Rein focuses on engaging our members, activists, and public on all things Puget Sound. For the past six years, Rein was the Advocacy Manager at People For Puget, where he: organized the annual lobby day for the environmental community, generating grassroots support during the legislative session; built a diverse stakeholder coalition building on oil spill issues; managed activist, interns and volunteers, and helped garner public support for a strong Action Agenda for the health of Puget sound. As regular visitor to Puget Sound, he moved here in 2004. Two factors drew Rein to the Sound- being a Pisces and his childhood spent on the beaches and salt marshes of Buzzards Bay in Massachusetts. San Juan Island's beauty and its archipelago landscape bring solace, calm, and appreciation to him. Plus, he loves picking his own oysters at the Westcott Bay Oyster Farm. When not at work, Rein loves to travel, bike, hike, sail, cook, and sauna in his back yard, all the time with his wife Marcy.

email: rein at wecprotects.org

LEAH BARBAREE, Development Manager

Leah manages major donor development across both Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters. In Leah’s 7+ years of development experience, she has overseen programs and events charged with securing major philanthropic gifts, broad based member-level support, and everything in between.

Leah joined the WCV team as Development Manager in spring 2011 after cutting her fundraising teeth in Oregon politics. Leah’s experience includes roles as Finance Director for Governor John Kitzhaber’s 2010 campaign and Deputy Finance Director for U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley’s 2008 campaign.

Aside from work, Leah loves running, yoga, spontaneous adventures, and "toodling" around on the water.

Email: leah (at) wecprotects.org

ANNA BUKOWSKI, Communications Associate

Anna is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was born and raised in Wisconsin. (Go Pack Go!) She works closely with Kerry to improve and extend WEC's communications reach. Excited by the powers of social media and strategic communication, Anna has a strong background in advocacy communications and public relations for nonprofits. Her bachelor’s degree is in journalism and geography, and her job is the intersection for her love of communication and the environment. Outside the office (and the great outdoors), she can be found listening to Sam Cooke in her kitchen and making dinner with friends.

email: annab at wecprotects.org

Kerri Cechovic

KERRI CECHOVIC, Campaign Director

Kerri first joined the WEC team in 2006 as an organizer working to help defeat the irresponsible development initiative - Initiative 933. Since then, she’s worked to develop and implement organizing and coalition building strategies on WEC’s climate, local farms-healthy kids, and clean water campaigns. Currently, Kerri directs WEC's Clean Water & Green Infrastructure Agenda to protect clean water, advance green infrastructure, and increase transportation alternatives. Kerri received her bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Montana in 2002. When she’s not working, she enjoys frequenting the Columbia City farmers' market, cooking, and exploring Washington’s gorgeous mountains with her husband.

email: kerri at wecprotects.org

JOAN CROOKS, Executive Director

A long-time leader in Washington’s environmental community, Joan started working at WEC in 1992 and has served as Executive Director since 1995. Joan was instrumental in developing the now nationally-recognized Environmental Priorities Coalition, the successful collaborative of over 20 groups that works together for strong state environmental protections. Joan is often sought out for her insight and judgment on environmental issues by state policy makers, other advocacy groups, and foundations. Her guidance and vision have helped WEC combine its 40 years of experience with innovative strategies resulting in strong environmental protections for Washington state. Prior to joining WEC, Joan served as Administrative Director of Earth Share of Washington. Joan has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Middlebury College, as well as a master's degree in public administration from the University of Washington Evans School of Public Affairs. She has served on numerous boards including Sierra Club Seattle Inner City Outings, the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, the State Environmental Leadership Program, and two terms as Board President for ONE/Northwest (now Groundwire). In addition to working for environmental protection, Joan also enjoys spending lots of time outside, especially hiking with her husband Don or racing her kids down the slopes.

email: joan at wecprotects.org

MADELEINE (Maddie) FOUTCH, Aquatic Reserves Project Coordinator

Maddie joined WEC this October. As Project Coordinator for the Aquatic Reserves project, she coordinates the education and engagement of local residents in protections of Puget Sound's most special places, our local Aquatic Reserves. This includes coordinating the design and implementation of science, outreach and technical programs at five locations.

