Email: jennifer@whatcomlandtrust.org

While attending Western Washington University for a B.S. in Environmental Science, Jennifer spent her summers interning to gain hands-on experience. She accomplished stream profile surveys, vegetation surveys, fish surveys, small mammal surveys in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. For the Mount St. Helens Institute she also co-led the Youth Stream Team, a program aiming to bring at-risk youth outside to gain a better understanding and appreciation of their natural surroundings. After graduating and completing other internship opportunities, Jennifer joined the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC), an AmeriCorps program, to gain riparian restoration experience with Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association. She later joined the Whatcom Land Trust team in her final year with WCC as a Stewardship Associate, and then filled in as the Interim Stewardship Director. Jennifer then spent the following year with the City of Bellingham’s watershed team in aquatic invasive species prevention before joining Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group as a Restoration Technician for over a year. When the Stewardship Director position opened up, she didn’t hesitate to jump at the opportunity in joining the evolving Whatcom Land Trust team once more. On the weekends when she is not leading a work party, you can find her hiking, backpacking, camping, climbing, biking, and exploring natural areas throughout Washington.

Email: claire@whatcomlandtrust.org

Email: alex@whatcomlandtrust.org

Email: jstephens@whatcomlandtrust.org

Email: madeline@whatcomlandtrust.org

Email: hailey@whatcomlandtrust.org

Sun Mountain Consulting LLC

Email: officemanager@whatcomlandtrust.org

Alexis is a happy little spider in the middle of the office, webbing connections to keep everyone close and feeling supported. At work, she is usually found with a cup of tea in hand typing away on the computer, or out on a walk with a staff member taking a moment to touch base with the elements and themselves. Alexis graduated from Western Washington University with an undergraduate degree in Environmental Education and from the University of Montana with a certificate in Nonprofit Management. These skills next to each other form a solid foundation for her to weave a joy-filled aura of focus and friendship in the workplace. 

As a former kindergarten teacher at Cedar Tree Montessori, Alexis is well-versed in play and enjoys bringing that sense of style to the office with their current team at the Land Trust. Alexis is invested in creating the most welcoming space possible in every corner of the areas we occupy, and is passionate about bridging everyone around her in unity and compassion. In their spare time, Alexis loves to garden and care for living things, craft wild teas, write letters to penpals, read a little bit of everything, and listen to the sounds of the wide world on walks. Alexis enjoys engaging with her peers and building community in every place it can be shared. 

Alexis is excited to be the Office Manager at the Whatcom Land Trust because it’s like a dream come true for them – Alexis’ curiosity and spirit are fueled by being in a position of support and creative energy as the staff looks to the natural world for inspiration and motivation. She has many things to feel grateful for and enjoys expressing them.

Email: development@whatcomlandtrust.org

Email: kristy@whatcomlandtrust.org

Kristy grew up in Colorado and moved to Bellingham to attend Western Washington University and Fairhaven College. While working towards her degree she interned with the Land Trust during her senior year at Western. Kristy graduated in 2020 with a self-designed dual degree in Environmental Law & Policy and Immigration Law and a minor in Business Administration. After graduation, Kristy was offered the position of Office Manager and was excited to continue her time at the Land Trust. Since then, she has worn a multitude of hats within the organization and in 2022 was promoted to Communications Coordinator. Her favorite part of her job is interacting with the community through programing, events and digital engagement. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, traveling, backpacking, and hiking.

Email: stewardship@whatcomlandtrust.org

Hall grew up in Bellingham and graduated from Sehome High School. His professional career started in the public sector with the Budget Offices of King County and the City of Seattle, focusing on sustainable and responsible spending policies and prioritizing limited public resources. While he continues his finance career in the private sector, he spends his time with his wife and two kids exploring the Pacific NW by land and by sea. He moved back to Bellingham in 2017 and joined the Whatcom Land Trust Board in 2019.

Dave Brown works as an attorney at Brett McCandlis Brown. He joined the Board in 2016.

Lynne Givler joined the Board in 2015 and currently serves as Board Secretary. She graduated from the Evergreen State College in 1977 with a degree in marine sciences. After working several field and lab jobs, she began her career in parks and recreation in 1979 as a Naturalist with Seattle Parks, and spent her last ten years with Seattle Parks as a Project Manager at the Woodland Park Zoo. In 2001 Lynne began working at Whatcom County Parks as the Operations Manager, and retired in 2011. During her years with Whatcom County Parks she worked closely with the Land Trust on a number of projects, giving her an opportunity first-hand to see the great work Whatcom Land Trust does in the community.

Jennifer Wright joined the Board in 2011 and is serving as the Board Treasurer. She currently works as an accountant at Metcalf Hodges, CPAs.

