Board

Tania Elahee is a Program Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at REI. Her background is in multinational project and product management, multicultural marketing, and corporate social responsibility. A Seattle native, she holds a Masters in International Development Policy & Management and an MBA from the University of Washington. She has visited more than 40 countries and is fluent in Spanish.

Shanon Tysland is a physical therapist as well as a fitness and personal development consultant.  He is the founder and owner of Experience Momentum, a wellness company that offers physical therapy, massage therapy, personal training, and nutrition programs.  Experience Momentum participates in 1% for the Planet.  Shanon is active with 1% for the Planet nationally and has served on school and rotary boards.

Betsey provides nonprofit counsel to a wide variety of organizations helping them advance their philanthropic strategies. A respected leader in Seattle’s nonprofit sector, she has served on the staff at Seattle Parks Foundation, Women’s Funding Alliance, the Seattle Symphony, and the Seattle Repertory Theater. Betsey currently volunteers at the University District Food Bank, serves on the Parent Council of Macalester College, and is an advisory board member of the Fundraising and Nonprofit Management Certificate programs at the University of Washington.

Nathan Barnes is an Underwriting Counsel at First American Title Insurance Company, before which he spent 10 years practicing and dealing in real estate and corporate law.  A graduate of the University of Washington’s undergraduate program and school of law, Nathan is a Pacific Northwest Native and is the author of several hiking guidebooks focused on exploring the wilds of Washington State.

Shruti currently leads North America Safety and Quality programs team at Amazon. She has a background in manufacturing, technology and product development . Originally from India, Shruti has  had the joy of calling Seattle home for the past 10 years. She has a Masters in Food Science from Cornell University and is currently pursuing MBA at University of Michigan. She is an avid reader and had travelled to. 20 + countries. She is passionate about sustainability, restoration and women’s health advocacy.

Adam Nebenzahl is a Management Analyst with the City of Bainbridge Island. He has a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Washington and a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Policy and Education from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Adam has a background in environmental conservation from his work in Senegal in the Peace Corps, Crew member for Excelsior Conservation Corps, and as an EarthCorps Alumni when he was a Volunteer Specialist in 2019. Adam is excited to continue to support the work of environmental conservation and expand his knowledge and support in environmental justice. In his free time, you can find him outdoors hiking, camping, and exploring new restaurants.

Ayesha was born in Washington and was first exposed to the region’s natural beauty through family trips camping and hiking in the Puget Sound area. She has a passion for nature and the outdoors and preserving natural spaces for community enjoyment. After becoming a mother, Ayesha moved to Seattle to plant roots in the Pacific Northwest and raise a family in a part of the country where outdoor activities are abundant, and breathtaking nature is at her doorstep.

Ayesha is a Vice-President at Brightwheel where she focuses on delivering high-quality curriculum to preschools and child care centers across the country.  She has over 20 years of experience in high-growth companies, including 15 years at Amazon where she led multiple retail businesses. She enjoys working in high-performing teams, building beloved brands and growing talent. Outside of work, Ayesha enjoys boating, hiking and skiing and exploring the Pacific Northwest’s mountains and waterways.

Bri Simpson is the Sales and Experience Manager, for Sales and Customer Support at REI. She has been with REI for 20 years, in various leadership roles throughout the organization. A native of Western Washington, Bri has a BA in Communications from Whitworth University. Bri has previously served on the boards of Bicycling in Greensboro, Greensboro Fat Tire Society and Asheville Affiliates.

Debbie White is a Program Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at REI. Debbie is a racial equity, diversity, and inclusion practitioner who centers historically excluded groups in her approach to learning and development, workforce planning, and career advising. Debbie’s prior roles include serving as an HR Strategic Advisor with the City of Seattle and the Director of Career Services and WorkSource Site Administrator at South Seattle College. Debbie holds an MA in Student Development Administration from Seattle University and received her BA in English Literature from the University of Minnesota. Debbie identifies as Korean-American and met her partner while living abroad in South Korea. They have two kids and love to hike and camp as a family.

Emily Tomita (she/her) currently serves as the Interim Director of Development at Neighborhood House. She previously served as the Grants Manager for Arms Around You and as the Youth Programs Manager at Refugee Women’s Alliance. In addition to serving on the board of EarthCorps, Emily is a member of the board of directors of the Southeast Seattle Education Coalition (SESEC). She also loves to bake cakes, be outside, and spend time with her dog Velcro.

Jasmine Williams is the Community Partner Program Coordinator, managing the Connections program at the Seattle Aquarium where she was once a teen volunteer. Born and raised in Seattle, WA she received her bachelor’s from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA. Jasmine is passionate about building authentic mutually beneficial relationships with the community using an equity lens and creating inclusive environments for all to thrive. Jasmine is thrilled to join Earthcorps and most enjoys connecting conservation and overburdened communities most impacted by environmental degradation through meaningful conservation engagement opportunities.

Malia is currently a Leadership Development Manager at Amazon. Malia has a background in managing and delivering learning experiences for adults in corporate and university settings. Malia holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College. Originally from Hawaii, Malia has called Seattle home for nearly 20 years. In her free time Malia loves reading, gardening, and hiking in the beautiful PNW with her family.

