Board Members

Sue Boettner

Board Chair

Sue has lived in Sisters over 6 years. Prior to that, she lived in Bend for 14 years. For over 35 years, Sue has worked in the park and recreation field and currently works for Bend Park and Recreation District as a recreation manager. She enjoys giving back to the community and has served on many volunteer boards. When she’s not working she can be found at either her daughter Maddi’s running events or her son Eli’s baseball or soccer games. Her favorite pastimes are listening to live music or cooking and having friends over. She is excited to be part of the SFF Board.

Jay Wilkins

Treasurer

Recognizing his complete lack of musical talent, Jay joined the Sisters Folk Festival board in 2015 to be a voice of the loyal audience members. Jay and his wife, Vanessa, were married in Sisters almost 20 years ago.  They moved from Portland over 4 years ago to be a part of the Sisters community. Their daughters currently attend Sisters Middle School and are students of the Americana Project, ukulele lesson participants, and regulars at the festival. After serving in the Army as an Apache helicopter pilot, Jay earned his MBA and spent time in strategy and general management roles at companies ranging from small start-ups to Nike.  Locally, Jay is proud to serve on the Sisters Coffee Company board and coaches youth lacrosse.

Kerry Bott

Past Chair

Joining the board in 2014 Kerry’s focus has been on industrial arts programs in the High School including the Americana Luthier program and modern manufacturing skills including 3D printing and automated CNC routing.  In the Luthier program, he has focused on helping the students with sophisticated inlays. He retired to Sisters 7 years ago from the Portland area where he had a 30-year career in the high tech computer industry.  His other interests include photography, woodworking, computer, and electronic projects.

 

Terry Buchholz

Vice Chair

Loving the mountain setting and the warm community vibe, Terry and her husband, Bob, moved to Sisters in 2014 from the Portland area.  Terry is a water resource engineer and business owner (Integrated Water Solutions) that manages complex water projects and facilitates collaborative stakeholder processes. Over the years, Terry has served on several non-profit boards and enjoys volunteering in many capacities within the community.  In her free time, Terry loves to sing in the Transfiguration choir, hike, and cook.   Terry is excited to join the SFF board.

Shawn Diez

Secretary

In 2008, Shawn and his wife, Katie, decided to make a change. Born and raised in the Portland area, they wanted to slow life down, be closer to the outdoors that feeds their souls, and experience small-town living for their daughters. They settled in Sisters, a decision they will never regret. They love having access to hiking, biking and all the beauty the outdoors has to offer. But more importantly, being a part of a community that cares so much for its children is invaluable for them as parents. Shawn has worked in the public schools for 15 years as a school counselor, and through his work in the Sisters schools got connected with Sisters Folk Festival. His daughters have benefited from the SFF programs such as the Americana Project at both the middle and high school levels as well as the music festival and countless community events they enjoy as a family.

Scott Gascon

Board Member

Scott and his wife Carissa moved to Sisters in 2009. The school district was a big factor in our decision to move here. Both of their daughters have been a part of the Americana Project, and Scott is very excited to be able to be involved in an organization that has been such a big part of his family’s life. Scott and his family have always had a strong connection with nature, so the fact that they could live in a place with such beauty was a bonus. Scott has worked in the finance industry for over 10 years in banking and insurance.

Susie Zeitner

Board Member

Susie is a native Oregonian. Growing up in a family who were very active in all the outdoor recreational sports, she loves the mountain lifestyle and the artistic and musical spirit she found in Sisters. Listening to all the exceptional music in this community is her regular past time. She and her husband Dan bought property in Sisters in 2001 and built their dream home and studio here. She moved here full time from Eugene, upon his untimely death in 2010. Susie early on got involved in giving back to this community in 2002, by donating to the My Two Hands auction, and has donated significantly each year since.

Susie attended Southern Oregon University, University of Oregon, and received almost all of her commercial art training from the Academy of Art, in San Francisco, California.

Indigo Teiwes

Board Member

Indigo comes to the Sisters Folk Festival Board with strong business and non-profit experience, a passion for folk music, and a desire to give back to the organization that was the catalyst for reawakening her youthful dream of living in central Oregon. With an almost 20-year career in corporate social responsibility and sustainability, Indigo has worked to help organizations from investment firms to hotel chains achieve improved triple bottom line results across the areas of financial, social and environmental performance. She became part of the Sisters community in 2013 and Indigo now leads the charge on Corporate Social Responsibility at Hydro Flask while also supporting the inspirational educational and community mission of Sisters Folk Festival, and getting out on her bikes (mountain and road) as much as possible.

Julie Childress

Board Member

Julie has lived in Central Oregon for over 40 years. She is married to her husband, Rocky, of 36 years and they have two children, Cameron and Hailie Childress. Julie has managed the family business, Sunset Plumbing, for 27 years alongside her brother and husband. Both of her two children work in the family business, as well. In her free time, Julie enjoys music, hiking, mt. biking, snowboarding, traveling and spending time with her family. She especially enjoys spending time with her grandson, Rush Owen. Over the years, Julie and her family have enjoyed attending the Sisters Folk Festival and all of the associated events. In addition, Sunset Plumbing has been a sponsor of the Folk Art Circle for many years. She is excited to join the SFF board and looks forward to contributing to this amazing organization.

Marlene Schneider

Board Member

A board member in the early 2000’s, Marlene re-joined the board in 2019 with her retirement from the public media arena. Marlene started her public media career in the development department at Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) in 1995 and subsequently worked directly with over 50 public TV and radio stations as well as national organizations Greater Public and PBS to strengthen corporate support across the industry. Marlene and her partner, Scott, embrace almost all the outdoor activities Sisters country has to offer.

Mike Geisen

Board Member

As a native of the Pacific Northwest, Mike has been in central Oregon since 2001. Nationally recognized for teaching excellence, Mike teaches 8th-grade science, ECoS, and Americana at Sisters Middle School. His two offspring have been a part of the Americana program at SHS and built ukulele and guitar. Mike is a music-lover and musician, proficient on guitar, mandolin and keyboards (and not yet proficient on banjo or cello. Or trumpet – which he hasn’t played since 5th grade). In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, skiing, biking, climbing, backpacking and photography, most of which he does with his dog, Stella. He’s excited to be a part of such an integral and innovative organization in this town he lives in and loves.

Jim Cornelius

Board Chair Emeritus

Jim Cornelius is a co-founder of the Sisters Folk Festival. His passion for music grew out of his love for good storytelling, and his musical heroes tend to be storytellers — Tom Russell, Dave Alvin, Steve Earle, Guy Clark. He makes his living with his pen as the editor of The Nugget Newspaper in Sisters, Oregon and is himself a songwriter and performer with the band “The Anvil Blasters.”