New Board Members, New Insights
At the end of January, Central Oregon LandWatch welcomed three new members to our Board of Directors. Each brings valuable experience, perspective, and commitment that will strengthen our work to defend and plan for our region's livable future.
Lisa Cohen
Lisa Cohen
Lisa is a journalist-turned-nonprofit leader and strategic adviser. She spent 25 years in television journalism, rising to managing editor and executive producer in Seattle, where she produced documentaries and special reports that illuminated complex, often overlooked stories.
She later founded the Washington Global Health Alliance, bringing together more than 85 organizations to advance health equity worldwide, and helped inspire similar alliances in other countries. Over the years, she has served on numerous nonprofit boards and continues to support mission-driven organizations as a strategic advisor, helping them strengthen partnerships, clarify direction, and expand their impact.
Lisa lives in Sisters, Oregon, with her husband, Tom, and feels fortunate to call Central Oregon home. An avid endurance rider, she enjoys exploring regional trails with her horses and serves as a board member of Sisters Trails Alliance. In her spare time, she dabbles in watercolor and finds joy in stirring up good trouble.
Jonathan W. Smith
Jonathan W. Smith
Jonathan, who is Warm Springs and Wasco, has held numerous leadership roles within the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs tribal organization. Roles most relevant to LandWatch include service on the Warm Springs Forest Industries Board of Directors, the Warm Springs Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance Commission, Warm Springs Community Action Team Board of Directors, the Warm Springs Fish and Wildlife Committee (since 2004), the Land Use Planning Committee (2013-2021), and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.
Between 2022 and 2025, he served as Chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Tribal Council, where he focused on protecting tribal treaty rights, sovereignty, and culture, along with developing a balanced economic development strategy, addressing tribal infrastructure needs, and ensuring transparent business operations.
Jonathan has also served his community by being a ceremonial hunter and ceremonial fisherman who provides these resources for ceremonies conducted by the tribe. A small business owner, he founded Advanced Glass Repair in 2000.
Elizabeth (Betsey) Nelson
Betsey is an experienced corporate executive, public company director and advisor who has served on the boards of over a dozen public and private companies primarily in the tech industry. She was CFO of software company Macromedia for 10 years before its acquisition by Adobe Systems, and currently works with several emerging growth companies to help scale their operations. Betsey received an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a BS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.
Betsey and her husband have vacationed in Central Oregon since 1990, and finally made the move to Sunriver in 2018. They are enthusiastic supporters of LandWatch and other environmental and social services organizations in Central Oregon. Betsey is also an avid equestrian and enjoys horse camping, hiking, and paddling throughout Oregon.
Betsey Nelson
Please join us in warmly welcoming Lisa, Jonathan, and Betsey to the Central Oregon LandWatch board. We’re excited to work alongside them as we continue protecting the lands, water, and communities of Central Oregon.