Joel Haugen

Joel Haugen is a civic leader, educator, and creative producer based in Scappoose, Oregon, where he serves on the City Council 2015 to present (2025). As the founder of Big Larry Productions, he explores "natural art" and geographic education, producing documentaries (Who is the Next Lincoln, Significance) and authoring the book NEW Renaissance: Earth and Humanity 2025–2525.

Haugen’s diverse career began with service as a U.S. Army Combat Flight Operations Specialist during the Vietnam era. He then taught science in Oregon schools for a decade before developing K-12 programs for the Bonneville Power Administration. His technical expertise in geography and planning was applied to specialized GIS projects, transportation for the U.S. Postal Service, research at the Port of Portland, and planning work for a Colorado Department of Defense contractor.

He holds a Master’s in Geography from Western Illinois University and a Bachelor’s in Geography from Bemidji State University. An avid outdoorsman and craftsman, his work is shaped by a lifelong commitment to civic engagement, education, and creative expression.