Staff
You can also read about our wonderful community of trail crew leaders.
Executive Leadership Team
Jaime Loucky - Chief Executive Officer 
Growing up in Bellingham, with the North Cascades practically in his backyard, Jaime developed a lifelong passion for hiking, backpacking and spending time in the beautiful outdoors. That passion followed him as he traveled to the East Coast and ultimately to NYC, where he learned to appreciate the value of urban green spaces and trails as a way to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Jaime eventually moved back to the Pacific Northwest, but not before buying a campervan and taking a year-long road trip with his wife Laine, visiting 47 National Parks and Forests in the process. He arrived at WTA in early 2020 and served as WTA's first Chief Impact Officer, overseeing our strategic planning and program operations. He is now thrilled to serve as the CEO and is committed to helping advance our vision of Trails for Everyone, Forever and connecting hikers and everyone who loves the outdoors with opportunities to get outside and give back to trails. In his free time Jaime enjoys gardening, riding the Burke Gilman and taking his 2 year old daughter Sasha out on trail any chance he gets.
Amanda Baker (she/her) - Chief Operating Officer
The ponderosa pines of Spokane just smell like home to Amanda. Now in Seattle, she's spent her career in high-impact nonprofits working to build a better world. Amanda's expertise is in nonprofit operations, with more than a decade of senior leadership in HR, finance and IT, and she holds a master's degree in nonprofit management. When not living the dream as part of WTA's team, she's happiest on family hikes to waterfalls or with her nose in a book.
Kindra Ramos (she/her) - Chief Programs Officer
Kindra loves helping hikers get involved in WTA’s community— talking with folks about favorite trails, the importance of public lands, and WTA’s role is in protecting these special places. She enjoys wandering the woods with her wife. She believes in taking time to appreciate the little curiosities on trail like mushrooms, insects and pika. Eventually, she’d like to explore the remote Salmo-Priest Wilderness of Eastern Washington on a backpacking trip.
WTA Staff
Grey Alexander - HR Coordinator
Grey was born in Seattle and has spent his entire life in the Pacific Northwest. He’s a firm believer that Washington is one of the most beautiful places on Earth — especially in the summer. On sunny days, you’ll often find him biking local trails, hiking or out on the water in his kayak. Grey holds a degree in philosophy from Reed College and brings deep experience in fundraising and operations to WTA. A dedicated writer and book lover, he reads widely but has a special fondness for fantasy and science fiction.
James Alexander - Trail Crew Leader - Southwest 
James is from the island of Luzon, Philippines, and was raised in a small country town in Texas. James started volunteering with WTA in the fall of 2020 shortly after retiring from the United States Army with 25 years of active duty service. With no past experience in trail maintenance, James credits the volunteers for teaching him the "way of the grubber." If you can't find James on a work party, then he's either out exploring, in the kitchen, enjoying a good beer or cocktail, or watching movies.
will allen - Youth Trail Program Manager
will's love for the outdoors was sparked during their childhood spent outside in rural Kentucky. They worked on trail crews in Oregon, California and Arizona before moving to Washington to purse a graduate degree in Education. They are passionate about building community, making medicine, bicycling, and playing music. They're a plant nerd who thinks that nurse logs are just the absolute coolest, so their favorite hikes meander through forests on their way to ... anywhere, really!
Anna Assareh - Director of Technology
Raised on the rolling wheat fields of the Palouse, Anna's love for the outdoors has since deepened in the mossy forests of the Seattle area. With a background in engineering and technology, Anna is excited to build on WTA’s tech platform to enable safe, enjoyable access to trails and inspire engagement across members, volunteers, and staff. At home, you can find her reading or tending to her garden of edible and PNW Native plants. Anna spends summers exploring the Cascades with her husband and two children, who love stopping to snack on huckleberries.
Melani Baker (she/her) - Advocacy Coordinator
Melani grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, connecting with the outdoors through local parks and yearly family vacations to the Outer Banks, NC. Though she’s been dreaming of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail since she was a teenager, she didn’t actually begin hiking until moving to Seattle in 2008. Now she doesn’t know whether to hike the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail someday! From working as an environmental educator in NYC to scuba diving in Seattle to completing Antioch University’s Urban Environmental Education program, she loves nature when it’s as local as it gets.
Mike Bellis - Northwest Regional Crew Leader
Mike has a passion for wild places and the trails that take him there. His connection to nature began as a kid out hunting, fishing and turning over every rock in the local creek to inspect for critters. His love of the outdoors has only grown deeper with age and he always loves sharing what he has learned from many years of listening to the forest. Crew leading for WTA gives him a chance to get a deeper connection with the North Cascades and the wonderful community of people that he shares them with. When he isn’t working on trails you can find Mike kicking around the South Fork valley of Whatcom county on the lookout for a flush of edible mushrooms or sign of the wild creatures that share the valley.
