Austin Ernesti is the executive director, and founder, of Trajectory. He sees that changes are constant throughout history, which implies there will be changes in the future; proven knowledge can be integrated with new technologies, ancient techniques, and multi-cultural cooperation. He believes that future generations will need sustainable resource management as the world's needs are drastically shifting with the climate.

Raised amid generational poverty in the midwest, Austin brings a personal understanding of resilience and access to opportunity. He served two Iraq deployments with the SD Army Guard that paid for multiple degrees; he went on to finish top of his Masters cohort at Johns Hopkins University.

His experience spans from building museum education programs to steel towers, being responsible for teams over 100, and overseeing sales operations over $40 million annually. He pairs academic rigor with physical experience while helping others succeed.

 He is also has a brilliant, hilarious, and supportive wife, and two equally tenacious children. 

Michael O'Malley: President Owner of O'Malley Bros Corporation. He was born and raised in Sandy. 5 out of the 6 kids in his family became entrepreneurs, and they all learned how from their parents, prominent business people in Sandy during the 70’s. His dad was a Carpenter/Real Estate Agent and his mom owned the Salon in town.

While his Grandpa worked most his life in the woods, interestingly enough, Mike did not grow up in the industry. He fell in love with the logging community through heavy trucking, at one point with 15 log trucks running almost daily, hauling a large percentage of all Clackamas County logs. He gained a reputation for "getting the job done" no matter the situation, a strength he now brings to Trajectory.

Mike's love of the woods developed through thousands of off road hours and miles moving gear, and the occasional running a shovel buncher or  processor. He is overtly committed to educating and sharing the value of his industry with the next generation because, "We dropped the ball; Kids just don't know anymore."

Eric Clark: Vice Pres. Eric has been volunteering with Trajectory for the past four years, beginning with the inaugural SICC Forest Fest when Austin simply asked, "Hey, you want to help?" Since then, he has remained dedicated to supporting the organization and its mission.

Although his professional career has largely been spent working within four walls and a ceiling, the outdoors and the unique challenges it presents have always called to him. Eric is passionate about creating opportunities that help our community thrive while honoring and preserving the traditional values that define who we are.

Aristarco Herrera: Secretary A former Special Education teacher, Aris has been working with students of all ages since graduating high school in 2016. He began volunteering with trajectory in 2023 by creating videos / content to spread the message online. He has since turned a passion for videos into a career and today is a full time videographer. He puts his passion to work, creating the engaging, informative, and entertaining content that is key to growing an audience and gaining attention for Trajectory. (If you haven't already - go watch our videos!) Aris looks forward to documenting Trajectory's journey and continuing to help the next generation find the passions that drive them.

Thor Web: Treasurer      Thor Webb brings a background in accounting and a strong commitment to volunteering and community involvement. A lifelong Oregonian and former member of the Oregon National Guard, Thor has been an active Trajectory volunteer since 2024 and enjoys spending time outdoors. He currently works as an accountant for Vanport International, where he has gained experience in the forest products industry. Outside of work and Trajectory, Thor is a former soccer coach and enjoys staying active and involved in his community. He is proud to support Trajectory’s mission and help create opportunities for young people to explore careers and develop hands-on skills.

Christine Johnson , former president, is a local consulting arborist based in Clackamas, Oregon. She loves trees and believes they are an essential part of a community’s identity. Christine earned her master’s degree in Forest Ecosystems and Society from Oregon State University in 2017 where she studied green infrastructure in rural Oregon communities. Trajectory combines her passion for the forest with her admiration for education. In her free time, she likes spending time outside gardening, playing construction with her son, walking her dog, and trying to find the best pizza in Oregon with her husband.

Valerie Salazar  is one of the founding members, and first president, of Trajectory and still consults the board on its actions today. She has been working in the field of youth development for many years serving as a champion for young people and their families. She established workforce development programs and taught life skills and financial literacy, while supporting internal asset building with a focus of internal/external stability. Valerie believes it is important to provide a solid perspective on the importance of culture and the value of equity and inclusion; and has extensive experience in high risk and vulnerable youth outreach and crisis de-escalation, including sex trafficking, gang outreach, homelessness, LGBTQIA+, communities of color, and foster care.  

     As Director of Youth, Family & Community Relations, Valerie is an advocate for community partnerships and positive youth development experiences. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Sandy Chamber of Commerce. Today you can find her at her own consulting firm, Upwardpath Consulting.