Program Council Members

Eric Triebelhorn, Resident Lama (he/him)

Lama Eric Triebelhorn first came to KCC not long after graduating from college and quickly immersed himself in the center’s activities. He served as Board president for four years and was the first caretaker of our retreat land, Ser Chö Ösel Ling. In 2002, he moved to India to study Tibetan language and practice with Kyabje Bokar Rinpoche. He requested and was finally granted permission to participate in a traditional Shangpa three-year retreat at Bokar Monastery, which he completed in 2008. Following retreat, Lama Eric translated for Khenpo Lodrö Donyö Rinpoche, Gyaltsab Rinpoche, and others and eventually served as an English teacher for the reincarnation of his teacher, Bokar Rinpoche. Lama Eric became KCC’s resident lama in January 2020.

Tim Campbell (he/him)

Tim Campbell has been a student of the Dharma for over 30 years. He has been a sangha member at KCC since 2009 and served as a member of the Board and from 2013-2019 as Board President. He has led the mind training group since 2012 and has assisted in teaching mind training retreats at KCC since 2018.

Ryan Fitz (he/him)

Ryan was drawn to Buddhism and meditation on first exposure in college but only began developing a stable meditation practice years later during travels and meditation retreats in Asia. He began volunteering at KCC after arriving in Portland in 2013, and he coordinated KCC retreats, events and communications from 2014 until he moved to Madison, Wisconsin in 2017. Ryan managed operations at Tergar Madison for over two years and now works at a reputable biotech company. He has continued to assist with KCC media and retreats where possible and is excited to offer service on the Program Council.

Lama Liza Baer (she/her)

Liza participated in the three-year retreat that KCC facilitated at our retreat center, SCOL, from 2015-2108. She then served as Associate Lama at Kagyu Sukha Choling in Ashland, Oregon for four years. There, she developed many unique and innovative offerings for both new and experienced practitioners. In February 2023, Liza became the new Executive Director at KCC and is working on bringing her wisdom gained from deep retreat, experience teaching, and life as a millennial to the program offerings at KCC.

Lama Kathleen Benz

Kathleen came to KCC in 1993 searching for tools to help her through a mid-life crisis. She did her first 3-day retreat on her 50th birthday, and from there began to nurture an aspiration to do a long retreat.
She volunteered at KCC for 20 years, including the Board, Bookkeeping, and the Children’s Program.
In 2015, shortly after her 70th birthday, she entered the Three Year Retreat at SCOL. She finished Retreat in 2018 and has been working to process that experience ever since.