Executive Director 

Dana Coggon joined the District in February 2022. Her passion is connecting people to the places they love and inspiring all to value the natural wonders of Pierce County.
Before coming to PCD, Dana spent 15 years as the Director of the Kitsap County Noxious Weed control board, where she worked directly with landowners to establish healthy ecosystems.
At the District she supports staff to educate and inspire community members to be innovative environmental stewards. As she does this, she works hard to create a team environment of equity and inclusion.
Dana plans to continue to build on the excellent work done by the District to support community-driven solutions to our most pressing environmental challenges and is excited to implement the 2021-2025 Strategic Plan.

I believe when we take care of our land and water ways, we also contribute to the health of people, our communities, and our economy. - Dana Coggon

Finance & Administration

Lisa Kreissl, Assistant Director
Lisa Kreissl joined Pierce Conservation District in September 2023. Lisa is the Assistant Director, assisting both finance and HR operations.  Lisa comes to PCD with 30+ years of senior accounting for non-profit organizations, mostly in fixed assets and more recently with foundation accounting.  Lisa enjoys camping and exploring the beautiful NW with her new husband, but she also loves to bake, read, play the piano/flute, and loves a good action/intrigue movie. Lisa has multiple pets:  Max (7 year old shepherd mix), Mercy (13 year old Golden Lab), Scotty (5 year old fluffy cat), and Serena (3 year old Ball Python).

Liz Nicman, Finance Coordinator & HR Assistant
Liz joined Pierce Conservation District in November 2023 as the Finance Coordinator, supporting both finance and human resources operations. Liz holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Human Resource Management and brings over a decade of experience across both the private and public sectors. Outside of work, Liz enjoys spending time with her dogs, gardening, stargazing by the campfire, foraging, and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Mark Romelli, Grants and Contracts Program Manager
Mark joined Pierce Conservation District in June 2025 as the Grants and Contracts Program Manager. He brings over 30 years of distinguished service in both the U.S. Navy and federal civilian sectors. Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Development from Hawaii Pacific University. Known for his mission-driven mindset, analytical rigor, and dedication to public service, Mark is passionate about building systems that support environmental stewardship and community well-being. Outside of work, Mark enjoys tending his yard and adventuring through the Pacific Northwest with his spirited 4-year-old yellow Labrador, Sadie Mae.

Harvest Pierce County

Kristen McIvor, Harvest Pierce County Program Director
Kristen is the director of Harvest Pierce County, the urban agriculture program of the Pierce Conservation District – supporting over 90 active community gardens and orchards.  She has been working to develop sustainable food systems since 2006 and received her PhD in Forest Resources from the University of Washington in 2011. In addition to her work with community gardens, her career has focused improving urban soil for agriculture through recycling of organic residuals, and the social conditions that influence how people learn in community gardens.

Erica Hernandez, Farm Foundations and Urban Farms Program Manager
Erica joined Pierce Conservation District as an AmeriCorps service member in 2018 and then was hired as a Program Coordinator before becoming a Program Manager in 2023. They manage Farm Foundations and the Urban Farms program. Born and raised in Tacoma, Erica has a strong connection to place here in Pierce County and is dedicated to serving their community. 

Devon Kerr, Gleaning Project and Pierce Native Plant Sale Program Manager
Devon joined Pierce Conservation District as an AmeriCorps service member in 2021 and was hired as staff in 2022. Devon manages community events, the Gleaning Project, and the Pierce Native Plant Sale. Devon is a graduate of the Evergreen State College’s Tacoma Program garnering a Liberal Arts degree with a focus on Social Justice and Political Economy. Having both grown up on a small hobby farm in gorgeous central New Jersey coupled with a farm internship at Garden Raised Bounty (GRuB) in Olympia, Devon realized the potential that forming a relationship to land through the act of collective food growing could have for individuals and community alike. Through these experiences, a belief was borne in Devon that regenerative agriculture has the power to act as a conduit for the reparative work needed for racial, climate, and environmental justice and for the restoration of our individual human souls. With a background in Social Work, Devon hopes to find a way to offer therapeutic modalities through the application of agricultural-supported community.

Joslyn Brown, Community Gardens and Cultural Ambassadors Program Manager 
Joslyn aids Harvest Pierce County as a Program Manager, working to support Community Gardens, our Cultural Ambassador program, communications, and events. Joslyn is a graduate of the University of Washington Tacoma with a degree in Sustainable Urban Development. She is passionate about increasing environmental equity within the Pierce county community. Joslyn is interested in the interconnection of people and their physical environment, with the intention to develop sustainable cities that are human-forward. 