Arlen Bogaards - Northwest Regional Manager
Arlen runs the WTA show in Northwest Washington, crew leading work parties, representing WTA at outreach fairs and promoting hiking in the area. Somehow, in between all of this he finds time to feed the chickens and goats on his small farm. After years in the construction field, Arlen finally united his work with his passion: trails. He enjoys a good day hike in a high meadow or a backpacking trip in the desolate North Cascades, and his favorite hike is Skyline Divide. If he ever gets the chance, he would like to section hike the Pacific Crest Trail.
Paul Boronow - Olympic Trails Coordinator
Paul got his start in conservation as a trail crew member with the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference in his home state of New York. He was drawn to the unique community of oddballs he found in trails and the tangible impact of the work they were doing together. Paul furthered his experience with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps in Colorado, where he led crews and planned programs for their Conservation Corps. When he’s not on the trails, Paul enjoys biking at a moderate pace, taking things apart, skipping rocks at the beach, and giving his dog haircuts.
Moleek Busby - Field Operations Senior Manager
Moleek Busby is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. His career in trail work started with the California Conservation Corps. After college and music projects in Chico, CA, Moleek returned to conservation, working nine years for the Student Conservation Association and moving up the ranks. As the Field Operations Senior Manager for the Washington Trails Association, he has oversight of the trail maintenance risk management information system. Moleek is also on the Wilderness Risk Management steering committee, the North West Outward Bounds safety committee and an ambassador for the Mountain Mind Project. When he is not making public lands safe for Washingtonians, Moleek enjoys creating music, hiking, backpacking, kayaking, archery, car "glamping" and getting some trail work in. He is a life-long advocate for marginalized people to have ownership in their space and to feel safe volunteering and recreating on public lands.
Kara Chin - Senior Human Resources Manager 
Kara, a Pacific Northwesterner, has spent her life playing in the diverse bio-niches of the region. Her long history with WTA first began as a volunteer for trail work parties and TrailsFest, then as an administrative intern in 2000, followed by handling "all things membership and Hike-a-Thon" for nearly a decade. Trained as an artist, choreographer, and costume designer, she has always found inspiration in her extended backyard. These days you'll most likely find her seeking out moss, mushrooms and gastropods on the forest floor or in her garden.
Tiffany Chou - Communications Coordinator
Although Tiffany was born in New Jersey, she grew up in Washington and considers Seattle home. After studying biology and computer science, she worked as a software engineer for 3.5 years until she discovered her love of hiking. She completed a southbound thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019, then spent the next 2 years taking teenagers on backpacking trips as a wilderness instructor. Tiffany originally joined WTA as a part of its Emerging Leaders Program, then found her way to the amazing communications team. She's usually out hiking, backpacking, or at home planning her next adventure.
Denise Cline - Senior Accounting Manager
Denise's love for the outdoors began during her time as a girl scout and camp counselor in Upstate New York. In 1993 she drove to Washington state to attend college and has lived here ever since. Although she appreciates all the outdoor opportunities the Pacific Northwest has to offer, she has a special love for the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge where she spent countless hours exploring nature with her daughter. Denise is excited to bring her 10 years of nonprofit finance experience to the amazing WTA Business Operations team. When she isn't working or spending time with her family, she enjoys performing in local British Brass Bands and running with her dog.
Lezlie Cox - Office Manager
Lezlie is from Wisconsin, growing up water-skiing and shoveling snow. Decades ago, she led WTA volunteers on Olympics work parties and around the state on volunteer vacations. She has strolled 1700 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail and loved the absence of a schedule and tech! After years out of state, Lezlie returned to Washington for two seasons working for the King County Parks Volunteer Program before rejoining WTA as the office manager. She recommends Northrup Canyon in the spring and Thorp Mountain via Knox Creek in the summer.
Kaci Darsow (they/them) - Youth Trail Crew Leader
Kaci grew up poking around the rocky shores of Puget Sound and romping through cedar and sword fern forests. They come to WTA with extensive youth work experience in a variety of outdoor settings and an M.Ed. in Environmental Education. Kaci is returning home to the PNW from their most recent adventure—a year of teaching outdoor education in rural Alabama. They are stoked to ease into the world of office work by splitting their time facilitating youth work parties and serving as a support system for Youth Volunteer Vacations. When they're not inspiring youth, Kaci loves cross-country road trips, learning new things, singing off-key in their car, climbing trees and dismantling the patriarchy.
