The Water Quality team is excited to have 3 new team members to help us complete projects and organize programming. 

Joe Farkas is our new Landscape Design Program Coordinator.  Coming from us with as a professional landscape designer he will be responsible for designing many of our residential green stormwater projects and managing contractors through installation.  Interested in rain gardens, urban habitat, trees, pavement removal, or rain tanks? Joe is here to help! 

I would describe myself as a nature enthusiast who enjoys the beauties that Mother Nature has to offer. My happy place is outside either gardening, weeding or going on adventures with my pup, Cowboy! After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture and design back in Romania, my true passion blossomed even more after relocating to the United States and finding such a great support system of people and communities who share the same values that I do, conserving and protecting our natural habitats and to connect people back with Mother Nature.

Syd Kuczenski is one of our two AmeriCorps members on the Water Quality team.  She will be helping the green stormwater program by managing our Urban Tree Sale, improving our Orcas Love Raingardens sites, and adding resources in our pollinator toolkit. 

Hi everyone! I was born and raised in North Carolina and graduated from NC State with a degree in Marine Science this past summer. Most of my background is in phytoplankton blooms, water quality monitoring for the city of Raleigh, and freshwater mussel toxicity. But if allowed I will talk your head off about sharks and other deep, dark marine mysteries. When not at the office you can find me hiking, whitewater kayaking, swimming, or cooking with my pup. 

Cecilia Black is our second AmeriCorps member on the Water Quality team.  She will be helping the Habitat Stewardship program by managing several sites and supporting our Stewards as they do their work. 

Hi, my name is Cecilia! I grew up in Puyallup but spent the last 6 years in Spokane, New Hampshire, and Spain only to confirm that Western Washington is the place for me. At Gonzaga University I studied Spanish and Biology with a focus in Research and Ecology. I love camping and hiking, as well as plant identification and heckling the people in my life about planting native species. Much of my time recently has been spent training my family dog to be the perfect adventure buddy :)