About Us

ABOUT US	History	What we do	Partners	District Map	Directors/Associates	Staff

Staff: Office, Technical, and Education & Outreach

Jennifer Ayotte District Manager
Jenny has been active in our local conservation community from a variety of perspectives - as a neighbor, a volunteer, and through her work in non-profit management. As District Manager she enjoys the challenges of running a small organization and works with the Benton SWCD Board and employees to maintain fiscal accountability; build a collaborative work environment; and provide programs that are responsive to local needs.

Jenny first became involved with Benton SWCD in 1989 through her involvement in wetland protection. She has served the SWCD as an Associate Director and Budget Committee Chair and worked in partnership with them in her previous job with Cascade Pacific RC&D. She has been District Manager since 2007. In her time off Jenny hikes our local trails and pursues various fiber arts.
Jennifer Floro Office Manager
Jen set aside her life as a singer in a rock-n-roll band to enter the glamorous world of office management and became Benton SWCD's office manager in 2000. When she isn't dabbling in QuickBooks, Jen enjoys floating down the rivers of Oregon. She knows where the best water holes can be found, but don't bother trying to pry that information out of her: her lips are sealed!
Donna Schmitz Resource Conservationist
When you are looking for assistance with an on-the ground restoration project, Donna can help you find it. Having worked for the District since 1999, Donna has become an expert in navigating the world of conservation grants. With years of experience in conservation planning, Donna is available to consult with Benton County residents interesting in improving their natural resource use efficiency.
Taber Burton Fish Passage Coordinator
Car salesman, landscaper, painter and parking lot attendant were interesting jobs, but in the end not quite right. Since 2007 Taber has enthusiastically lent his specialty of Geography and Mapping to various projects for the district.
Teresa Matteson Education and Outreach Director
With a passion for decomposition, Teresa has been composting at home and with her community for about a quarter century. Currently working on a soil quality project with Willamette Valley farmers, Teresa is the person to turn to when you have questions about soil management practices. She writes Benton SWCD's Horizons newsletter and participates at many community events from Kids Day for Conservation to OSU's Non-profit Career Fair. In her "spare time," Teresa is a lead volunteer for Willamette Riverkeeper's water quality monitoring program.
Heath Keirstead Education Coordinator
With a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont and a Master's in Soil Science from Oregon State University, Heath is able to share her knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural world with interested Benton County residents. At work, her specialties include volunteer coordination, youth education and grant management. Talk to Heath about Benton SWCD's Weed Spotters program if you are concerned about invasive species. She's also on the board of Oregon Green Schools Association, a statewide K-12 program devoted to involving youth in resource conservation.

Others

Tom Snyder Natural Resource Conservation Service, District Conservationist
Alice Fairfield Native Plant Sale Coordinator