ABOUT SORA

It all started with…

A merger of two nonprofit organizations: Mt. Shasta Nordic Ski Organization and Mountain Runners. SORA formed with the aim of gathering the larger community of outdoor recreation nonprofit organizations and initiatives throughout far Northern California into a single alliance. The alliance will serve to amplify the voice of outdoor recreation interests within the region, and support partnerships, policy, and planning related to outdoor recreation and community vitality. Another important aspect of Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance is that with the consolidation of financial and administrative resources, the burden on smaller nonprofits is reduced, resulting in a more sustainable organization.

mission

Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance advocates for opportunities for all to access outdoor recreation and creates meaningful and responsible connections to the trails, mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, and landscapes of the Shasta-Siskiyou region of Northern California.

Staff

Justi Hansen, Executive Director

Justi has spent the last 20 years skiing and cycling on and around the slopes of Mt. Shasta, while carving out a career in economic development and outdoor recreation.

She had the privilege of working as a professional ski patroller and mountain/ski guide on Mt. Shasta and in South America before starting a career in non-profit organizational development.

Justi is passionate about creating and implementing initiatives for organizational growth, community outreach, economic development, and partnership development in the outdoor industry. She is excited about the opportunity to work with the SORA team to build a vibrant, outdoor recreation-based economy that supports the health and well-being of Siskiyou County residents.

Renee Casterline, Chief Operating Officer

Renee grew up on her family ranch at the foot of Mt. Shasta, where she developed a deep love of nature at a young age. Having never left Siskiyou County, she has an appreciation for the power of community and what we can do when we work together.

After 6 years at Great Northern Services developing the young Community Food Program, she moved on to Siskiyou Land Trust where she worked for 8 years, some of that time as the Executive Director, to conserve family farms and ranches. Now at SORA, she brings her background in community organizing and non-profit leadership to an array of projects, events and facilities.

Renee can most often be found pedaling her mountain bike uphill. Other outdoor loves include Nordic skiing, paddle boarding, snowboarding, backpacking, hiking and looking at trees and flowers. She and her husband, Vinnie, enjoy traveling locally in their turquoise van.

Jillian Neel, Nordic Center Program Director

Jillian was born in Mount Shasta and raised right up the road in Weed, California. She loves to spend her time recreating in the outdoors, especially rafting, hiking, skiing, and biking.

Her career passion is to balance environment, economy, and equality. With being such an outdoor enthusiast, she wants everyone to have a fair chance to explore the outdoors. With the love for outdoors and a Business Management degree, she is excited to join the Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance team and build a better future for the land and community members.

Her favorite quote is “What you take from the earth, you must give it back, that’s nature’s way”.

Shayna Cassidy, Event Coordinator

Shayna was born and raised right here in Mt. Shasta! After 10 years away it was time to come home and she has never looked back. She is an avid adventurer who loves to ski, snowboard, hike, mountain bike, and kayak… so Mt. Shasta is indeed the perfect place for her outdoor soul. 

Shayna’s goal and passion has always been to work with “conscious” companies and give back to her community as much as possible. She does this through her work with the Sierra Club Foundation; managing the Shasta Alpine Hut on Mt. Shasta, running a cooperative style construction company, and of course with SORA. Working with SORA is really the cherry on top and she is excited to continue to give back through recreation and the outdoors.

When she’s not out exploring or plugging away on a community project you can surely find her at home snuggled up with her two sweet rescue pups <3

Bryson Schreder, Siskiyou Stewardship Corps Program Director

Bryson is a born and raised Northern Californian, and if you hear him talk about all the wonderful things this part of the world has to offer, it’s easy to see how he doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to call anywhere else “home".

If there is snow on the ground, you’ll likely find him (or not) searching for turns in one of the beautiful crowd-less ranges of the North State. And at any other time of the year, he’ll likely be exploring the trails, rivers, or lakes with his dog Sadie, dreaming of when the snow will return.

With a degree in Architecture and a minor in Sustainable Environments, Bryson uses his passion for the outdoors to better the communities of Siskiyou County.

Board

Dave Tricamo, President

Dave was born and raised in San Francisco and still lives there most of the year.  He also built a second home in Mt Shasta in 2000 and spends as much time as possible in Siskiyou County.  His passion for all things outdoors led him to Mt Shasta, and his desire to Cross Country ski led him to be a founding member of Mt Shasta Nordic Center in 2005 along with his wife Gitane and two other couples.  He served on the board for five years before having to resign to focus on his newborn daughter and his General Contracting business.  All the while he was a major donor to Mt Shasta Nordic and volunteered in any way that he could.  In 2019 he began designing a lodge for the Nordic Center, and this vision is now coming to a realty.  In the Spring of 2020 Dave joined the SORA Board. For a long time, Dave was drawn to the idea that there should be equal opportunity for all to explore the wild places, and to enjoy the merits of outdoor recreation.  And that this would in turn, foster a conservation ethic in more people, which we so sorely need.  It seemed clear to him that SORA was doing real work to this end, and this along with his love of the Nordic Center is why he became a member of the board. 

John Vona, Treasurer

John and his wife recently moved to Mt. Shasta, where they are enjoying hiking and biking on local trails. As the Director of Timberlands at FWS Forestry Services, John brings the perspective of a large, private land manager to SORA’s community-based projects. John’s long history working in the woods as a Registered Professional Forester and analyst bring a business mindset to our small, local non-profit. John is also a volunteer at several community events.

Ashley Parker

Ashley is a born and raised local to Mt. Shasta. She is an avid traveler, outdoor enthusiast, backpacker, snowboarder, mountain biker and mom. She enjoys cold river dips and solitude in nature.  Ashley is passionate about community building and connection, stewardship and building a better world for future generations. 

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Tourism & Destination Management — Niki Brown, Program Director, Discover Siskiyou

Ski Resort Liaison — Richard Coots, Mt. Shasta Ski Park

Grants & Project Management - Asil Donna, AquaTerra Consulting

Education & Rural Schools — Melisa Jessee, Counselor, Sisson School

Social Services — Marie Josee-Wells, Executive Director, Great Northern Services

Capital & Finance — Geoff Harkness, CFP®, Financial Planning & Investment Management

Next Generation — Tate Harkness, Mount Shasta High School

Construction & Facilities — Dave Tricamo, Saturn Construction

Hospitality & Visitor Experience — Tanner Turner, General Manager, LOGE Camps