Leadership
Steve has led EarthCorps since 1999. Working with a talented staff, he developed innovative programs and partnerships that have engaged more than 175,000 volunteers, seeded a broad environmental stewardship movement around Puget Sound, and built a network of more than 1,000 environmental leaders spanning 80+ countries.
Steve joined EarthCorps after a stint at Children’s Defense Fund in Washington, DC. He serves on the board of Restore America’s Estuaries, the Green Seattle Partnership Executive Council, the Mountaineers Advisory Council, the Mountains to Sound Greenway Technical Advisory Committee, the Leadership Tomorrow Curriculum Committee, and The Corps Council of The Corps Network.
Steve’s interest in conservation was seeded climbing trees and a large rock outcropping in his backyard as well as building trails in the North Cascades National Park as a high school student.
If you are a donor to EarthCorps, you have probably worked with Lydia. She leads EarthCorps’ fundraising efforts, working closely with her highly capable staff and the board of directors. Interested in getting more deeply involved with EarthCorps as a donor or board member? Give Lydia a call, and she’ll be happy to assist you.
Prior to joining EarthCorps in 2012, Lydia was the Development Director at Seattle Parks Foundation, and served as Associate Director for Humanities Washington. She holds a BA in Communications from the University of Washington, where she is also a graduate of the Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute at the Nancy Bell Evans Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy.
In her free time, Lydia enjoys cooking for family and friends, spending time in Seattle’s many parks with her dog, and traveling.
In collaboration with program and field staff, Bill oversees the development, implementation and evaluation of EarthCorps’ leadership program and field services. He works closely with EarthCorps’ directors team to ensure the organization fulfills its mission today and in the future.
Bill holds a degree in Forestry Resource Management from the School of Forestry in Syracuse, NY and a master’s degree in Organizational Management from Antioch University in New Hampshire. Bill has certifications in Environmental Law & Regulation and Green Stormwater Infrastructure Design & Management from the University of Washington, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Prior to EarthCorps, he worked with landowners to permanently protect their land with conservation easements and worked five-years as a backcountry ranger. Bill also instructs trail construction & maintenance workshops with the Student Conservation Association and the Pacific Crest Trail Association.
Outside of work, Bill is an avid hiker and loves to explore the region with his wife Terry and two sons Ben and Sam.
From creating budgets to paying bills, Keith makes sure that the office and EarthCorps systems are working smoothly and efficiently. He works closely with the Director’s team and the board Finance Committee to keep EarthCorps at the top of its financial game.
Keith did two years of service with AmeriCorps, first with Rural Action in Athens, Ohio and then as corps member with EarthCorps. After a year working at Amazon, Keith returned to EarthCorps in 2004 and has been the Finance Director since 2008. He holds a Master’s degree in nonprofit leadership from Seattle University and an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Ohio University.
When not downing coffee and chasing after two young children, Keith attempts to get out rock climbing as much as possible, which he has been doing for twenty years.
As the Deputy Director, Su is forward looking as she makes strategic connections with EarthCorps partners and supporters. Su has more than 30 years of experience in the conservation service field, ranging from building trails, teaching environmental education, coordinating backcountry crews of high school students, and training crew leaders, to present day responsibilities that come with guiding a Seattle based non-profit of 22 staff and 50 corps members who are tirelessly working to restore the ecosystems of the Puget Sound region.
A graduate of the Wilderness Recreation Leadership program based in the Adirondacks, her passion for mountains and adventure is still unrequited. Su believes in changing the world one step at a time. Su has been a Re-evaluation Counselor and member of United to End Racism for 20 years.
Corps Program
Finding great people and bringing them to EarthCorps is what Dylan is all about. Interested in a Corps or Staff position? Dylan is here to support you throughout the application, interview, and on-boarding processes. He also has a key role in administering our International Corps Program, including the management of our Homestay families.
Prior to joining the Program Staff, Dylan spent two years as a Corps Member and Crew Leader at EarthCorps, so he knows what it takes for our participants to thrive in the field.
Dylan holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from Notre Dame. He also earned a graduate fellowship in Environmental Education as a Field Instructor at an environmentally-focused semester school. While there, Dylan developed and taught classes on backpacking, camping, canoeing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and many other activities designed to engage and connect teens with nature.
As Corps Program Coordinator, Rahel coaches crew members and crew leaders to make the most of their time at EarthCorps. She develops opportunities for participants to grow their leadership skills, build community and develop a broader context for their work through retreats, workshops and trainings.