Thabisa Mazur, Goss Incubator Farm Program Manager 
Thabisa joined Pierce Conservation District in July 2023 as a Harvest Pierce County Program Manager. Thabisa provides capacity building and technical assistance for our Goss Farm Incubator Program. With a degree in Horticulture from Iowa State University and a background in research, managing small-scale regenerative farms, and supporting volunteers and school gardens, they are excited to cultivate more resilient communities and ecosystems with the HPC team. Apart from gardening, Thabisa enjoys playing at the beach with their partner and dog, trying new crafts every winter, and attempting ambitious baking recipes. 

Michael Gibson, Harvest Pierce County Program Coordinator  
Michael joined Pierce Conservation District in 2024 as an Infrastructure Technician, and then later in 2025 as a Harvest Pierce County Program Coordinator. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology from San Francisco State University. After obtaining his degree, he moved to the East Coast and worked as an Ecological landscaper with local horticulturalists. There, he gained a complex understanding and deep love of plants. He is thrilled to be back on the West Coast and use the knowledge and skills he has developed over the years to contribute to the larger community. When not at work he enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, and listening/playing music. 

Lea Figueroa, Harvest Pierce County Farm AmeriCorps Member
Lea joined Pierce Conservation District in 2025 as an AmeriCorps member. She is an alumni from Pacific Lutheran University with a Bachelor in Environmental Justice and Advocacy. Her goal is to educate, specifically the BIPOC community, about growing food and building a relationship with the environment that is rooted in reciprocity and responsibility. Outside of work she is obsessed with Shrek, her chihuahua Charlie, astrology, and plants.

Alex Bergman, Harvest Pierce County AmeriCorps Member
Alex joined the Harvest Pierce County team in October of 2025 as the Gleaning Specialist Americorps Member after working as a harvest leader for the Gleaning Project. Alex brings a professional background in education, small-scale farming, and ornamental horticulture.  They are drawn to sustainable, locally grown foods, and are looking forward to curating connections between neighbors to build radical, inter-dependent systems of food sovereignty and food justice in Pierce County. They also have a degree in Studio Art with an emphasis in fibers and ceramics. Alex loves to keep their hands busy with a wide variety of hobbies including farming, quilting, dancing, cooking, canning, and arranging flowers.

Water Quality Improvement

Melissa Buckingham, Water Quality Improvement Program Director
Melissa Buckingham is a seasoned environmental professional with over two decades of experience at Pierce Conservation District. Her expertise spans stormwater management, restoration ecology, environmental science, and the development and management of impactful programs and projects. As the Program Director for both Water Quality and Climate Resiliency, Melissa brings a strategic and community-centered approach to delivering high-quality initiatives that benefit public partners and private landowners alike. Her passion lies in connecting people to the natural world through hands-on, action-driven projects that foster environmental stewardship and resilience.

Sarah Pyle, Green Stormwater Program Manager
Sarah joined Pierce Conservation District in 2023 as the Green Stormwater Program Manager, where she designs and manages green stormwater programs and projects that help clean polluted runoff and provide better urban habitats. She has a background in environmental studies and music. Prior to joining PCD, she spent time installing and monitoring rain gardens and other stormwater solutions across Kitsap County. When not at PCD, she is usually crafting, kayaking, or sheet mulching another chunk of her lawn to plant native and pollinator-friendly plants.

Hillary Esdaile, Water Quality Project Manager
Hillary helps Pierce County residents participate in ecosystem stewardship by designing, managing, and enabling stormwater and habitat improvement projects that people can implement in their own spaces. In the past, they were an artist and project manager in the video games industry, but their passion for nature and desire to support the local ecosystem led them to take up the shovel and start planting native trees. Now they can't get enough of plants and bugs, and use their art experience to design landscapes for the community. They believe anyone can make a positive impact in their own way, no matter where they are in life. Their goal is to cultivate that mentality in other people and show them how to get started on projects of their own. When they're not gardening at work, they're probably gardening at home. Their hobbies include birdwatching, sewing costumes, and learning how to make stuff.

Bryan Mohlman, Habitat Stewardship Program Manager
Bryan joined Pierce Conservation District in 2023. He grew up in Southern California near the LA area. He spent much of his childhood in and around local hiking trails and park spaces. He moved to Western Washington after college and fell in love with the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Bryan Decided to take a more direct role in habitat restoration by participating in the Habitat Steward Program at PCD in 2021. In 2023 Bryan successfully completed his master’s degree in environmental studies to strengthen his knowledge of how to rebuild and reinforce natural habitat within a rapidly growing urban environment. He loves being able to spend time in the urban green spaces that provide so many positive benefits to our cities and ensure they remain resilient for years to come.

