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Council Members

The members of the Washington Biodiversity Council are appointed by the governor and represent a cross section of people across the state. Council members include private landowners, government natural resource managers, tribal representatives, and members of education, business, and environmental organizations.

Council Member Biographies

Jim Armstrong
Director of Communications and Special Projects, Spokane County Conservation District

For the past 25 years Jim has worked directly with the farmers and landowners on natural resource and environmental issues. He has been working primarily on alternative fuels and energy issues for the past 6 years. He co-authored the first incentive-based legislation in Washington State for alternative fuels, passed in 2003, and he is the author of numerous articles and issue papers on alternative energy, sustainable farming, and land stewardship.

Jim also serves as co-chair of Farming and the Environment Stewardship Farm Committee, chairman of Spokane Ag Bureau’s Farm Forum Committee, and he is past community producer for environmental issues and chair of the Board of Directors for Spokane Public Radio.

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Leonard Bauer
Managing Director of the Growth Management Program,
Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development

Prior to joining CTED, Leonard was a planner and planning director for various local governments in Oregon and Washington for 14 years. During that time, he worked for the Lane Council of Governments in Eugene, Oregon, and helped the Cities of Tumwater and Sumner, Washington, adopt and implement their comprehensive plans and development regulations under the Washington Growth Management Act.

He holds a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon and a B.A. in Education from Pacific Lutheran University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, as well as a Certified Park and Recreation Professional.

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Ken Berg
Manager, Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Ken has a B.S. in Biology from the University of California, Riverside, and a M.A. in Biology from Humboldt State University, California.  He has more than 25 years experience in fish and wildlife conservation as a biologist and manager with Federal and State agencies, universities, and non-governmental organizations.

“Washington’s tremendous wealth of natural areas and diverse landscapes support our rich heritage of native plants, animals and habitats.  Our challenge as stewards of this legacy, is to ensure that future generations have the opportunities we have to enjoy and benefit from this diversity of life.”

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Dave Brittell
Assistant Director of the Wildlife Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Dave received his B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Washington State University and completed the Executive Management Program in the Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington.  He has worked for WDFW for 30 years as research scientist, regional wildlife biologist, and administrator.

“I hope to help maintain Washington's biodiversity for our kids through partnerships today.”

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Bonnie Bunning
Executive Director for Policy and Administration, Washington Department of Natural Resources.

Bonnie is responsible for agency policy, legislative, tribal and governmental relations, budget and administrative services, as well as the Heritage, Recreation, and Asset Management programs for the agency. She holds a B.A. in Geology from Smith College, and has 26 years experience as a geologist and manager with the DNR.  Prior to her current role, Bonnie managed the department’s South Puget Sound Region.

“The challenge for natural resource professionals in Washington today is in securing and sustaining for the future, the economic, environmental and social values with which our state is so richly blessed.  For our children’s children to enjoy the endowment of riches that comprise our state, it is imperative that we maintain and enhance the diversity of nature in all forms as the foundation upon which our sound economy, cultural heritage, and healthy environment are based.”

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Nina Carter
Executive Director, Audubon Washington

Nina began with Audubon Washington, the state field office of National Audubon, in 2001 as policy director. In this role she worked directly with Washington State's 26 affiliated Audubon societies to craft public policy that protects our natural environment. She became executive director in 2005.

Nina's background includes more than 21 years of experience in public policy and environmental issues; she worked for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Ecology, Office of Marine Safety, and Washington State Parks and Recreation. She served as an Olympia city councilwoman, and was an adjunct professor in Environmental Studies at the Evergreen State College. She received a BA in both economics and labor studies, and a Master’s degree in public administration from Evergreen State.

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Maggie Coon
Director of External Affairs, The Nature Conservancy of Washington

Maggie previously served as Director of Government Relations for The Nature Conservancy, based in Arlington, VA. She holds a Bachelor of Sciences and a Masters of Forestry from Yale University.

"The Washington Biodiversity Council has enormous potential to unite diverse perspectives around the table in pursuing a common goal of safeguarding our state's amazingly rich natural heritage. I am especially excited about our emphasis on enabling everyone in Washington to see how they can participate in this effort. It is my hope that, over time, ‘biodiversity’ will become a household word, one that is meaningful to people across the beautiful and varied landscapes of Washington."

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Donna Darm
Assistant Regional Administrator, Protected Resources Division of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service

Donna is a Northwest native and graduate of the University of Washington Law School. She spent five years as a lawyer at the State Department in Washington, D.C. before returning to the Northwest to continue her work on fisheries issues. She has been with NOAA Fisheries since 1992 in a variety of policy positions.