Back in 2009 Rahel first joined EarthCorps as a corps member. She returned to EarthCorps in 2012 as the Corps Program Recruiter after obtaining a Masters of Public Administration from the Evans Schools of Public Affairs at the University of Washington.
Rahel is an avid bicyclist and leads EarthCorps’ annual bike month challenge. She enjoys hiking and mountain climbing in the great Northwest.
Elizabeth has a desire to connect people to the green places around them, to empower them to steward our urban forests and natural places, and to help them discover their own leadership potential. She does all of this as the Corps Operation Manager where she oversees EarthCorps’ AmeriCorps, international, and volunteer programs.
Elizabeth first joined EarthCorps as an AmeriCorps member in 2002 and led as a Crew Leader in 2003. Over the years she has been a Project Manager for EarthCorps Volunteer Program and the Program Manager of our Volunteer Team. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in English.
Volunteer Team
From Federal Way to Everett, Mariska works with local agencies to create impactful volunteer projects in natural areas throughout the Puget Sound region. She also manages the Puget Sound Stewards, a program that matches enthusiastic and motivated volunteers to nearshore restoration sites in need of long term stewardship.
Prior to joining EarthCorps, she spent two years working at Forterra as an AmeriCorps member through the Washington Conservation Corps where she gained hands-on experience in PNW restoration ecology, and volunteer project management. She holds a BA in Philosophy from Seattle University, and an MSc in Environmental Science and Policy from Central European University.
When not nerding out over native plants, Mariska enjoys showering others with baked goods, learning to play the drums, and exploring civic engagement as a member on City of Seattle’s Urban Forestry Commission.
As a part of the EarthCorps volunteer team, Kelly works closely with local cities and schools to facilitate fun, educational, and impactful volunteer projects. Kelly works closely with the Green Seattle Partnership, working to restore iconic Seattle parks as well as lesser known gems.
Kelly joined EarthCorps in 2011 as an AmeriCorps member focusing on volunteer management and urban forest restoration. Since then, she has worn many hats on EarthCorps’ volunteer team. Prior to joining EarthCorps, Kelly spent a summer leading youth trips with Washington Trails Association as well as a winter in the Mojave desert with the Student Conservation Association. She holds a BA in Chemistry from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon and a certificate in Wetland Science and Management from the University of Washington
Kelly enjoys spending her spare time exploring by hiking, running, and biking around the northwest.
Interested in volunteering at a restoration event? Sean is the one to contact! He is the welcoming personality behind volunteer@earthcorps.org and is eager to answer your questions about our volunteer program. Along with reaching out to involve more communities and groups, Sean tracks and analyzes program impact using our Salesforce database.
Sean joined EarthCorps as an AmeriCorps member in 2012. This was not long after his time in Fiji where he was able to work closely with an EarthCorps international alumna in marine conservation while serving with the Peace Corps. He studied biology and fisheries at the University of Washington and has had experience with outdoor and informal education through working with the Seattle Aquarium, Salish Sea Expeditions, and the Pacific Science Center.
Sean enjoys poking around tide pools, hiking in the forest, and dabbles in running, kayaking, SCUBA, gardening, and brewing kombucha.
Restoration Project Management
From tool and vehicle acquisition, to inventory and maintenance, to project management, Paula makes sure that the behind the scenes systems and logistics are field ready. Paula works closely with the field team and corps members.
Before joining EarthCorps in 2010, she worked in conservation related fields including habitat restoration, trail construction and as a wilderness ranger. She has years of experience as an international volunteer working on sustainable agriculture and land rights issues abroad. She has a BA in Political Science from The Evergreen State College.
Paula spends off time with her daughter enjoying local parks, mountains and beaches.
Kym joined the EarthCorps field staff in early 2012 and has since managed projects ranging from backcountry trail construction to urban riparian habitat enhancement. Her background in ecological assessment includes wetland and benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring with the King County Department of Natural Resources, prairie restoration with The Nature Conservancy, and migratory bird research with the Alamos Wildlands Alliance in Sonora, Mexico. She incorporates integrated pest management principles, GIS/GPS technology, and scientifically sound solutions to returning value and functionality to degraded ecosystems.
Kym’s role at EarthCorps extends beyond project management to include support in strengthening corps educational programming. Whenever possible, she weaves her passion for social and environmental justice into a community-based and inclusive approach to ecological restoration. She is an EarthCorps alumna (’06-07) and holds a B.S. in Ecology from the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA.