Michael DeCramer (he/him) - Policy and Planning Manager
A lifelong Seattle Mariners fan, Michael loves the communities and landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. He believes that access to outdoor recreation can enrich people’s lives and provide less consumptive experiences that can connect people to the natural world, other people and themselves. Michael is passionate about public policy and obsessed with trails. Before joining WTA, Michael worked at the Pacific Crest Trail Association and the Mountain to Sound Greenway Trust where he built trails and partnerships. When not working on advocacy issues, Michael can often be found daydreaming about his next thru-hike.
Krista Dooley - Community Partnerships and Leadership Development Director
Krista has a rich background in environmental education, having worked in several youth programs in various regions of the U.S. and Switzerland before joining WTA. She brings a passion for connecting people to the outdoors and has seen the positive impact collaboration with partners can have developing the next generation of outdoor leaders. Born and raised in Washington, she relishes spending time outdoors and loves hiking at a pace that allows her to enjoy her surroundings with her daughters.
Loren Drummond (she/her) - Senior Digital Strategy Manager
Loren has dedicated her career at WTA and other nonprofits to using digital communications for positive change. She's backpacked (and rebuilt) sections of the Colorado Trail, and she's put in miles on the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails, too. At WTA, she loves connecting with and supporting an incredible community of volunteers, hikers and would-be hikers with Washington's wild places. She has a particular fondness for desert camping, alpine basins and marmots.
Dean Ericksen - Information Technology Senior Manager
Dean hails from Seattle, and while his WTA tenure is brief, he has worked with us in a consulting capacity for a number of years. For many years Dean has partnered with regional nonprofit organizations to help them get the most out of technology and the internet. He currently works to make sure our systems are on their best behavior. When he's not situated in front of a computer, he could be found cooking in front of a hot stove, or wandering around the Methow with family and friends.
Chloe Ferrone (she/her) - Central Washington Regional Coordinator
Chloe originally hails from Nebraska, but traded prairies and sandhill cranes for the maple-covered mountains of Vermont, where she attended Middlebury College. She fell in love with hiking and trail running while in school, and hiked the Long Trail after graduating. From there, Chloe spent several years in Utah pursuing a wide range of outdoor-related jobs, working as a rock climbing instructor, dog sled guide, reporter, and backpacking guide. Although she loves the desert, she’s enthralled by the PNW and now calls Central Washington home. She was drawn to WTA by the prospect of doing good in the world and getting her community hyped about hiking and exploring the outdoors. When she’s not doing trail work or community outreach, you can find Chloe gardening, climbing, trail running with her dogs Tesser and Muppet, or attempting to befriend the local corvid population.
Cassidy Giampetro (she/her) - Advocacy Manager
Cassidy experienced a true calling to the mountains when she moved to Washington in 2017 from flat Miami, Florida. She has served in a number of roles leveraging partnership-based work for community development and environmental policy outcomes, including previously leading a King County coalition and mobilizing voters during elections. Cassidy is passionate about environmental justice and strengthening equitable access to nature. She is excited to bring this experience to WTA to get more voices active and heard in the hiking community. She is a lover of biodiversity, wildlife, and sweets!
Joe Gonzalez (he/him) - Digital Content Coordinator
Joe grew up climbing trees and turning stones in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has been enchanted by the Pacific Northwest ever since thru-hiking across it along the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016. His passion for empowering hikers launched a career in guiding backcountry trips and developing adventure travel itineraries in iconic regions of the US. These opportunities have allowed him to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and more. He is excited about promoting equity and trail awareness in his current role as Digital Content Coordinator. When he’s not thru-hiking, you can find him foraging, paddling, or lost in a good story.
Jen Gradisher (she/they) - Trail Programs Director
Jen loves two things: working with people and working outdoors. With WTA, she's grateful for the chance to combine both of these passions. Her enthusiasm for trail work began as a youth when she spent a month building rock structures on the Appalachian Trail with the Student Conservation Association. It took many years and many dreams of Pulaskis before Jen returned to the magical world of trail maintenance as a crew leader for the Northwest Youth Corps and WTA. In her current role as Trail Programs Director, you can find Jen splitting her time between the office and trails throughout Washington State.
Joe Hall - Professional Services Manager
After growing up in Detroit, Joe found trails by working with Conservation Corps trail crews around the West. This ultimately led him to become a Trails Manager for Alaska State Parks in Anchorage and later a Program Manager for Washington Conservation Corps. In these roles he was lucky to manage complex and challenging trail projects in a wild landscape and also learn how to build successful teams. With a passion and eye for sustainable trails, Joe is constantly seeking growth in the trail field. He values the entire continuum: from learning from mentors from past generations to sharing his skills with folks out on their first project. When not looking through a clinometer, Joe can be found running around Spokane with his partner and their complicated, but lovable dog.
