Our Story

Darren Nichols is a seasoned executive and facilitator who convenes people and communities to work together on shared solutions.  Darren brings people and ideas together to identify shared interests and sustainable solutions. He has worked in environmental policy, climate change and resilience, natural resources, land use, infrastructure, community and economic development, and regional planning.

 

As a mission-driven leader Darren helps people and organizations articulate and connect with a common vision and values. He convenes and empowers groups to effectively address complex challenges. His teams work with data, people, officials, legislators, tribes, industry and environmental advocates, non-profit organizations and innovators to solve challenges at all levels.

 

Darren holds degrees in Business Economics, Urban & Regional Planning, and Environmental and Natural Resource Law. . .as well the rigorous education of ten years working as a construction contractor.

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Accomplishments:

• Former Executive Director of two interstate compact agencies

• Successfully resolved 30-year litigation in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

• Statewide community services manager for 300+ Oregon communities’ land use planning 

• Convened and funded a first-ever collaborative regional planning effort for sustainable materials management across Western Oregon

• Successful advocacy for Columbia River Gorge funding, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and much more

• US Congress bi-nationally adopted 2020 Framework for a Resilient Great Lakes Basin

• Blue Accounting - open-source Great Lakes basin wide data sharing platform across eight states, two provinces, agencies, organizations

• Convened and Facilitated first-ever Tribal Rail Summit for tribes, communities, and railroads in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

• Senior executive and facilitator with the William D. Ruckelshaus Center for collaborative public policy (University of Washington/Washington State University) - Developed and funded the Roadmap to Washington's Future

• Recognized public speaker and presenter

Elizabeth (Liz) Irish is an experienced community leader and pragmatic problem solver who is adept at addressing complex community challenges. Liz has extensive experience in community networking, relationship building and civic engagement around top public policy issues including housing equity and affordability. She has deep experience in all phases of real property transactions from negotiation and contracts to entitlement, permitting and financing.

 

A strong believer in participative democracy, Liz has managed several campaigns for federal and local elected officials. She has actively campaigned as a county commission candidate and served on the Benton County planning commission and several boards and committees. 

 

Liz co-founded the annual “Women in Mortgage Conference” and she established a regional forum for real estate professionals, local agencies and academic leaders, to share information and ideas around key public policy issues. 

 

Accomplishments:  

• Founder and co-owner adult foster care and hospice care service center

• Successful advocate for safe access to housing for women in the oil field camps of North Dakota

• Board-appointed member Benton County Planning Commission

• Board-appointed member Benton County budget committee

• Benton County housing subcommittee

• Appointed member, Benton County Talks Trash - inaugural, community-driven work group focused on sustainable, consensus-based solutions for solid waste and disposal in Western Oregon