In her current position, she is responsible for managing the agency’s listing decisions, critical habitat designations, and 4(d) rules under the Endangered Species Act. She is also responsible for the agency's implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

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Robert Fimbel
Chief of Natural Resources Stewardship, Washington State Parks

Robert has spent the past 25 years engaged in national and international conservation efforts, in both the private and public sector, working to identify a balance between resource use and protection.  

In his current position at State Parks he serves as a technical advisor to field staff concerning natural resources issues, develops agency policy and management guidelines, undertakes applied research and management planning, instructs staff in conservation practices, and represents the agency as its chief natural resources scientist.  

His academic background includes undergraduate degrees in forest management and education; a M.Sc. in range sciences; and a Ph.D. in restoration ecology.

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John Garner
Environmental Education Coordinator,  Metro Parks Tacoma's Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, and Tacoma Nature Center

John has been a resident of Tacoma for over 20 years. He is a member of the Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance, a group that is working with willing landowners in voluntary efforts to conserve the biological diversity of the county. 

Before coming to Tacoma he worked at the South Slough National Estuarine Reserve in Coos Bay, Oregon. He is a graduate of Penn State University with a degree in outdoor education. 

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Ron Juris
Diamond J Farms, Inc. and Diamond J Ag Services

Ron is a third generation wheat farmer from Bickleton, Washington. Along with his wife Kathy, he operates Diamond J Farms, Inc., a 4,000 acre dryland wheat farm in Klickitat County, and Diamond J Ag Services, which provides custom spraying, seeding, and harvesting for area growers. 

Ron has served as a Supervisor of Eastern Klickitat Conservation District for 25 years. He is a past President of the Washington Association of Conservation Districts, and a past member and chair of the Washington Conservation Commission.  He has also served as the President of the Yakima/Klickitat Wheat Growers and as a member of the state board of directors of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers.

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Judd Kirk
President of the Real Estate Division of Port Blakely Tree Farms
CEO of Port Blakely Communities

Judd has overseen Port Blakely’s major real estate projects for the past 17 years, including primary responsibility for Issaquah Highlands. 

Before joining Port Blakely, he was President of Skinner Development and developed Carillon Point in Kirkland. Prior to that, he was a partner at the Davis Wright Tremaine law firm. He has a B.A. in Finance from the University of Washington and a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School.

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Tom Laurie
Government Liaison, Washington State Department of Ecology

Tom has over 30 years experience working in Washington State with tribal and state governments, including positions in planning, policy development, and environmental and executive management.  He worked for the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe in Kitsap County for twelve years in several positions, including director, and joined Ecology’s executive team in 1989. 

With Ecology he has 19 years of experience working on a breadth of issues including tribal treaty rights, water quality, water quantity and federally reserved rights, toxic and nuclear waste clean-up and remediation, spill response and natural resource damage assessment, watershed planning, air quality, shoreline and coastal zone management, environmental monitoring, and climate change. 

He is the agency liaison to the tribal governments; represents the Dept. of Ecology on the Forest Practices Board, an independent state agency governing forest practices on state and private lands; and serves as a liaison to British Columbia and Environment Canada on cross-border issues and coordinates the British Columbia – Washington Environmental Cooperation Council.

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John Marzluff
Denman Professor of Sustainable Resource Sciences, College of Forest Resources, University of Washington

John received his B.S. degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Biology and Zoology, respectively, from Northern Arizona University.

John is involved in teaching, research, and service in natural resource science and management.  His special interest concerns how people and crows have affected each other’s ecology, culture, and evolution.  He is the author of In the Company of Crows and Ravens with Tony Angell (2005).  He also coordinates the Urban Ecology program at the University of Washington and serves on numerous boards and councils.

“My hope is that the Washington Biodiversity Council will help citizens of Washington understand, appreciate, and learn to steward our fabulous biological and cultural heritage for current and future generations.”

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Ikuno Masterson
Director, Planning Services, ESA Adolfson
Washington Chapter Representative, American Planning Association

Ikuno has over 30 years of experience in land use and environmental issues in the Pacific Northwest.  Her experience comes from work in both the public and private sectors in both large and small organizations. 

Ikuno has directed comprehensive and resource planning programs including economic development.  She has served as a SEPA Responsible Official, negotiated permits for major infrastructure projects and has advised elected and appointed officials on major environmental issues including: alternative energy, compliance with the Growth Management and Shoreline Management Acts, the Endangered Species Act, water supply; diesel solutions, agriculture, fish and wildlife, climate change, and sustainability.  Ikuno is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners

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Dave Roseleip
President, Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation

Dave is president of the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation, a private, non-profit foundation devoted to developing leaders for healthy farms, forests, and communities. Prior to his current position, he served as Assistant Vice President for the Farm Credit Services of Spokane.

