DRA Staff
Sarah Cloud
Executive Director
Sarah has a career in the nonprofit sector that spans more than thirty years. It has included a position as part of the mediation firm that worked with the Hanford Advisory Board, developing and executing outreach campaigns for organizations such as the Citizens’ Utility Board and working in development. Prior to the DRA, she was pivotal in creating and executing a strategic plan focused on growth.
She enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest, especially flat waters via kayak and her vintage travel trailer. Her recent obsession is fly fishing. Her two teenage daughters join her on many outdoor adventures.
Peter Anderson
Development Manager
Hailing from Eugene, Oregon, Peter grew up rafting throughout the Pacific Northwest. After graduating from the Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon, his career took him to Germany and back, working on strategic development and sponsorship for elite sporting organizations around the world. When he’s not supporting the DRA, he guides whitewater rafting trips on the Deschutes, Rogue, and White Salmon rivers.
Steven Hawley
Communications Manager
Steven Hawley is a writer and documentary filmmaker from Portland, now living in Hood River, Oregon. His latest film, Dammed to Extinction, released in June of 2019, chronicles the decline of salmon-dependent killer whales in the Salish Sea. He is also the author of Recovering a Lost River, (Beacon Press, 2011). His second book, Cracked: The Future of Dams in a Hot, Chaotic World, (Patagonia) was published in 2023.
Hannah Camel
Water Quality Coordinator
Hannah grew up in Bend, Oregon, and flyfishing and rafting on the lower Deschutes River. She has spent the last two years working in fisheries and aquatics at the Forest Service and recently graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Applied Ecology from Oregon State University. Now, she’s committed to preserving Oregon’s rivers and safeguarding the diverse species that call these places home. Off the river, Hannah loves to explore Central Oregon, rock climbing, skiing, and hunting.
Chloë Courtney
Outreach Coordinator
Chloë grew up in Portland, Oregon, yet spent most of her weekends on the lower Deschutes River. The endless days waist deep in the river led to her having a deep passion for conservation and fly fishing, especially on the Deschutes River. Chloë graduated from Oregon State with a B.S. in environmental science with a focus in conservation, resources and sustainability. Outside of working for DRA, she enjoys many hobbies such as fly fishing, hiking, mountain biking, fly tying and mostly anything outdoors.
DRA Board
Pat Becker Jr.
President
Pat is the CEO of Becker Capital Management, a Pacific Northwest investment advisory firm with offices in Portland, Bend, and Seattle. Pat serves on several non-profit boards and committees including Edison High School, University of Portland, St. Andrew Nativity School, and LifeWorks NW. When not working or volunteering you can find Pat and his wife Tabitha at their home on the Deschutes with their German Shepard.
Rick Pay
Treasurer
He is an avid fly fisherman and occasionally also fishes for Salmon and Winter Steelhead with gear. He has served on the Board of Oregon Trout, the Fly Fishers Club of Oregon, the Flyfishers Foundation and the Oregon Wildlife Foundation and has been a member of numerous conservation organizations including Native Fish Society, TRCP, Nature Conservancy, Western Rivers Conservancy, TU, and many others. Rick is a management consultant with a background in Operations, Supply Chain and Finance/Accounting. He graduated from Colorado State University, has an MBA from the University of Montana and has attended Executive Programs at MIT.
John Hazel
Executive Committee
John Hazel lives and works on the Deschutes River in Maupin, OR. Together with his wife Amy, he owns and operates Deschutes Angler Fly Shop and their guide service, John Hazel & Company. John has been guiding the Deschutes River since 1978 and was joined on the river by his wife Amy in 1999. The fly shop and outfitting business keep them busy year-round, but they occasionally find some free time to travel to the tropics in pursuit of Tarpon and Permit. Upland bird hunting is a passion they share with their scruffy Wirehaired Pointing Griffons. When not hunting or fishing, they relax on their ranch with good friends and family.
Rick Hafele
Executive Committee
Rick has a Master’s degree in aquatic entomology and a minor in fisheries biology. He has worked as a professional aquatic biologist for 40 years, specializing in using aquatic communities as water quality indicators. While working for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Rick was instrumental in developing the State's bioassessment program and writing Oregon's water quality standards for aquatic life. He is also author or co-author of seven books and eight instruction DVDs on fly fishing for trout. Rick is a noted aquatic entomologist in the Pacific Northwest and a recognized expert throughout the western United States.
