Chrissy Smith is the Executive Director of the Friends of Netarts Bay Watershed Estuary Beach and Sea (WEBS), an organization working to sustain the Netarts Bay area through education and stewardship. Chrissy holds a master’s degree in science education/free-choice learning and marine resource management from Oregon State University and a B.S. in oceanography and math from the University of South Carolina. She has been living and working in Oregon for 15+ years. 

In the recent past, Chrissy has worked for the Friends of Cape Falcon Marine Reserve, Lower Nehalem Watershed Councils, and Oregon Sea Grant. Her experience also includes various aquariums, including the Oregon Coast Aquarium and North Carolina Aquariums as well as other parks and natural areas throughout the various states. 

She is a strong advocate for outdoor learning experiences and the power of education to make beneficial changes for our environment. She lives in Tillamook and enjoys hiking local trails and beaches with her husband and their two young kids.  

Contact Chrissy at: director@netartsbaywebs.org

Working as our Environmental Education Specialist in a new position shared between WEBS and Tillamook Estuaries Partnership, Rachel Freeman is eager to dive into teaching students about our local ecosystems while also working to expand both organizations’ capacities to provide outdoor education programs to every student in Tillamook County.

Born and raised in Astoria, Oregon, Rachel grew up with an interest in fisheries and a passion for teaching. She graduated from Oregon State University in 2019 with a BS in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences and a Minor in Spanish. Her favorite college experiences were studying Spanish in Queretaro, Mexico, and later Conservation Biology and Coral Reef Ecology in Townsville, Australia. After graduating, Rachel spent seven seasons working on multiple ODFW field projects researching salmon and steelhead on the North Oregon Coast.

 When she isn’t beach combing in Oceanside, Rachel is investing in her business, Saddle Mountain Beadwork. Using just a needle and thread, she weaves hundreds of tiny glass seed beads into earrings shaped like sea stars, patterned like cutthroat trout, and inspired by the ocean.

Michael Krall studied medicine at the University of Oregon Medical School and was a Family Physician for many years with Northwest Permanente. He was lead physician during the electronic medical record implementation and Director of Clinical Decision Support and Knowledge Management for Northwest Permanente. Michael served as president of the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians Board (OAFP) and president of OAFP’s Philanthropic Foundation. 

 Michael is currently retired. Other activities include volunteering with the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey, Audubon's Oystercatcher, Snowy Plover and Raptor monitoring, and Tillamook School District's Science Coach program. 

 Michael is a photographer and birding enthusiast. His photographs can be seen on the Tillamook Birder website http://www.tillamookbirder.com and are often featured in our WEBS social media postings.

Roger has been a Netarts resident for over 35 years. Early in his career, he was an advertising account executive, then switched careers and retired after 20 years as a landscape designer. He is an avid hiker and kayaker; loves photography and gardening and making music. He is a frequent traveler, but if you catch him at home, be sure to sample one of his homebrewed beers.

Roger was drawn to WEBS because of his interest in preserving the natural beauty of the Netarts area. After experiencing several of their outdoor programs, he joined the WEBS board in 2018 and serves as the Volunteer Coordinator, and is a member of the Marketing Communications subcommittee. 

Biographical profile to come

When Gwen and her husband visited Netarts for the first time, they were awestruck by the natural beauty of the bay, the beaches, and the forested hillsides. They were hooked and moved to the area within months. Gwen aspires to give back to the community and natural landscape where she lives and is committed to WEBS’ mission of stewardship and environmental education.

Gwen has a Master’s degree in Ecology and has worked as an environmental scientist for the California Water Board, as a classroom teacher, and as an environmental educator.  Since retirement, she has volunteered in Sierra meadow restoration projects, forest collaborative management, and native plant propagation.

You may find her out in the field watching birds, learning the native flora, or collecting seeds for the Northwest Oregon Restoration Partnership (NORP), a program of the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership.