A graduate from the University of Washington with majors in Environmental Studies and Business Administration, she has been an active volunteer for Seattle non-profits for a number of years. She previously worked with marketing firm TRAY Creative on marketing and social media projects for clients including several nonprofit organizations. A Seattle native, her interests include cooking (and eating) delicious food, hiking, rock climbing, spending time with her dog Banjo and curling up with a great book.

email: maddie at wecprotects.org

DAVID GORTON, Membership & Grants Manager

David handles WEC's membership program and other fundraising duties. Prior to joining the WEC team, David worked in fundraising at Earthjustice and at advertising agencies in San Francisco and Michigan. He has a bachelor's degree in History from Eastern Michigan University. David tries to spend as much time as possible outside. He is rather fond of telemark skiing, riding his bicycle, growing very local foods (aka gardening), and backpacking with his wife Susan.

email: david at wecprotects.org

BECKY KELLEY, Deputy Director

Becky joined WEC in 1994 and has led successful campaigns on sustainable forestry and helping to defeat the irresponsible development initiative—Initiative 933. Working closely with architects, developers, and educators, she led WEC's 2005 campaign to pass Washington's first-in-the-nation law requiring public buildings to meet green building standards. Currently, Becky directs WEC’s Climate and Clean Energy Agenda to pass strong policies to reduce climate pollution and transition to clean energy, as well as staffing our ongoing sustainable forestry work. She feels lucky to have a job where she can help bring people together to create solutions to complex problems, even though it involves an unnatural number of meetings. She has a bachelor's degree in International Studies from the University of Oregon, and prior to joining WEC, taught English in rural Japan. Becky lives in Seattle with her husband and daughter and enjoys gardening, singing, eating her husband’s excellent cooking, and playing outside.

email: becky at wecprotects.org

KATHY MALLEY, Development Director

Kathy leads the overall fundraising and development activities for both Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters, and works with Joan Crooks and Brendon Cechovic on strategic organizational development issues. Kathy has over 20 years of fundraising experience, nearly all of it in the environmental sector. She was lured back to WEC/WCV after a six year absence, during which time she worked as the Development Director for Resource Media, a nonprofit communications firm that specializes in environmental policy debates. During her tenure there she helped to nearly triple the organization’s budget, and as a member of the organization’s management team, established the structure and systems that successfully guided Resource Media through this period of rapid growth. From 1995 to 2005, Kathy was WEC’s Development Director, creating the organization’s overall fundraising framework. Kathy is a graduate of Colorado State University and also has a certificate in Non-profit Management and Fundraising from the University of Washington. She and her husband are slowly remodeling an old home and restoring its gardens. When not pondering which native plants grow best in dry shade or how to repair a stone wall, they spend time riding their bikes and hiking.

email: kathy at wecprotects.org

TIFFANY MCGUYER, Organizer

TIffany Tiffany has joined our staff as the joint administrative director for Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters. After graduating with a degree in Psychology from the University of Washington, Tiffany traveled along the east coast working with college students on public interest campaigns with MassPIRG. However, the various terrains in Washington brought her back and she has since taken advantage of the Puget Sound by volunteering with the Seattle Aquarium as a beach naturalist and working on election reform issues. In her free time, Tiffany has been working out what to do with 130 pounds of picked plums and is open to suggestions.

email: tiffany at wecprotects.org

KERRY MCHUGH, Communications Director

Kerry directs WEC’s communications work: conducting media outreach, writing and editing for external and internal publications, and working on WEC's strategic campaigns and agendas. A native Northwesterner, she worked as a congressional staffer in Washington, DC. Prior to joining WEC in 2007, Kerry spent a year teaching English to high school and university students in Hue, Vietnam. She has a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University. She enjoys reading, taking various international dance classes, and is an enthusiastic fair-weather hiker. Having exhausted herself investigating Seattle’s pho options, she is now on a quest to find the best bakery in Washington.

