ALASKA WATERSHED COALITION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Communications Coordinator
Job Titles:
- WRANGELL PROJECT COORDINATOR
- Wrangell Projects Coordinator
Angie grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and first came to Southeast Alaska in 2008. After traveling the lower 48 and failing to find a place that compares in beauty and character to Southeast, she returned to Wrangell in 2010 and has been there since. Over the years she has worked various field jobs with the US Forest Service and conservation corps, as well as a local wilderness behavioral health program. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies and Communications from Western Michigan University and is working to promote community-based watershed management and sustainable community development throughout Southeast Alaska. Angie began working with SAWC in 2012 and loves the opportunity her position offers her to connect and work with the variety of vibrant communities that make up Southeast Alaska.
Ben moved to southeast Alaska in 1981 for the amazing skiing and paddling opportunities. He started working for Alaska Department of Fish & Game in 1984
Chris was born in the Flushing Creek watershed (Forest Hills, New York), raised in the Rahway River watershed (Cranford, New Jersey) and has lived in the Gastineau Channel watershed (Juneau, Alaska) since 1991. He studied two years of forestry at Paul Smith's College in the Adirondacks (1979-1981), earned a B.S. in Natural Resources Management at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (1981-1985) and received a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage (1986-1987). He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer at Sapo National Park near Juarzon, Liberia (1987-1989). Chris worked for the Environmental Protection Agency from 1990 to 2018, and performed a variety of jobs including: managing multi-million dollar grant programs for water pollution control; writing safe drinking water regulations; protecting water quality and fish habitat throughout the Tongass National Forest; promoting tools for watershed science and watershed management; preserving aquatic resources and wetlands in Southeast Alaska; and regulating ocean dumping. He joined the SAWC board of directors in 2019.
Job Titles:
- Scientist
- WATERSHED SCIENTIST
Kelsey joined the SAWC team as the Watershed Scientist in 2022. She is originally from Colorado and has a graduate degree in Water and Environmental Science from University of Alaska. Since Kelsey's first Alaskan field season in Petersburg in 2016, she has been drawn to the forests, waterways, and communities of Southeast Alaska. Prior to joining SAWC, Kelsey worked for Alaska Department of Fish and Game, US Geological Survey, and the Forest Service conducting stream and habitat assessments and gaging streamflow. She is excited to work with communities to steward healthy, productive watersheds. When not working Kelsey can be found enjoying water in all its forms: skiing, packrafting, and kayaking.
Kenneth is Tlingit Chaak (Eagle), Teikweidi (Brown Bear), Xoots Hit (Bear House), Daakoosti (Personal Name), from Xuna Kaawu (The City of Hoonah). After 11 years of service active-duty Navy Kenneth was accepted into the University of Alaska, Fairbanks Geology Program (studying @UAS). Today he is a Natural Resource Specialist for the Native Lands and Resources department at The Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. While at Tlingit & Haida, Kenneth composed the Southeast Alaska Tlingit & Haida Climate Change Adaptation Plan and template for other tribes in the region. The flexibility and robust nature of the template has fostered international interest in its use. For over 4 years Kenneth has also been part of the "boots on the ground" team conducting Transbounday River Watershed Baseline Water Quality Studies on the Stikine, Taku, Chilkat, and Alsek Rivers. Building knowledge partnerships, creating community relationships, and keeping a happy 10-year-old daughter happy are his day-to-day duties.
Steve lives in the community of Hollis on Prince of Wales Island. With an education in Fisheries Biology from the University of Washington, Steve worked for nearly 20 years as a fisheries biologist. Most of his career has been spent in Southeast Alaska working for ADF&G and the Forest Service. Steve brings his experience and understanding of the life histories of the native salmonid fishes found in Southeast Alaska, including their freshwater habitat requirements and factors limiting their production, to council SAWC's program and project development.