Camp Sherman woman joins land trust board

The Deschutes Land Trust has announced that Inge Wells of Camp Sherman and Melissa Kent of Bend have joined the Land Trust's board of directors. Both women bring unique skills, expertise, and passion for conserving land in Central Oregon to the Land Trust.

Inge Wells is a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Appellate and Civil Enforcement Divisions of the Oregon Department of Justice. Wells grew up in the Willamette Valley, and attended law school at the University of Washington. She and her husband purchased a home in Camp Sherman in 2002, and moved there full-time in 2012. Inge began working in DOJ's Bend office in 2016, and is thrilled to be able to live and work in Central Oregon. She enjoys camping, hiking, and spending time outdoors.

Melissa Kent is the retired CFO of a private investment firm and is a founder and executive chair of The Office Group, a nonprofit that provides mentoring, tutoring and college counseling to high school students in challenging situations. Melissa received her B.S. in Business Administration from UC Berkeley and her M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Melissa has lived in Bend since 2003 and enjoys hiking, biking, skiing and helping Central Oregon maintain its incredible quality of life.

"The Land Trust is very fortunate to have Melissa and Inge join our Board of Directors," said Executive Director Brad Chalfant. "Their professional backgrounds, leadership skills, commitment to conservation, and their ability to connect us to our local communities adds significant depth to an already strong Board. Furthermore, as an organization that holds and cares for land forever, we look to our Board to provide the long-term guidance that will help our conservation projects stand the test of time. Melissa and Inge will help continue that long tradition."

The Deschutes Land Trust conserves land for wildlife, scenic views, and local communities. As Central Oregon's only nationally accredited and locally based land trust, the Deschutes Land Trust has protected more than 8,900 acres since 1995. For more information on Deschutes Land Trust, call 541-330-0017 or visit www.deschuteslandtrust.org.