MISSION & VISION
Stewardship Partners’ mission is to create people-based solutions that engage Puget Sound communities as caretakers of the land and water that sustain us. We are guided by the vision that when everyone understands their role, has access to resources, and has a sense of belonging to community, land and water, then positive change happens. Mixing optimism, realism and action, Stewardship Partners starts with empathy; we listen then co-create solutions with our partners, connecting them with their environment and each other to improve watershed health.
When Stewardship Partners was founded in 1999, Puget Sound was in a steep ecological decline. Industrial pollution, conversion of forest land for development, polluted urban runoff, and ecologically harmful farming practices were quickly degrading salmon habitat and threatening the food supply of our resident orca whales.
Efforts to head off further environmental degradation included new state laws and new nonprofit advocacy and cleanup efforts. But one conservation-minded constituency was almost entirely left out of the conversation: landowners—people with a deep connection to the land and a strong motivation to act as responsible stewards of the ecosystem.
Stewardship Partners stepped in to fill that gap. Starting with one face-to-face conversation with a single farmer in the Snoqualmie River Valley, our organization has grown into a national model for developing effective, people-based solutions and engaging communities as caretakers of the land and water.
Our programs include: Snoqualmie Stewardship (including Adopt-a-Buffer), Salmon-Safe, and Green Infrastructure (including City Habitats, 12,000 Rain Gardens, and Sound Impacts).
Stewardship Partners is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Read Stewardship Partners’ Equity and Social Justice Values Statement
STAFF
The staff of Stewardship Partners is highly trained and experienced in the environmental field.
David Burger – Executive Director
David Burger joined Stewardship Partners as executive director in 2000 and brings with him more than 20 years of experience working on community-based salmon recovery and managing nonprofit organizations. David has worked both locally in Puget Sound as executive director for Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group, restoring salmon habitat with landowners, and statewide as program manager for People for Salmon building capacity of organizations statewide to engage community citizens in salmon recovery. He knows the importance of working cooperatively with a variety of stakeholders and developing and fostering relationships with private landowners to protect and restore fish and wildlife habitat — while maintaining the economic viability of farms and forest land. David has served on several boards including, Built Green, First Green, Snoqualmie Watershed Forum, Mid Sound Fisheries, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust Technical Advisory Committee, King Conservation District Advisory Board, Parks Levy Task Force, and presently on the board of Earth Talk and The Salmon Recovery Council.
Chris LaPointe – Director of Ecological Restoration
Chris LaPointe brings 20+ years experience in project and program management, grant management, public administration and volunteer management to Stewardship Partners. Prior to joining Stewardship Partners he spent 11 years working with EarthCorps’ Volunteer Program in Seattle, WA. Chris also served as the Programs & Project Specialist II/Grants Coordinator with Arizona State Parks in Phoenix, AZ while in graduate school. Chris specializes in partnership development, community outreach, and program/project planning & implementation. His education includes a BS in Environmental Science/Biology from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Science in Recreation Resource Management from Arizona State University. Since a young age Chris wanted to lead a life that makes a positive impact on the environment and it’s human and non human inhabitants. He believes working as the Director of Ecological Restoration will allow him to continue to do just that.
Soumika Gaddameedi – Grants & Development Manager
Soumika Gaddameedi brings project management, communications, and events experience from work at past environmental nonprofits. Soumi holds a BS in Zoology and Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is always eager to share her passion for environmental conservation with others and enjoys connecting people with ways to support our natural environment. In her free time, Soumi can be found hiking, crafting, and spending time with friends. She recently moved to Washington from Wisconsin, and she is excited to explore all the nature in the area.
Emma Vowels-Davison – Program Manager
Emma Vowels-Davison first became involved with Stewardship Partners in 2012, as an intern through the University of Washington’s College of Environment. For her senior capstone project, she worked on the 12,000 Rain Gardens in Puget Sound campaign, and surveyed rain garden owners about effectiveness, maintenance and perceptions of existing rain gardens. Emma is a pacific northwest native, and enjoys any opportunity to get outside explore the land Stewardship Partners is working to help protect. Emma also has a passion for horses, and works as a riding instructor and horse trainer in Redmond.
