Meet the Team

Vito’s introduction to the trails and saw world began in 2009, with a Student Conservation Association pilot program in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. A passion for stewardship has taken him to Rocky Mountain National Park, Biscayne National Park and the Sonoran Desert National Monument. In 2015, life and work brought Vito to the Mt. Hood National Forest. Here he has found a variety of opportunities and partnerships through the Forest Service, non-profits, and concessionaires. Keeping his saw tuned and eyes on the trails, he’s excited to join TKO.

Tamara Antunes is an Afro-Latina born and raised in southern Brazil. She began her leadership journey supporting grassroots education and faith-based initiatives that strengthened her community. The first in her family to attend college, she holds a degree in Business Administration and a Master’s in Social Work from Portland State University.

Tamara has advanced systems change and social justice through roles in direct services and public policy, with expertise in language access, immigration, anti-violence work, housing, and maternal health. Fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, she brings a multicultural, intersectional lens to building bridges across communities.

She co-founded The Brazilian Backpack Project and volunteers with Locos por Aventura. Tamara finds renewal in Oregon’s outdoors—mountaineering, climbing, gardening, or swimming in waterfalls.

Sam Getchell comes to TKO with 10+ years of trails experience; most of those years with the Forest Service. He began his trails career in 2014 swinging vintage axes with the hardy White Mountain NF trail crews. His summers were spent in Washington in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, the Frank Church in Idaho, and the Gravelly range in Montana. In 2021 he began work as the trails foreman for the Mt. Hood National Forest. There he began leading crews, managing trails projects, and teaching saw classes with TKO. Over the ensuing years he became the trail crew supervisor, leading to the skills and development that brings him to TKO today.

Working on trails is Sam’s passion, one that began at an early age building bike trail structures with his Dad in New Hampshire. Besides his love for working outdoors, the people are what kept Sam coming back to the woods each summer. When Sam isn’t pulling a saw, you can find him soaking in hot springs or sleeping in his camper on our wonderful public lands.

Jonah has worked as a non-profit fundraiser for over 13 years, bringing extensive experience in harnessing individual support, securing grant funding, and gathering corporate sponsorships for Oregon-based nonprofits. Jonah has built a growing portfolio of broad experience from leadership positions in development, marketing, and communications management at Tucker Maxon School (a school serving children who are deaf and hard of hearing) and Quest Center for Integrative Health. He recently came to TKO as the Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer at Reach Out and Read Northwest.

Born and raised in Oregon, Jonah spent a summer doing trail maintenance with the Northwest Youth Corps, which helped him further his love of the woods and foster a sense of community. Jonah is excited to join the team at TKO to combine his skillset as a fundraiser with his desire to support the stewardship of Oregon’s natural spaces.

Raised in Oregon, Josh cut his teeth on the woods of Mt. Hood and the waterfalls of the Columbia River Gorge. Starting as a Trailkeepers volunteer, his professional experience includes a season on a USFS Trail Crew in the Willamette National Forest, a season as the TKO Gorge FS Trails Intern, and spearheading volunteer stewardship on the southern reaches of the Oregon Coast. His passions include backcountry trail maintenance (crosscut saws, anyone?), recovering lost trails, and assisting in TKO’s exciting saw program.

Trevor grew up in New England and started his stewardship journey working for his hometown’s local conservation department. He received an Environmental Science degree from the University of North Carolina Wilmington before diving into the world of Wildland Fire. He fought fires across the United States and traveled the world during his off-seasons for many years. As a new addition to the TKO team, he looks forward to helping people from all walks of life enjoy their coastal forest resources.

Noelle grew up in Colorado, starting her stewardship journey volunteering for the local nature center and finding her passion for community engagement through working in the mailroom of her university. She received a BA in Organizational and Strategic Communication from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She further expanded her excitement for stewardship and community engagement by moving to Alaska to work at Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve where she built and developed their volunteer program. Noelle comes to TKO with an adventurous spirit, joy, and a dedication for serving her community and is thrilled to become a part of the central coast of Oregon.

