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(*AC)=AmeriCorps Members
(Scroll down page for staff photos and bios)
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Events Calendar | Become an AmeriCorps
Member | Volunteer
with PCEI
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Thomas C. Lamar, Executive Director
PCEI's Executive Director since 1990. His twenty-eight years of
experience in the public interest sector has helped PCEI increase
citizen involvement in environmental issues. Tom has also taught
Conservation Leadership at the University of Idaho, Conservation Social
Sciences Department for the past six years. In 2007 he was elected to
the Moscow City
Council. Tom holds an MS degree in Environmental Science from
Washington State University (1985). He received his Bachelor of Arts
degree in Biology and Anthropology at the University of Delaware in
1982. While at Delaware and WSU, Tom studied the medicinal use of
Plants by the Shipibo Indians of
the Peruvian rainforest. Tom's work background includes Central American
peace organizing in the 1980's. He also worked with the Northwest Coalition for
Alternatives to Pesticides for two years as an advocate for
pesticide exposure victims. Tom enjoys swimming, running, bicycling,
triathlons, and gardening.
lamar@pcei.org
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Laurie Gardes, Financial Manager
Originally from San Diego, Laurie has been a Moscow resident since 1990.
She holds an MBA from California State University, Sacramento. Her BA
is from Occidental College in Los Angeles, with an emphasis in
economics. She volunteers with numerous community organizations and
enjoys running and gardening. Laurie and Henry Gardes (see staff
picture below) have commuted on foot to PCEI since 1997. Actually,
Henry's only been on staff since 2002, but before that Winston Gardes
was the PCEI guard dog. Nearly in the empty-nest phase of parenting,
Laurie and husband Kevin are spending as much time as possible lately
in Sonora, Mexico building their retirement house near the beautiful
Sea of Cortez.
gardes@pcei.org
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Sandi Billings, Grants Coordinator
Sandi Billings has been a non-profit fund developer and manager for more
than 14 years. Other than that, she’s never concentrated on one area for
too long—there’s too much more to do. She’s part space cadet, with a
masters’ degree in planetary science and undergraduate in space
science; part river rat, having worked as a guide on the Salmon River;
and part earth mother, with a love for animals, seasons, and places
with few humans per acre. From KRFP Moscow, Sandi produces and hosts
Yin Radio, a syndicated community talk show featuring women’s voices,
stories, and concerns. She lives in Moscow with her partner of 14
years—Albert the dawg—in a household of three women, four cats, and
three dogs.
E-mail Sandi
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Aly Lamar, Membership Coordinator
Aly is a proud Colorado native. Studying in Durango, Colorado (where
Aly received her BA in Political Science) increased her passion for the
outdoors, leading her to work in wilderness areas throughout the
Northwest, Southwest and Alaska. She has served as a Youth Corps Leader for 3
years, guiding outdoor work projects in trail construction and
watershed and habitat restoration. Aly is an accomplished backpacking
and mountain biking instructor having treked extensively on the Colorado Trail
and in Copper
Canyon, Mexico. Aly is also the founder our Women's Mountain Biking
Clinic.
Aly has served as an Environmental Educator at PCEI for 2 years, our
first Volunteer Coordinator for a year and now as our first Membership
Coordinator. Aly Lamar spends her free time triathloning and running,
mountain biking, swimming , playing hockey, teleing, and
snowshoeing. She is an active member of the Moscow community, serving
on the boards of the League of Women Voters of Idaho, the
League of
Women Voters of Moscow, and the Latah County Historical
Society. Aly is a proud member of the Moscow Food Co-op, the Moscow Giving
Circle, Friends of the Clearwater (FOC)
, Moscow Civic Association
(MCA),
Radio Free Moscow (KRFP) and the Moscow Area Mountain Biking
Association (MAMBA).
Email Aly aly@pcei.org.
