Andrea Pacheco

Andrea Pacheco

Executive Director

Andrea (she/her) is a mediator and restorative justice facilitator with a unique blend of skills rooted in science and compassion. A licensed geologist (RG/PG) by trade, she began her career navigating the natural world, but soon found her calling in the human landscape of conflict resolution. Her journey has led her through advanced training in Restorative Justice, Family Mediation, Agricultural Mediation, and Conflict Dynamics Coaching, equipping her to support individuals and teams in navigating complex conversations.
Andrea is Puerto Rican and a military brat, first developing her mediation skills informally on cross-cultural mining sites abroad. Navigating diverse perspectives and experiences has taught her adaptability and cultural sensitivity. Later, formal training added structure to her approach, blending high-stakes, real-world insight with a grounded, creative style. Since joining Six Rivers in 2014, her dedication to fostering harmony and understanding in her community has been evident; she took the helm as Executive Director in 2021.
When she’s not working, she’s usually outside — preferably near water or somewhere the wind has an opinion. She’s learned that the best ideas rarely come from sitting still.

director@6rivers.org

Colleen Regalbuto

Colleen Regalbuto

Associate Director

Colleen manages a variety of Six Rivers programs and is also a staff mediator. She has advanced training in Family Mediation (WA), Domestic Relations and Parenting Time Mediation (OR) and Equity-Informed Mediation. She is a certified mediator with the Washington Mediation Association and previously served as Recording Secretary for Resolution Washington, the membership organization for Dispute Resolution Centers in Washington state. Previously, she worked in international relief and development, and has served the Gorge as a contracted project manager and grant writer with numerous local non-profit organizations and coalitions. She has a B.A. in Romance Languages (Italian & Spanish) from the University of Oregon, and a Master of Public Administration from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. She is a Gorge local, having grown up in Hood River, and a proud mom of two. colleenr@6rivers.org

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Ona Lawrence

Ona Lawrence

Conflict Resolution Specialist

Ona earned her B.A. in communication studies and relational conflict management from St Cloud State University. She brings 14 years of experience in community mediation, Restorative Justice and project coordination and design, with Advanced trainings in Family and Elder Mediation, De-Escalation, Agricultural Mediation and Restorative Justice. Ona is a is a passionate believer in the power of mediation and Restorative Justice to open lines of communication, allowing all parties to have a voice and actively work toward resolution that meet the needs of all.  

Ona and her husband live in Goldendale, Washington where they enjoy hiking, riding horses and kayaking in the abundant wilderness of the Columbia Gorge.

onal@6rivers.org

Gemma Vasquez

Gemma Vasquez

Restorative Justice Facilitator

Gemma is a thoughtful and intuitive professional known for balancing insight, empathy, and clear communication in dynamic environments. Her relationship with Six Rivers began through Board membership and later deepened through the Six Rivers Mediation Practicum. She brings a grounded presence to her work, with a natural ability to understand both the big picture and the nuances that shape meaningful outcomes.

With a strong sense of integrity and collaboration, Gemma approaches her work with intention and care. She navigates complexity with clarity and contributes in ways that are both strategic and deeply human.

Outside of work, Gemma is dedicated to personal growth and practices that support resilience and well-being. She is a whitewater kayaker and enjoys spending time with her pup, Cedro. These qualities carry into her role as a Restorative Justice Facilitator, where she shows up as present, perceptive, and purpose-driven.

gemmav@6rivers.org

Lori Loranger

Lori Loranger

Restorative Justice Facilitator

As a student, teacher and practitioner of nonviolent/compassionate communication for nearly 20 years, Lori believes that how we talk (and listen) to one another matters. Lori did her basic mediation training with Six Rivers in 2010; experiencing the destructive results of unresolved conflict in community groups inspired her to become a mediator. This led to specialized trainings in Facilitation, Restorative practices, and Foreclosure mediation. Lori is honored and delighted to be a member of Six Rivers’ Restorative Justice team. Lori enjoys tai chi, foraging for wild edibles, and growing food. loril@6rivers.org

Carolyn R. Smale

Carolyn R. Smale

Financial Clerk and Mediator

Carolyn R. Smale came to Six Rivers as our first Mediation Apprentice, sponsored in part through the Oregon Office of Community Dispute Resolution at the University of Oregon School of Law.  She completed her apprenticeship in June of 2023.  Carolyn continues with Six River assisting with the bookkeeping.  Carolyn enjoys mediation work and also volunteers her time for mediations.

