Get in touch with Sonya.
Sonya can be reached at 541-685-7803 or by email. It's important to us you receive a timely response, so your email will be copied to the General Manager's office.
Sonya Carlson joined the Eugene Water & Electric Board of Commissioners in January 2017. She was elected to represent Wards 6 and 7. Her current term expires in 2024.
Sonya Carlson is the Executive Director of BRING, a nonprofit organization focused on sustainability through education, advocacy, and the promotion of "reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink". With over a decade of leadership experience spanning the nonprofit, government, and corporate sectors, she is dedicated to creating positive environmental impact and building strong community partnerships. Sonya holds an MBA with a concentration in sustainability from the University of Oregon, where she was the valedictorian, and a degree in economics and public policy from Lewis and Clark College.
Sonya's career highlights include serving as the Vice President of Operations for a manufacturing company in Creswell, where she led teams across multiple departments, implemented new systems, and drove growth. She also worked in government, serving as Chief of Staff to Representative Phil Barnhart for eight legislative sessions. During this time, she played a key role in passing legislation that improved tax credit transparency, supported electric vehicle infrastructure, and secured $4 million in funding for the Lebanon Veterans Home.
Returning to academia in 2014, Sonya earned her MBA while holding fellowships with the Office of Sustainability and the Technology Entrepreneurship Program. She conducted greenhouse gas inventories, managed certification programs, and evaluated clean energy technologies. She remains active in Eugene’s start-up scene and in policy making and serves on the Legislative Committee for the Association of Oregon Recyclers and was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Oregon Recycling System Advisory Council.
Sonya is deeply involved in her community, serving on the boards of the Eugene Water and Electric Board, Lane Council of Governments, and the Eugene Education Foundation. She is passionate about justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and is committed to advocating for vulnerable populations and low-income residents. As a mother, Sonya strives to build a resilient community for future generations. In her personal time, she enjoys escape rooms, camping, and hiking.
