We are excited to welcome Zachary Peal and Ryan Graig as FPC’s newest additions to our staff.
Zac will serve as our new Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator and Ryan is jumping in as our Trails Manager. We are so excited to have two
super-skilled people as part of our team. We have lots of work ahead so the timing couldn’t be better!
Zac comes to us after having crisscrossed the nation working on volunteer recruitment and engagement for various political campaigns in Iowa, Washington, Boston and Portland. Zac was born and raised in Texas and graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from St. Edward’s University in Austin. His love of nature began as a child when he travelled with his family to Colorado and West Texas. When not working, you can find Zac consuming science fiction or Wikipedia, watching horror comedies, speed running, or eating breakfast tacos and queso.
Zac is hard at work getting to know FPC’s volunteers and organizing events. If you’d like to volunteer, you can reach Zac at 503-223-5449, ext 106 orzachary@forestparkconservancy.org.
As FPC’s new trails program lead, Ryan brings years of experience managing both large and small trail projects. Prior to joining FPC, Ryan was employed at Tahawus Trails LLC, where he worked on projects in the Adirondack and Catskills Parks in New York, the Wissahickon Valley Park in Philadelphia and the property surrounding Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Falling Water house. With a degree from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, he brings both on-the-ground and academic knowledge to his new
position at FPC.
Ryan recently moved to Portland from the Northern Catskills in New York to be closer to his partner and to explore trail building opportunities in Oregon. He’s an avid skier, hiker, and mountain biker.
“I look forward to joining FPC’s team to encourage community participation, improve access to Forest Park, and support ecosystem protection,” Ryan said. “After the harsh winter, I’m excited to get to work repairing the trails and improving the health of Forest Park.”
Ryan’s first day at FPC is on Thursday, March 16. You can reach him by phone at 503-223-5449, ext 102 or by email at ryan@forestparkconservancy.org.