Masami Takikawa is a software developer and architect with over 30 years of experience in developing data-driven applications, specializing in AI and Machine Learning (ML). Before joining CBI, Masami served as a Director of Software Development at Oracle for 11 years, where he led AI/ML initiatives for Oracle’s e-commerce platform, used by major e-commerce sites worldwide. He holds a B.A. and M.A. in Behavioral Science from Hokkaido University in Japan, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Oregon State University, where he developed a novel, efficient approach to large-scale Bayesian statistical reasoning.
At CBI, Masami works on all aspects of Data Basin, CBI’s flagship web platform that empowers thousands of users to collaboratively explore and act on geospatial conservation data.
Masami and his wife, Midori, moved to Corvallis, OR to enjoy a quieter lifestyle away from Tokyo’s bustle. Together, they’ve raised four children in the beautiful, nature-rich area.
Kerrie Ishkarin recently joined the CBI Software & Tool Team, bringing 8+ years of experience working as a user interface (UI), user experience (UX), and product designer. She has worked on desktop and mobile product designs using tools such as Figma, Sketch, and InVision to create sketches, wireframes, prototypes, and implementation-ready designs.
Kerrie has a Bachelor of Fine Art and a Certificate in UX Design from Rhode Island School of Design.
Jorge Diaz joined CBI in 2024. He started his career in technology as an artist, animator, and designer working on both the mainstream and the educational video game industry.
After completing an MS in Computer Science he started as a software engineer in the public sector. Sometime in between he taught college classes in storyboarding as well as computer science and co-owned two art supply stores with his wife. His developer experience is in accessibility, automation, full stack development, security, user interface design, and developing systems for a wide variety of user types.
Jorge’s love for nature started while growing up in Puerto Rico where he spent a lot of time fishing, swimming, and playing with his brother and friends in forested and undeveloped lots. He lives in the Northeast where he enjoys mentoring, camping, exercising, drawing, writing, and illustrating comic books and occasionally making music-like sounds with a guitar.
As a Geospatial Analyst, Grace is interested in applying geospatial technologies to translate data into accessible and actionable conservation solutions. Her areas of expertise and interest include geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, data visualization, and interactive web maps. Grace has broad experience in conservation, most recently with the Center for Large Landscape Conservation to analyze the potential impacts of linear infrastructure development on wildlife across Asia. She has also worked with Conservation International to develop a land-use planning tool and with the National Park Service to identify disturbances in National Parks using satellite imagery. Grace has an M.S. in Environmental Observation and Informatics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Professional Certificate in Geospatial Programming and Web Map Development from Penn State University, and a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Yale University.
Grace is passionate about the process of linking knowledge to action, and through her work hopes to use geospatial data to inform land-use decisions that balance the needs of people and biodiversity. She is a 2022 Pacific Crest Trail thru-hiker, and currently lives in Bend, OR, where she enjoys rock climbing, skiing, and jigsaw puzzles.
Cole Soldo is a conservationist who is grounded in the fact that conservation is, ultimately, about people. He comes from The Ohio State University with experience in risk analysis and decision science, measuring the drivers of conservation program participation rates, and farmer conservation identity. His primary research targeted the use of constructed wetlands to address water quality challenges and farmer willingness to adopt edge-of-field conservation measures in the Western Lake Erie Basin.
Cole brings additional ecosystem stewardship and urban sustainability experience to CBI, emphasizing clear communications and finding workable, focused solutions to pressing environmental issues. He is excited to bring an additional viewpoint and expertise to help CBI’s spatial analysis tools become adopted by a wide audience.
Tyler joined CBI in August 2022 as a software engineer. In previous lives, he has taught high school math and computer science, written software tools for computer animation, and worked as a field biology technician tracking moose calves in northern Idaho. He has always been interested in ecology, sustainability and appropriate technology.
After growing up on the shores of Puget Sound, Tyler studied computer science at Middlebury college with a particular focus on spatial computing, exploring cartographic design alongside geospatial algorithms. His previous experiences as a GIS analyst and a wildlife technician enable him to communicate effectively with a variety of professionals, and inform the decisions he now makes as a software engineer situated in the world of conservation biology.
Currently back in the Pacific Northwest, Tyler gets his kicks canoeing, backpacking, and checking the surf forecast.
Moriah Van Voorhis is a GIS Analyst with experience using spatial analysis to aide in the management of declining species. She takes interest in exploring the complexities and patterns present on a landscape to catalyze solutions for the restoration of natural ecosystems. She holds an M.S. in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from North Carolina State University. Her areas of expertise and interest include geographic information systems, species distribution, remote sensing, connectivity modeling, and conservation planning.
Marilyn Veek earned a B.S. in Food Technology from Oregon State University and an M.S. in Food Science from University of California, Davis. She is retired from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, where she worked in field investigations, epidemiological operations, and international programs. CBI board member since 2005.
Terri Nopp is the founder of Online Newsroom, a PR agency focused on helping organizations evolve their communications to meet the needs and demands of today’s public. Over the past 2 decades Terri has built a reputation for her entrepreneurial spirit and innovative communication expertise, working with start-ups to some of the world’s leading tech and consumer brands. She has developed PR campaigns for leading technology companies such as Microsoft, WebTrends, Tripwire and Autodesk.
Prior to founding Online Newsroom, Terri was the Deputy General Manager at Edelman Portland where she ran the office operations and was also a global customer relationship manager for Autodesk. Prior to Edelman, Terri started TNT Communication, a boutique high tech PR agency and spent the first 8 years of her career driving PR strategies for a variety of Microsoft products, including Office, Outlook, Windows and Visual Studio.
Terri is an active outdoorswoman and enjoys spending time with her husband Mike and 2 dogs at their Yurt in the Columbia gorge.
John Vankat earned an A.B. in biology from Carleton College and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in botany from the University of California, Davis. He taught and researched plant ecology at Miami University for 31 years, before moving to Flagstaff, Arizona, where he continued research as a special projects ecologist with Grand Canyon National Park followed by senior research ecologist at Northern Arizona University. John has published in such journals as Conservation Biology, Ecology, Forest Ecology and Management, Journal of Vegetation Science, Ecological Modelling, and Landscape Ecology. Past professional activities included helping to start and later chairing the Vegetation Section of the Ecological Society of America and the North American Section of the International Association for Vegetation Science. John served on the CBI Board from 2006 to 2016.