Anja Hendrikse Liu (she/they) - Salesforce Administrator
Anja fell in love with the outdoors slowly but surely as they adventured from the coasts and redwood forests of California (where they grew up) to the firths and Munros of Scotland (where they went to grad school) — and where the incredible outdoors community inspired them to join WTA upon their return to the US. Anja's work as WTA's Salesforce Administrator is driven just as much by community, education, communication and storytelling as by technical tools and systems (although, yes, they are a Salesforce and data nerd!). Before joining WTA, Anja earned their master's in Narrative Futures, worked for an educational technology nonprofit and figured out how to get Old Norse to count as a course credit for their English literature degree. In their free time, they enjoy writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, cooking, swimming and taking long, meandering walks along any beach they can find.
Stasia Honnold - Southwest Regional Trails Coordinator
Legend has it that one of Stasia's first words was "outside," and she's been trying to stay outside as much as humanly possible ever since. She moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2001, to the chagrin of her sun-loving family, and finally found her way to WTA in 2018. In the interim, she spent her time wrangling kiddos and volunteers as a 7th grade teacher, young adult mentor, conservation crew leader, stewardship coordinator, and volunteer manager—all of which capitalize on her extreme cheerfulness and ability to sit quietly with chaos. In her non-work time, she can be found questing for adventure on her bicycle, running on trails in the woods, or getting ridiculously excited about plants and birds. She is a firm believer in wonder and enthusiasm, and her favorite answer to things is a resounding "yes!"
Andrea Imler - Director of Advocacy and Strategic Transformation
A lifelong Washingtonian, Andrea spent many a day exploring the woods behind her home growing up and credits family camping trips for giving her the "gotta be outdoors" bug. With many years of recreation and conservation advocacy experience, Andrea loves to work with others to develop initiatives that protect trails and public lands. While she lives in the city, Andrea prefers a tent in the backcountry to her urban home. She has explored much of the Pasayten wilderness, as well as the Olympic Peninsula and Mount Rainier, which she has climbed twice! Andrea continues to revel in Washington’s wild areas, and eventually, she’d like to hike the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Crest trails.
Andy James - Trail Crew Leader - North Puget Sound
Andy grew up in the Puget Sound area as the oldest of four siblings. Since that wasn't exciting enough he began pursuing what some might call the extreme sports of skateboarding, scuba diving, snowboarding, skydiving, rock climbing, and long distance trail running. Andy lives with his partner in an off-grid cabin near Stevens Pass and can often be found traveling to new and exciting destinations that he explores through his favorite activities.
Linnea Johnson (she/her) - Digital Marketing Manager
Linnea’s love for the natural world began on the urban trails of her hometown of Toledo, OH, and has only continued to grow since she moved to Seattle in 2018. She has dedicated her career to contributing to a more equitable and sustainable future, serving in communications roles at Seattle Indian Health Board and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center and as an environmental educator at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Linnea’s undergraduate thesis for her B.A. in biology focused on glass frog populations in Costa Rica, and she conducted her thesis for her M.A. in museum studies on environmental self-efficacy among zoo and aquarium visitors. She is also a certified yoga instructor. Outside of the office, you can find Linnea hiking, paddling, seeking out live music, and spending quality time with her tortoiseshell cat, Mina.
Kesia Lee - Trail Crew Leader - Northwest Region
Lee got their start in trail work completely by accident in the wake of the pandemic in 2021. While looking for a standard, boring office job, they instead got an offer to come to Alaska to work on the Iditarod Trail. After one summer of sleeping next to glaciers and looking out for brown bears, Lee was hooked on trail work. Lee has traveled all over the world and to all 50 states but they are thrilled to return home as a Crew Leader with the Northwest Region of WTA. They fervently believe in hiking at your own pace and always making time for snacks and swimming.
Jessi Loerch (she/her) - Washington Trails Editor
Jessi was born in Washington, but grew up camping, hiking and skiing in Idaho. She moved back to Washington for college and hasn't left since. Her background is in journalism, where her favorite stories were always anything to do with the outdoor world. At WTA, Jessi edits Washington Trails and works on other communication projects. She loves to ask questions, and appreciates that her job encourages her to be endlessly curious. When she's not at work, Jessi prefers to be on the trail—any trail, in any weather. Her current goal is to finish backpacking all of the PCT in Washington state.
