Our Board
Kathleen Kiefer cultural anthropologist, photographer, videographer, writer and communicator, received her BS in Anthropology from Central Washington University. As a consummate communicator and astute listener she often acts as a bridge between individuals, organizations and diverse ethnic groups. She has spent most of her career as liaison with Native Americans and corporate boards. She worked for an Alaska Native Corporation and Grant County Public Utility District where she was the liaison between the utility and the Wanapum Band of Native People. Her experience and writing about cultural resource protection and inclusion of indigenous perspectives in the management of cultural and natural resources guided the Grant County Public Utility District during their relicensing of the Priest Rapids Hydroelectric Project. She is an accomplished photographer, videographer and writer.
As the owner of Strand Tea Company located in Sandy, Oregon, Jack Strand has travelled extensively in Asia. In March 2006 he helped bring 13 members of the Tea Board of India & the National Tea Planters Association (NPA) to the United States, holding the first ever Iive tea auction in the USA at the World Tea Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2007 & 2008 Jack worked with the NPA helping them establish new markets in the US for their Nilgiri Teas. He works tirelessly on behalf of small farm tea growers to help bring their specialty and select teas to new markets in the United States.
Aletha Bonebrake
Aletha Bonebrake received her Masters of Library Science at the University of Wisconsin in 1985. She was the head librarian in Baker City for 22 years. She became an ordained Episcopal Minister in 2006 and has served St. Stephens Parish in Baker City as a Priest since then. She has served on Baker City Council, arts and heritage boards, and the local electrical cooperative. When she is not serving the needs of her parish, she volunteers as a board member for Baker County Community Literacy Coalition, Eastern Oregon Regional Theater Advisory Board, Oregon State Library Board of Trustees, Baker County Cultural Coalition, and Oregon State Library Board of Trustees.
A native of upstate New York. He has resided in NE Oregon for over twenty years where he has been involved with various non-profit organizations on a state and local level. A graduate of The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, he spent several years as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Also a Graduate of Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College, he is a trial lawyer trying civil cases for over twenty years. An avid fly fisherman, cook and photographer, he has recently started trying to raise copper into functional forms. Damien has been a resident of Baker City for 20 years where he lives with his three children adopted from Haiti.
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As the owner of Station 3 Media's video production facility, Gene's career interests evolved from his early childhood as an armature radio operator communicating with people all over the world. It was those early years that led him to his long standing career in broadcast television and video production. Along that path his interest in photography, music and engineering fully charted that course.
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A trip to Bhutan in 2017 inspired a quest to build friendships amongst his Bhutanese acquaintances and mentor whenever possible. The profound experience of that trip brought with it a desire to see Gross National Happiness as a goal that Americans should pursue.
Robert Anders studied fine art and graphic design throughout the 1970's at Mira Costa and Palomar Junior colleges and San Diego State University. After relocating to Golden, Colorado, Robert refined his skills in carpentry and real estate development while studying printmaking and studio ceramics at the University of Denver under the tutelage of the esteemed American ceramicist Maynard Tischler.
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An accomplished carpenter, renovator and multimedia artist, Robert owned and operated the Atelier Colorado in Denver from 1978-1992. He has overseen numerous historic renovation projects while participating in exhibitions of his fine art with major galleries throughout the United States. Robert's artwork is held in private collections in the United States and internationally.
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He resides in a beautifully restored property in historic downtown Baker City, Oregon where he operates a gallery of fine art and engages in local renovation projects and teaches yoga.
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Advisory Board
Richard is one of the founding members of BCE. He was BCE's first elected president. He continues to advise the Board on policy and best practices.
Bhutan's former Attorney General and Supreme Court Justice. Dasho has retired and is now the Vice President of the Bhutan Bar Council. He has guided BCE from the beginning, supporting and encouraging the efforts of this non profit.