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Meet Our Team
District Staff
Ryan Mello has served as the Executive Director of the Pierce Conservation District since 2012. Ryan’s real job is “Chief Relationship Officer” for the Conservation District - ensuring we have the best staff to perform this important work and they have the resources necessary to be successful, our many stakeholders understand our role in the system and our partners are supported in a meaningful way with our assistance. When Ryan isn’t engaged in conservation work at the District, he is serving as a member of the Tacoma City Council or gardening, walking his dogs, hiking, biking or kayaking Puget Sound.
Urban Agriculture (Harvest Pierce County)
Kristen is the director of Harvest Pierce County, the urban agriculture program of the Pierce Conservation District – supporting over 70 active community gardens and orchards. She has been working to develop sustainable food systems in Tacoma, WA since 2006 and received her PhD in Forest Resources from the University of Washington in 2011. In addition to her work with community gardens, her career has focused improving urban soil for agriculture through recycling of organic residuals, and the social conditions that influence how people learn in community gardens.
Renee Meschi, Program Coordinator
Renee Meschi joined the PCD as a Harvest Pierce County Program Specialist in August 2015. A graduate of the University of Puget Sound, her research centered on the human stories behind the different plants and mushrooms that make up the landscape in our watershed. Renee is passionate about finding the intersection between ecological and social justice, and sees capturing waste while providing fresh, healthy food for our local community as a living example of this intersection.
Madeleine Spencer, Program Coordinator
Madeleine joined the Harvest Pierce County team in March 2017 as a Program Specialist where she primarily supports the Veggie Co-op and Gleaning projects. A graduate of The Evergreen State College, her studies focused on the connections between social justice and the environment. Having grown up in Pierce County she is passionate about serving the community by expanding access to fresh and healthy food.
Chris Madden, Program Specialist
Chris joined us as an AmeriCorps service member in 2018 and now as a Program Specialist will be heading up the Gleaning Project, our Annual Native Plant Sale, as well as helping us reach our goals around urban agriculture and equitable food access. Growing up in the beautiful PNW Chris enjoys the outdoors and loves exploring this amazingly biodiverse area of the world. He has a passion for fruit trees, and was recently the orchard manager of an organic orchard that produced: apples, pears, cherries, mulberries, Asian pears, kiwi, chestnuts, walnuts, blueberries, and much more. Chris is excited to help Pierce County residents enjoy a more beautiful and delicious place to live!
Kalicia Bean, AmeriCorps VISTA Member
Kay joined PCD and the Harvest Pierce County team back in March as an intern and is excited to continue another year as an Americorps VISTA! In addition to outreach, her work assignment will focus on capacity building, community engagement, and strategic planning in making the urban agriculture program more accessible and helpful to low-income and low-English proficiency populations. Kalicia is a recent Oregon State University graduate with a B.S. in Agricultural Science. Kalicia is passionate about bridging the connection between people, food, and their environment and hopes to work toward a food system that is healthy, just, and sustainable for all of Pierce County. At home Kay loves being active, including running, yoga and practicing random hobbies such as archery, playing the harmonica, and DIY crafts!
Elizabeth Marks, AmeriCorps Service Member
Lizz joined Harvest Pierce County this past September as one of the latest AmeriCorps service members. She is primarily working with our Gleaning Project and supporting our amazing network of community food projects, pushing forward our values of social and environmental equity. Lizz recently graduated from University of Puget Sound, where she majored in Anthropology and Environmental Policy. She firmly believes that food is a critical and rewarding connection between people and the environment for health and sustainability!
Erica Hernandez, AmeriCorps Service Member
Erica was introduced to Harvest Pierce County through the Farm Foundations program. She really enjoyed what the course had to offer, so she is a natural fit for our Americorps position out on the Farm at Franklin Pierce. During her time here, she will support the efforts to recruit and train the next generation of farmers, as well as recruit and educate community members to take sustainable food systems into their own hands.
Water Quality Improvement
Melissa Buckingham joined Pierce Conservation District over 10 years ago and has experience in restoration ecology, environmental science, and project and program management. As the Water Quality Improvement and Monitoring Program Director you can find her in a stream, installing a rain garden, ripping up pavement, or planting a streamside. Her favorite part of her job is connecting community to the natural world around them through action projects.