Maryjo "MJ" Mahan (she/her) - Senior Community Partnerships and Leadership Development Coordinator
Maryjo, also known as MJ, was born and raised in the Bay Area but is now settling into her PNW roots. After graduating from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Physiology and Neuroscience she worked in academic research for several years. She is a certified Environmental and Outdoor Educator from California’s Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (AEOE) and has worked with various nonprofit organizations focused on environmental justice and empowering BIPOC youth through the outdoors. Her true passion is to continuously create equitable and accessible outdoor programs for underrepresented youth and communities. MJ's hobbies include reading, running, hiking, birding, silly dancing, playing ultimate frisbee, and talking about and watching sports (Golden State Warriors specifically). If she's not doing any of those, you can likely find her drinking kombucha and sitting in a camp chair by a body of water.
Nicole Masih-Théberge (she/her) - Senior Community Engagement Coordinator
Nicole grew up hiking and camping all around the Pacific Northwest. She has spent her career working in a variety of roles for nonprofits in youth development, volunteer management and grant writing. Leading several camping and hiking trips while working for Girl Scouts of Western Washington further ignited her excitement for increasing access to nature and outdoor recreation. With a BA in Human Services and an MA in Whole Systems Design, Nicole is passionate about environmental and social justice and is thrilled to be working with WTA to support and grow community engagement with the outdoors. When she’s not working, you can usually find her on a walk, reading, or cooking.
Erin McMillin - Multi-Day Trips Program Coordinator
Erin McQuin - Outdoor Leadership Training Manager
Erin was born and raised in Monroe, Washington where she wandered the woods off Highway 2. Erin has spent her career in outdoor camps working with youth. She believes that empowering youth to explore nature is critical for their overall wellbeing. Erin is passionate to work to break down barriers that prevent youth from accessing outdoor recreation. When she’s not working, you can find her wandering around the Chuckanut Mountains.
Andrea Michelbach (she/her)- Development Director
Hiking and camping before she could walk, Andrea believes everyone should have equitable access to the well-being benefits of time outside. A long-time WTA member, she is eager to help strengthen a diverse community of members and investors who who are committed to trails and to reducing barriers that keep people from getting outside. Andrea fell in love with the outdoors growing up in Northern Idaho and has lived across Washington state. She further deepened her connection to the natural world while working at the Burke Museum and Tahoma Bird Alliance, and she has also worked in health care publishing, the arts and higher education. Outside of work, you can find her looking at birds, camping by water, and enjoying Tacoma with her husband.
Barbara Molina - South Puget Sound Trails Coordinator
Barbara loves trails and loves creating a community that’s inclusive and fun. She prioritizes connecting with the land as she works. Barbara feels there is a rich history the land contains and that it provides opportunities for self-discovery, growth and healing. Along with a passion for the outdoors, Barbara is a dedicated Laughter Yoga instructor. If you’re wondering why she’s always smiling and why laughter comes so easily to her, it’s because she has had 10 years of regular practice! Barbara is very thoughtful, creative and always ready for meaningful conversations.
Justine Nishitani (she/her) - Northwest Regional Trails Coordinator
Even though she had grown up in Seattle – a very outdoorsy town, Justine had never been hiking or camping. That all changed when she decided to participate in a 10-day canoeing and backpacking trip on Ross Lake with the North Cascades Institute. The experience, as well as the volunteer experiences that followed with the Student Conservation Association sparked a love for the outdoors, trail work, and volunteering that has continued into her adult life. That first experience was in 2007, now over a decade has passed. In that time, she graduated with a degree in Environmental Management and Protection from Humboldt State University as well as worked for the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on a trail crew and as a wilderness ranger/volunteer coordinator for multiple seasons. She hopes that through her work, she can help others find their love of the outdoors, as she did all those years ago.
Jenica Nordstrom (she/her) - Graphic Designer
Having previously been a designer at the University of Washington, Jenica brings over two decades of design and marketing experience to WTA. She loves being a part of the communications team and amplifying WTA's mission through design and visual storytelling. When not designing or creating artwork, Jenica enjoys exploring local green spaces with her partner, two kiddos and dog Zeus.