email: kerry at wecprotects.org

ERIN MILLER, Annual Giving Manager

Erin joined WEC’s development team in 2012 and is the coordinator of WEC’s signature fundraising event. She works for both WEC and our partner organization, Washington Conservation Voters. Erin has a background in organizing large scale events ranging from trail races to weddings. Formerly the Development Coordinator at Outdoor Outreach in San Diego, CA, Erin spent three years working to secure local and national fiscal support to ensure access to the outdoors for disadvantaged youth. A graduate of Western Washington University, Erin holds a dual degree in Communication and Journalism/Public Relations. In her free time, Erin enjoys exploring the outdoors with friends. She is an active rock climber, yogi, snowboarder and hiker.

Email erin at wecprotects.org

SHANNON MURPHY, Voter Education Program Manager

Shannon manages WEC’s nonpartisan Voter Education Program which specializes in voter engagement and capacity building for Washington’s environmental community. She loves this work because she believes an involved, educated electorate is the key to lasting environmental protection. Shannon is also the Program Manager for our partner organization Washington Conservation Voters, where she develops and implements outreach strategies for WCV’s electoral and legislative work. Prior to joining Washington Conservation Voters in 2008, Shannon was the Pierce and South King Field Director for the 2007 Sound Transit campaign. She also worked on state Representative Troy Kelley’s successful legislative race in 2006. Shannon has a bachelor’s degree in Communications and minors in Public Affairs and Spanish from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. A native Northwesterner, Shannon loves to hike, play tennis, practice yoga, and explore every restaurant in her Seattle neighborhood.

email: shannon at wecprotects.org

DARCY NONEMACHER, Legislative Director

Darcy advances WEC’s legislative campaigns in Olympia. Darcy has more than a decade of experience in environmental law and policy issues including land and water conservation, renewable energy development, water law, air pollution reduction, sustainable agriculture, and salmon and steelhead recovery. In addition, Darcy managed high-profile election campaigns in several states and worked with the AFL-CIO to create an affiliate organization for non-union households. Darcy has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law. When she is not in the office, Darcy enjoys gardening, whitewater rafting, hiking, camping, and cheering on the Sounders and the Green Bay Packers with her husband and young son.

email darcy at wecprotects.org

DANIKA PADILLA, Development Associate

Danika Padilla Danika works with both WEC and Washington Conservation Voters to coordinate and manage WEC's annual fundraising and membership events. Prior to joining our team, she served as a finance director and consultant for local Northwest political campaigns. She earned her degree in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Environmental Policy from Washington State University. Originally from Yakima, Danika has fallen in love with Puget Sound. She does miss the taquerías, but when she's not in work mode, you can find her checking out all the taco trucks in Seattle in search of a new favorite. She also likes to explore the Northwest and spend time with friends and family (especially if food is involved...).

email danika at wecprotects.org

SEAN PENDER, Administrative Director

Sean

Sean Pender worked at WEC for the first time from 1997-2000, when he was the Office Manager/Development Associate. Starting in 2001, he worked at an organization that provided technology consulting services to nonprofit conservation groups. Over the course of his decade there, he mostly did administrative and HR tasks, with healthy dollops of IT support, fundraising support, Salesforce administration and proofreading thrown in.

Starting in January 2013, he’s back for another round, excited to be working as the Administrative Director for WEC and WCV.