Isabel joined Pierce Conservation District in 1999 and coordinates the water quality monitoring programs. Her work focuses on providing education and opportunities for residents to get involved with protecting water quality in our streams and lakes. Her favorite part of the job is helping folks connect with the natural environment. When not in the stream, she enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors.
Belinda grew up in Western Washington and spent weeks during the summer months traveling to different national parks with her parents. Experiencing firsthand the beauty of nature and wanting to learn more about the environment led Belinda to study environmental science at the University of Montana and Washington State University. Belinda has a background in both field research and environmental education. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, camping, and running in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Caleb has worked as a Water Quality Assistant at the District since 2015. He graduated from the University of Washington Tacoma with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Environmental Studies. Caleb helps coordinate the Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program and various water quality improvement projects as well. Raised in Washington State, Caleb is very passionate about the health of its natural resources and looks forward everyday to improving the environment around him.
Micah joins us as an AmeriCorps service member who serves as our Water Quality Outreach Specialist. He helps coordinate many of our Water Quality Improvement and Monitoring programs, working with members of the community to bring nature back into our urban spaces and reduce stormwater runoff. Micah graduated from the University of Queensland with a Master of Conservation Science degree, and is passionate about promoting conservation action through community education and engagement. In his spare time, Micah enjoys exploring the outdoors, water sports, and drawing.
Habitat Improvement & Environmental Education
With PCD since 1998, Jayme was the District’s Stream Team Coordinator for 10 years before taking on the Habitat Improvement and Environmental Education programs. A graduate of Western Washington University (Huxley College of the Environment), Jayme enjoys working with Pierce County citizens to engage them in dynamic ways to teach and instill a sense of stewardship for the plants and animals that share our green spaces and natural landscapes. When not leading a streamside planting event, workshop, or field trip, Jayme and her family try to get out on the water or into the woods as much as possible
Chris Towe joined the District in 2010 after graduating from Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. Chris primarily works with volunteers on restoration plantings and providing environmental education to students throughout Pierce County. He actively participates in local networks that focus on environmental education and outreach. One of his favorite parts about his job is seeing how excited kids get when they explore their environment and see new, interesting things.
Kate joined the Pierce Conservation District in 2016. She is a graduate of the University of Washington, and has worked with various AmeriCorps, non- profit, and government programs and organizations to conduct environmental work throughout the state. As the Habitat Improvement Coordinator, Kate primarily coordinates the Habitat Restoration and Knotweed Control programs. One of her favorite parts of her job is engaging with a variety of landowners and organizations to effect change over an entire watershed, and seeing improved natural resources and habitats as a result of that work.
Kramer assists in the planning, coordination and implementation of riparian restoration projects that are aimed at improving salmon and wildlife habitat. Kramer grew up in the Puget Sound lowlands exploring Seattle’s urban forests and waterways. He graduated from the University of Washington Bothell in 2016 with a degree in Conservation Management and a minor in Ecological Restoration. In his free time, you can find Kramer climbing and backpacking around the Pacific Northwest and sharing his passion and knowledge of the natural world with others.
Janae Dinkins was born and raised in Texas. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science as well as Agricultural Science. She will be working as an AmeriCorps member on the Habitat Improvement team. Janae loves nature and its many beautiful and strange creations. She loves traveling, exploring and trying new things, especially new foods. And thinks fish are really neat!!
Robyn joins us as an AmeriCorps service member and will be helping get students in Pierce county excited about their environment by leading field trips, organizing workshops, and facilitating after school garden programs at various Tacoma schools. She will also help coordinate this year’s Envirothon and Water Festival. A graduate from The Evergreen State College, she studied art, sustainable agriculture, and psychology in anticipation of combining these fields as a future school counselor. She enjoys all things related to food, art, and nature and hopes to share these passions with our youth. She believes that instilling a love of Nature in our next generation will save us all!
Farm Planning & Agricultural Assistance
Rene’ has been a farm resource specialist with the Pierce Conservation District since 1997 educating livestock farm owners on management practices that both improve their farm productivity and protect natural resources. She and her family live on a 10 acre, 7 horse farm in rural Pierce County where she practices what she teaches.
