I grew up in rural Lancaster County, PA with lots of farmers in the family but an intense interest in biology from a very young age. My first job out of college was as a foreign fisheries observer in Alaska. My job was based in Seattle and I fell in love with the area and Pacific marine issues. About nine years ago, I escaped the Texas heat (atmospheric and political) by taking a temporary wetlands policy job at the Department of Ecology where I was introduced to the larger Puget Sound world.

I joined the staff of People For Puget Sound at the end of 2007 after working at the Puget Sound Action Team. I live in Yelm, work out of the South Sound office, and find respite in the lands and waters of the Nisqually Delta.