Jon Hoekstra
With the Greenway Trust since: 2015
Jon leads the Greenway as Executive Director, working with the Board of Directors, staff, and partners to collaboratively conserve the Mountains to Sound Greenway landscape. Jon brings to the Greenway a unique blend of scientific understanding, strategic problem solving and communication skills. Before joining the Greenway Trust, he served as Chief Scientist for the World Wildlife Fund, and led a variety of strategy and conservation initiatives at The Nature Conservancy. While Jon enjoys traveling around the world to explore wild places, he always loves coming back home to Seattle and the Greenway landscape that he and his wife have called home for 20 years.
Amy Brockhaus
With the Greenway Trust since: 1995
Amy is the ace “catalyst convener” at the heart of the Greenway Trust’s collective-impact model. A single week may find her at a land use or transportation meeting in any of the communities in the Greenway, leading a tour for partners in the Middle Fork Valley, and coordinating board committees. Working closely with public officials, partner organizations, board members, and the entire staff, Amy operates at the hub of the Greenway coalition and brings more than two decades of experience working across the Greenway landscape. While her role requires her to spend a lot of time in conference rooms and city halls, Amy is happiest out in the Greenway, up a mountain or on a trail, way outside of cell phone range. She and her family enjoy hiking, biking, skiing, snowshoeing, and Amy is always looking for her next chance to grab a backpack and explore.
Tor Bell
With the Greenway Trust since 2002
Tor is responsible for organizational operations (finance and human resources) as well as management of the Greenway Trust’s field programs (education, recreation, restoration, and volunteer programs). Tor grew up in Port Orchard, hiking and scrambling over the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas and got to know the Mountains to Sound Greenway through his role as Volunteer Coordinator for the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. Tor began his career working in the communications arena before taking an interest in ecological restoration while with King County. Tor is an avid outdoorsman, who likes to hike, kayak, and ski, and loves to woodwork (hand-building several kayaks).
Jamie Chen
With the Greenway Trust since: 2022
As the Development & Operations Coordinator, Jamie (she/they) works at the intersection of both teams to aid in fundraising, management, and administration. Born and raised in California, she spent most of her time exploring different beaches, where she developed a deep love for the ocean and marine ecosystems. Since moving to Washington, she has been excited to explore the lush landscapes in the PNW. Jamie received a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Art from UC Santa Barbara while working in marine research, education, and BIPOC community resilience. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, going to concerts, trying new cuisines or lounging by a body of water.
Victoria Creed
With the Greenway Trust Restoration Crew since 2024
Victoria Creed (she/her) is excited to join the Greenway Trust as a Restoration Crew Member. Victoria grew up in Chicago and received her degree in Restoration Ecology at Colorado State University. She is passionate about community-focused restoration and has previous experience in restoration ecology research, as well as volunteering. In her new role with the Greenway Trust, she will plant native species while controlling invasive ones, monitor progress, and provide project support. She is eager to get involved with connecting people to nature. In her free time, Victoria enjoys creative writing, reading, camping, and canoeing.
Kristina Cruz
With the Greenway Trust Restoration Crew since 2023
Kristina (she/her) is excited to join the restoration crew again for the 2024 season. Kristina grew up in Southern California and received a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, emphasizing Environmental Science and Sociology. While earning her degree, she worked with a local nonprofit to restore chaparral in the Angeles National Forest. She continued on with her passion for restoration by joining the Greenway Trust Restoration Crew for the 2023 season. When she isn’t wrestling blackberry in the Mountains to Sound Greenway, you can find her climbing in the North Cascades, jamming out on her guitar, or cooking up a storm in the kitchen.
Alex DeGrenier
Alex DeGrenier (he/him) is excited to join the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust as Trail Crew Leader for the 2024 season. Growing up in South Florida, Alex has been an avid enjoyer of the outdoors since a young age. Passionate about facilitating and maintaining access to public lands, Alex has worked on trails in Ruidoso, New Mexico, Olympic National Park, and the San Juan Islands. In his free time, Alex enjoys skateboarding around West Seattle, and spending time with family.
