About the Friends Board of Directors
The Friends are governed by a Board of Directors. These individuals bring a wide array of skills and experience to the organization's vision. Current board members have expertise in natural area management, business, biology, landscape architecture, non-profit management, public planning, youth mentorship, and economic development. Plus, the board enjoys the camaraderie and teamwork that includes outings to explore and better understand the greater Mt. Pisgah area.
We seek diverse people to serve on our Board and its Committees with a range of skills, such as law (land use, contracts, water law, estate planning), communications and marketing, outdoor recreation management, and fiscal management.
Please email volunteer@bufordpark.org if you would like to learn more about serving on our Board of Directors or a board committee (which welcome non-board members).
Nate Zantzinger, Board President
Nate was born and raised in temperate, deciduous forests of Southeastern Pennsylvania, where he developed a strong connection to the natural world. A native of Paoli, Nate started his westward journey to focus on conservation and outdoor recreation in Arizona. After extensive time in the backcountry, Nate worked in sustainable agriculture where he promoted plant-based nutrition and advocated for permaculture development. Nate has experience with the National Park Service where he collaborated with the National Park Service partners to enhance partnerships while overseeing the volunteer program. He also served as the Community Engagement Manager at Northwest Youth Corps. Nate is eager to steward a place as special as Buford Park, and looks forward to continued memories recreating with his loved ones
Philip Bayles, Board Member
Philip Bayles has a distinguished career background in both music and computer-related fields. His conducting has received regional and national acclaim. Mr. Bayles has a second career in computers and networking. He has served on the Board of Directors of Oregon Public Networking, bringing technology to the disadvantaged and taught numerous courses in computer literacy, word-processing, internet research. Philip supports the Friends because he believes that the greater Mt. Pisgah area is so beautiful and beloved and is a place well worth restoring, and preserving, for all.
Margie James, Board Member
Margie grew up in Eugene, Oregon, spending her time exploring and camping. She studied forest management at Oregon State and did contract work (stand exams) with the forest service on the east side of the Cascades. She got her associate degree in Health Records at Central OR Community College and worked for PeaceHealth. She has always found solace in being outdoors, no matter what she was doing. Margie strongly believes in the importance of the greater Mount Pisgah area as a needed recreational and natural resource for our local communities. She is a believer in the work of Friends of Buford Park and Mt Pisgah, the restoration and trails work, community education about this treasure, and Friends collaboration with other natural resource non-profits.
Maradee Girt, Board Member
Maradee and her husband, Barry, have been volunteering, primarily in the Native Plant Nursery, since early 2013. Long before that they were regular hikers on trails shared with cattle. In that time, the Friends have introduced them to a committed and like-minded community that survived through and since COVID. She sees herself as a worker bee willing to support the Friends’ leadership in the muddy fields.
Daniel Dietz, Board Member
Daniel has been enjoying the trails, oaks, and waters of the Mount Pisgah area since arriving in Eugene in 2016. He believes that Buford Park is one of the more interesting and important areas in Lane County and that the Friends are instrumental in stewarding it. He finds the dedication and knowledge of the Friends staff to be as impressive as the land itself. Daniel has worked in natural resource management since the late 1990’s and is currently a restoration specialist with the Upper Willamette Soil and Water Conservation District.