BPTA Board Bend Paddle Trail Alliance -

Will Blount, President - Will has a Business degree from the University Of Puget Sound. It was in the Pacific Northwest that his passion for whitewater kayaking developed, and started him on a lifelong quest for river adventures. Whether it's behind the oars in his drift boat (looking for rising trout), in his kayak (getting wet), or rafting with his family, you can find Will on the river. A class V boater, Will has paddled many rivers throughout the Western United States and a handful of rivers in South America.

Will is currently the President of Ruff Wear, where he's able to combine his passion for the outdoors with his leadership skills and business interests. He is excited to be lending his time to Bend Paddle Trail Alliance to promote education, safety, and stewardship of the lakes and rivers close to home.

Doug Knight, Vice President - Doug has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering with graduate-level course-work in structural steel design and rock mechanics. He is a licensed professional engineer in Oregon as well as three other states. Civically active, he resides on the City of Bend Planning Commission. The Deschutes County Landmarks Commission, as well participates on the bend Vision 2030 Board.

Doug’s affinity with the water started at birth. Or maybe it was earlier -aren’t we 98% water anyway? Doug has been a longtime water rat, and he was "exposed” early! Infant-toddler swim lessons became "swim” team, swimming team became platform and springboard diving, and diving progressed to high-school All-American status and on to college NCAA Division 1 competition. Wind surfing after college led to kayaking, and kayaking on to…. Well, who knows? What ever it is, he is still "immersed” in it!

Having navigated the Colorado River, the famous Futelafu River in Chile, and many of the infamous sections of the Deschutes (as well as a few of the local ditches), he is an avid play boater now. His organizational and leadership skills, together with his Engineering background and college studies in fluid dynamics and open channel flow, make him an ideal addition to the Board.

Karl Koenig, Member - Karl has a Ph.D. degree in chemistry from University of Southern California and completed two years of postdoctoral research at UCLA. He has 28 years of business management experience working for Monsanto, Pharmacia and Pfizer. During that career he spent ten years developing project teams and fifteen years as product manager for five diverse products, three of which culminated in commercial launches. Later in the early nineties he was responsible for Strategic Technology Planning and reported to the board of directors of Monsanto. From 1996 to 2001 he was Director of Technology at Pharmacia/Pfizer helping to build the new Nutritional Products Division. After taking an early retirement opportunity in 2001 he started his consulting business, Technology Consulting, where he consults in the areas of product development, technology evaluation, and strategic planning.

Karl has been whitewater paddling since 1976. He and his wife, Jo Ann, have paddled a tandem canoe for over 25 years and to lesser extent have paddled C2 and rowed/paddled a variety of rafts. During that time they have paddled throughout the states, in Europe, Costa Rica, and New Zealand and have visited and paddled on a number of whitewater courses both in and outside the US. He was president of the Missouri Whitewater association for 4 years and taught tandem whitewater canoeing in Missouri and Tennessee for over 10 years. Currently he belongs to American Whitewater, American Canoe Association, the Lower Columbia Canoe Club, Paddlers of Central Oregon (POCO) and Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club (WKCC).

Geoff Frank, Member - Geoff has a business degree focusing on resort management & outdoor recreation. He has spent his time in & out of the ski industry, while always keeping an involvement with paddlesports. Geoff has worked as a kayak guide & instructor since ’96 and for the past thirteen years has managed Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe in Bend. Geoff has guided many rivers in Oregon, Washington & Idaho; he also has many guided seakayking trips under his belt to the San Juan’s and around the Northwest. Geoff has been paddling whitewater for over twelve years, seakayaking for over 10 years & open boating for about 5 years.

Geoff was actively involved with the Northwest Slalom Race Series through the mid 90’s & maintained the Bull Run course during that time. He now enjoys canoeing & working the sticks of his 18’ cat with his young daughters, introducing them to the wonderful realm of the aquatic environment. Geoff holds certifications with the ACA as an advanced WW instructor, Swiftwater Rescue instructor, Open water Coastal instructor, he also holds a BCU 3 star certification. Geoff is a member of the BCU, ACA, AW, POCO, & OKCC.

Jo Ann Weber-Koenig, Member - Jo Ann has a Masters Degree in Sociology and has spent her career in the non profit sector working as a planner, administrator and later as a fund raising consultant. Her area of specialty is grant writing, raising over $4 million from corporations, foundations, government agencies and individuals in support of non profit projects. She was actively involved with the board of her professional fund raising association, mentored young professionals and taught grant writing workshops for 10 years.

She and her husband Karl have been paddling whitewater in a tandem canoe for over 25 years. During that time, she has paddled rivers around the country and in Costa Rica, New Zealand, and Italy; placed in the National Canoe Slalom Races in Wausau, taught tandem canoeing and visited Augsburg, Germany; Wausau; Golden; Ducktown, Salida and Reno to scope out their whitewater play parks.

Since moving to Oregon in 2001 she has enjoyed paddling the rivers in Oregon, Idaho, California and Washington. She belongs to American Whitewater, American Canoe Association, Paddlers of Central Oregon (POCO), the Lower Columbia Canoe Club (LCCC) and the Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club (WKCC) and is committed to assisting BPTA establish a whitewater play park and paddle trail in Bend.

She loves the outdoors and moved to Bend for the skiing and biking. Within a few years of living in Bend she quickly developed a passion for whitewater kayaking. Hilary has paddled many local rivers in Oregon, Washington and California. In addition, she has kayaked abroad in Costa Rica and New Zealand. Hilary currently owns her own CPA firm in Bend providing tax and business consulting.

Mark Schang, Member - Mark graduated from the Florida State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a minor in Business Administration. He grew up in South Florida spending time scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing in the Florida Keys. Mark moved to Bend in 1999, and quickly developed a love for the rivers, creeks and lakes of Central Oregon.

Jason Offutt, Member - Jason has a Bachelors of Science degree in Architectural Engineering from Southern Polytechnic State University. He has worked within the architecture industry for more than 15 years. His custom designs reach to a national market and publications. Jason is a LEED Accredited Professional as well as a Certified Sustainable Building Advisor.

Jason got his introduction to water sports about the time he learned to walk. Growing up in the Southeast, lakes, rivers, and the ocean were very accessible. His family took full advantage. He began rafting rivers in the Southeast at an early age. He continued rafting for several years, until he got an "itch" to learn to kayak. He took a class, then he was hooked. Jason has kayaked many rivers, creeks, and playspots in the Pacific Northwest and Southeast.