An elected five-member Board of Directors governs the Bend Park and Recreation District. The District’s Board of Directors is responsible for developing district goals and setting policy.
The Board meets the first and third Tuesday of each month.
Click the following link to contact District staff and Board members. For Public Records Request, fill out and return this form.
Click to see Board of Directors meeting agendas and minutes.
Jodie Schiffman, Chair – Board term through June 30, 2027
Jodie Schiffman was appointed to the board in January 2023. As a Central Oregon native who moved back to Bend 24 years ago, she has been an avid user of the District’s programs, trails, parks, natural areas, river access points, and off leash dog areas.
Jodie has expertise as a professional communicator working locally and nationally focused on emergency situations, wildland fire, its impacts and effective mitigation measures. She served on Bend city council previously, as Mayor Pro Tem for four of the six years, and on the planning commission. She has a bachelor’s degree from George Fox University.
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Donna Owens, Vice-Chair – Board term through June 30, 2027
Donna Owens was appointed to the board in January 2023 and served a three-year term on the Bend Parks and Recreation Budget Committee from 2020 to 2022. She moved to Bend in 1979 for a temporary job with the US Forest Service that turned into a long career in the Western U.S. before retiring in 2018 and returning to Bend. She has a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University.
In addition to BPRD service, she volunteers for Family Kitchen, Friends of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge and Deschutes Land Trust. She enjoys the outdoors, walking, hiking, birdwatching, wildlife observation, skiing and snowshoeing.
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Nathan Hovekamp, Director & Legislative Liaison – Board term through June 30, 2025
Nathan Hovekamp moved to Bend in 1997 and has been on the board since 2015. He has a B.S. in biology, an M.S. in zoology, and a Ph.D. in education, and experience in college biology instruction, natural interpretation, and conservation. He currently serves on the Deschutes County Planning Commission and has previously served on the Bend Planning Commission, the Bend La Pine School Board, the board of Central Oregon LandWatch, and Bend Park and Recreation’s citizen advisory committee for Riley Ranch Nature Reserve. Nathan aspires to “contribute to the award-winning excellence that is the hallmark of Bend Park and Recreation.”
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Cary Schneider, Director – Board term through June 30, 2025
Cary Schneider is a business owner and has a degree in Finance and Management from the University of Oregon. He has served on the BPRD budget committee and has nearly 15 years of volunteer board member experience for several nonprofit and for-profit organizations, including one of the Salem area’s largest youth sports organizations.
Cary is a lifelong Oregonian, living in Bend for the past three years and is passionate about living an active lifestyle. He and his family frequently enjoy our parks, trails, and facilities and he is dedicated in this capacity to continuing the momentum of ensuring equitable access to parks and recreation for all current and future residents.
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Deb Schoen, Director – Board term through June 30, 2025
Deb Schoen brings 40 years of parks and recreation career experience at Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District to the board of directors. She is a certified parks and recreation professional and received the Oregon Recreation and Parks Association’s 2019 David E. Clark Honor Award for a parks and recreation professional who has shown leadership, inspired others and made noteworthy contributions. Since moving to Bend, she has used many of the district’s facilities and enjoys classes, trails, dog parks and community events. Her passion is working to ensure equitable access to parks, trails and recreation for community members.
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