Susan comes to TKO having been inspired to do trail work by her graduate training in ecological landscape design. Formerly an electrical engineer, her passions now center around trail design, conservation, and teaching. In her role as Stewardship Coordinator for the Portland Metro area, she works to lower barriers for participation by hosting events that are near transit, have a short hiking distance, last only half a day, and/or cater to historically excluded folks. She is also a driving force behind TKO’s educational programming.

Jessica Carrillo Alatorre brings more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience to the Trailkeepers of Oregon Board of Directors, along with a lifelong connection to Oregon’s landscapes. She grew up on the South Coast, where trails first connected her to the redwoods and the ocean and shaped her deep appreciation for public lands, stewardship, and community care.

An operations and organizational strategy leader, Jessica is the Founder & Principal of Intertidal Futures Collective, where she helps mission-driven organizations navigate change by strengthening systems, operations, and people-centered leadership. She previously served as Executive Director of OutGrown (formerly Hike it Baby), leading a national organization through strategic growth, rebranding, and operational transformation while supporting inclusive, volunteer-powered outdoor experiences at scale.

Jessica is passionate about trail stewardship, collaboration, and ensuring that trail systems reflect and serve the communities who care for them. She lives in Beaverton with her family, where time outdoors continues to ground her leadership, values, and commitment to caring for shared places.

Vicente S. Harrison is the Health, Safety, and Emergency Manager for the City of Portland Parks & Recreation and the bureau’s first full-time African American Park Ranger. He received the “Everyday Heroes” award from KATU News and a Unit Commendation from the Portland Police for his emergency management and public safety work.

Previously, Vicente was the Sales and Operations Manager for Coast Industries, one of Oregon’s oldest African American businesses. He also served as the Case Management Coordinator for the Vancouver School District #37’s Impacting Kids First Program, providing services to over 500 youth and being recognized as a “Hero” by Vancouver Schools in 2001.

A William Jennings Bryan High School graduate in Omaha, Vicente earned his bachelor’s degree from Concordia University in Portland (IS – Psychology). Inspired by a leadership class and his family, he wrote a children’s book, “My Nature Exploration,” to encourage outdoor activities among children, especially those of color. He also serves on the boards of the Trailkeepers of Oregon and the Human Access Project, which work for the protection of our state’s trails and rivers.

Vicente enjoys birding and hiking with his family. He lives in Portland with his wife, Rachel, and their children, Vicente II aka “Penny” and daughter Harper.

Born and raised in Germany, Laura moved to the US to attend university, and with the exception of a one year stint in Scotland, remained in this country. Most of her 20+ year career has been in the entertainment industry, primarily rights management, royalties, and accounting in the music and film business. In 2008 she moved to Oregon, and quickly started exploring the trails with the help of OregonHikers.org. Laura holds an active CPA license. In May of 2023 she changed industries and started a new position as Director of Accounting Operations for Kiva.org, a non-profit organization with a mission to expand financial access to marginalized and underserved communities. She has also served as the Chair of the Board for the Hollywood Theatre, previously Treasurer. Her hobbies include knitting, travel, hiking, appreciating architecture, design, and history.

Originally hailing from behind the Redwood Curtain on the north coast of California, Ginny Sorensen has called Oregon home for over 25 years. She joined her first TKO Trail Party in 2021 and went on that year to become a certified sawyer and an assistant crew leader. When not out on the trails hiking and cross-country skiing, Ginny’s career adventures have included work in organizational change management, coaching, and consulting. She also worked for a statewide non-profit for over a decade developing and managing education and food distribution programs in partnership with organizations around the state. Her favorite outdoor destination in Oregon is the Wallowas.

Born in Germany (military family), and raised in many places including Michigan, Texas, California, Bolivia, Maryland, and Germany, exploring the outdoors was always a passion and was certainly a factor in pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in geology. He conducted geological research in the western United States and in Antarctica and did private sector work in environmental geology in California. Scott spent the bulk of his career supporting scientific research at the National Science Foundation – mainly in the geosciences. He’s a Registered Geologist in both Oregon and California.