Dave has served as Chairman of the Pacific Northwest Farm Forum and Chairman of the Agricultural Bureau of the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, and he is involved in the Grow Washington Agriculture Project to assist producers in developing and marketing value-added products. He also serves on the Farming and the Environment Board and Executive Committee.

In 2004, Dave was recognized with the Outstanding Leadership Program Director Award by the executive directors of Natural Resource Leadership programs in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. A native of western Montana, where his family still farms, Dave is a graduate of Montana State University.

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Mark Schaffel
President, Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association

Mark earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from Rutgers University. A shellfish farmer since 1984, Mark is owner and operator of Northwest Shellfish Company, Inc., Olympia.

“My goal is to create an environment where biodiversity flourishes, while allowing for economic vitality, sound forestry practices, and sustainable agriculture.”

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Ron Shultz
Special Assistant to the Executive Director, Washington State Conservation Commission

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Kate Stenberg
Member At-Large, Washington Biodiversity Council

Kate Stenberg, Ph.D., is currently a senior environmental planner with CDM. She has over 25 years of experience in environmental planning and natural resource management. Her doctoral research at the University of Arizona focused on ways to integrate local land use planning and wildlife diversity. Both in Arizona and as a Program Manager for King County, she developed landscape level conservation plans that balance economic development and wildlife habitats.

At King County she developed several non-regulatory programs to protect habitats and natural areas. She garnered a national reputation in the emerging field of urban wildlife management speaking at conferences across the country. In addition to experience integrating biodiversity into local-level land-use plans, Kate has worked at the state and federal levels implementing conservation regulations and policies. 

A native of Washington, Kate lives not too far from where she grew up in the wilds of Issaquah. Despite the dramatic changes that have occurred in the region, she still feels that it is possible to make a difference. "I get my inspiration from the hundreds of people out there who care about the places where they live and are working towards a healthier future. If we can find a way to focus that energy on a cohesive goal there won't be any stopping us!"

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Cullen Stephenson
Deputy, Puget Sound Partnership

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David Troutt
Chair of the Nisqually River Council; Natural Resources Director, Nisqually Tribe

David has served as Chair of the Nisqually River Council since 2003 and as Natural Resources Director for the Nisqually Tribe since 1987. He heads a diverse department comprised of salmon harvest management, two large salmon hatcheries, shellfish management, data operations, environmental management, wildlife management, legal, administration, and budget development and monitoring. 

David also serves on the Executive Committee of the Tri-County Response to ESA, the Development Committee of the Shared Strategy for Puget Sound, the Steering Committee for the Hatchery Reform Project, and as a voting member of the Resource Advisory Committee for the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, as well as the Salmon Recovery Funding Board.

He is the current Chair of the Nisqually River Foundation and a board member of the Nisqually Land Trust and Long Live the Kings.  David received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington School of Fisheries.

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Josh Weiss
Director of Environmental Affairs, Washington Forest Protection Association

The WFPA promotes balanced public policy in support of forestry that is economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable. Josh represents private forest landowners in a variety of policy forums and works extensively with the legislature, state and federal agencies, tribes, and conservation groups.

Josh is the fourth-generation to be raised on his family’s farm in eastern Washington. He graduated from Central Washington University with a degree in geography and holds a law degree from the Vermont Law School. He has previously served as nonpartisan legislative staff and as the legislative liaison for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. He has also worked in private practice on water and other natural resources issues.

“Biodiversity is a major reason that we enjoy such a high quality of life in Washington. I believe that we won’t be able to preserve our biodiversity, or our quality of life, without simultaneously protecting our working forests and farms. We have a sophisticated and robust regulatory system in this state, which too often creates the impression that private landowners are part of the problem rather than part of the solution. If we are going to preserve biodiversity we need to build a complementary system of incentives for private landowners that recognizes the crucial role they play as stewards of the land.”

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Megan White
Director, Environmental Services Office, Washington Department of Transportation

Megan previously managed the Department of Ecology’s Water Quality Program for several years and held a number of other management positions at Ecology.  Megan has an M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Utah State University and a B.S. in Natural Resources from Humboldt State University.

“The Department of Transportation is committed to meeting Washington State citizens’ dual goals of improving the state’s transportation system while protecting and improving the environment.  I am pleased to be able to participate in Washington’s Biodiversity Council to support my agency’s efforts to protect biodiversity in our state.”

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