Meet Travel Lane County — About Us

Travel Lane County connects visitors, stakeholders, media, industry partners, sports planners and meeting planners with the resources and services they need. Learn more about the people and places behind the organization.

Travel Lane County

Travel Lane County’s destination marketing professionals bring decades of industry experience, adaptable skills, progressive thinking and a strong commitment to relationships. Their work encourages people to discover and value Lane County (Eugene, Cascades & Coast), while helping create opportunities, strengthen a shared sense of place and build stronger communities.

Eugene, Cascades & Coast Visitor Center

The Eugene, Cascades & Coast Visitor Center is located in Market Alley in downtown Eugene. Visitors can pick up free maps, brochures, visitor magazines and tourism information. The center is open daily.

Visitor Center Details

Eugene, Cascades & Coast Visitor Center
5th Street Market Alley
550 Pearl St, Suite 106, Eugene, OR 97401

Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Phone: 541.484.5307

Travel Lane County Administrative Offices

754 Olive St, Eugene, OR 97401 (by appointment)

Our Team

Samara Phelps

President and CEO
Email: Samara@EugeneCascadesCoast.org
Phone: 541.743.8750

A Eugene native and University of Oregon graduate, Samara entered tourism with Travel Lane County in 2007 as Visitor Services Coordinator. She later became Director of Visitor Services and then Director of Stakeholder Relations. In 2015, she moved to Clackamas County Tourism, where she was named Executive Director of Clackamas County Tourism in 2019 and promoted the Mount Hood Territory region. She holds a VisitAble Disability Inclusion Certificate and graduated from the Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy and the Chinook Institute for Civic Leadership. Samara remains active in her community and serves as the President of Nearby Nature.

Emily Forsha

Executive Vice President, Strategy and Community Relations
Email: Emily@EugeneCascadesCoast.org
Phone: 541.743.8752

Emily guides strategy implementation and community alignment, partnering closely with the President & CEO so daily activities support long-term priorities. Her areas of oversight include creative services, digital platforms, membership and partnerships. She also leads internal implementation of the Destination Master Plan throughout Lane County's communities.

Liz Bocking

Vice President of Finance and Administration
Email: Liz@EugeneCascadesCoast.org
Phone: 541.743.8751

Liz manages Travel Lane County’s financial and administrative oversight. Her responsibilities encompass daily operating systems, human resources and compliance with organizational guidelines and policy.

J.B. Carney

Vice President, Destination Sales and Services
Email: JB@EugeneCascadesCoast.org

J.B. directs the convention, sports and travel trade sales and services program, using strategic market development and a high-performing team to increase overnight visitation. He manages the sales pipeline from initial prospecting through booking and supports event success from advance planning to on-site execution.

Stephen Hoshaw

Vice President, Marketing
Email: Stephen@EugeneCascadesCoast.org
Phone: 541.743.8760

Stephen sets marketing direction across paid, owned and earned channels to encourage visitation and build confidence in the Eugene, Cascades & Coast brand. He oversees marketing and communications for the organization and collaborates with the sales and services team to coordinate the complete visitor journey.

Megan Temple

Senior Director, Membership and Partnerships
Email: Megan@EugeneCascadesCoast.org
Phone: 541.484.5307

Megan is responsible for membership growth and partner engagement, linking members with programs, events and opportunities that reinforce the visitor economy. She develops relationships with partners throughout Lane County and leads member events, including the annual Visitor Industry Celebration.

Haley Mendez

Membership Coordinator
Email: Haley@EugeneCascadesCoast.org

Haley helps administer the membership program through billing, benefit fulfillment and partner-data management. She maintains accurate member records in the CRM and contributes to weekly email communications.

Melanie Griffin

Creative Director
Email: Melanie@EugeneCascadesCoast.org
Phone: 541.484.5307

Melanie manages the brand and directs the creative services team. She oversees photo and video projects from initial concept through delivery and maintains the organization’s creative asset library.

Taj Barnhart Morgan

Director, Web and Content
Email: Taj@EugeneCascadesCoast.org
Phone: 541.484.5307

Taj directs website content strategy, ensuring the site communicates the story of Lane County with engaging, high-quality material. She owns the content management system, oversees search engine optimization and evaluates website performance to inform future priorities.

Georgia Richardson

Project and Platform Coordinator
Email: Georgia@EugeneCascadesCoast.org
Phone: 541.484.5307

Georgia manages internal platforms and coordinates projects across teams, helping the organization operate efficiently and effectively while marketing the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region.

Philis McLennan

Director, Convention and Sports Marketing
Email: Philis@EugeneCascadesCoast.org

Philis creates and carries out marketing plans that support convention, sports and travel trade sales. She partners with the sales and services team to turn priorities into planner-facing marketing and helps visiting event attendees and spectators enjoy a welcoming experience.

Julia Voigt

Director, Destination Marketing
Email: Julia@EugeneCascadesCoast.org
Phone: 541.743.8764

Julia oversees demand generation, creating campaigns that build awareness, interest and visitation throughout the visitor journey. She manages the destination’s consumer-facing digital platforms and ensures destination marketing reflects the entire county, including rural communities and demand drivers.

Clarissa Warrick

Director, Operations
Email: Clarissa@EugeneCascadesCoast.org
Phone: 541.484.5307

Clarissa leads visitor services and facility operations, helping ensure a high-quality experience from a visitor’s first stop at the Visitor Center. She is responsible for the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Visitor Center and the office’s daily operations and systems.

Heidi Albertson

Convention Sales Manager
Email: Heidi@EugeneCascadesCoast.org
Phone: 541.743.8761

Heidi pursues and secures convention business that generates overnight visitation. She handles the sales cycle from prospecting to booking and cultivates strategic connections with hotels and hospitality partners across the destination.

Alayna Newman

Sports Sales and Services Manager
Email: Alayna@EugeneCascadesCoast.org

Alayna contributes to efforts to bring new sports events to Lane County and provides services that help those events succeed. Her work supports greater economic benefit and community partnership through sport in Lane County.

Fiona Gledhill

Sales and Services Manager
Email: Fiona@EugeneCascadesCoast.org

Fiona builds and maintains connections with meeting planners, tour operators and travel industry partners. She develops new business opportunities, promotes regional attractions and experiences, and connects clients with local venues, accommodations and tourism resources for successful events and travel programs.

Cass Moore

Sales and Services Coordinator
Email: Cass@EugeneCascadesCoast.org

Cass supports the Sales & Services team through data management, research, event logistics and administrative work. She helps create strong experiences for event owners, meeting planners, partners and visitors.

Kyle Chase

Visitor Services Specialist
Email: Kyle@EugeneCascadesCoast.org
Phone: 541.484.5307

Kyle helps visitors find hotels, dining and activities across the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region. His knowledge includes hiking, camping and outdoor destinations, and he also contributes to the local event calendar.

Eli Panero

Visitor Services Specialist
Email: Eli@EugeneCascadesCoast.org
Phone: 541.484.5307

Eli assists visitors with hotels, dining and activities in the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region. His specialties include the University of Oregon and its athletics, downtown dining and live music. He also creates photography and editorial content for the organization and assists with permit sales and the event calendar.

Visitor Information Centers

Local visitor information centers and chambers of commerce offer maps, brochures and guidance about activities in each community.