Mackenzie Dolstad
With the Greenway Trust since: 2010; staff member since 2012
Mackenzie is responsible for all of the behind-the-scenes action in the Stewardship Program – grant writing and reporting, budget management, tracking projects, and providing assistance and support to the rest of the staff. Mackenzie started with the Greenway Trust as an intern on the Heritage Study project (the precursor to the National Heritage Area campaign), then served for a year as an AmeriCorps all-purpose Individual Placement with the Greenway Trust through the Washington Conservation Corps. When he’s not analyzing a spreadsheet, Mackenzie can be found biking, hiking, and pursuing other outdoor activities.
Emma Duckworth
With the Greenway Trust since 2023
Emma Duckworth (she/her) is excited to join the Greenway Trust communications team as the Communications Intern for the 2023-2024 academic year! Emma is a senior at University of Washington in Seattle, earning a B.S. in Marine Biology and Environmental Studies. In her time at UW, she has developed a passion for science writing and community outreach. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in science communications, writing about conservation and educating diverse audiences about climate change research. In her free time, Emma enjoys spending time outdoors and trying out new coffee shops!
Mikaela Ebbeson
With the Greenway Trust since 2024
Mikaela (she/her) is excited to join the Greenway Trust as an Educator for the 2024 season. Mikaela grew up in Burien, Washington and received her BA from the University of Washington, Seattle as a double major in Environmental Studies and Dance. Before coming to the Greenway Trust, Mikaela completed a communications internship with NOAA Fisheries on their Share the Shore campaign and worked as a naturalist with the Environmental Science Center teaching students outdoors. The joy she got from helping youth connect with and care for the environment brought Mikaela to the Greenway. She is excited to further explore this passion and remain an ever-curious learner. In her free time, Mikaela enjoys taking dance classes, re-watching sitcoms, and walking the logs at her local beaches.
Katie Egresi
With the Greenway Trust since: 2019
As Communications Manager, Katie crafts and curates stories to engage with the public and our partners. With a degree in Strategic Communications and minors in Graphic Design and Professional Writing, she drives the strategy behind our messaging and tackles a wide variety of projects. Katie was born and raised in Northeast Ohio and attended college at The Ohio State University. She brings past experience working in the destination marketing industry and is especially excited to build momentum around the Greenway’s recent National Heritage Area designation. Katie enjoys traveling as often as possible and spending time outdoors with her husband Shane, whether that be hiking, camping, kayaking, biking, snowshoeing, or snowboarding.
Kate Fancher
With the Greenway Trust since 2022
Kate began her role as the Restoration Projects Manager with the Greenway Trust after working multiple seasons on the Restoration Crew and over a year as a Restoration Coordinator. She was born and raised in Seattle where she fell in love with learning about the plants and animals throughout the Pacific Northwest. She graduated from the University of Washington in 2018 with a degree in Environmental Science and Terrestrial Resource Management with a focus in Restoration Ecology and Environmental Horticulture and completed the Wetland Science and Management Program in 2020. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, listening to music or going to shows, camping, and admiring cute plants and animals.
Peter Forte
With the Greenway Trust since 2023
Peter Forte (he/him) joined the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust as a member of the Trail Crew due to his passion for serving the recreational needs of the Greenway National Heritage Area. Last season he worked as a member of the Greenway Restoration Crew and is excited to be returning in a different role this season. Born and raised in the East San Francisco Bay Area, Peter attended Sonoma State University where he earned a degree in Environmental Science and Planning. In his free time, Peter likes to eat lots of Italian food, bike through the city, hike or camp with friends, and enjoys many recreational sports.
Leah Grimmer
With the Greenway Trust Restoration Crew since 2024
Leah Grimmer (she/her) is excited to join the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust as a Restoration Crew Member for the 2024 season. Originally from Michigan, Leah has lived throughout the United States doing conservation and trail work with different organizations. She is currently working on her degree in Environmental Studies and Ecological Restoration through the University of Washington – Bothell. In her free time, Leah likes to read, hike, and explore Seattle and the surrounding area. She is looking forward to getting to know the ecology of the Pacific Northwest!
