Mark Mauren - As a small farmer in Puyallup and long-term steward of natural resources across the State of Washington, I believe the services provided by the Pierce Conservation District are vital to a healthy future. The District must evolve as the county’s population grows, weather patterns change, forests and the agricultural base shrink and habitat becomes more fragmented. My broad background in natural resource management (forest, aquatic and conservation), program management (recreation, transaction, aquatic, timber sales and landscape planning), fiscal and policy development will add value to the board and the Conservation District as it addresses these challenges.

• Graduate of Interlake High School in Bellevue and University of Washington in Seattle, B.S. degree in forest management.
• Retired from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources after 31 years of service, managed State forest, aquatic, recreation, natural areas, transactions, budgets (>$10M) at operational, programmatic, policy and executive levels. Currently, manage 2100-acre private tree farm and rock quarry in Kitsap County. 
• Moved from Gig Harbor to Puyallup in 2012 to develop a nearly sustainable family farm with wife, Belinda. Farm is a little over four acres, homed by livestock guard dogs. Raise meat (chicken and pork), laying hens, vegetables and fruit (blueberries, ap-ples, pears, cherries, plums and peaches). Also raise and sell dairy goats, make cheese and ice cream.  
• Offer a farm-stay experience to guests in a remodeled 1917 farmhouse, advertised on Airbnb. Lease a portion of crop land to a local produce farmer.  Mark is a lifelong resident of the Puget Sound and Pierce County resident since 1994. Mark and Belinda are expecting their third grandchild.