As a Senior Project Manager, Anna helps to train and orient crews, scope new restoration sites, and communicate with agency partners to develop unique restoration plans. She grew up in the Seattle area with a deep love of the outdoors, especially our forests. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Washington, worked in a blood cancer pathology lab doing DNA sequencing, and then transitioned into the environmental field. Native prairie restoration in Central Minnesota with The Nature Conservancy was her first environmental job, where she spent 6 months harvesting seed from native prairie plants and assisting with prescribed burns. Her love and appreciation of learning and knowing plants really took root here.
Anna first worked with EarthCorps as a Crew Member and Crew Leader in 2019 and 2020, where she quickly affirmed that Pacific Northwest environmental restoration with a focus on equity and environmental justice within the field and for all members of the community would be a long term career path for her. She is excited to bring her recent corps experience to the team to advocate for the corps and provide background context to make every project meaningful.
When Anna’s not working, she is most often found exploring with her two dogs Orca and Ottie, wandering alongside rivers looking for cool plants and critters, and daily crochet as a way to relax.
Chris graduated from the University of Colorado with a BA in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Chris began her journey with conservation/sustainability in the field, working on ecological monitoring sites and plant identification with several universities and non-profits. She eventually transitioned into more of an interpersonal role where she worked as an Advocate at a non-profit helping to eliminate barriers to success and teaching Child Youth Development to corps members.
As the Corps Operations Manager, Chris primary role is focusing on the people that make up our Corps. Understanding needs and figuring out ways to address those needs. With the help of the Program Team, Chris helps with day-to-day logistics of programming and supporting corps members throughout their time at EarthCorps.
Originally from Boulder, Colorado, Chris recently moved to Seattle from Bend, Oregon. Outside of work, Chris loves nothing more than getting out and exploring everything Seattle has to offer. When she is not out exploring, she can often be found hanging out with her dog, watching horror movies, or belting out her favorite tunes at karaoke.
Christyn Riehl (she/her) is originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania but has lived in Seattle since the beginning of 2023. Christyn’s educational background is in Outdoor Education and Cultural Anthropology, and she previously worked in higher education. As she was reflecting on her career, interests, and values, Christyn felt tugged toward returning to outdoor spaces, specifically exploring what it looks like to partner with the land and local communities to preserve, restore, and enjoy the natural world. After gaining experience in the field in Utah, Georgia, and Maine, Christyn’s journey brought her to EarthCorps to serve as a Crew Leader. The land, the community, and the culture of the organization convinced her to stick around and she stepped into the position of Project Manager in 2024. Transitioning into this new role at EarthCorps provides exciting opportunities to blend all aspects of her professional and personal background as she continues facilitating meaningful experiences for Corps members to learn, grow, and take ownership of truly meaningful work! In her spare time Christyn enjoys finding interesting hikes, exploring new places, seeking out unique experiences, and generally dabbling in an ever-fluctuating list of interests and topics.
Denali (she/her) is the Urban and Educational Farming Manager at EarthCorps. In her role, she supports EarthCorps’ various farming partners with capacity building and sustainable development, coordinates on-farm opportunities for corps members, and engages the local community in regenerative agriculture. As EarthCorps grows in a more environmentally just direction, Denali believes that food and farm justice should be a key part of the conversation. Her role investigates questions like “How can we nourish communities through more equitable and resilient food systems?,” and “How can we develop regenerative, diverse on-farm ecological systems?”.
Denali is originally from Ohio and got a degree in engineering and environmental science from Miami University. Upon graduation, Denali spent time exploring central Alaska before moving to Kauai to explore permaculture and community composting. She moved to the PNW in early 2024 to work as the Farm Specialist for EarthCorps and community partner, Wakulima USA. Denali’s favorite way to connect to the Earth is by digging her hands into the soil and watching life grow through the beautiful reciprocity between a farmer and the land!
In her free time, Denali loves to be outside, whether it be camping, backpacking, or hiking. She also loves doing ceramics, cooking big curries and soups for loved ones, and dreaming of the farm and community space she hopes to create one day.
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.
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.
She believes that all creatures and things have a right to feel community and acceptance because we’re all interconnected. When the people are happy, the environment will be happy. In her free time, she enjoys cuddling her cats, eating food, taking care of shelter cats, practicing Tae Kwon Do, leisurely nature walks, waterfalls, archery, long conversations, camping, dancing, and concerts.
Guy grew up in La Grange, Texas, a charming town of fewer than 5,000 people nestled in South Central Texas, between Austin, Houston, and San Antonio. After earning a B.S. in Public Relations from Texas State University in 2022, he returned to his hometown, where he served as Communications Manager for the Fayette Community Foundation and as a Media Consultant for the Stanzel Family Foundation. However, he soon realized that communication wasn’t his true calling. Seeking a fresh challenge, Guy packed up his car in March 2024 and moved to Tacoma, Washington, in pursuit of new horizons.
By chance, Guy discovered EarthCorps and joined the 2024 cohort as the Volunteer & Outreach Specialist. After completing his term, he was invited to stay on as the organization’s Community Engagement Manager. In this role, he is excited to continue the environmental justice work he began as a corps member.
Passionate about environmentalism and social justice, Guy is dedicated to creating a world where everyone has equitable access to safe and clean outdoor spaces. He is thrilled to be working at the intersection of these values, helping to foster healthier communities and a more sustainable future.
