Meet Our Staff

The Central Oregon Guardian Assistance Program’s staff and board members are dedicated to advocating for vulnerable Central Oregonians.

Claudia has fifteen years’ experience in sales and as a General Manager in electronics distribution. She founded and operated a native plant nursery in rural Washington County, Oregon.
Claudia volunteered with Elder Safe of Washington County for two years and then launched the Senior Guardianship Assistance Program (Senior GAP) in Forest Grove, Oregon in January 2004 as Program Director. In January 2010 Senior GAP merged with Impact NW. She stewarded the program from its inception until 2014 when she moved to Bend, OR. During her tenure, Claudia was a Registered Guardian with the National Guardian Association and Certified Oregon Professional Fiduciary with Guardian Conservator Association of Oregon. She is a recipient of the Boston University Foundation in Aging Certificate and a Spiritual & Medical Practitioner with the Jaffe Institute. From 2017 - 2019 she established and ran Inspired Elder Care, a care management company. From 2019- 2021 she was a deputy Public Guardian with Oregon Public Guardian & Conservator. In 2019, she co-developed a Guardian training program for aspiring Guardians in Bend.
Beyond her extensive business experience, Claudia’s ability to listen deeply to her peers and clients creates a safe environment for people to express themselves and work through what causes them difficulty.
Claudia was educated at San Jose State University in Behavioral Science, with community college course work in marketing and horticulture.

Emily Coxey received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts with a social science option from Oregon State University. Emily has worked as a partner and office administrator in a certified public accounting firm for over 21 years. In 2010, the firm added conservator, fiduciary & guardianship services to the practice which Emily manages and serves as a Certified Guardian and Conservator. Emily is a National Certified Guardian and Conservatorship as certified by the Center for Guardianship Certification. Emily also serves as a mentor to apprentices who are interested in learning more about elder care and becoming a Professional Guardian and Conservator. Emily is a member of the Guardian/Conservator Association of Oregon along with serving on the membership committee.

Molly Cogswell-Kelley received her Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Montana in 1997. Right after graduation, she moved to Bend and started working for the non-profit organization, Central Oregon Battering and Rape Alliance. In 2001, she switched gears and started working as a fundraising and events director for the Redmond Chamber of Commerce and then most recently, the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation. Through her 17 years working at MBSEF, she raised hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for the organization. Her strong connection to the community and vast experience with fundraising will help secure COGAP’s future.

Members of the Board

Matt is a seasoned attorney with a background in healthcare, guardianship, conservatorship, and civil litigation. Prior to joining COGAP, Matt served as in-house counsel at St. Charles Health System and has spent time in private practice, where he specialized in business law, estate planning, guardianship, conservatorship, real property transactions and general civil litigation.
As a native Oregonian, Matt has spent his life enjoying all that Oregon offers. In his free time, he enjoys staying active through hiking, kayaking, fishing and playing basketball. He graduated from Saint Martin’s University where he played collegiate basketball, before obtaining his J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School.

A native Oregonian, Kristin has been a practicing attorney since 2002. She graduated from Crook County High School (Prineville, Orgon), Pomona College (Claremont, California) and Lewis & Clark Law School (Portland, Oregon). She specializes in family law, wills & trusts, probate, guardianships and conservatorships, and adoptions. Kristin was named as one of Cascade Business News’ Accomplished Under 40. She was voted by her peers as one of Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Kristin is currently on the Deschutes County Access to Justice Committee and on the board of directors for the Central Oregon Guardian Assistance Program. In the past, Kristin has served on the board of directors for Grandma’s House, CASA of Central Oregon and the Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Kristin interned for Ron Wyden, served as s VISTA volunteer and was an assistant director for the Portland Hilton Hotel. Kristin spends her spare time enjoying the natural beauty of Central Oregon, traveling to other fascinating locations, attempting to cook gourmet meals, and relaxing with her family.

Jesse Nehring is a local Physician Assistant and hospitalist with Summit Health. She has witnessed first- hand in her professional life patients, families and care providers struggle when there are no resources or legal representative to make informed medical decisions for an incapacitated person hospitalized in our community. In her free time she enjoys nordic skiing, running, biking and spending time with her dog.

Interested in partnering with the Central Oregon Guardian Assistance Program? Contact us here.