Barbara developed a deep connection with nature at her grandparent’s bungalow colony in the Catskill Mountains. For her PhD thesis at New York University, she explored the relationship between 19th century alpine and polar landscape painting and the emerging field of natural science. During her thirty years as a museum curator, Barbara organized exhibitions that address the intersection of art, natural history, and environmental issues. She curated Fragile Ecologies: Contemporary Artists’ Interpretations and Solutions, which toured the United States under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution. In 2009 Barbara moved to Bellingham to become the art curator at the Whatcom Museum, where she organized the international traveling exhibition, Vanishing Ice: Alpine and Polar Landscapes in Art 1775-2012 and Endangered Species: Artists on the Front Line of Biodiversity.

Lynn Berman joined the Board in 2016 and was the previous Board Vice President. Originally from the S.F. Bay Area she and her family moved to Whatcom County in 1978 after living in Norway for six years. Lynn founded and operated four businesses for over 30 years, helped establish the Bellingham Farmers Market and the Barkley Merchant’s Association, has been an advocate for sustainable agriculture, local and just food systems, and a mentor for young farmers and chefs. She was a board member of the Whatcom Humane Society for six years and an advisory board member for the Mt. Baker Vocational Technical program for over 18 years. She has volunteered extensively with WA Tilth Producers, Seattle Chef’s Collaborative (now FORKS), Slow Food USA, Slow Meat, Maple Alley Inn, and the Whatcom Land Trust. Other interests include hiking, sea kayaking, biking, traveling, and textile and fiber arts.

Pat Stevenson is recently retired from the Stillaguamish Tribe after 35 years of managing their environmental and natural resource department. He worked on many protection and restoration projects over the years including:, building 30-40 engineered log jams, connecting side-channels, planting miles of riparian habitat, and treating three major landslides contributing tons of fine sediment to the system. He also directed an annual Festival and Pow-Wow for 30 years. Pat has been a Whatcom community member for nearly fifty years has three children and three grandchildren.

Ceramic Artist, small business owner “I support Whatcom Land Trust because it enables every resident of our county to take tangible action to restore and protect the natural heritage of our landscape in ways that will be felt and appreciated by the generations to come. I have served on the board since 1990.”

Jason joined the Board of Whatcom Land Trust in 2021. He currently serves as Program Director at Washington Water Trust, where has worked since 2013, overseeing the western Washington WWT program to restore flow and develop sustainable water management strategies. He is leading efforts to develop new instream flow tools including recycled water source substitution, natural system storage restoration, watershed services and low water use crops.He has more than 25 years of public interest experience, including work with the Trout Unlimited-Washington Water Project, California League of California Voters, Friends of the River, and a graduate project studying the social impacts of small dam removal on the Sprague River in Klamath County, Oregon. He has served on the Wenatchee Parks Advisory Board, founded the North Portland Tool Library and serves as Treasurer with North Portland Community Works. He received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Santa Barbara and an M.S. in Water Resource Policy and Management from Oregon State University. He enjoys snow-shoeing, trail running, fly-fishing, sea-kayaking, his annual backpack trip with his daughter and adventuring with his family.

John D’Onofrio is a writer/photographer and the publisher of Adventures Northwest, a quarterly magazine dedicated to the exploration and appreciation of the magnificent landscapes of Cascadia. A resident of Bellingham for more than 30 years, he has focused his life on expressing the resonant beauty of the natural world and inspiring others to find deep connections to the land. He has written extensively about wilderness travel and environmental issues and has exhibited his photographs in venues across the United States. An avid hiker, paddler and seeker of beauty, he has served on the Board of the Whatcom Land Trust since 2015.

Rand Jack has lived in Whatcom County for 50 years as a lawyer, college professor, bird carver, spouse, father and grandfather. In 1984, he was a founding Board member of Whatcom Land Trust and has been very much involved in the life of the Land Trust ever since.

Laughlan (Loch) Clark has lived in Whatcom County since 1967, after starting out in Canada, then living in other locales in the U.S. He graduated from Lynden High School (1972), Western Washington State College (English, 1976) and the University of Puget Sound Law School (1980), then started a law practice in Bellingham in 1981. Loch joined his current firm in 1989 and is it longest tenured member. His practice focuses on lending law, business, and real estate. Loch has served on various non-profit boards over the decades, including Whatcom County Mental Health Board, Northwest Youth Services, and most recently Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County. His interests include music, particularly playing jazz, and also traveling, gardening, bicycling, and hiking.

Jenn grew up in Bellingham and has lived in Washington most of her life. Her childhood goal was to be a scientist who works outside. She fell in love with geology at Whitman College and completed her master’s degree from the University of New Mexico, kicking off her career as a geologist. Jenn is a 4th-generation co-owner of the Nourse Tree Farm in Snohomish County, where they manage their forest for sustainable timber, wildlife, water quality, and recreation.