Robyn Hall
With the Greenway Trust since: 2019
Robyn manages fundraising operations, signature events, and a wide range of giving campaigns for the Greenway. She’s worked in a range of development roles for science and conservation-focused organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council, The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts, Thompson Island Outward Bound in the Boston Harbor Islands, and the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture. She has a B.A. in History from William Jewell College and a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School, with a background in Ancient Near Eastern religions and languages. Robyn’s love for nature grew from a childhood spent in Joshua Tree National Park, exploring the rolling hills of Missouri, and hiking the trails of New England. In her free time she enjoys trying new recipes, playing the flute, explaining how her degree relates to conservation, and discovering all that Washington has to offer with her family.
Stephanie Huck
With the Greenway Trust since: 2016
Stephanie (she/her) manages Greenway Trust day-to-day business and people operations, with a focus on finance, benefits and human resources, and assists with board management and resources. A childhood of poking around creeks and tidepools inspired her to connect people with nature for years to come, earning a Bachelors in Environmental Education from Western Washington University in 2009. Stephanie began her conservation career on a Washington Conservation Corps crew, restoring salmon habitat in Whatcom County, and continued on with conservation work and outdoor education programs in the Puget Sound region until stepping into an administrative role with the Greenway Trust. In her spare time, Stephanie likes to travel, chase orcas by land, and throw the frisbee around with her dog.
Becca Kedenburg
With the Greenway Trust since: 2013
Becca (she/her) leads the Greenway Trust’s environmental education program, which engages 4th-12th graders in classroom lessons, field investigations, restoration projects, and paid summer internships. She earned B.A. degrees from Western Washington University in Environmental Education and Spanish. Spending her childhood exploring the Pacific Northwest’s mossy trails, rocky beaches, and forested mountains inspired in Becca a deep-rooted incentive to inspect environmental systems and share that knowledge. She hopes to help equip and inspire young people to be caring, compassionate stewards of the environment.
Frances Kretschmer
With the Greenway Trust Restoration Crew since 2024
Frances Kretschmer (she/her) will be joining the Greenway Trust restoration team as the Assistant Crew Lead for the 2024 season. She grew up in southern California and has a degree in Environmental Science from Smith College. After moving to Seattle in 2021, she served for two years in the Washington Conservation Corps where she fell in love with the Pacific Northwest ecosystem and restoration work. Most recently, she worked for a private habitat restoration company. In her free time she enjoys seeing live music, exploring Seattle’s parks, making art, and going to the movies.
Chris Liu
With the Greenway Trust since 2023
As the Greenway’s Community Partnerships & Projects Manager, Chris (he/him) works primarily in the urban centers west of the Cascades connecting communities to the Greenway. He spends most of his time building and maintaining relationships with community-based organizations and finding opportunities for collaboration. Chris was born and raised in Houston and went to The University of Texas at Austin, but he now calls the Pacific Northwest home. In his free time, Chris enjoys tide-pooling, stargazing, hammocking along Lake Washington, and playing board games with friends.
Rosie Llewellyn
With the Greenway Trust since 2023
Rosie Llewellyn (she/her) is thrilled to be at the Greenway as a Restoration Coordinator! Born in Haiti and raised in the Pacific Northwest, her love for the outdoors was sparked by her natural curiosity about the environment. Following her AA degree at Olympic College, she pursued the practice of yoga, completing a 500 Hour RYT with a focus on the mind-body connection to the earth. After nearly a decade of entrepreneurial charisma, she relocated to Haiti to participate in Agroforestry & Syntropic Agriculture efforts, where she worked with local communities to enhance land and food security through sustainable practices. Upon her return to the States, she joined the Washington Service Corps on the Stewardship Associate team, supporting ecological restoration and land management initiatives across the Puget Sound region. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, backpacking, skiing, fishing, and being a proud plant mama.
Victoria Love
With the Greenway Trust since 2021
Victoria Love (They/She) is an Educator on the Education team at Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust. They began their journey at the Greenway in 2021 on the Trail Crew and continued their time here the following year on the Restoration Crew. They spent three years working in organic/regenerative agriculture and still finds ways to integrate it in their life. She is passionate about land stewardship and fostering a connection with people to landscapes in a reciprocal way. Victoria enjoys spending time daydreaming about living on a cooperative ranch with friends and family, learning how to finally catch a fish and enjoying delicious eats.