Paul, a long-time resident of Pierce County, joined Pierce Conservation District in March 2018 after working for many years at the King Conservation District. As the KGI Farm Resource Specialist, Paul will work with livestock owners in the Key Peninsula-Gig Harbor-Islands Watershed to help them address natural resource concerns on their farms and improve local water quality. He believes that we all have a part in protecting our environment and is excited to now be working in his neighborhood – Pierce County. When he is not promoting conservation at work, Paul enjoys enhancing the wildlife habitat in his backyard and observing nature around him.
Alison is a local hazelnut farmer with a history of traveling the world. Ali is available to assist crop farm operators in planning and applying natural resource conservation practices and facilitate workshops and technical support around topics relevant to farmers in Pierce County. She will also be working collaboratively with government agencies and non-profit partners to support the needs of farmers contributing to a vibrant local food system. At her farm, “Filbert Acres”, she works hard to put her two boys to work managing 700 hazelnut trees. She finds it very rewarding to provide her community members with healthy food and is excited to connect farmers with each other and with the ideas and practices that will help them succeed in their farms while conserving their natural resources for the generations to come.
Robin joined Pierce Conservation District as a Farm Resource Specialist in March of 2018 after working for several years at Thurston Conservation District. His work is focused on helping livestock owners in the Puyallup-White Watershed. He is available to provide technical assistance to land managers including developing farm conservation plans, facilitating cost-share funding, or no-obligation site visits. Robin’s favorite part of his job is helping District residents meet their goals while maintaining natural resources.
Nicholas Cusick joins the District as an AmeriCorps service member with the Climate Resiliency and Knotweed Control Programs. Nick will be assisting rural business owners and agricultural producers apply for renewable energy grants, developing resonant messaging on rural climate resiliency, and upgrading our knotweed monitoring and GIS protocols.
Finance & Administration
Selena is the Director of Finance and Administration for the District and coordinates grant administration as well. She enjoys supporting local farms by purchasing local produce and shopping at Farmer’s Markets. She has worked for the District since 1997.
Kathryn manages the District budget and coordinates various fund raising campaigns. She is very interested in salmon recovery, wildlife habitat restoration, and tribal cultural history. She has worked for the District since 2001.
Cynthia Ross, Finance Coordinator
Cynthia joined Pierce Conservation District in January, 2017 as the Finance Coordinator. Cynthia is responsible for assisting the Finance & Administration team with the day to day financials of the District as well as related activities and future planning. Cynthia enjoys gardening, reading, and volunteering in and around the community. Cynthia believes in continuously doing her part to help reduce the dependency of natural resources by limiting her use of water, gas, and electricity and by recycling.
Kristine joined Pierce Conservation District in April 2017 as the Finance Administrative Assistant. Kristine will be providing general support to Pierce Conservation District staff and will be responsible for answering the office’s main phone line, directing calls, and other administrative tasks. Kristine enjoys spending time with her family, paper crafts, and reading.
Camila is excited to get more people involved with the District’s volunteer opportunities and to help make our programs more accessible to the diverse population of Pierce County. Camila cultivated her interest in the environment by studying environmental science at Oregon State University in Corvallis. Her favorite aspects of the job at PCD are interacting with volunteers personally and getting them plugged into great opportunities, and the creative process of capturing photos and designing outreach pieces that will get people excited about stewardship work.
Carly Canter joined Pierce Conservation District in July 2014. Carly is responsible for answering phones, directing calls, and providing additional administrative support for the team. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and enjoys a variety of outdoor and hands-on activities. In her spare time, she coaches Special Olympics Track and Field, and Golf.
Allan helps expand the impact of the District through communications and grant management. Allan helps each of the District's departments tell the story of how important their work is in improving Pierce County's natural resources. He edits the Tahoma View newsletter, the Annual Report, and manages the website and social media. In addition, Allan manages the Green Partnership Fund and the District's grant writing and admin. Growing up in Alaska, Allan developed a deep love for the natural environment and cherishes the opportunity to conserve it through his work at the District.