Each year at our Annual Dinner, we celebrate individuals and organizations who have made a great impact within the Mountains to Sound Greenway and embody our values. You can read more about the awards and recipients below, and click here to view the achievements celebrated in our 2024 Parade of Accomplishments (plus a few bonus items!).
Greenway Hall of Fame
The Greenway Hall of Fame honors those whose contributions have left a permanent and positive legacy on the Mountains to Sound Greenway, and who inspire all of us to do our own part to care for this amazing place.
2025 Recipient:
Larry Phillips
In recognition of a lifetime devoted to public service and protection of the natural world; with appreciation for 24 years of leadership on the King County Council, where he championed preservation of forests, farmlands, waterways, salmon habitat, public transportation, and sustainable growth policies; with thanks for his unwavering support of the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area. We are grateful for his visionary leadership, his steadfast commitment to climate action and land stewardship, and his enduring legacy of environmental achievement that continues to guide and inspire future generations of conservationists.
Jim Ellis Spirit Awards
The Jim Ellis Spirit Award honors the example that he set from the very beginning of the Greenway, recognizing individuals who embody the Greenway values of collaboration, inclusion, trustworthiness, positivity, and pragmatism. These values guided Jim’s life of service and they infuse every aspect of our work.
2025 Recipients:
Scott Lynn
In recognition of his hard work and dedication to conserve forest lands through connecting publicly owned forests across the Cascades; for his creativity, patience, and pragmatism in crafting complex acquisition transactions in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests; for his successful implementation of the critically important Land and Water Conservation Fund; and for his steadfast commitment to forest health.
Chevon Powell
In recognition of her enthusiasm for the outdoors and dedication to finding ways for people to spend time outside; for her support of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, especially through programming at Golden Bricks Events; and for her tireless efforts to help people from diverse backgrounds connect to and find joy in nature, including founding the Refuge Outdoor Festival in Washington.
Shawn Tobin
In recognition of his dedication to parks and recreation through his stewardship of Cascade Foothills Area state parks in Washington; his commitment to protecting natural resources and critical ecosystems while providing places for people to enjoy nature; and for his steadfast leadership, partnership, communication, and support of projects such as Issaquah Creek restoration at Lake Sammamish State Park, which has significantly improved water quality and fish habitat in this critical waterway.
Katie Woolsey
In recognition of her stewardship of natural areas through conservation and recreation work with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and King County Parks, enhancing ecological health and community well-being; for her collaborative spirit and ability to build trust across agencies and communities; and for her positive energy, generosity, and commitment to a landscape that will support both nature and people for generations to come.
Past Recipients: Hall of Fame
1995 – Builders
Charles Bingham, Priscilla Collins
2000 – Builders
Jennifer Belcher, Slade Gorton
2002 – Builders
Ron Sims, Cleve Pinnix
2007 – Builders
The Osberg Family, Nancy Keith
2012 – Builders
Peter Goldmark
1995 – Pathfinders
Brian Boyle, Harvey Manning
2000 – Pathfinders
The Boeing Company, Martin Rosen, Ted Thomsen
2002 – Pathfinders
Jim Ellis
2003 – Pathfinders
Ken Konigsmark
2012 – Pathfinders
Sally Jewell
2014 – Pathfinders
Bill Chapman
2016 Hall of Fame
Doug and Kristi McClelland, Peter Goldmark
2018 Hall of Fame
Tom Gibbs
2019 Hall of Fame
Terry Lavender
2020 Hall of Fame
Charlie Raines
2023 Hall of Fame
Sue McLain
2024 Hall of Fame
Mary Norton
Past Recipients: Jim Ellis Spirit Awards
2017
Aleta Eng, Dave Peterson
2018
Craig Mabie, Matt Mechler, Kelly Heintz
2019
Nikki Fields, Scott Nicolai, Sasha Shaw, Brian White
2020
Paul Schmitt, Andrea Imler, Taldi Harrison
2021
Cristy Lake, Katherine Hollis, Patricia Garvey-Darda
2022
Gabbi Gonzales, Deb Davis, Alex Weinberg
2023
Laura Cooper, David Dunphy, Helen Lau
2024
Jaime Martin, Gary Brown, Lisa Ciecko, Peter Dykstra
Certificates of Merit
1995
Joanna Buehler, Craig Lee, Gary Locke, Cleve Pinnix, Terry Wallgren
1996
Mark Boyar, Michele Brown, Aubrey Davis, Pete Machno, Lee Springgate
1997
Paul Carkeek, Wade and Tania Holden, Jack Hornung, Maryanne Tagney Jones, Larry Phillips, Arlene Wade
1998
Bill Dues, Ruth Ittner, Morris Jenkins, Cascade Land Conservancy, Doug McClelland, Osberg Family, Ron Sims
2000
EarthCorps, Jim Lyons, Faith Roland, Mark Sollitto, Washington Trails Association, Everett White, Youth Volunteer Corps
2001
Jeanne Ehrlichman Bluechel, Bonnie Bunning, Jerry Henry, Tara Houck, John Karlson, Peggy Leonard,Margaret Macleod, Mary Norton, Paul Schell
2002
Sally Luttrell-Montes, David MacDuff and Talus, Harry Morgan, Charlie Raines, Staff of Lake Sammamish State Park, Ira Spring/Spring Family Trust for Trails, Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition
2003
Paul Cooke, Joan Simpson
2004
Dave Battey, Fuzzy Fletcher, Leon Kos, Faris Taylor
2005
Rich Grillo, Louis Musso, Janet Wall
2007
Sue McLain, Dennis Neuzil, Joan Thomas
2008
Peter Spiro, Doug Sutherland
2013
Carter Subaru, Ava Frisinger