Geoff Bough – Ecological Restoration Project Manager
Geoff Bough brings 8+ years of experience working as a crew member, crew leader and project manager for habitat restoration projects in the Snoqualmie Watershed. Geoff has extensive experience working in a collaborative manner with project partners and Snoqualmie Valley landowners. He has an intimate knowledge of our restoration projects and partners. When not working on projects in the field, Geoff likes to plan his next international adventure, spend time in his garden at home, collect vinyl records and relax with his cats.
Leila Kopcic – Restoration Crew Member
Leila Kopcic is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, and moved up to Seattle to experience the plentiful rain and greenery of the Pacific Northwest. She started out volunteering at habitat restoration events in the Seattle area, went on to perform environmental monitoring projects at Boeing Creek while attending Shoreline Community College, and now holds a BS in Plant Biology with a minor in Environmental Science from UW Seattle. She is excited to utilize her passion for habitat restoration, sustainable agriculture, and landscaping. Leila enjoys spending her free time gardening at her homestead, playing with her mini Schnauzer, bowling, and watching movies with her friends.
Tavia Eilers – Restoration Crew Member
Tavia Eilers grew up in the greater Seattle area and through her academic journey in school has been interested in local ecosystems and habitat health. Her love for being outdoors and general desire to create positive change naturally led her towards environmental conservation and restoration work, where she has experience from Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust and Whatcom Land Trust. Tavia is a recent graduate from Western Washington University with a BA in Environmental Studies with a Geography emphasis, as well as a minor in Canadian / American Studies. In her free time, Tavia enjoys hiking, camping, reading, crafting, and playing soccer; and when the weather is nice, swimming in natural bodies of water is one of her favorite things.
Charles – Senior Surface Manager
Charles is a Seattle native, rescued from a chaotic life in 2012. He has since relocated to Tacoma, WA, where he became a work-from-home intern with Stewardship Partners in 2020. He excelled at his position and was promoted to “Senior Surface Manager” in 2022. Charles has extensive experience in project oversight, task delegation, cuteness, and visioning. Some of the projects he manages include but are not limited to tables, empty chairs, occupied chairs, couches, especially couches, sun spots and computer keyboards when you’re trying to type. He is also a fan of online meetings. In his free time (all of it), he enjoys backyard tent time and sometimes sleeping in the tent, supervising gardening/plant watering, eating grass and plants that make him throw up on the bed, Greenies (and any other gross-smelling treats) and the Seattle Mariners.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Stewardship Partners is governed by a board of directors. Their collective experience in the fields of environmental conservation, business, government and organizational management provides important oversight and guidance to effectively achieve our mission.
Bryan Haakenson, Chair, Principal and Senior Project Manager, GLY
Bryan Haakenson is a Northwest native who embodies every aspect of GLY’s collaborative, community-centered approach. Bryan provides leadership on projects in the heart of thriving residential, educational, and corporate campuses that are fully occupied during construction. His unique skills, personality, and temperament make him ideally suited to work within occupied settings to safely and expediently deliver new construction nestled in with renovated spaces. Bryan oversees the GLY Sustainability Advocacy group and focuses efforts to reduce GLY’s operational carbon footprint. He and his family enjoy all the outdoor activities the PNW has to offer, including boating in the summer and skiing in the winter.