Jess Chandler, Tacoma Habitat Stewardship Program Manager
Jess joined the Pierce Conservation District in 2025 as the Tacoma Habitat Stewardship Program Manager. She works in partnership with the city of Tacoma to bolster ecosystem services and connect community in Tacoma open space. She has a background in landscape architecture, restoration ecology, and agroecological farming systems. Jess adores Pacific Northwest ecosystems and enjoys helping them thrive. When not at work, Jess is likely on her bike or watching a film on her ever-growing watch list.

James Moore, Climate Resiliency Program Manager
James originally joined Pierce Conservation District as an AmeriCorps member in 2019 with experience in riparian restoration and water quality testing. He then worked for the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department as an Environmental Technician, administering site visits around Pierce County. Later, he worked with the Puget Sound Clean Air agency, performing inspections throughout the Puget Sound. In 2024, James returned to the District after several years of leading Whittier Park’s Habitat Stewardship's volunteer base. When not on the clock, James is either attending community building events or enjoying the freedom of nature’s gifts.

Kat Barlow, Habitat Stewardship Technician AmeriCorps Member
Kat recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Washington Tacoma where she majored in Environmental Science. She has worked at Pierce County doing field work collecting samples, water property data, and BIBI. Prior to that she was an intern with Harbor Wild Watch implementing environmental education and leading community science projects. She is from Tacoma but now resides in Port Orchard with her husband and fluffy nebelung cat named Smoke. She has lots of hobbies including hiking, gardening, pyrography, reading, mushroom foraging, and bird watching!

Kayla Kunimoto, Habitat Stewardship Technician AmeriCorps Member
Kayla previously volunteered as a Habitat Steward and has now joined Pierce Conservation District as an AmeriCorps member in the Tacoma Habitat Stewardship program. She is passionate about building local engagement and sharing methods of sustainable land management to create resilient and self-reliant communities. On her days off, she enjoys cooking, gardening, painting, playing with her dogs, or learning about sustainable off-grid living.

Habitat Improvement

Ryan Bird, Habitat Restoration Manager
Ryan assists in the planning, coordination and implementation of riparian restoration projects that are aimed at improving salmon and wildlife habitat. Ryan grew up in the PNW and has always had a strong affinity for nature, which primed him for a career in natural resources. He holds a bachelor’s degree in wildlife ecology and conservation sciences, and a master’s degree in ecology and environmental biology. In addition to his passion for the outdoors, Ryan is an avid reader and a multi-instrumentalist who is unlikely to ever turn down a jam sesh.

Glenn Johnson, Riparian Stewardship Program Manager
Glenn joined Pierce Conservation District in January 2022, after working as a wildlife biologist and natural resources project manager in western Washington for the prior 11 years. He helps PCD build and maintain partnerships focused on salmon habitat restoration and other riparian conservation projects, including providing technical assistance to landowners. Glenn supports PCD’s role in the Floodplains for the Future program, working with over 20 federal, state, and local partner organizations and contractors in the Puyallup River watershed. He grew up in the southern Willamette Valley in Oregon, where he learned to appreciate riparian floodplains and forests. Glenn spends his free time walking with his family and/or birding, and is a regular contributor to eBird. He volunteers as a board member of the Puget Sound Bird Observatory.

Keith Estes, Shorelines Program Manager
Keith joined Pierce Conservation District in November 2025, after working on large-scale habitat restoration design and planning efforts in both New York State and the PNW. As the lead for the Shore Friendly Pierce, Keith assists Pierce County marine shoreline landowners in stewarding their shorelines. He has a master's degree in Natural Resources from Virginia Tech and an undergraduate degree from Texas State University in Marketing and Communications. Outside of his love for PNW ecosystems, Keith can be found playing or watching baseball, performing improv, cycling, gardening, and baking.

Kyrstin Onaga, Habitat Improvement Coordinator
Kyrstin Onaga joined Pierce Conservation District in October of 2023 serving as an AmeriCorps member for the last two years. Kyrstin has a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Washington-Tacoma where she minored in Teaching, Learning, and Justice. When she is not out in the field, she loves relaxing with her three dogs, having a porch hang-out with friends, and exploring Tacoma for new food spots.  

Farm Planning & Agricultural Assistance

René Skaggs, Farm Planning and Agricultural Assistance Program Director  
Rene’ has been a farm resource specialist with Pierce Conservation  District since 1997 educating livestock farm owners on management  practices that both improve their farm productivity and protect natural  resources. She and her family live on a 10 acre farm in rural Pierce County where she practices what she teaches.