Sean has a degree in Political Science from Western Washington University and in his spare time he enjoys riding his road bike, reading non-fiction and yelling at the TV during soccer games along with his wife. But their daughter hates soccer so she has begun the process of believing that her parents are crazy.

email: sean at wecprotects.org

SASHA POLLACK, Climate and Clean Energy Campaign Director

Sasha Pollack is a Northwest native – growing up just south of Portland. After studying Environmental Studies at Oberlin College and spending nearly three years in Mali, West Africa as a Peace Corps Agriculture volunteer, she was delighted to return to the Pacific Northwest. Growing up in a progressive activist household, she participated in various environmental campaigns throughout her life, but began her professional political career in 2006. Since then she has worked as a policy analyst in both local and state government. She moved to Seattle in 2011 and is excited to work on climate and clean energy in Washington. She loves cooking, gardening, and related crafts. You’ll often find her exploring Puget Sound by foot or by recently acquired sailboat.

email: sasha at wecprotects.org

REBECCA PONZIO, Puget Sound Policy Specialist

Rebecca advances policy for WEC’s People For Puget Sound program. Rebecca has worked to implement and develop environmental policies for over a decade. Most recently, Rebecca worked for five years at the Puget Sound Partnership in its implementation branch. There, she supported partners across the Puget Sound to implement salmon recovery and integrated it into broader efforts to recover Puget Sound. She has a dual master’s degree from the University of Washington in Urban Planning and in Public Administration. When not working, Rebecca loves exploring our waterways and mountains with her husband, cooking, gardening, and hunkering down to read a good novel on the couch.

email: rebecca at wecprotects.org

LISA REMLINGER, Environmental Priorities Coalition Outreach Director

Lisa Remlinger Lisa joined WEC after many years of experience in the environmental community and non-profit world. Before coming to WEC, she was the Senior Project Manager at NatureBridge working on the Elwha Dam removal project in Olympia National Park. She also worked as the Chapter and Government Relations Manager for Audubon Washington, the Statewide Advocacy Coordinator for the Arc of Washington and as staff to a Thurston County Commissioner. Lisa chaired the local chapter of Thurston Conservation Voters for two years. Lisa's now enjoying living the urban life in downtown Seattle and spends her free time running, hiking, skiing, and eating yummy foods in the market.

email: lisa at wecprotects.org

CLIFFORD TRAISMAN, State Lobbyist

Clifford has been the state lobbyist for both Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters since November 2002, responsible for the lobbying programs for both of these statewide environmental organizations. Clifford has over 25 years of public and private sector government relations experience both in Washington State and Washington, D.C. During his 11-year tenure in D.C., Clifford held positions as a political consultant; a staff member and congressional investigator for the House Energy and Commerce Committee; and as a federal lobbyist in the private sector. Since arriving in Seattle, Washington in 1995, Clifford has held senior level local government posts as a legislative assistant for Seattle City Councilmember Martha Choe and as the City of Seattle's Director of Intergovernmental Relations under Mayor Paul Schell. Clifford is a graduate of the University of Kansas and lives in Seattle with his wife, four children, and two dogs.

email: clifford at ctassociates.org

BRUCE WISHART, Puget Sound Legislative Consultant

Bruce has represented nonprofit environmental groups before the state legislature for 27 years. He served as Lobbyist and Chapter Director for Sierra Club from 1987 until 1999. Following his work at Sierra Club, he was hired by People For Puget Sound as Policy Director, where he worked for the next 12 years. In 2012, he formed a public affairs firm in Olympia which represents several nonprofit environmental organizations.

Bruce has extensive experience working on campaigns both inside and outside the legislature, with particular expertise on Puget Sound related issues. He was a leader in the Initiative 97 campaign, which resulted in the Model Toxic Control Act (1989) and he also played a major role in the adoption of Shoreline Management Act regulations (1995). And most recently, he helped pass the Oil Spill Act (2011) and phase out copper brakepads and copper bottom paint on boats (2010).

Bruce is a graduate of the University of Oregon School of Law (J.D. 1985), where he received an Ocean and Coastal Law Certificate.

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REIN ATTEMANN, Puget Sound Advocacy Manager