Doreese Norman (she/her) - Communications Director
Doreese has an extensive background in internal and external communications as well as branding and marketing. She has helped amplify the most impactful stories and services of diverse nonprofit landscapes with missions ranging from ending veteran homelessness to space exploration and discovery. Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Doreese has always enjoyed spending time outdoors and her love of the outdoors deepened when she lived in California and spent every Thanksgiving at Yosemite National Park with her husband and their dog Scarlet. Now settled in Washington, Doreese is excited to be part of the WTA team and is eagerly exploring new trails and the scenic beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
Laura Norsen (she/her) - Development Database Coordinator
Having grown up in the Seattle area, Laura has been hiking the trails of Washington for as long as she can remember. Since volunteering for her first day of trail work in 2016, her passion for trails and the incredible hiking community in Washington has grown exponentially. She is excited to join the WTA Development team where she can leverage her years of data and administrative experience to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes. If she's not out on the trail, you'll probably find her curled up at home with a mug of tea and a good book or her current knitting project.
Liza Noworyta (she/her) - Professional Crew Coordinator
Liza (like lizard) is a Washington native out of Spanaway. Her childhood was filled with climbing trees and eating dirt (along with a few other inadvisable things). While Liza had a slow introduction to hiking and most outdoor sports of the sort, she is definitely a lifelong enthusiast. After graduating from college in 2015, Liza found herself working for a small conservation corps in southeast Utah and has been working for the trail world ever since all over the United States. When not working she enjoys trying (and failing) to get through her ever-growing TBR stack, mothering her numerous plants, writing, climbing, traveling, etc. etc. She is very passionate about getting folks from all walks of life outdoors so she can explain how much she hates seeing orange peels left on a trail (among other things).
Victoria Obermeyer - Multimedia Content Coordinator
Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Victoria’s passion for backpacking (which began in Red River Gorge, Kentucky) and orcas (which began before she can remember) are what led her to the PNW. With a background in environmental photojournalism and a variety of non-profit experience, Victoria seeks to shed light on important issues with a focus on environmental and social justice which is exactly why she's thrilled to be part of WTA. Outside of work, Victoria cherishes time spent outside, whether it's backpacking with her husband and their beagle mix, Luna, or swimming in the Salish Sea.
Ryan Ojerio - Southwest Regional Manager
Ryan manages WTA's work from our Vancouver office including volunteer projects, trail design, planning, and advocacy throughout Southwest Washington. Born in Fort Collins, CO and raised in Pullman, WA, Ryan eagerly returned west after earning a B.S. in Biology from Michigan State University. Between then and now he has worked as a bicycle mechanic, led youth crews for Northwest Youth Corps, taught outdoor education classes at the University of Oregon, and completed a Master's Degree in Community and Regional Planning (U of O 2008). These days he connects with nature by riding his mountain bike, looking for bugs under rocks with his son, and bouldering with his daughter and dreaming of our next family road trip with his wife.
Joe Olbrych - Puget Sound Field Manager
Joe grew up on the opposite end of Interstate 90, in the hills of Western Massachusetts where he developed a passion for the outdoors, first through fishing and canoeing with his grandpa. He received a B.A. in outdoor education and travel writing at Hampshire College, where he deepened his connection to the backyard outdoors through climbing, learning about its natural history, and volunteering with local outdoor groups. Prior to WTA, Joe coordinated and led I-90 Corridor trail projects for many years with the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust. He is excited to connect with and grow the vast network of WTA volunteers to accomplish necessary trail work in the Puget Sound region. When not stewarding trails, he is in the woodshop working on a project, playing music, or bicycling the backroads of Puget Sound.
Grady Olson - Development Operations and Analytics Manager
Hailing from Kirkland, Washington, Grady began at WTA, like many others, as a volunteer on a trail crew. After two work parties, he took a three-year hiatus before returning to continue building trails and friendships. Now an assistant crew leader and member of the development team, Grady hopes to continue to foster the WTA community that initially attracted him to the organization. Grady works to ensure all systems runs smoothly for the development team and across all teams at WTA. He has explored much of the western US, including Oregon, Montana, and a summer season of bagging 14ers in Colorado, but keeps returning to Washington’s wild places because of the beauty, diversity, and wonder so close to home. Grady is happy anywhere outside in Washington state, but has a fondness for the tops of mountains and the paths that circle these behemoths.
Janée Romesberg (she/her) - Trail Programs Senior Manager
Janée, a southwestern Pennsylvanian, has worked with amazing volunteers of all ages across the country and is passionate about helping others deepen their connection to the outdoors through service. She has led crews of high school students on trail maintenance projects in Yosemite and Wind Cave National Parks, mentored outdoor excursion leaders in southwestern Pennsylvania, and trained Pittsburgh neighbors to safely clean up illegal dumpsites. Janée now supports WTA's trail programs and volunteers across Washington. When she isn't in the office, you'll find her biking, hiking, skiing or trying to convince herself that she likes running. If she's sitting down, she's probably knitting.