Irene hails from California’s central valley (proud descendent of migrant farm workers and the people of the Aztecs), and in the recent decade has made the PNW her chosen home. With a degree in Environmental Studies from WWU, and an eclectic background dabbling in urban food systems, social media/events/product photography, and most recently finance, she can be considered the Swiss Army Knife of the organization. Irene considers herself to be a high functioning introvert, a secret master of deadpan comedy, and a bird nerd (just please don’t ask for any of the latin names). As a lover of all things environment (flora/fauna/green tech), healing and reconnecting with the land and food access and sovereignty rank high on her list of advocacy, and has experience with both through previous roles such as Produce Lead and as an ongoing Seward (Park) Steward with Green Seattle Partnership.
In her free time you can find Irene napping in a hammock, soaking up the weather (yes, rain or shine) with her comrades and some good food/local brews, enjoying a new film at the local arthouse, or tending to her houseplants.
Johnny started working as an Ecologist for EarthCorps in 2025. In his position he plans ecological field studies to determine the health of habitats, conducts GIS mapping and analysis, develops vegetation management plans, and conducts quantitative data analysis. He is passionate about human and animal rights, environmental restoration and cares deeply about giving back to his community by helping maintain healthy ecosystems for all beings to enjoy.
Johnny grew up in Martinez California but has called the PNW his home for the last 8 years. Prior to joining EarthCorps, he earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental science freshwater and terrestrial ecology with a minor in GIS from Western Washington University and has worked in a variety of environmental fields including habitat restoration, water quality, and GIS. In his spare time, Johnny enjoys long walks and hikes, trail running, native plant gardening, camping, spending time with friends, vegan cooking, and hanging out with his cat, Xena Warrior Princess.
Johnny is a versatile professional with experience as a CFO, communication coach, consultant, investor, and financial analyst. He is passionate about Environmental, Social, and Governance investing. As a startup CFO, he successfully raised and managed $1.65 million, leading to an acquisition. Johnny has also handled accounting for a large nonprofit with a $100 million budget and analyzed investments for an investment firm with $2.8 billion in assets under management. He began his career as a structured equity analyst for a top-tier investment bank.
Johnny holds an undergraduate degree from Stanford University, where he was awarded the Harry S Truman Scholarship for his public service in the child welfare field. He enjoys biking, meditating, cooking, and salsa dancing.
In 1993, Miguel came to Seattle from Chile to help launch the early stages of the EarthCorps program. He later joined founder Dwight Wilson taking the model created in Seattle to multiple countries worldwide. Now he has returned to EarthCorps to help the team expand and diversify our community of partners, projects, and services, especially among BIPOC communities.
Miguel is a social entrepreneur with extensive experience in creating multicultural and inclusive organizations. Throughout his professional career, Miguel’s work has focused on creating opportunities for underserved communities, promoting environmental protection, facilitating equitable access to technology, empowering women and girls, enhancing civic and community engagement, and establishing social innovation clusters.
When not working on his main activities. Miguel is an artmaker, enjoys carpentry and construction. A serious coffee lover, an avid cyclist, mountaineer, and a cuisine enthusiast.
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.
From tool and vehicle acquisition to inventory and maintenance, to project management, Paula makes sure that 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.
Sean Day (they/them) hails from the Ohio River Valley. After earning a bachelor’s in IT and working a desk job for a few years, they began shifting towards environmental work through an internship on a small organic farm. Soon after Sean would put career aspirations on hold to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. After moving to Seattle in 2020 they wanted to serve the community and environment and found that could be best done through service at Earthcorps. After serving a term as a crew member, Sean worked as a crew lead before joining the staff as a Project Manager.
“My grandmother always made an effort to get us outside, be that in the backyard or on four-hour road trips to cave systems. Her persistence paid off as I developed a respect and admiration for various ecosystems. The curiosity she instilled has led me to eventually follow a career path that aims to restore and preserve these ecosystems. I’m excited to continue that work this year with an all new cohort. I’m certain we will have so much to learn from each-other.”
As the Operations Manager, Taylor manages EarthCorps’ overall business functions and operations. He brings expertise in advocacy, nonprofit management, and natural resources management. In previous lives, he served as a research assistant in the U.K., a nonprofit operations manager and lobbyist in Michigan and D.C., and most recently as an ecological restoration crew member, ski & ride school manager, and cowboy in the Rocky Mountains.
Taylor is originally from Hilo, Hawai’i and received his bachelor’s in international relations from Michigan State University. In his free time, you can probably find him somewhere out in the woods backpacking and fishing, hanging out with the horses, or snowboarding.
Whitney brings over 11 years of strategic leadership in ecological restoration, with experience spanning non-profit organizations, private firms, and government entities. A proud alumnus of EarthCorps Corps Program, Whitney rejoined EarthCorps in 2019 and has since become a member of the EarthCorps Senior Leadership Team as Director of Sustainability and Conservation, where she guides the organization’s strategic direction for ecological restoration and environmental sustainability. Whitney holds a Master of Environmental Horticulture from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Management from Ball State University. She has dedicated her career to advancing sustainability through her work in ecological restoration, ensuring that both environmental and community goals are integrated into long-term conservation strategies. With a strong background in building high-level partnerships, Whitney has collaborated with over 50 agencies, NGOs, and academic institutions to align conservation goals with broader environmental strategies. She has successfully led the development and implementation of large-scale restoration initiatives focused on habitat preservation, sustainable land management, and the advancement of science-driven environmental policies. Whitney’s leadership is rooted in her ability to bring together diverse stakeholders—ranging from governmental bodies to private sector partners—to drive collaborative, impactful solutions. Her work has helped shape regional strategies for coastal resilience and environmental restoration, ensuring that projects not only meet but also exceed long-term sustainability goals.