Steven Pribyl
Executive Committee
Steven attended Oregon State University graduating at the top of his Department of Fisheries and Wildlife class in 1974. His 30-year career with ODFW included fisheries work in both research and management, focusing primarily on anadromous fishes. He specialized in inventory methodology and data analysis and was one of the state’s experts in natural resource damage assessment and recovery. Over 23 years of his career were spent working in the lower 100 miles of the Deschutes River as either a researcher or manager. Salmon and steelhead fishing, waterfowl, turkey and big game hunting fill Steve's retirement days. He and Jacky, his wife, live in The Dalles.
Dan Ellis
Board Member
Dan is a retired executive from the medical device industry with significant board experience serving both non-profit organizations and industry. He is a native Oregonian, a lifelong fly fisherman and returned home in 2012 after many years in the Bay Area pursuing his career. When not volunteering, Dan can most often be found on his bike, the Deschutes River access road or some other steelhead highway in hot pursuit of the famous unicorns. He is honored to serve with the Deschutes River Alliance and help a river he has known all his life.
Alex Gonsiewski
Director
Alex spent his childhood on Oregon rivers, lakes, and beaches with a rod in hand and a camera around his neck. In 2008 he graduated from Oregon State University with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Ecology. He has worked as a guide full-time since 2012—dividing his year between the lower Deschutes and the Oregon Coast. Alex has published photographs and photo essays in multiple outdoors publications. When not guiding he’s exploring the great outdoors.
Amy Hazel
Director
Amy Hazel lives and works on the Deschutes River in Maupin, OR. Together with his husband John, she owns and operates Deschutes Angler Fly Shop and their guide service, John Hazel & Company. The fly shop and outfitting business keep them busy year-round, but they occasionally find some free time to travel to the tropics in pursuit of Tarpon and Permit. Upland bird hunting is a passion they share with their scruffy Wirehaired Pointing Griffons. When not hunting or fishing, they relax on their ranch with good friends and family.
Larry Marxer
Director
Larry is a retired water quality expert, having spent 23 years working on water quality projects related to the US Clean Water Act throughout the state of Oregon. Larry and his wife Susan are active volunteers with their Portland neighborhood association.
Jenny O’Brien
Director
Jenny O'Brien was born and raised in the outdoors of the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Growing up, she was exposed to fly fishing by her grandfather and dad. In her late 20's, she came back to the sport and immersed herself in the lifestyle, making life-long friends within the angling community. When she's not on the water, she enjoys playing sand volleyball, skiing, bird hunting and learning the art of fly tying. In addition to working with the DRA, she is on the Board of Directors for the The Wild Steelhead Coalition and mentors children with The Mayfly Project. Jenny is passionate about protecting the Deschutes River and supporting the DRA's mission.
Brian Silvey
Director
Brian Silvey was born and raised in the Sandy/Welches area of Oregon. He learned to fly fish at an early age on the Sandy and Deschutes Rivers. He was a ski racer at Mt. Hood. Brian was a fisheries biology major at Oregon State University and worked briefly for Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, although that career path was abandoned in order to fish and become a fishing guide. Brian is a highly reputed fly designer, and many of his patterns have become standards on his home rivers and waters beyond Oregon. He lives on a ranch near Maupin with his wife and two children.
Kelly Sjolander
Director
Kelly Sjolander is an in-house legal executive currently serving as VP & Deputy General Counsel of WalkMe, Inc. Kelly has spent the majority of her career counseling senior leaders of some of the world’s leading technology companies (including Adobe, Microsoft, and DocuSign) on a wide range of business, legal, and strategic issues. Kelly is an avid angler who was first introduced to fly fishing while on a rest day on a climbing trip. She is honored to be serving on the Board of the Deschutes River Alliance, believes deeply in its mission, and is committed to helping find and drive solutions to what she sees as a very solvable problem!
Louis Taylor
Director
Louis Taylor is a father and caretaker of his family. Professionally he is a business owner, serial entrepreneur, and medical products inventor. Louis owns and operates TWM Wealth Management, Corp. an RIA located in West Linn, Oregon. Louis is also a director on the West Linn Wilsonville School District board where he serves the community and children. Louis describes himself as adventurous and a people person who, in his spare time, is camping in secluded places, fishing any water that can be fished, golfing, and pursuing his love for old and new cars.
How to Support the DRA
Everyone wants clean, healthy water in the Deschutes River. Oregonians cherish our clean and healthy waterways to provide drinking water, wildlife habitat and recreational activities. The lower Deschutes River is a federally designated Wild & Scenic River, and a national treasure. It must be protected for the environmental and economic health of Central Oregon. We believe by working together we can return the lower Deschutes River to full health. The Deschutes River Alliance is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3).