Welcome to our new staffers
Conservation Northwest / Nov 16, 2017 / Work Updates
Over the past year we’ve brought on some talented new staff members, and we’re excited to share their stories with you. Welcome to the Conservation Northwest team!
We’d also like to extend our best wishes to Alaina Kowitz, our Communications and Outreach Associate since 2015, who recently took a new position at a great organization supporting sustainable building design and development. Thank you for your hard work keeping the Northwest wild, Alaina!
New faces at Conservation Northwest
Heather Hutchison, Public Lands Organizer and Membership Associate
Where are you from and how long have you lived in the Northwest?
I’m originally from Wisconsin and have had the opportunity to live on the East Coast as well as in South America. After living in Seattle for just over one year now, I can officially say that the Pacific Northwest has been my favorite place to live!
Why Conservation Northwest? What about this organization appeals to you?
I truly appreciate Conservation Northwest’s effort to effect real change and to work with local farmers, communities, and agencies to find solutions that will make sustainable change and positive impacts without alienating groups or families. I value working alongside those people that environmental policies may affect to negotiate alternatives and minimize negative impacts on their lives and livelihoods. Conservation Northwest’s track record and reputation across the Northwest shows how important its work is and how effective this strategy for getting comprehensive conservation policy into action.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
The Northwest offers a range of activities and environments I’ve had little-to-no exposure to in the past, so I enjoy trying new outdoor hobbies (including skiing, backpacking, and mountaineering) as well as exploring new places through old hobbies (such as rock climbing, cycling, and hiking). Having beautiful trails, slops, and crags within an hour of the city means that’s where you’ll likely find me on my time off.
Who is your environmental hero?
Moi Enomenga, a leader of a Huaorani indigenous group in Ecuador (a group that has largely isolated itself from other groups), for his persistence and fortitude in taking on international oil interests to fight for the land and forests that belong to the Huaorani tribes of the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest. As oil companies began to encroach on Huaorani territory and leave the Huaoranis without a home, Moi sought international support (including speaking at the UN) to secure protection of the land for the Huaorani’s future and the future of the Amazon. Like countless other indigenous communities around the world, Moi’s work to save the rainforest, livelihood, and way of life on which his culture relies is inspirational and a greater sacrifice than I will ever have to make.
Laurel Baum, Citizen Wildlife Monitoring Project Coordinator
Where are you from and how long have you lived in the Northwest?
Born in Seattle, so I have had the good fortune of living in the Northwest my whole life.
Why Conservation Northwest? What about this organization appeals to you?
As a long-time volunteer with the Citizen Wildlife Monitoring Project, I saw Conservation Northwest as an organization that was taking real action on-the-ground. They were involved with the wildlife crossing structures on I-90 and creating opportunities for the public to engage in wildlife research.
As an employee, I now get to see first-hand how we work towards building other types of bridges by engaging with community members, developing relationships and having conversations that get to the heart and complexities of wildlife conservation. In areas that now have wolf populations, we are working towards building relationships with people that make a living by working on the land. In our work protecting Canada lynx populations and supporting grizzly bear restoration in the North Cascades, we are developing partnerships with First Nations people in British Columbia and Washington. In Seattle, we are having really important conversations about the work that needs to be done on diversity, equity, and inclusion within the conservation community. All of this adds up to an organization whose direction is one I can really get on board with.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
Horse chores at the barn, occasionally I actually have time to ride. I spent a lot of my weekends this summer climbing peaks in the Cascades. Recently, I found that I just want to go out and hike, finding clarity and a mental reset. I really enjoy the challenge of wildlife tracking, it constantly presents questions about the natural world; who is living in this place we happen to be walking through and how did this sign come to be here?
Who is your environmental hero?
Every individual willing to take action to be a part of this greater collective movement of creating a more sustainable, biodiverse and resilient world. We cannot do it alone.
Lisa Bloch, Bookkeeper
Where are you from and how long have you lived in the Northwest?
