in Lake Oswego for over twenty-eight years. He has served on numerous community task forces and commissions including the Lake Grove Comprehensive Plan, the Lake Grove Village Center Plan, and Advisory Committee for further refinement studies on Boones Ferry Road. He chairs the Friends of Iron Mountain, local neighbors and citizens who actively work to restore native habitat to public park land. The City and his fellow citizens have acknowledged his service to the community through numerous citations including Unsung Hero Award.

Tom Berridge, Director (Westlake Homeowners Association Representative)

Tom Berridge has lived in Oregon since 1999 and is retired from a career in journalism. He is the liaison between the Oswego Lake Watershed Council and the Westlake Homeowners Association on the restoration of 17 acres of native Oregon oak woodland that belongs to the homeowners association. He also is the chair of the Westlake Oak Woodlands volunteer group. Tom has been drawn to nature since childhood and has been a backpacker, whitewater guide, canoeist, kayaker, and birdwatcher.

Patrick Gutierrez, Director (At-Large)

Patrick Gutierrez, a Bay Area native, has a deep-rooted passion for the environment and the arts. His commitment began with volunteering for park cleanups in Fremont in 1988. He earned a degree in Radio/Television and Film from San Jose State University and worked with the Golden State Warriors and San Jose SaberCats.

Patrick’s career spans publicity at McCann Worldgroup, film criticism with AJPJfilmreviews.com, and radio sales and marketing with Alpha Media. His dedication to the arts is reflected in his roles with the San Ramon Arts Foundation and the Arts Advisory Committee for the City of San Ramon.

After relocating to Lake Oswego, Oregon in 2022, Patrick joined the Arts Council of Lake Oswego and the Community Advisory Committee. He is currently a proud board member of the Oswego Lake Watershed Council, where he contributes to the health and sustainability of the Lake Oswego Watershed. In his free time, Patrick enjoys hiking, movies, reading, and playing basketball and pickleball.

Kaleb Simpson, Director

Kaleb Simpson (stewardship@lakeoswego.city) is the Natural Resource & Stewardship Coordinator for the City of Lake Oswego’s Parks and Recreation department. They graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and ecology in 2017 and worked in various roles around outdoor education and habitat restoration in Taiwan and several other states. 

In 2021 they started working for the City of Lake Oswego as a Natural Areas Park Specialist and quickly worked their way up into their current role where they can blend their two passions of ecology and environmental education. They are a board member for the Oregon Recreation and Parks Association Natural Resource Section. In their free time, Kaleb enjoys play competitive ultimate frisbee, bike packing, rock climbing, and watching the Thorns.

Billy Afghan, Director

Billy has over 30 years of experience in people development, leading organizational engagements worldwide. She was Managing Director of a global consulting firm for 13 years and became CEO of Genii Earth in 2020. Billy has built a global network of coaches and consultants specializing in leadership, culture, and human performance.

With experience across various industries and capital projects globally, Billy holds a BS in Organizational Psychology, an MBA in Management, and a certification in Climate Change Leadership from Cornell. She has taught leadership, culture, and ergonomic design at universities including Oregon State, University of Oregon, and the University of Texas. She is certified in Leadership Circle Profile 360 and the Enneagram, and trained at the School of Coaching in London. A lifelong learner, she is passionate about helping others grow.

Billy is also a Board Advisor for Bold Reuse, a platform focused on eliminating single-use waste, and a Moth Storytelling GrandSlam Champion. She enjoys reading non-fiction and publishes monthly reviews on pressing global issues.

Gabe Winfrey, Jurisdictional Partner Liaison: Lake Oswego Corporation

Gabe Winfrey (Gabe.winfrey@lakecorp.com) Is a natural resource planner and reservoir operator. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in urban and natural resource planning in 2008, and shortly after began working for the Lake Oswego Corporation as a seasonal operations crew member. He worked in this role while also completing a graduate degree in Geographical Information Systems from Portland State University. He became the Operations Manager for the Lake Oswego Corporation in 2013. He is a member of Oregon Lakes Association and the Western Aquatic Plant Management Association.

His experience in aquatics, riparian and natural area restoration has informed his work to improve habitat and restore function to the watershed. Gabe joined the Watershed Council in 2021 to represent the Lake Oswego Corporation as a stakeholder and apply his natural resource planning experiences to help coordinate other stakeholders and watershed restoration projects.