Paul Borne, Key Peninsula, Gig Harbor, Islands Farm Resource Manager
Paul, a long-time resident of Pierce County, joined Pierce Conservation District in March 2018 after working for many years at the King Conservation District. As the KGI Farm Resource Specialist, Paul will work with livestock owners in the Key Peninsula-Gig Harbor-Islands Watershed to help them address natural resource concerns on their farms and improve local water quality. He believes that we all have a part in protecting our environment and is excited to now be working in his neighborhood – Pierce County. When he is not promoting conservation at work, Paul enjoys enhancing the wildlife habitat in his backyard and observing nature around him.

Alison Nichols, Crop Farm Manager
Ali is available to assist crop farm operators in planning and applying natural resource conservation practices and facilitate workshops and technical support around topics relevant to farmers in Pierce County. She will also be working collaboratively with government agencies and non-profit partners to support the needs of farmers contributing to a vibrant local food system. She is excited to connect farmers with each other and with the ideas and practices that will help them succeed in their farms while conserving their natural resources for the generations to come.

Noah Janzing, Farm Program Manager
Noah joined Pierce Conservation District in October 2023. Having earned his Master of Public Health degree from the University of Washington, and a degree in Animal Sciences from Colorado State University, Noah is excited to work directly with livestock farm owners and operators to support their adoption of conservation practices. He is excited to engage directly with farms to promote optimum water quality, soil conservation and health, nutrient management, and fish and wildlife habitat improvement within Pierce County. Aside from his work in natural resource stewardship, Noah enjoys backpacking throughout the Pacific Northwest, snowboarding, and traveling.

Lou Nelson, Farm Program Coordinator
Lou joined Pierce Conservation District in 2023 and served for two years as the Farm and Habitat Specialist AmeriCorps Member. They earned their undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Washington and are currently pursuing a master’s degree in environmental studies. Lou is passionate about restoration ecology, sustainability, and community engagement. Outside of their work and studies, Lou enjoys hiking, swimming, arts and crafts, and cooking.

Maria Brandofino, Farm and Habitat AmeriCorps Member                  Maria joined Pierce Conservation District in 2025 and made the career switch to agriculture and conservation after discovering her passion for connecting communities to their resources. She believes every person has the right to learn the history of their land, achieve food sovereignty in their communities, and find joy in the outdoors. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, painting, and jamming out to heavy metal music.

Communications, Outreach, and Education

Chris Towe, Environmental Education Program Manager
Chris Towe joined Pierce Conservation District in 2010 after graduating from Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. Chris primarily works with volunteers on restoration plantings and providing environmental education to students throughout  Pierce County. He actively participates in local networks that focus on environmental education and outreach. One of his favorite parts about his job is seeing how excited kids get when they explore their environment and see new, interesting things. 

Astra Palmer, Conservation Education Specialist AmeriCorps Member
Astra joined Pierce Conservation District as the 2024-2025 Conservation Education Specialist Americorps member. She started out as a restoration work party volunteer for PCD, and then became a habitat steward for Bradley Lake Park. She recently finished her undergraduate studies at Central Washington University, focusing on environmental anthropology and primate ecology. In her free time, Astra enjoys walking her dog Ruby, birding, exploring our incredible forests, and tending to her plants.

Gracie DeMeo, Communications & Community Engagement Manager
Gracie DeMeo joined Pierce Conservation District in 2023. She is originally from the Pacific Northwest but has traveled across the United States in search of unique natural locations and their stories. She has a Masters in Environmental Studies from Antioch University of New England, where she studied the intricacies of connecting people with nature. When not buried deep in a graphic design program, she enjoys talking to the plants in her raised garden beds, birdwatching with her dad's hand-me-down binoculars, and piddling away on the piano. 

Bailey Wambold, Volunteer Coordinator
Bailey joined Pierce Conservation District in 2023. She was born in Pierce County but spent most of her childhood in Northern California and returned to the wonderful Pacific Northwest while serving in the Navy. Bailey earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington Tacoma, where she studied Environmental Sustainability and the ways people interact with their environment and each other. She is passionate about serving her community and helping people discover the joys of volunteering and teamwork. When not at work, Bailey enjoys spending quality time with her partner and animals, playing in the garden, and, you guessed it, volunteering.

Jack Hulgan, Outreach Coordinator AmeriCorps Member
Jack joined Pierce Conservation District in 2025. They graduated with a Bachelor of Biology degree from University of Tennessee where they majored in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Before joining Pierce Conservation District as an AmeriCorps member, they worked as a forester for public utilities. They are passionate about community outreach, environmental education, and finding ways in which those with disabilities can be included in conservation efforts. They moved to Tacoma with their partner, Katie, and their two cats, Paprika and Jiji. They have many hobbies including climbing, backpacking, canoeing, listening to music, painting, making/collecting stained glass, cooking for Katie, and finding accessible trails for their sister, Annabelle.