I’m from the East Coast, mostly around Manhattan, but I’ve lived for long periods in Berkeley, California, and Boston, Massachusetts. I moved from Boston to Seattle in early 2000.
Why Conservation Northwest? What about this organization appeals to you?
The mission!
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
I’ve been a member of a pet therapy team for about 15 years, working with kids who are having trouble learning to read. Hiking with the dog, camping, reading, going to the theater, museums, etc.
Who is your environmental hero?
Matt Johnson, Information Technology Manager
Where are you from and how long have you lived in the Northwest?
I’m from the northern forests of Minnesota.
Why Conservation Northwest? What about this organization appeals to you?
When I moved to Seattle I looked at organizations that were doing important work to help wild animal populations. With our continued population growth and the additional threat of climate change, having resilient and connected wildlands is more important than ever before. Conservation Northwest does that work and so I knew I wanted to join this team!
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
When I’m not working I like to volunteer raising awareness about animal rights, veganism, and and the environment. If you haven’t seen Earthlings yet or Peaceable Kingdom please check those documentaries out!
Who is your environmental hero?
My environmental hero is Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. I believe that so many citizens of our country, the United States, have it very easy and so are slow to take serious action on pressing matters, preferring to stay well within their comfort zone. I respect how Sea Shepherd Conservation Society uses direct action to protect the few remaining wild marine mammals. “If the oceans die, we die.” – Paul Watson
Maureen McGregor, Development Associate and Office Manager
Where are you from and how long have you lived in the Northwest?
A simple question like this can turn into a complex answer because I moved around a lot growing up, so I feel like I am from several places. I was born in Texas but then moved to Illinois at a young age. Then we moved to Colorado a couple of years later. I have also lived in California, Prague, Czech Republic, and Auckland, New Zealand. I moved to Seattle in 2009.
Why Conservation Northwest? What about this organization appeals to you?
I learned about Conservation Northwest when I was studying Environment & Community during grad school. I was inspired by the work and mission and thought it was just the kind of organization I wanted to work for after I graduated. I remember looking through at the bio page wondering what it would be like to work with such an awesome group of people – now I do!
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
My husband and I bought five acres of land in July 2015 so a lot of our time is spent going down there and working on a never ending list of projects. Aside from that, I enjoy swimming, nature walks, cooking, writing, and trying to meditate.
Who is your environmental hero?
I have lots of environmental heroes, so it’s hard to pick just one. I’d probably have to say John DeGraaf because it was after reading his book, Affluenza, I decided to enroll in grad school and seriously pursue a career that was environmentally-focused. As fate would have it, I was lucky enough to work with him on a number of projects throughout grad school and beyond. He’s still my environmental hero – and also a friend!
Jenni Gregg, Membership Assistant
Where are you from and how long have you lived in the Northwest?
My roots stem from Connell, a little town in Eastern Washington where I grew up enjoying agriculture, raising animals and taking long drives in the country. I moved to Seattle two years ago to pursue Ecology at Seattle Pacific University.
Why Conservation Northwest? What about this organization appeals to you?
What drew me to Conservation Northwest is the passion to initiate change to embark on a different way of thinking, and to be passionate about creating a positive impact on the environment. With so many wonderful creatures (wolves, grizzly bears, bighorn sheep, and more) inhabiting our region’s beautiful wild lands, Conservation Northwest’s mission to protect, connect and restore wildlands and wildlife for future generations to enjoy is something I wanted to be a part of.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
My personality is more on the introverted side—creating a love of painting, reading, or just sipping on a good cup of tea while listening to music. I also enjoy going to concerts, rock climbing, the beach and ocean, hiking, spending time with friends and family and identifying Washington’s native plant species.
Who is your environmental hero?
Aldo Leopold- “Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land.” He was (and still is) a leading influence on modern environmental ethics and wilderness conservation, which created a different perspective on the environment, pushing for biodiversity and an ecological view.