Casey Andrews chosen as new executive director of the Central Oregon Trails Alliance
Barney Lerten
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After an extensive and thoughtful search process, the Central Oregon Trail Alliance has announced the hiring of Casey Andrews as the new executive director.
The search engaged the Hiring Committee of the Board of Directors, additional board members, staff, and volunteers, who collectively dedicated more than 1,000 hours reviewing over 40 applicants, conducting interviews, and evaluating the organization’s needs and long-term vision, COTA said in a news release Monday that continues below:
Andrews has called Bend home for several years and is grateful to live in a place where trails are woven into everyday life. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, exploring Central Oregon’s trail systems and public lands.
Trails hold deep personal meaning for Andrews as places of connection to nature, to community, and to stewardship and she values the role they play in supporting both individual well-being and shared responsibility for the landscapes we all enjoy.
Andrews brings 15 years of experience in public lands management, including roles with the National Park Foundation, National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service.
During her tenure with the Forest Service, she worked closely with Central Oregon Trail Alliance on trail planning, grant development, project management, and project implementation, building a strong foundation of collaboration and trust over many years.
Her professional background includes managing complex, multi-partner projects; overseeing grant-funded trail work; and coordinating across agencies, nonprofits, and volunteer groups to deliver durable, on-the-ground trail development and maintenance.
“With an extremely strong pool of candidates, we are thrilled to welcome Casey Andrews to the organization,” said Eric D’Orvilliers, COTA Board of Directors Vice President. “Casey’s background and familiarity with COTA are a huge benefit to us. Her breadth of experience across the various pillars of our mission, combined with her vision for COTA’s future, is what truly stood out in the hiring process.
“She leads with both passion and a genuine interest in the stakeholders of our organization. With our new five-year Strategic Plan in place and Casey’s leadership, COTA is poised to grow, deepen community connections, and continue providing the best riding experience possible for Central Oregon.”
“Trails are where community, conservation, and stewardship come together,” said Andrews. “I’m excited to join COTA because it reflects the best of Central Oregon: care for public lands, collaboration, and a community that shows up to steward the trails we all love and enjoy.”