Nelson conducts quantitative data analysis, develops vegetation management plans and site resource inventories, and addresses a variety of management goals and objectives. He has been providing GIS/GPS mapping and analysis for projects since 2005. In addition, Nelson trains and leads volunteers in restoration monitoring, forest inventory and analysis and native plant seed collection.
Nelson worked as an ecologist with Seattle Urban Nature before they merged with EarthCorps in 2010. Prior to that, he has worked with the Bureau of Land Management and the Student Conservation Association. He holds a BS in Botany from Humboldt State University and currently serves on the board as Botanist for the Puget Sound Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society.
Nelson can often be found squinting through a hand lens studying or photographing the lichens, bryophytes, and fungi that also make the Pacific Northwest their home. In his spare time he enjoys exploring and discovering the natural world with his wife and two children.
Matthew works at the interface of the pulaski, the plant, and the pen. He is responsible for the design and implementation of habitat restoration projects from beginning to end. Projects run the ecological gamut from urban wetlands to the nearshore, from pollinator corridors to green stormwater infrastructure. Matthew enjoys working with land managers to strategize on best practice management of their natural areas, informed by field surveys, and culminating in the writing of Management Plans. He is most interested in strategy, collaboration, and long term stewardship.
Matthew received a Masters in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Washington. When not tromping around the backcountry of the Pacific Northwest, he volunteers as a Spanish-English interpreter for immigrant asylum cases.
Fund Development & Communications
As part of EarthCorps’ development team, Pipo focuses on foundation, corporate, and government grants, and is always on the lookout for new ways to connect caring people with meaningful projects. Whether foraging through conservation research or gathering philanthropic and business partners around big ideas, Pipo revels in pulling together financial resources for forward-looking organizations to make positive change in the world.
Prior to joining EarthCorps in 2005, Pipo worked as a fundraiser at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. She holds a PhD in European Ethnology from the Humboldt University of Berlin and a BA in Communication from Stanford.
In her spare time, Pipo volunteers with her local school garden and children’s schools, and helps grow community through her family’s coffee roasting and retail business.
Have a question about your donation to EarthCorps? As the Development Coordinator, Beth can answer any questions you may have about donating to EarthCorps and is always happy to chat. She also oversees EarthCorps’ fundraising events, including our annual fundraiser, Revive.
Before joining EarthCorps, Beth worked as a college admissions counselor, where she planned large-scale events, and built meaningful relationships with applicants and community groups. Beth also has experience in sustainable agriculture and environmental education, having worked at a number of parks, farms, and zoos. She earned a BS in Biology and Environmental Studies from Brandeis University.
In her free time, Beth can be found on the water or in the mountains. She enjoys sailing, kayaking, hiking, and exploring Seattle’s many neighborhoods.
Were you able to find what you were looking for on EarthCorps’ new website? If not, direct your feedback and suggestions to Sara. She oversees EarthCorps’ communications to drive greater visibility for all the amazing work that her fellow staff members are doing around Puget Sound.
Sara joined EarthCorps’ fundraising and communications team in 2012. Prior, she worked in fundraising for Water 1st International, and did a year of service with Lutheran Volunteer Corps in Chicago. She holds a BA in Psychology and Communications from Hope College in Holland, Michigan.
Sara often spends her weekends hiking and snowshoeing with students from Tukwila Elementary School as part of Seattle ICO. She also serves as Seattle ICO’s Fundraising Coordinator.
Office and Finance
As the Administrative Assistant, Tiffany keeps things moving at EarthCorps. She supports various teams within EarthCorps by fulfilling a range of projects, helping create and implement efficient systems, and providing a warm welcome to everyone and anyone within the EarthCorps community.
Tiffany’s personal investment in environmental awareness and action fuels her motivation to contribute energy towards EarthCorps. Prior to EarthCorps she worked with social justice and environment-focused organizations. She feels most engaged in her environment when she is active in her community and contributing her ideas towards productive solutions, which is conducive towards the organizational and communication aspects in her position.
As the Office Manager, Bookkeeper and Salesforce Database Administrator, Dianna keeps EarthCorps running smoothly. She works with all teams ensuring that our Salesforce Database optimizes efficiency and provides a complete picture of our work.
Dianna joined EarthCorps in July of 2011 after working for many years in the Non-Profit finance world. She holds an MBA from the American Graduate School of International Business. After years of running her own bookkeeping business, she brought to EarthCorps a variety of talents including database administration, technology and organizational skills.