Staff Directory
Bob Ault
Regional Community Development Coordinator
• About Me:
I was born and raised in Washington State, and spent the better part of my adult life working for the US Forest Service in the great state of Montana. I have an undergraduate degree in sociology and a graduate degree in Planning and Public Policy. I have been lucky enough to work for creative, innovative non-profits including Umpqua Community Development Corporation in Roseburg and St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County. I’m married and my wife Suzanne has put up with me for over ten years. We have two children, Matthew is ten and Grace is five. They are better than me in every way. I adhere to the Dickensian model of community development, which is something I made up and I’m still defining.
• What I do at RDI:
I am the Regional Coordinator for Southwest Oregon and Siskiyou, County, CA. I work primarily in Southwest Oregon and Northern California, but I can go anywhere and help out with almost anything in which RDI is involved. I’m lucky because I get to travel to and work in rural communities all around the region. I really like seeing new country and meeting the people who live and work in rural communities.
• Contact Info:
(541) 337-9765
Beth Gilden
Community Development Associate/RARE participant
• About Me:
I was raised in Dundee, OR. I earned my undergraduate degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA where I studied Decision Science and Professional Writing. At Carnegie Mellon, I worked with the Engineering and Public Policy department to advise the Pittsburgh City Council on wireless metropolitan area networks and I have contributed to papers on the same subject. I am motivated in my work and life by my passions for social justice and sustainability. I know that access to information and good education are inherently linked with these values and I am grateful for all of my teachers.
• What I do at RDI:
I work on the RIPPLE website. I get to write stories about interesting people and projects all over Oregon. I help people become engaged in their communities, and I work on economic development projects.
Jiyea Park
Graphic Design Project Assistant
• About Me:
I was born in South Korea, but my family moved to Eugene, OR when I was twelve years old. I been living in Eugene ever since. I studied journalism at the University of Oregon and minored in business and communication studies. This is my first job in the real world.
• What I do at RDI:
I am the temporary graphic design project assistant. I help with the RIPPLE web site, and I assist users with questions regarding usernames and passwords.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
2620 River Road, Suite 205 . Eugene, Oregon 97404 . phone 541-684-9077 . fax 541-684-8993