Rose Jordan, Vice Chair, Vice President, Greenprint Partners
Rose Jordan is a green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) program manager, strategic communicator, and community activation leader who advocates for inclusive processes and equitable outcomes in GSI development and delivery around the country. At Greenprint Partners, a women-owned social enterprise on a mission to get the most good out of green infrastructure, she leads a national community activation practice; manages programs centering frontline communities in the development of GSI projects; and consults on equity strategies for public sector agencies and engineering consultants. Rose earned a community-based urban planning BA from the University of Washington and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Richard Fichera, Treasurer, Former Puget Sound Site Director and CFO, Boeing
Richard Fichera is a senior financial leader with MBA and 20+ years of demonstrated success guiding critical finance, operations, and strategic planning functions for multibillion dollar business units and product lines. Richard brings incredible experience as the previous CFO & Puget Sound Site Director for Boeing. He recently retired after 38 years at Boeing. Richard has a breadth of experience working on budgeting, leadership and creating and managing strategic partners.
Dakota J. Keene, Secretary, Partner, Mithun
Dakota J. Keene participates in thoughtful, sustainable space-making to mutually benefit her clients and the community. As a landscape architect she focuses on cultural, corporate, and residential projects, assisting communities in defining a framework that provides a forum for participation. The design intent, formed from a medley of historical and natural influences, is integrated into the original diagrams and gradually woven into the final plan. Dakota’s work integrates the innate processes of nature, art and science with the goal of achieving a flourishing environment.
Dylan Ahearn, PhD, Principal Scientist, Herrera
Dylan Ahearn is living his dream at Herrera. His work centers on leading scientific studies with the goal of developing new technologies and approaches to reduce impacts on our water resources. His expertise includes green infrastructure, stormwater treatment, contaminants of emerging concern, and environmental data collection. Dylan has a B.A. in Geology from Guilford College and a Ph.D. in Hydrology from the University of California, Davis. When not doing his day job as an Environmental Consultant, Dylan is an adjunct Geology professor at Edmonds College.
Stacey Banahan, Principal and Owner, Freestone Management & Consulting
Stacey Banahan is a dynamic healthcare leader and accomplished artist manager with over 20 years of diverse experience in both fields. With a robust background in healthcare administration, she has successfully led system-wide initiatives that improve patient care, streamline operations, and enhance organizational effectiveness. Stacey is passionate about leveraging digital innovative solutions to address complex healthcare challenges. In addition to her healthcare expertise, Stacey is also a talented artist manager. She brings a unique blend of creativity and strategic thinking, ensuring that artists achieve their artistic vision while navigating the complexities of the music industry. Stacey has cultivated strong relationships with key stakeholders, including record labels, promoters, and media outlets, enabling her artists to reach new heights. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for both healthcare and the arts, Stacey is dedicated to making a positive impact in both sectors, inspiring others through leadership and creativity. Outside of work, Stacey enjoys spending time with her family, fly-fishing in all of the amazing places the PNW has to offer and all the Seattle sports which further enriches her multifaceted approach to life and work.
Christopher T. Bayley, Former King County Prosecutor
Christopher Bayley has been active in the Seattle community for more than 45 years. A Harvard educated lawyer, he is a former partner at Perkins Coie and served two terms as King County Prosecuting Attorney. He was General Counsel at Burlington Northern Inc. and CEO of its Glacier Park subsidiary from 1982 through 1992. In 2002 he and Steven Buri formed Stewardship Partners and Chris was Board Chair from the founding through 2022. He is a founder of The Commerce Bank of Washington and has served on the boards of The Nature Conservancy (state and national), The University of Puget Sound, The Bush School, The Seattle Foundation, Arts Fund, the E.B. Dunn Historic Garden Trust, and the Olmsted Network. Chris is a former member of The Board of Overseers of Harvard College.
Elizabeth Lowell, Senior Planner, Brown and Caldwell
Elizabeth Lowell is an experienced planner and management consultant with expertise in comprehensive planning, strategic engagement, asset management, and implementation planning. As a senior planner with Brown and Caldwell, she works with utilities in the Pacific Northwest and across the country to solve complex problems and make decisions when multiple stakeholders and objectives are involved. She is a strategic thinker with an eye toward implementation and her experience spans drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater. She is also an experienced project manager. In her free time, she enjoys all that the Pacific Northwest (and beyond) have to offer through hiking, camping, running, and traveling.