Jenn Seva (she/her) - Donor Relations Officer
Before Jenn became a WTA employee, she volunteered as an outreach ambassador, trip reporter and trail maintainer for many years. What a delight to add “staff” to that list of roles in 2024, professionally committing to the protection and championing of trails! Before that, Jenn wore hats for fundraising, business development, community engagement and volunteer management. For 15 years, Jenn’s work focused on getting people from around the globe to enjoy the outdoors via technology and location-based games. From the Philippines to Philadelphia, and eventually to Seattle, Jenn has been a very happy citizen of the Cascadia bioregion for 2 decades and counting. With the company of her husband and dog, Jenn is often gardening, paddleboarding, hammocking (that’s a sport, right?), eating dark chocolate or — what else? — hiking.
Emily Snyder - Central Puget Sound Trails Coordinator
Emily discovered WTA in 2013 and fell in love with trail work. She grew up locally, tucked between sword ferns and salmonberries, and was forever climbing trees and covered in pine sap. Not much has changed. Her intro to trail work began building new trails at Evans Creek Park and after her first time on a cross cut saw, she was hooked. As a crew lead, her favorite trips are BCRT logouts and her favorite projects are finding lost trails. You will most likely find her with an axe in hand practicing her bucking skills, or talking with volunteers and hikers, swapping stories and exchanging trail beta.
John Symington (he/him) - Senior Volunteer Program Coordinator
John’s pathway to WTA started at a young age when he developed a love for the outdoors both within Seattle’s green spaces and in the areas surrounding a family cabin near Darrington. After a brief stint in the for-profit world, he dove into the non-profit sector, most recently working in the disaster relief field, with a focus on community infrastructure rebuilds and empowerment training programs. Long an admirer of WTA’s mission and impact, John is thrilled to be working with such passionate people (staff & volunteers!) protecting and increasing access to trails for generations to come. He’s a true believer in the interconnectedness of everything and still gets fuzzy feelings when he’s swallowed up in nature's wild glory.
Jeremy "Jay" Tarife - Olympics and South Puget Sound Field Manager
Jeremy aka "Jay" hails from northern New Jersey. Longing for a place with dense forests and wide open spaces, he finally found that here in the Pacific Northwest. He began volunteering with WTA which led to work as an assistant crew leader then crew leader on the trails in the busy I-90 corridor. Majoring in Biology and Bio-Defense, he created and managed a medical scribe company prior to moving here. While on Jay's trail work party, you may end up on one of his weekly video recaps and give this week’s trail confession. When not working, you’ll find him pretending to do outdoorsy adventures such as mountain biking, snowboarding, and backpacking for Instagram pictures.
Brandon Tigner - Senior North Puget Sound Trails Coordinator
Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, Brandon discovered his passion for the outdoors first as a volunteer and then as an assistant crew leader with the Maine Appalachian Trail Crew. Making his way to the Pacific Northwest he WWOOFed on an organic farm, conducted salmonid life cycle surveys and worked construction. Jumping back into the trail world, Brandon spent two incredible seasons with WTA as the Southwest Regional Trail Crew Leader before joining Trailkeepers of Oregon as their North Coast Stewardship Coordinator. Brandon is excited to be back with WTA working in the majestic Cascade Mountains as well as the North Puget Sound Region! Brandon’s other passions include playing guitar, eating pizza, and adventuring with his family!
Allie Tripp (she/her) - Senior Strategic Initiatives Manager
Allie grew up all along the Eastern seaboard and fell in love with the outdoors camping as a girl scout. She spent her first 2.5 years at WTA as the Annual Fund and Events Manager and then moved into the newly created Strategic Initiatives Manager role in 2018 to manage the organization's strategic campaigns. She holds a Masters in Public Administration from the Evans School at UW, and before joining the team at WTA she worked at a variety of different environmental and youth serving nonprofits in Seattle and Boston. You might see her on trails in the Teanaway or bird watching on the coast.
Daniela Velazquez (she/her) - Volunteer and Training Coordinator
Daniela was born near Popocatépetl, Mexico, where her love for the high country began. She believes everyone should have the opportunity to connect with nature, a mindset she carries into her work. Daniela's journey with volunteerism and trail stewardship began with the Maine Appalachian Trail Crew in 2015. This experience inspired her to pursue greater outdoor adventures, including hiking the WA section of the PCT. She credits her trail crew experience as the foundation for her outdoor achievements and hopes to share its positive impact with others. Outside of work and hiking, Daniela enjoys hitting the yoga studio or kayaking in the Puget Sound, hoping to spot an orca.