Madeleine Nawrocki
With the Greenway Trust Restoration Crew since 2024
Madeleine (she/her) is excited to join the Greenway Trust as a Restoration Crew Member for the 2024 season. She grew up in Western Pennsylvania where she earned an Environmental Science degree in 2020 from the University of Pittsburgh. In January of 2021, she moved to Seattle to be a Restoration Crew Member at EarthCorps, and stayed there for an additional year as a crew lead. She is constantly curious about the habitats, people, and plants she works with, and loves spending time learning about all of them. When not at work, she can be found crafting, hiking, writing, or contributing to local mutual aid efforts.
Nicky Pasi
With the Greenway Trust since 2017
As the Kittitas Programs Senior Manager in upper Kittitas County, Nicky collaborates with organizations, individuals, and agencies to improve recreational access and engage communities in stewardship of their lands and waters. She facilitates projects like Towns to Teanaway, the East Cascades Recreation Partnership, and the Teanaway Community Forest Goal 5 Group. Nicky’s past experience includes leading community outreach and advocacy for the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan, working as a naturalist and environmental educator in Miami, Florida, and coordinating volunteer efforts for animal services organizations.
Sornesarwanh (Swan) Phongwarinr
With the Greenway Trust since 2022
As the Greenway Trust’s Volunteer Coordinator, Sornesarwanh (Swan) is responsible for engaging with the public and coordinating volunteer projects at ecological restoration sites throughout the Greenway. Sornesarwanh first joined the Greenway Trust as a Restoration Crew member in 2020 after moving from Maryland. She received a degree in Biology and a minor in Geography from the University of South Carolina, and has spent the last few years in Washington exploring its natural and diverse landscapes. When not working, Sornesarwanh is probably increasing her Spotify minute count, getting into new hobbies, or basking in the sun.
Vince Pruis
With the Greenway Trust since 2021
As the Teanaway Community Forest’s engagement coordinator, Vince (ze/zir) collaborates with land managers, organizations, and individuals to build greater community involvement in the Teanaway. Ze organizes volunteer opportunities, educational events, and outreach efforts, and zir work includes facilitating the Teanaway Advisory Committee Goal 5 Group. If you’d like to learn more about the Teanaway Community Forest’s history, current management, and ongoing restoration projects, please reach out! Vince’s past experience includes facilitating art workshops for incarcerated individuals; supporting the digital humanities publication Feral Atlas, a virtual un-mapping project about the intersections of human structures and the environment; and conducting semi-structured interviews with Americans about their experiences during the early COVID-19 lockdowns. Ze also writes mediocre poetry about zir favorite area, which, by the happiest of circumstances, just happens to be the Teanaway.
Shenise Ramirez
With the Greenway Trust since 2022
Shenise Ramirez (they/them) weaves stories out of the symbiotic relationships the Greenway welds between humans, animals, and plant life. Before landing at the Greenway Trust, they spent seven years backpacking from newsrooms to mountains on the East Coast, looking for inspiration outside the range of a Slack ping. Shenise relocated to the Seattle area after falling in love with Washington’s rich natural history and its residents’ commitment to preserving it. With a BA in Journalism from SUNY Purchase, they use multimedia storytelling to translate research into stories that bring communities behind the scenes of solutions-based environmental science. They believe intersectional storytelling creates fertile ground for past transgressions to grow into an environmentally just future.
Michael Sanchez
With the Greenway Trust since 2022
Michael joined the Greenway Trust as Restoration Coordinator in 2022. He moved from Yakima to Seattle to obtain his B.S. degree in Environmental Science and Resource Management from the University of Washington. Michael brings experience leading restoration crews on private and public lands in Washington, academic knowledge in the environmental and forestry fields, and community engagement expertise through his internship at Trees for Seattle. His first experience with the Greenway Trust came as an AmeriCorps Member in 2019, assisting with restoration projects and volunteer events. In his spare time, Michael loves camping and hiking in national parks, biking on urban trails in Seattle, playing sports with friends, and rooting for the Seattle Seahawks.
