Staff

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.

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.

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).

With the Greenway Trust since: 2022

Jamie (she/they) works at the intersection of organizational grant management, administration, as well as event logistics. Born and raised in California, they spent most of their time exploring different beaches, where they 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.

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.

With the Greenway Trust since 2023

After completing her Communications Internship with the Greenway Trust, Emma (she/her) is excited to be starting her new role on the team as the Development Coordinator. As a recent graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in Marine Biology and Environmental Studies, she is eager to use her background in communications and passion for the Greenway Trust’s mission in her new role. In her free time, Emma enjoys spending time outdoors and trying out new coffee shops!  

With the Greenway Trust since 2024

Mikaela (she/her) is excited to return to the Greenway Trust as an Educator for the 2025 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, Mikaela interned with NOAA Fisheries and worked as a naturalist with the Environmental Science Center connecting people of all ages to the outdoors. The joy she feels helping youth connect with nature brought her to the Greenway and influenced her to return for a second season. She is excited to keep exploring this passion and remain a curious learner. In her free time, Mikaela enjoys collecting mugs, re-watching sitcoms, walking the logs, and gathering sea glass at her local beaches.
 

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.

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.

With the Greenway Trust since 2024

Leah Grimmer (she/her) is excited to return to the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust Restoration Crew for the 2025 season. Originally from Michigan, Leah spent several years working in trail maintenance and program coordination with various organizations nationwide before joining the Restoration Crew for the 2024 season. She liked it so much she came back! She is also working on her Environmental Studies and Ecological Restoration degree at the University of Washington – Bothell. In her [limited] free time, Leah likes to go to the farmers market, read, and ride her bike for moderately long distances.

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.

With the Greenway Trust since: 2013

Becca (she/her) leads the Greenway Trust’s environmental education program, which engages 4^th-12^th 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.

With the Greenway Trust since 2025

As the Volunteer Specialist, Tessa is excited to spend her work hours facilitating stewardship activities and volunteer events for the people who live, work, and play in the Greenway landscape. You will find her implementing restoration events like tree plantings, potting native species in the nursery, removing introduced species, and supporting the rest of the Greenway Team. A native New Yorker, Tessa’s career has taken her all over the country; however, she’s excited to make the Greenway landscape her new home and connect with the people who make this community so special. Outside work, you’ll find her birding, hiking, and exploring craft markets.

With the Greenway Trust Restoration Crew since 2024

Frances Kretschmer (she/her) will be returning to the Greenway as restoration crew lead for the 2025 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.

With the Greenway Trust since 2025

Lars Krokum (He/Him) is excited to join the Restoration Crew for the 2025 season. Lars grew up in Seattle, Washington, and received his degree in Environmental Science and Resource Management, focusing on Restoration Ecology and Environmental Horticulture at the University of Washington. He is passionate about land stewardship and promoting accessibility and inclusivity in the outdoors. He has previous experience working two seasons as a field assistant for the King County Noxious Weeds Control Program. He also worked conducting stream surveys, as a wilderness instructor for kids in outdoor education, and as a gardener. Working with the Greenway Trust, he will help install native vegetation and remove invasive weeds, as well as conduct other monitoring/ maintenance tasks for the restoration team. In his free time, Lars enjoys playing outside in the Snoqualmie and Skykomish river valleys, as well as paddling his canoe around Lake Washington.

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.

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.

Restoration Crew Member
With the Greenway Trust since 2025

Michelle (she/they) is excited to join the Greenway Trust as a Restoration Crew Member and expand their knowledge of plants and environmental stewardship. Michelle spent the first 18 years of her life in the big city of Beijing, but nowadays you will most often find Michelle out in nature. Following a passion for the outdoors has led Michelle everywhere from working on farms to leading backcountry crosscut crews. Outside of work, Michelle loves birding, songwriting, and YouTube rabbit holes.

With the Greenway Trust Restoration Crew since 2024

Madeleine (she/her)is returning to the Greenway for her second season as the Assistant Crew Lead. 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.

With the Greenway Trust since 2024

Paulina Orrantia Burboa is the 2024/25 Communications Intern. She recently graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Political Science and English Literature & Language. She is passionate about highlighting stories of environmental and social change by centering community efforts. She is involved in social advocacy and community-based nonprofits in the Seattle area through her work and volunteering. She hopes to bring her experience in storytelling to a wider audience in hopes of fostering a deeper connection between people and nature. In her free time Paulina likes exploring new bookstores, coffee shops, and parks in and around Seattle.

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.

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.

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.

With the Greenway Trust since 2022

Shenise Ramirez weaves stories out of the symbiotic relationships the Greenway NHA welds between humans, animals, and plant life. Before landing at the Greenway Trust, she 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, she uses multimedia storytelling to translate research into stories that bring communities behind the scenes of solutions-based environmental science. She believes intersectional storytelling creates fertile ground for an environmentally just future.

Restoration Crew Member
With the Greenway Trust since 2025

Darla Seehusen-Besky (She/Her) is excited to join the Restoration Crew for the 2025 season. Darla grew up in cold and snowy Minnesota and received her B.A. in Russian Area Studies and Religion at St. Olaf College. After graduating college, she moved to the Seattle area, pursued her passion for botany and ecology, and joined the Washington Conservation Corps to do restoration fieldwork. Now she works with the Greenway Trust to control invasive weeds and install native plants for restoration projects. In her free time, Darla is busy learning more about PNW ecology, spending too much time on the trail identifying plants, rollerblading around her neighborhood, and slowly working on reading through her loan shelf at the library.

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.

With the Greenway Trust since 2025

Ellise Smith (She/Her) is one of the two Recreation Specialists for this 2025 season! Raised in Franklin, Tennessee, Ellise had only worked in the restaurant industry but always made time to go outdoors. She grew up camping, hiking, and traveling anywhere she could whenever she could. Always knowing she was passionate about protecting and preserving nature and wildlife, she joined the American Conservation Experience based out of Asheville, North Carolina. Shortly after finishing her term there, she found her way to the MTS Greenway in 2023! Since then, she has been building and maintaining trails along the corridor, all while fostering meaningful connections with volunteers, project partners, the public, and coworkers alike! She also gets a kick out of writing, going to concerts, some guy named Joe Pera, photography, and a crisp breeze on an autumn day.

With the Greenway Trust since 2018

As the Education Coordinator, Lindsay (she/her) coordinates 4^th-12^th 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.

With the Greenway Trust since 2024

August Spires (they/them) is excited to join the Greenway team as the Kittitas Volunteer Stewardship Coordinator. August grew up in Snoqualmie and received their degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Washington. Their previous experience with the USFS as a park ranger ignited a passion for public land accessibility and inclusion. In their new role with the Greenway Trust, August will focus on volunteer outreach and engagement in Kittitas County, and they are particularly excited to head the Trailhead Ambassador Program. In their free time, August enjoys climbing, fishing, and stained glass.

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.

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.

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.