You may know Carolyn as the Gorge’s local bankruptcy attorney.   Carolyn continues to practice bankruptcy law and help those facing financial difficulty.  The listening and facilitation skills she learned as a mediation apprentice have been invaluable in her bankruptcy practice, allowing her to fully hear her clients and their story.

Carolyn lives in Hood River with her husband.  She enjoys walking their dog Stokely, riding bikes, playing pinball and exploring all the Gorge has to offer. carolyns@6rivers.org

Debra Pennington Davis

Debra Pennington Davis

Restorative Justice Facilitator

Debra’s restorative justice work is rooted in the values of human dignity and resiliency. She is committed to evidence-based and research-informed practices that help individuals and families improve their lives. During the first three foundational years of the Circles of Peace program, Debra served as Restorative Justice Coordinator and worked closely with community partners and New York University’s Center on Violence and Recovery. Now that the program is fully implemented and thriving, Debra has stepped into the part-time role of Restorative Justice Mentor Coordinator so that she can pursue her Master of Social Work degree to deepen her
ability to support people in trauma healing and growth.

Outside of her work at Six Rivers, Debra has been involved in restorative justice projects at the regional and national level, serving several boards and committees. Prior to restorative justice work, Debra worked as a teacher and literary artist and volunteered widely in her community. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and secondary education from the University of Puget Sound and a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work degree at Boise State University with the goal of becoming a licensed clinical social worker

debrap@6rivers.org

Andy Oliver

Andy Oliver

Restorative Justice Facilitator

 After studying criminology at Florida State University, Andy completed seminary and became a Chaplain serving at a state prison in Virginia.  Andy worked with people and groups around issues of harm, loss, forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace as a congregational minister.  Andy began mediation in 2017 and volunteered with Multnomah County Circuit Court’s Small Claims Department.  Over the past several years, he has thoroughly enjoyed learning and practicing the craft of Restorative Justice through circle keeping.

andyo@6rivers.org

Michael Reid

Michael Reid

Conflict Resolution Specialist

Michael Reid is a Conflict Resolution Specialist with Six Rivers. He helped expand Oregon’s Housing Mediation program in 2022 and now supports a wide range of mediation services, including family and parenting-plan mediation, courthouse outreach, and restorative justice programs. Michael is a trauma-informed mediator with specialized training in domestic violence and is certified through Resolution Washington. He also serves as an instructor for Six Rivers’ mediation training programs.

Prior to joining Six Rivers, Michael spent thirty years with the federal judiciary, where he worked extensively with judges, court staff, attorneys, and parties to support alternative dispute resolution. Earlier in his career, he served as a mediator and outreach specialist with AARP, assisting vulnerable older adults.

Michael has a daughter pursuing graduate studies at UCLA and enjoys writing, reading, and improving his pickleball game. He is grateful to be back in the Pacific Northwest and contributing to Six Rivers’ work in mediation, restorative justice, and community building.

michaelr@6rivers.org

Christy Deere

Christy Deere

Restorative Justice Facilitator; Mediator

Christy has spent much of her life sitting with people in the moments that matter—when something has broken, when trust is strained, and when the way forward is unclear. Her work is grounded in a deep belief that even in adversity, there is the possibility for honesty, responsibility, and reconnection. She brings a calm, grounded presence and a willingness to stay with what is real, helping create conditions where people can be heard, accountability can emerge, and something new can begin.

christyd@6rivers.org

Karen Ford

Karen Ford

Services Coordinator

Karen Ford is the Services Coordinator at Six Rivers, where she helps connect community members with mediation and restorative justice services throughout the Columbia Gorge region. In addition to supporting clients, mediators, and community partners through the intake and case development process, Karen also co-mediates cases, helping individuals navigate difficult conversations and work toward constructive resolutions. 

Karen’s introduction to mediation came through Six Rivers during her own divorce. Through mediation, she and her former spouse were able to maintain a cooperative parenting partnership and create a stable, supportive environment for their son. Inspired by that experience, Karen is grateful for the opportunity to help others discover possibilities they may not yet see and find a path forward through conflict.karenf@6rivers.org