Board of Directors 

CATHY TOTORICI | SHE/ HERS

Cathy Tortorici has devoted her career to ecosystem conservation.  As Division Chief for the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Interagency Cooperation Division at NOAA Fisheries, Cathy oversaw consultations related to habitat/ water quality impacts, oil/ gas/ wind energy development, and other critical projects. Prior to that Cathy served as a Branch Chief at NOAA Fisheries implementing ESA section 7 in the Southeast Regional office of NOAA Fisheries covering nearly 20,000 miles of tidal coastline throughout the South Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean. Earlier in her career, Cathy also led the Oregon Coast/ Columbia River Branch of NOAA Fisheries implementing policy, technical, regulatory and research actions related to the ESA and Magnuson-Stevens Act (essential fish habitat). Prior to her tenure with NOAA Fisheries, Cathy worked for the Environmental Protection Agency (Region VII) as their Missouri River Coordinator on water resource/Big River issues, as well as their TMDL Coordinator, Wetlands Enforcement Coordinator, and as a Senior Reviewer of Environmental Impact Statements (National Environmental Policy Act). Cathy served on Willamette Riverkeeper’s Board of Directors during its early formative years and return to the board when she returned from Washington DC to Oregon a year ago. Cathy brings an incredible breath and depth of knowledge to Willamette Riverkeeper as she takes the reigns as Willamette Riverkeepers Board President.

jessie rohrig | she/her | secretary

Jessie has been playing in the rivers and forests of Oregon her whole life and uses the expanse of the trees and the night sky to recharge and refocus.  She is a pod leader for Paddle Oregon and supports other WR adventures, especially,especially during summer. For the rest of the year. Jessie is a middle school science teacher.

As a teacher, she hopes to cultivate a sense of wonder and awe in her students, the future generation of citizens and voters.  She encourages young learners to follow the evidence and check that any scientific claim they encounter is backed with ample data and sound reasoning.  She enjoys sharing stories of her participation in WR’s mussel research with her students. She believes that no person can complain about the state of things unless they are taking action in some small part, which for her is teaching and advocating for wild places.

ALAN ROPE | HE/HIM | TREASURER

Alan grew up in southwestern Ohio where he developed a passion for Ohio, Great and Little Miami river systems. 

He was involved in The Boy Scouts for most of his childhood, but focused more on nature-oriented merit badges instead of the ones required for the rank of Eagle, and is especially proud of that to this day.

After graduating with a degree in Biology from The University of Cincinnati, he spent 5 years as a researcher with the Environmental Protection Agency working on various projects including bioremediation of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and developing bacterial strains engineered to neutralize Agent Orange.

He eventually went to medical school and completed a residency in Pediatrics and Medical Genetics at The Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

After the completion of these programs, he fully immersed himself in academic medicine at The University of Utah, but after 10 years could not tolerate the dryness of the environment and made the logical choice to relocate his family to The Pacific Northwest.

“I am especially honored for the opportunity to be a part of the Board of Directors of The Willamette Riverkeeper. The mission of this organization inspires me and allows me to honor my brother's legacy of acting to protect and conserve our natural resources.”

HEATHER KING | SHE/HER

Heather has spent over seven years working and living in Oregon and, over that time, developed a love of and passion for the PNW. Heather has a passion for mission-driven work and has spent over 20 years of her professional career in the nonprofit sector.  Through her work, she shares that passion by connecting and educating volunteers, partners, and donors to the outdoors and the importance, vitality, and joy of Oregon’s natural resources, most especially her waterways. Heather is the Executive Director at the Columbia Slough Watershed Council in North Portland, a nonprofit that works to protect and enhance the Columbia Slough and its watershed through community engagement, education, and restoration. Before that, she was a staff member at WRK, working as the deputy director for over four years.  During that time she was responsible for all fundraising, as well as staff development, supervision and worked on several committees helping to educate people about the Willamette River.

Heather founded two nonprofits (Pride Zone, a GLBTQA+ youth center in Northampton, MA, and Brandywine Roller Derby, Downingtown, PA).  She holds a Master's in Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an MBA in nonprofit management and social policy from the Heller School at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. 

A nomad at heart, she enjoys spending my free time exploring the PNW, whether it’s the coast, mountains, or waterways via camping and/or canoeing and wandering around the world, exploring new cultures, and meeting people.  When not exploring Heather enjoys cooking, baking, Legos, Dungeons and Dragons, and a good book. 

STEVE HERNANDEZ | HE/ HIM

Steve, a native Oregonian, he grew up exploring the forests and streams near his childhood home a few miles from the Santiam River.  He was raised by parents who took him on countless backcountry adventures in the Cascades Wilderness areas.  Steve now leads his own family on many outdoor adventures.  His daughter has developed a keen eye for shiny rocks, after many paddling trips on the Willamette river.  He serves as board member for Straub Outdoors, an organization that provides nature based learning to children and marginalized communities.   He enjoys connecting people to nature on an emotional and intellectual level through his 20 + year career as an Oregon State Park Ranger working in various corners of the state. Steve currently works on the Willamette River taking care of Oregon State Park’s Greenway properties.   He believes that  wilderness-like experiences can be found locally, without all the economic and phycological barriers that often limits access for our unrepresented and marginalized communities. Steve is passionate about the Willamette River, an avid paddler and often can be found participating in Willamette Riverkeeper river events like Paddle and Pulls.