“Love at first sight” is how Shelley recalls her family’s visit to Netarts some 31 years ago.  After many years of day tripping and extended holidays to the area she and her husband purchased their vacation (now primary) residence 3 blocks from the bay.  

Netarts and the surrounding coastal communities are full of Shelley’s favorite hobbies:  hiking, kayaking, birding, gardening, foraging, and continuous learning and adventures in all other things ocean, bay and forest.  Having grown up as an air force brat always on the move, she currently enjoys sticking closer to home, taking part in local community potlucks, rummage sales, book clubs and citizen science projects.

Shelley considers volunteering and giving back through WEBS one of the many highlights of living in Netarts.  She has been a volunteer since 2017 and is using her experience in public, private industry, and non-profit accounting as Treasurer since 2018.

Contact Shelley at: treasurer@netartsbaywebs.org

Amy is the current Natural Resources Coordinator for Tillamook School District #9. She has an M.S. in Science Education and a B.S. in General Agriculture from Oregon State University. Amy previously worked for the OSU Extension Service with the 4-H program. She is a proponent of hands-on learning and getting students outdoors to explore the world around them.

Amy is a born and raised Tillamook resident and after a hiatus, she and her husband returned to the area to raise their family.  In her spare time, she enjoys camping, gardening, photography, and reading.

Clair is the recently retired Coordinator of the Natural Resource Education program for Tillamook School District #9. He received a BS in biology from George Fox University and an MS in education from Oregon State University. Each summer Clair is the program leader for the Chewaucan Biophysical Monitoring project, a nationally recognized third party monitoring effort on the Fremont Winema National Forest. 

Among his many awards: the 2010 Outstanding Environmental Project Award from the TIllamook County Futures Council and the 2012 Forestry Appreciation Award from the Oregon Society of American Foresters. 

Clair continues to work closely with our School Programs, and you’ll find him leading several of our Community Programs.

John Andersen has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Portland State University in American History and earned a Certificate to Teach in Oregon high schools. He later obtained a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Oregon. He has taught at Portland State University, Central Oregon Community College, and Clackamas High School.

In the field of land use planning, John has been Community Planning Director for Wasco and Deschutes Counties, as well as Community Development Director for the cities of Fairview, Gresham and The Dalles. John worked as Senior Planner for the consulting firm of McKeever/Morris before founding and serving as President of John Andersen and Associates, a land use planning firm. 

In Netarts, John has served as President of the Netarts-Oceanside Community Council and later as a President and Board Member of WEBS. He regularly makes presentations on Netarts area history and is currently writing a book on that subject. John continues to volunteer for community and municipal activities. John and his wife Susan can often be found hiking, fishing, and birding in the Netarts vicinity.

Beth has a B.A. in History and a Minor in Biology from Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado. Beth has participated in the research of The Breeding Behavior of  the Tree swallow (Tachycineta bi-color) and Violet-green swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) and the Effects of Climate Change. 

In addition, Beth participated in the research of Tardigrades in the Colorado National Monument and McGinness National Conservation Area. She was an ​Interpretive Park Ranger at The National Historic Trails Center, Casper, Wyoming.

Beth currently works as a Financial Aid Advisor with Tillamook Bay Community College. In her spare time she enjoys reading history and historical fiction as well as spending time hiking and birding with her partner and 4 dogs. When time allows you might find her visiting her kids in Colorado and New York City and going to the theater.

Robin and her family are long time supporters of WEBS.  Her family has a small cabin in Netarts and she has spent her entire life enjoying the area.  With two children, it is one of her greatest joys to be able to offer them the same delights of childhood that she had growing up with the Oregon Coast as a prominent part of their lives.  Her involvement in WEBS is one way of ensuring her children will continue to have their coastal retreat for many years to come.

Robin holds a BS in environmental science and economics from Willamette University and a MPA in environmental policy and natural resources management from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environment Affairs.  She currently works for the Bonneville Power Administration.