Kasey Shultz
Kasey worked as the Greenway Trust Trail Crew Lead in 2022 and 2023, and is returning in 2024 as the Recreation Coordinator. She comes to this work with an eclectic collection of past jobs including farm hand, paralegal, restoration crew leader, weaving instructor, and barista. She has a B.A. in Sociocultural Anthropology from Boston University with minors in African Studies and Spanish. Kasey is always looking for opportunities to play music, learn languages, read all books, and share her opinions about apple varieties.
Lindsay Spangler
With the Greenway Trust since 2018
As the Education Coordinator, Lindsay (she/her) coordinates 4th-12th grade environmental education programs and the YESS high school internship. Lindsay grew up in rural Virginia where she spent a lot of time running around barefoot outside. She earned a B.S. Degree in Environmental Resources Management from Virginia Tech in 2012 and a Master of Natural Resources Degree through Virginia Tech’s Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability in 2022. She brings experience in both formal and informal education – from teaching science and English in Thailand, working as a science educator at a micro-school focused on experiential learning, to serving an AmeriCorps term with the Greenway Trust and returning as an educator. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, birding, being an amateur ceramicist, petting dogs, and exploring new places.
Mike Stenger
Mike manages the Greenway Trust’s capital recreation projects, working with partnering nonprofits, government agencies, crews and volunteers on building and maintaining trails, trailheads and other recreation facilities. Mike has over two decades of experience in trail project design and implementation in the region. Before joining the Greenway Trust he worked as a teacher in the public schools and with other environmental non-profits. When not hiking, building, skiing or biking on trails, Mike enjoys teaching young people about the outdoors, and the occasional carpentry project.
Tristan Vandermay
With the Greenway Trust Restoration Crew since 2022
Tristan (He/Him) returns to Mountain to Sound Greenway as a Crew Member for the Restoration team. Based out of Renton, Washington and with strong family roots in Western Washington, he takes pride in being able to give back to the state that has brought many joys and passions to his life. Worked for EarthCorps in 2021 as a crew member, and also worked for the Greenway Trust in 2022 and 2023 as a crew member, he brings experience, patience and passion to the work being done in the field. He thoroughly enjoys getting the opportunity to work outside, as well as working with others who are just as passionate about their outdoor space. Other interests include homebrewing, reading, hiking, and spending time with his dogs.
Caroline Villanova
With the Greenway Trust since 2017
Caroline loves to work in a way that connects people to the outdoors in any way possible. With a background in environmental studies at the University of Vermont and experience in hazardous waste management and conservation nurseries in the Northeast, Caroline is now settled in the Pacific Northwest. She has experience leading volunteers, workshops, and coalitions, and whatever she is up to, she is usually working alongside an incredible team. She loves cuddling on the couch with her pup Leny, sewing hats, or adventuring outdoors.
Michael Woodsum
With the Greenway Trust since 2011
Mike Woodsum is the Director of Development at the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust. He has spent fifteen years fundraising for nonprofits in the Seattle area, and identifies the Greenway’s balanced mission and pragmatic approach as the perfect fit for his personal priorities. Mike works closely with staff leadership and board members to oversee all fundraising efforts by the Greenway Trust. When he isn’t raising money for the Greenway, Mike is often out exploring its rivers, trails, and alpine lakes as an avid fly fisherman. Mike lives in Edmonds and has a young daughter.
Katy Yeh
With the Greenway Trust since 2018
Katy is responsible for coordinating projects at ecological restoration sites throughout the Greenway. She first experienced the wonders of the Pacific Northwest ecology backpacking on the Olympic Peninsula in high school. In college, she studied Biology & Environmental Studies at Lewis & Clark College. She brings experience in ecological restoration with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy in San Francisco, the SDSU Research Foundation in San Diego, and most recently as an AmeriCorps Crew Lead for EarthCorps. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the Puget Sound and learning more about the flora of the Pacific Northwest.