Staff

Joanna Grist, Executive Director
Joanna was hired in July 2000. Prior to this position she worked on growth management and endangered species issues for King County Executive Ron Sims. Before that she served as Field and Outreach Director for Futurewise, an organization that works to build healthy communities by stopping sprawl. Ms. Grist holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Washington. She spends her free time chasing her preschool age boys.

Gwendolyn High, Administrative Director
Gwendolyn has transitioned from a career in high tech, ranging from holography to software development.  She serves on the Renton Planning Commission and founded a neighborhood group that works on land use, transportation and conservation issues.  In 2010 she earned a certificate in non-profit management at the University of Washington.  Gwendolyn loves European travel and lives with her husband on the East Renton Plateau.

Majken Ryherd , Lobbyist
Majken has many years of experience working for and with the Washington state Legislature as well as consulting internationally.  Most recently she was Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House in the Washington State Legislature.  She has lobbied for a variety of interests in health, housing and human services with expertise in operating and capital budgets, coalition building and advocacy.  Majken's international experience includes consulting on tobacco control in Nigeria, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Niger and serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal.

Jim Richards, Lobbyist
Jim has a unique blend of public affairs, communications, government relations and management experience gained in both the public and private sectors.  He has served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the House of Representatives Democratic Caucus in Olympia, a Governor’s Deputy Press Secretary, as an Assistant Director to a large state agency, and as a lobbyist on behalf of various interests.  In the business world, Jim has worked as a public affairs and communications consultant, a Vice President for Corporate Communications, and a small business partner and owner.

Tom Bugert, Outreach Director

A native of Wenatchee, Tom first became interested in conservation as he witnessed the loss of local orchards and farmland in the 90's. Tom joined the Coalition in August of 2010 as director of the Coalition's campaign for WWRP funding once he learned about the impact the WWRP has made on Chelan County. After graduating from Whitman College with a degree in Philosophy, Tom lived in southern Japan teaching English but the Cascade Mountains drew him home. He enjoys hiking, riding his bicycle over mountain passes, and volunteering.

Hannah Clark, LWCF Campaign Director

Hannah graduated with a B.A. from the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, where she focused on environmental policy and sustainable development. She has worked as a policy analyst and advocate for the Michigan Land Use Institute and as an intern for the Ann Arbor Community Action Network, an affordable housing organization. Hannah enjoys hiking, camping, volunteering, and hosting potlucks.

Frances Dinger, Marketing & Communications Associate

Frances has worked in community journalism, as well as arts and non-profit communications. She received a BA in Strategic Communications from Seattle University. She is from Deer Park, a small town just north of Spokane where screech owls and moose were not uncommon visitors to the family's yard. In her spare time, Frances enjoys gardening, writing, and volunteering as the media relations coordinator for Authors, Publishers, and Readers of Independent Literature.

Andrew Brown, Media & Outreach Intern

Andrew is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he majored in Political Science with a certificate in Environmental Studies. His interest in politics has taken him to divergent corners of the world, from Columbus, Ohio, where he organized for the 2008 presidential election, to Sydney, Australia, where he worked with the tactical response team at Amnesty International’s Asia headquarters. When he’s not working, Andrew enjoys kayaking, reading, and volunteering as a ‘WWOOFer’ (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms)

Alyson Rae, Development Intern

Alyson is a recent graduate of the University of Washington with a B.A. in Business Administration, with a focus on finance, and a B.A. in Environmental Studies. During college, she was an intern for NOAA, researching the impacts of ocean acidification on Puget Sound species, as well as volunteered and worked in various environmental education roles. In her spare time, Alyson enjoys traveling, volunteering at the Seattle Aquarium, and tidepooling.