Rebecca Viets - Member Engagement Manager
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Rebecca developed a passion for trees and mountains at a young age. While her background is in Animal Sciences, Rebecca has always felt pulled towards a career where she could advocate for public lands and outdoor recreation. After a day of volunteer trail work with WTA, she was hooked, and six months later joined their Development team. She is excited to be working with members and donors, dedicated to protecting Washington’s trails and wild spaces. In her free time, Rebecca can be found rock climbing, gardening, daydreaming of all the places she’d like to travel, or playing with her adventure pup, Rookie.
Catherine Vine - Development Coordinator
Catherine was born and raised in New Jersey and always enjoyed spending time outside. Her love of nature and all things avian led her to pursue a career as a zoo keeper at the Philadelphia Zoo and later the Woodland Park Zoo. Since moving to Washington, Catherine has developed a passion for hiking and used the free resources provided by WTA to learn how to hit the trails safely and responsibly. She loves chatting with other hikers and strongly believes in continuing to build a hiking community that is safe and welcoming to everyone. In her role on the development team, Catherine enjoys having the opportunity to connect with members and help further WTA’s mission of trails for everyone, forever. When she’s not at work, you’ll likely find her reading through trip reports planning her next adventure, putting in some miles in her quest to hike all the trails in the park around Tahoma, or curled up with a good book and a cat or two.
Patrick Wallum (he/him) - Logistics Coordinator
Born and raised in southwest Washington, Pat found himself outside far too often to make it a hobby, but a career. He has spent thousands of hours working for different outdoor conservation entities in Washington and Colorado. On trail his passion is sawing; from learning how to sharpen crosscuts or instructing new chainsaw sawyers how to fell trees, Pat is always eager to hike with steel hanging over his shoulder. Outside of work, Pat spends his time planning bicycle tours, painting miniature figurines, or digging through thrift or antique stores.
Anna Wegner - Membership Coordinator
In her previous work in mental health, Anna incorporated time in nature as a powerful tool for healing and connection. Now, she’s excited to combine her passion for the outdoors, community and WTA’s mission by supporting its members and helping more people experience the joy of Washington’s beauty. Anna is originally from Bellingham and was lucky enough to grow up sledding at Mount Rainier with her dad, walking the Interurban Trail with her grandpa, backpacking in the Olympics and training in the Chuckanuts during college. When she’s not at work, you can find her biking, surfing and using Washington’s trails to reach the state’s many climbing areas — and she hopes to inspire others to do the same!
Holly Weiler - Senior Eastern Washington Regional Coordinator
Holly’s passion for trails has its roots in trail running, but over the years she has transitioned into a seasoned backpacker who loves her time in the backcountry. When she’s not running or backpacking, you can find her doing trail maintenance. An early introduction to trail work through Conservation Northwest turned into a bit of an obsession, and she's now the proud owner of four crosscut saws and two pulaskis. After several seasons of volunteer trail work and Hike-a-Thoning for WTA, she's excited to be doing outreach and leading trail work in the Spokane area — that is, when she’s not working on her MFA in Creative Writing at Eastern Washington University.
Ashton Weis (she/her) - Senior Operations Coordinator
Ashton has been a Washington resident since 2015 and would not have been able to find her love for hiking without WTA's Trailblazer app. A Midwest native, she was new to all topography could offer. She is excited to join the Business Operations team and support WTA's work. Along with hiking, Ashton loves open water swimming in the Puget Sound, trying out new quilt patterns, and connecting with people through writing.
Sarah Williams (she/they) - Outdoor Leadership Training Coordinator
Grass stained, covered in sap, with a dusting of natural confetti, Sarah would arrive back to her house from their afterschool explorations in the woods of the neighborhood. Their love for being outside, the peace it brought them, and connection to the natural world has influenced most of their life. Sarah moved out to Seattle for an environmental restoration Americorp term, post university, and fell in love with the landscapes, plants, and communities of the Northwest. Since then she has shared her love and knowledge for the outdoors with youth through teaching pre-K, leading Youth Trails Volunteer Vacation programs for WTA, as well as obtaining their Master’s in Education in Science education Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Washington. Sarah hopes to help foster more inclusive spaces and rewrite the narrative of the outdoors and how we relate to nature. Outside of work, you can find them drinking tea, capturing photos on film, exploring a variety of embodied movement, as well as wandering along dusty trails to jump into lakes and cherish the wildflowers.
Crew Leaders
Meet the staff and volunteers who lead WTA trail work parties.
Green Hard Hat: Has participated in five or more trail work parties.
Orange Hard Hat: Is an assistant crew leader for WTA on trail work parties.
Blue Hard Hat: Is a chief crew leader for WTA on trail work parties.