Michael Adam Winters is a musician, outdoorsperson, and technologist that currently works as a Principal Technical Manager at Amazon in the computer vision and supply chain robotics space. Previously, he worked in the data visibility space for Google and Apple before making his way to the Seattle area in 2017. Michael spent his childhood deeply immersed in both nature and the arts, and aims to utilize his passion in these spaces to build more equitable access to both through his service on the EarthCorps board of directors.

Mike is a community volunteer and recently served on Seattle City Council where he advocated for equity and sustainability.  Mike played a key role in securing funding for Green Seattle Partnership during the creation of Seattle’s Metropolitan Parks District.  Prior to serving on Council, Mike was CFO of Stokes Lawrence, a Seattle law firm.  Mike earned a B.A. in Economics from Duke University and an MBA from the University of Washington.  Mike has served as an EarthCorps homestay for more than two years.  He currently serves as Treasurer and a member of the Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Committee with Sierra Club where he is a long-time volunteer and leader.  Mike served on the Sound Transit Regional Authority Board, on the Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 8 Salmon Recovery Council, as a Founding Member of the Leadership Alliance Against Coal, and as a trainer with the Cascade Bicycle Club Advocacy Leadership Institute.

Paul J. Wright is Director of Workplace Safety for Boeing in Renton, Washington, and South Carolina. He has been with Boeing for over 25 years, holding senior leadership roles in Flight Sciences, Product Development Environmental Performance, and System Safety and Regulatory Affairs. Paul earned a BSME in Control Systems from Santa Clara University.

Shava is the Director of Fiscal Services at Seattle Parks Foundation, where she partners with community groups to champion thriving and equitable open spaces. She has over 25 years of experience in finance with small businesses and nonprofits as well as relationship building and collaboration with community and strategic partners. Shava formerly served on the board of Historic South Downtown, a community preservation organization that serves Seattle’s historic communities of Pioneer Square and Chinatown International District. When not working or volunteering, Shava spends as much time as she can in nature; hiking, camping, or biking, and traveling with her family. Born and raised in the PNW, a Beacon Hill resident for the last 22 years, she is a graduate of the University of Washington, where she received her bachelor’s degree in art and metals design.

Stephanie LaBoo works as a Principal Safety Engineer and Risk Manager for Amazon Fulfillment Technologies and Robotics. Her team is responsible for making sure safety is designed into the new automation developed by the organization. Her passion is to not only design safer systems but develop ways to make their designs sustainable. Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys running full and half marathons all over the world and enjoying the outdoors. 

Quena Batres is Community Engagement Manager at The Nature Conservancy. Quena is an EarthCorps alumna having served as a Corps member in 2016 and a Volunteer Specialist in 2017. Since serving at EarthCorps she has continued working for a variety of environmental nonprofits such as the Student Conservation Association and Washington Environmental Council. Quena received her BA from the University of Kansas in International Studies.

She is an avid hiker and rock climber, and also enjoys spending time in parks close to home.

To Liz, being a first-generation college graduate means figuring things out as she goes, and having many feelings of uncertainty. It also gives her the opportunity to represent and uplift those with similar experiences in underrepresented spaces. In college, she discovered a deep interest for the physical sciences as she did for the humanities, and pursued an education in Chemistry and Religious Studies at the University of California, Irvine. Here, Liz spent time synthesizing organic chemicals, learning about human culture, and working as a part-time barista in Orange County where she crossed paths with many great individuals. In these spaces, Liz found a support system that guided her toward Earthcorps. Since relocating, her experience in the PNW has been nothing short of beautiful, and she looks forward to building her year ahead in the Corps. A naturally optimistic person, Liz romanticizes her life by enjoying live music, exploring her neighborhood, creating photo albums, traveling, strolling…

Kristina (she/her) is originally from the deserts of Southern California but has found a new home in the Pacific Northwest. She is serving as a Habitat Specialist and is a current student with the University of Washington pursuing a GIS Certification. Kristina also has a B.A. in Environmental Ethics and Policy from the University of Portland. Her passion for environmental stewardship, justice, and advocacy grew from watching Planet Earth and other environmental documentaries as a kid and now finds revitalization for her passion by spending time outdoors and engaging in volunteering and local community events to support conservation. It’s important to her that nature be protected and restored in the face of climate change for the continuation of nature itself! She is so excited to be stepping into a new leadership role in ecological restoration work and to make tangible differences to the ecological landscape of the greater Seattle region. Kristina hopes to return to school to pursue an MS in Geography or Ecology next year. Peak fun for Kristina is crafting, rock climbing, hiking, and listening to podcasts.

Saf (they/them) is a crew leader currently working at Washington Trails Association. They also hold the Corps Alumni Board Fellow position. They came from Glen Allen, Virginia to explore the nature, coffee, pride, and live music scenes in Seattle. They started working at Earthcorps to get their hands in the dirt and to explore the world. Nowadays, they’re looking to improve POC representation and uplift POC perspectives within the environmental field. They plan on attending their first year of college in 2024 for environmental science. If you see them on a day off, they’ll be out longboarding, hanging out with their dog, or exploring the city (with a latte in hand).