Eli Mackiewicz, Senior Natural Resources Technician, City of Bellingham Public Works
Eli Mackiewicz had an eight-year journey as a field biologist, fisheries observer, zookeeper, hatchery technician, and trail builder. He then transitioned to an 18-year-long career in public service as an expert in watershed restoration and stormwater management for the City of Bellingham. He has been the grant manager for nearly forty capital projects at Bellingham, overseeing about $100M in funding for environmental clean-up, stormwater system retrofits, and watershed-scale water quality improvement projects. Eli graduated from Ohio University with a B.S. in Wildlife Biology and a minor in Philosophy, followed by a M.S. in Environmental Science and Policymaking at Johns Hopkins University’s Washington D.C. campus. He also holds a Certificate in Low Impact Development Design from Washington State University.
Samantha Neukom, Head of Brand Strategy, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Samantha Temple Neukom is the Head of Brand Strategy for Amazon Web Services (AWS). Brand building is art and science, a process that requires a curator like Sam, who will ask the difficult questions, spark the creative turn of phrase, and add that human touch that assures longevity and resonance. From East Coast big agency to West Coast boutique, Sam has honed her craft to a laser focus. For more than 28 years she has contributed to Enterprises such as Amazon, Microsoft, P&G, Microsoft, Optum, Pfizer, Tylenol, Cisco, J&J, and Kaiser Permanente, as well as start-ups looking to carve out a unique voice, purpose, and place in the market. Sam is a traveler, committed patron of the performing arts, and proud single mother.
Mike Vander Ploeg, RA, Principal, DLR Group
Mike Vander Ploeg leads DLR Group’s Commercial Studio in the Northwest. As an architect and researcher, he is dedicated to enhancing the built environment through sustainable construction and data-driven solutions. Mike’s collaborative approach brings together researchers, community members, scientists, artists, and multi-sector designers and engineers to address complex problems holistically. Currently, he is focused on adaptive reuse projects, modernizing existing buildings and infrastructure to improve resilience, sustainability, and health in the communities where we live and work. Mike is an avid fly fisherman and enjoys disconnecting in the diverse Pacific Northwest ecosystems.
EMERITUS BOARD MEMBERS
Grant Jones* – Principal, Jones & Jones Ltd.
John Rose – Leora Consulting Group
Jim Vesely* – Retired Journalist, The Seattle Times
Dana Rasmussen – Former Regional Administrator EPA
Rick White – Former US Congressman, 1st District
Bruce Chapman – Chairman of the Board, Discovery Institute
Craig Gannett – Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine
Lucas St. Clair – Community Volunteer
Karen Lane* – Former Vice President, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Elliot Marks – Former Washington State Director, The Nature Conservancy
Steven Buri – President, Discovery Institute
Heather Redman – Principal and Senior Vice President, Summit Power Group LLC
Bill Baldwin – Founder and CEO, Baldwin Resource Group
Bill Bryant – Chairman, Bryant Christie Inc.
Sasha Visconty – Principal, Axis Environmental LLC
Peter Dykstra – Partner, Plauche and Carr
Kenan Block – Founder, Kenan Block Media and Communications
Alice Shorett – Founder, Triangle Associates
Steven M. Patneaude – Director of 787 Systems, Boeing
Eugene Carlson– Former Journalist, Dow Jones & Co.
Barbara Snapp – Former Garden Club Conservation Chair
Cal McAllister – Principal, Creative Director, CEO Wexley School for Girls
Kitty Craig – Deputy State Director, The Wilderness Society
Mark Wolfram – Vice President of Channel Partnerships and Sales, Azuqua
William C. Hartmann, Former Vice-Chair, IT Consultant
J. Bowman Neely, Attorney, Neely Law
*Deceased