Clean Rivers Cooperative held its 2025 Annual Member Meeting on December 9 at the Cooperative’s Operations Facility, bringing together members, leadership, and staff for a luncheon of business, recognition, and reflection on the year gone by and the year ahead.
The meeting opened with a safety briefing led by General Manager Vanessa Green, followed by a call to order from Board President and Chairman Doug Lenz of Columbia Pacific Bio-Refinery. Twelve member organizations were represented in person, constituting a quorum, with voting quorum further supported by proxy ballots submitted in advance by a total of seventeen member organizations. Members approved the previous meeting minutes, financial reports, the 2026 operating and capital expenditure budget, and the slate of nominees for the 2026 Board of Directors.
A highlight of the meeting was the presentation of awards from the 2025 Boom Rodeo. Third place honors went to Sunoco LP Portland, while second place was awarded to Phillips 66, with special recognition given to Member Organization ExxonMobil that sent a representative that joined the Phillips 66 team. Taking home the coveted first-place belt buckle was Sunoco LP Vancouver. Congratulations were extended to all participating teams for their dedication and performance.
The Cooperative’s year-in-review presentation was delivered by staff members Carl Boelter, Ben Robinson, and Polly Hyke under the leadership of Vanessa Green. The presentation showcased the work of the Board of Directors, member committees, and staff, and highlighted a busy year that included industry engagement, incident responses, tabletop and deployment exercises, a Large-Scale Multi-OSRO Deployment Exercise, and numerous training events for members, contractors, and staff. Special recognition was given to Operations Manager Carl Boelter, who was congratulated on receiving the 2025 Legacy Award from the Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force. This prestigious bi-annual award recognizes exceptional contributions to oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response, as well as leadership in protecting communities and the environment.
A special presentation was delivered by Board Vice President Kelly Codlin of Marathon Petroleum, who shared the history and formation of Clean Rivers Cooperative. Kelly explained that the Cooperative was established in 1971 when local oil industry leaders along the Columbia and Willamette Rivers recognized the need for coordinated spill preparedness following a major oil spill in San Francisco Bay. Rather than each company investing independently in response equipment, these leaders saw the value in sharing resources, leading to the creation of what would become Clean Rivers Cooperative. The Cooperative was formally established with Articles of Incorporation emphasizing mutual aid among member companies for oil spill response.
Kelly went on to illuminate the Cooperative’s non-profit structure and mission-driven focus. Clean Rivers operates to serve its membership, not to generate profit, with a mission centered on setting industry standards for spill prevention and response, protecting the Columbia and Willamette River systems, and coordinating high-quality response resources at minimal cost. Governance is guided by bylaws, with member organizations holding an active role in decision-making through representation on the Board of Directors and participation on committees that advise on equipment, training, and member services.
Kelly concluded by highlighting the advantages members gain with Clean Rivers’ non-profit, cooperative model, including member-driven governance, a strong culture of collaboration and mutual aid, strategically located response equipment, and trusted relationships with regulatory agencies.
The final presentation of the meeting was delivered by Board President Doug Lenz, who walked members through the Board’s process and decision-making in the development of the proposed 2026 Operating Budget and Capital Expenditure Plan that was approved by the Membership.
Throughout the meeting, members enjoyed a southern-style BBQ luncheon with seasonal desserts and beverages, providing an opportunity to connect and reflect on another successful year for the Cooperative.
