Board members

Northwest Youth Corps is fortunate enough to be guided by a strong Board of Directors, all of whom serve the organization as volunteers. NYC Board members represent a diversity of experience, expertise and communities, and usually includes alumni of our programs.

The Board oversees the governance of the organization, including budget approval and financial oversight; performs the annual evaluation of the Executive Director; supports philanthropic efforts; and serves as Northwest Youth Corps’ ambassadors to our various constituencies.

Our current Directors are:
Jane Kammerzelt

Jane Kammerzelt

President

Jane Kammerzelt

Jane has been associated with NYC since 1986 in various capacities and continues to be passionate about the organization's mission. Over the years she has been pleased to witness a growing, thriving organization committed to the core standards of excellence set by founder Art Pope. Jane continues to volunteer at NYC's high school, Twin Rivers Charter School; works as a corporate facilitator - primarily in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; and regularly visits India, Guatemala, Spain and other countries for humanitarian work and leadership training.

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Helen Haberman

Helen Haberman

Vice President

Helen Haberman

Helen is inspired to serve on the NYC Board because, as a former NYC staff member, she witnessed the positive effect NYC has on teens and conservation efforts. These include challenging and rewarding youth through personal effort and teamwork; and helping teens make personal connections with the natural world, for peace and enrichment. Helen is a long-time public high school Environmental Science and Social Studies teacher in Eugene, Oregon. She spends summers hiking, camping, and backpacking in the Pacific Northwest with her family and dog. Her other interests include playing and listening to music, reading, and cooking with her kids.

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Scott Halpert

Scott Halpert

Treasurer

Scott Halpert

As a pediatrician and family physician, Scott was introduced to Northwest Youth Corps because several of his patients benefited from their summer experiences with NYC. After spending years on the NYC board, Scott remains amazed at the ability of its charter school, youth, and young adult programs to transform lives. Now retired, Scott lives on a farm just north of the Eugene-Springfield area, where his interests include whitewater rafting, fly fishing, gardening, and bicycling. He has also directed local child abuse evaluation programs for more than thirty years and currently is a Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteer.

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Lee Taylor

Lee Taylor

Secretary

Lee Taylor

Lee Taylor places high value on all forms of youth engagement on public lands. She served as a Student Conservation Association intern in 1984, which changed the trajectory of her life. Since then, she has had a 38-year career with the National Park Service, including 11 years at Mount Rainier, four years as the Superintendent of San Juan Island National Historical Park, and six years as the Deputy Superintendent of Olympic National Park. Having worked at 11 national parks, Lee can articulate the challenges that National Parks face, and she advocates for the benefits that youth corps provide. Lee retired as Acting Superintendent from Olympic National Park in 2022. Lee now lives on San Juan Island. In addition to her service as a NYC board member, Lee volunteers for the San Juan Community Theatre, Lime Kiln State Park, San Juan Island Film Festival, and Leadership San Juan Island.

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Brad Copeland

Brad Copeland

Brad Copeland

Brad joined NYC’s board in 2007. After graduating from the University of Delaware with a B.A. in Political Science, Brad earned his J.D. in 1987 from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. He is a shareholder with the Arnold Gallagher Law firm in Eugene. The thing Brad likes best about serving on the NYC board is watching the development and growth of the participants. In his free time, Brad is an outdoor enthusiast and sportsman and enjoys spending time with his wife, Theresa, two children and four grandchildren.

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Erik Matisek

Erik Matisek

Erik Matisek

Erik has proudly served on the NYC Board since 2018, including three years as the immediate past president. In 2021, Erik earned his Master of Nonprofit Management and Master of Business Administration in Sustainable Business Practices from the University of Oregon. He now works for Keysight Technologies as their Global Environmental Sustainability Manager. 

Erik lives in Portland, Oregon and you will likely find him enjoying the outdoor playground of the Pacific Northwest. He loves to backpack (PCT class of 2015), climb, bike, garden, and road trip in his '86 Westfalia with his wife and two dogs. 

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Brent Vaughan

Brent Vaughan

Brent Vaughan

Brent Vaughan studied at the University of Oregon, and has been a therapist with the Center for Family Development for more than a decade, where he works primarily with adolescents and their families. With his skills and passion for young people, Brent is thrilled to serve as a board member with NYC, due to the organization’s non-traditional educational and vocational opportunities afforded to community youth. Other interests include activities with his wife and young son, reading, and swimming.

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Alec Marlega

Alec Marlega

Alec Marlega

Alec joined the NYC Board in 2024. He majored in history and political science at Oregon State University, graduating in 2019. He later moved south to attend the University of Oregon School of Law, graduating in 2022. Since then, he has worked at the firm of Arnold Gallagher PC, with a primary focus on small business and estate planning matters. Alec joined NYC’s board due to his love of the outdoors, interest in providing interesting and paid work opportunities to young people, and NYC’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. In his spare time, Alec enjoys going for hikes and rooting for the Seattle Mariners.

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Steve Dubiel

Steve Dubiel

Steve Dubiel

Steve (he/him/his) got his start with conservation corps during a summer building trails in North Cascades National Park. Thereafter, he earned his MBA from University of Washington and is a graduate of UW’s Executive Nonprofit Leadership Institute as well as Leadership Tomorrow (Seattle). Steve serves on the board of the Northwest Fund for the Environment. He led a King County Parks (2021-2024) team focused on grantmaking, communications, community engagement, and volunteer engagement. Prior to that he served as Earth Corps Executive Director (1999-2021), a Seattle-based nonprofit conservation corps. Steve has served on numerous boards and advisory groups, including The Corps Network's Board and Corps Council; Restore America’s Estuaries Board; Green Seattle Partnership Executive Council; Mountaineers Advisory Council; and the Washington Community Forestry Council. Steve lives in Seattle and has two young adult children. His interests also include hiking, biking, skiing, and playing outside.

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