Since retiring to Oregon’s North Coast, he serves occasionally on advisory panels for NSF research proposals or other activities related to the US Antarctic Program. He volunteers at the North Coast Land Conservancy and continues to explore the plethora of natural areas in the western US and the Pacific NW in particular.

Martha grew up hiking the Okanogan highlands of Washington State. She moved to Oregon in 1999 for college and in the ensuing years has visited every county in Oregon. She has spent her career in higher education, working with alumni and other supporters. In her free hours, Martha walks, hikes and snaps photos of the world’s wonders. She regularly shares the trail with her partner and two kids, collecting many happy memories of marveling at waterfalls, mountain peaks, trees, rocks, petroglyphs, flowers, birds and bugs. Her appreciation for trails and nature brings her to the TKO Board.

Karrie is an outdoor enthusiast, conservationist and self-proclaimed science nerd. Her love of nature has taken her to all seven continents and fuels her passion for protecting public lands. After more than a decade in ocean science, she moved to Oregon in 2015 to work in the clean energy sector. In her free time, Karrie shares her love of trails with women through hiking, backpacking and volunteer events with the women’s empowerment organization Women Who Explore. As an ambassador with Women Who Explore, Karrie has helped coordinate all-women trail parties with TKO for years. Karrie is also a registered yoga teacher who believes in the healing power of nature. When she’s not working or hiking, she enjoys time with her family and two Australian Shepherds.

Born and raised in Oregon, Robert developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors early on—whether backpacking, mountain biking, disc golfing, or playing pickleball. His travels have taken him to eight European countries, as well as Mexico, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, plus 38 U.S. states. He holds a degree in Environmental Politics and Policy from Oregon State University, reflecting his commitment to responsible stewardship of natural spaces. Robert currently lives near Salem with his wife and their two dogs. As a Board member of Trailkeepers of Oregon, he is excited to help protect and enhance the trails that inspire his love for adventure.

Mouna Jbali (she/her) is the Director for Unite Oregon’s Washington County Chapter. Fluent in English, Arabic, and French, she brings a global perspective shaped by moving to the U.S. over 20 years ago as an international student from Tunisia and working with diverse communities in the US, Tunisia and Canada for over a decade. Mouna has a deep commitment to equity, cultural connection, and community empowerment, with experience spanning program management, coalition-building, and leadership development across government and community-based organizations. She also serves as an Advisory Council member at the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO). Mouna’s work is rooted in listening and creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels they belong. She values access to nature as a tool for healing and cross-cultural connection and enjoys hiking with family and community.

Tom is a founding member and past board president of TKO. He has served in a variety of other board positions over the years in helping get TKO established. Tom grew up in Oregon and has been hiking since he learned to walk, thanks to an outdoors-oriented family life. He’s passionate about giving today’s young families the same amazing experiences he had growing up.

Tiffany Meyer is a marketing communications executive with more than 25 years empowering growth and financial resilience of changemakers across all corners of the social sector, including climate mitigation, conservation, community development, education, and public health. Most recently, she founded Numa Strategy Partners where she now helps nonprofit marcom teams unlock breakthrough capacity and mission-fueling results—without burning out. A proud NOLS alum (2008 Yukon Backpacking) and former mountaineer, she’s still an avid hiker, sometimes backpacker, and all-the-time advocate of protecting and maintaining our wild places for future generations. She lives in Vancouver, WA.

Russ started doing trail work in 1972 on the trail crew in Acadia National Park, later finishing his Masters in Forest Recreation Management. Russ became the Forest Service trails & recreation program manager in the Wind River valley in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, building an active volunteer trail maintenance program that worked in tandem with the USFS trail crew he supervised. He spent 20 years as a program staff member or executive director of environmental organizations including 5 years with Bark in Portland. He was a founding board member of an all-volunteer group that successfully advocated to get the Oregon legislature to increase public school funding statewide. Russ became a TKO volunteer in late 2017 and was an assistant crew leader for trail parties in the Eagle Creek fire area and Coast Range. You can often find him in the forest, hiking or cross-country skiing, doing trail maintenance or gardening.