ADVISORY BOARD

Karen Strohmeyer, Executive Director Cascade Pacific Resource Conservation and Development, Inc.

Karen Strohmeyer is an innovative thinker and visionary. She has a passion for promoting local food systems and protecting rural jobs in Oregon. She started Cascade Pacific RC&D (CPRCD) Inc, a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 1989. Through the nonprofit, she has spearheaded projects ranging from downtown revitalization and a new boat dock for Mapleton, to designing and implementing the largest stream bank and habitat river restoration project ever attempted on the Willamette River. Karen has assisted in the formation of six watershed councils in the CPRCD area. She also started the successful Local Food Connection, now in its third year. This direct marketing event held at Lane Community College, brings farmers and ranchers together with chefs, schools, grocers, hospitals and other food buyers for potential business opportunities. Among CPRC&D’s many successful collaborative projects is the Oregon Country Trails, the nation’s first rural association Web site and online shopping cart. The project has been adopted statewide by Travel Oregon and will promote rural Oregon businesses.

Karen has a degree in Soil Science from Oregon State University, and has a strong background in natural resource protection, working with farmers and ranchers to improve production while protecting the soil, water, plants and animals. She hopes to bring her expertise and experience to the table to help launch a "new" truffle industry in Oregon.

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