Leanne Summers
Board Chair
A native Oregonian eager to keep the outdoors forefront, while also living closer to family, Leanne moved to Tumalo from Alaska in 2004, then to Sisters in 2019. She has two adventurous children and two energetic grandsons. Leanne has more than 24 years of executive experience in the commercial real estate industry. In addition, she’s worked in the health and community initiative sectors, and taught writing at both the University of Alaska-Anchorage and COCC. She’s also been active on several non-profit boards and served as a search manager for Deschutes County SAR. Currently, Leanne is a leadership training consultant. She believes leaders who access creativity, both professionally and personally, can help others discover and hone their own adaptive and innovative capabilities. She’s excited to bring her experience and creativity to the SFF board.
Phoenix Ries
Vice Chair
Phoenix moved to Sisters 3 years ago with her husband, Tom, to fulfill her dream of someday being a part of this beautiful community! She spent the bulk of her career working in the mental health field with children and teens and is currently the counselor at Black Butte School in Camp Sherman. She also teaches yoga throughout the community, helping people live in alignment. Phoenix is thrilled to be a part of the SFF board. She is moved beyond measure by the power of music and art; in healing and growing healthy humans. We nurture our souls with the things that breathe life into it. Phoenix does this by running long distances, practicing yoga, being with music, and spending quality time talking and playing with the people she loves.
Terry Buchholz
Treasurer
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.
Jeff Curtis
Board Member
For over 30 years, Jeff and his family have recreated for much of the year in Sisters country. And while his wife, Rhonda, advocated throughout that time for a fulltime move to Sisters to raise their three sons, they weren’t able to pull that off until early 2019, when they moved to property just outside of town. As a strong supporter of the Sisters community and someone who loves to listen to music, play music, and watch others play music, Jeff is excited to join a board that does so much to promote and support community activities using music and the arts. After a long career in the legal and investment world, he is most happy now on the farm fixing things, mending fences, making things out of wood, or taking trips with Rhonda and their two dogs, Buck and Cody, to camp, hike and fish (or catch a music festival somewhere!).
Paul Evers
Board Member
Paul, his wife, Mary, and children moved to Bend 30 years ago. A celebrated veteran in brand strategy, design and advertising, Paul led the teams behind the creative development of craft beverage brands such as Humm Kombucha, 21st Amendment, Deschutes Brewery, Odell Brewing and Crux Fermentation Project — which he co-founded. Then in 2017, Paul co-founded Riff, a cold-brewed coffee company, along with his son, Bobby, and veterans from Stumptown and LinkedIn. Paul is also a long-time active Central Oregon community member, having played a significant role in launching both the Bend Volunteer Corps and TEDxBend.
Judy Fuentes
Board Member
Judy Fuentes has lived in Central Oregon for 16 years and is a mother to 4 awesome humans. Judy is an artist and art educator. For over 20 years Judy has developed art curriculums to bring authentic art education into schools and communities and is currently the middle school art teacher at SMS. She has worked with musicians, actors, and artists to empower youth as they search for their sense of self, explore their unique identities, and appreciate the diversity in the world. She enjoys connecting and collaborating with community members of all ages to create experiences and artwork. Judy is excited to be part of the SFF Board! When she can, Judy nourishes herself through the beauty of nature, music, art, and friendships.
Steve Rudolph
Board Member
Wanting to explore and enjoy a more pristine lifestyle upon retirement, Steve and his wife Sheryl moved to Sisters in 2017 after living in Portland all their years prior. After attending their first Sisters Folk Festival in 2016 they were hooked and wanted to be part of this vibrant and giving community event. Steve earned his B.S. in Marketing from Oregon State and his MBA from George Fox College and retired as the NW District Vice President of Sales for Eaton Corporation. Steve has served on multiple boards and is very excited about contributing his energy and skill set to helping the Sisters Folk Festival. Steve enjoys fly fishing (tying his own flies) and can be found often attempting to trick a trout on the Metolius to engage his fly.
Molly Greaney
Student Board Member
Molly is SFF’s first student board member and is excited to join and provide a new perspective! Living in Sisters her entire life, Molly has been involved in the school district’s various music and art programs. One of her proudest accomplishments is building a guitar in Sisters High School’s luthier class. In her free time, Molly enjoys hiking, skiing, reading, spending time with her (rather large) family, and playing music.
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.”