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Courtney Rush 'Crush', Volunteer Coordinator
Courtney Rush is a passionate outdoorswoman whose faith and love for the
outdoors have propelled her forward in a career action-packed with rock, river, and trail guiding,
maintaining orphanage sites in the Bahamas, performing puppet shows in
Ireland, studying the religion of the Mayans in Belize, and tree
climbing for rainforest tree seeds in Costa Rica. Crush is thrilled to
be living in Idaho with her incredible hubby, Jonathan. He is studying
to be a Civil Engineer at the U of Idaho as she continues to be a part
of the PCEI family coordinating the Amazing Volunteers that
come her way! She hopes her degree in Natural Resource Ecology
Conservation Biology and her experience in Tropical Agriculture will
help her achieve the goals of PCEI in the community.
crush@pcei.org
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Jen Hiebert, Office Manager
Jen was born and raised in northern Manitoba, Canada, where she
developed a love for the outdoors and a passion for environmental
issues. A convoluted career path has led her to her current position
at PCEI. She has been a field assistant working with everything from
fish eggs to seal pups, has taught self-defense for women, and most
recently was Front End Manager at a natural foods co-op in southern
Illinois. She also has a B.Sc. in Ecology and a Master’s in Watershed
Ecosystems. She has enjoyed living in many places (including France
and New Zealand) but thinks Moscow just might be the perfect picnic
spot. Jen loves cold weather, photography, music, spending time with
her husband and family, and spoiling her dog, AJ.
E-mail Jen
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Erin Rishling, AmeriCorps Placement Director
After graduating high school in McLean, Virginia, Erin moved back out
west to attend the University of Idaho. She graduated in 2000 with a
degree in English Literature and her secondary teaching certificate.
For the past four years, she has been teaching Language Arts at
Kendrick High School. Erin is now extremely excited to be part of the
PCEI team working as an Outreach Program Assistant. The opportunity to
travel throughout Idaho, visiting our AmeriCorps members and seeing
firsthand their contributions, dedication, and hard work in our Idaho
communities is one she greatly appreciates.
In her free time, Erin loves traveling the world, reading good books,
attempting to write a publishable children’s book, hot springing, and
being with friends and family.
Email Erin
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Colleen McColl, AmeriCorps Placement Coordinator
Colleen grew up in Southern California where she learned the value of
water at an early age. Water resource quality and quantity continue to
be major points of interest for her. She has received a Master’s in
Soil, Water, and Environmental Science from the University of Arizona
and a Bachelor’s in Natural Resources and Environmental Management from
Ball State University. In her free time, Colleen enjoys spending time
outdoors, dancing, and singing karaoke in the comfort of her own
home.
Email Colleen
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Rachael Goetzelman, AmeriCorps Placement Coordinator
Originally from Chicago, Rachael’s love for wildlife, beautiful
landscapes, and environmental education brought her to Idaho in the
summer of 2005 for a seasonal internship at the Wolf Education and
Research Center. She loved the area and people so much she hasn’t left
and now calls Idaho home. A graduate of the University of Dayton, Ohio,
with a B.S. in Environmental Biology and Environmental Geology, Rachael
shared her passion for science and the environment with students
throughout Idaho while participating as an AmeriCorps member in the
Mobile Environmental Education Corps in 2005-2006. Rachael is now
excited about the opportunity to support and visit AmeriCorps members
while they serve communities throughout Idaho. When not at work,
Rachael can most often be found outside, playing with her pup, and
enjoying a good laugh with good company.
Email Rachael
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Tracy Brown, Watersheds Program Director
Tracy joined PCEI's Watershed Program in August of 2004. Tracy completed
her Masters in Natural Resources (MNR) at the University of Idaho. At
UI, Tracy focused her energies and coursework on understanding the
ecological, social, political and economic issues surrounding natural
resource management. Her final master's project reflects her interest
in freshwater management and restoration and involved the development
of a monitoring plan for PCEI restoration sites.
Prior to living in Moscow, Tracy and her husband, Alan, were enjoying
the mountains of Colorado where she completed her undergraduate degree
in Environmental, Population and Organismic Biology at the University
of Colorado at Boulder. This degree and her love for wildlife led to
numerous jobs in the wildlife research field. One of her most exciting
experiences was working with The Peregrine Fund releasing Harpy eagles
into the rainforest of Panama. In May of 2007, Tracy and Alan welcomed
their first baby boy into the world. Kobe Finch Stubbs Brown is an
amazing new addition to the Brown Family. They hope to include him on
all (or most) of their outdoor adventures!
tracy@pcei.org
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Sara Robson Cucksey, Watersheds Project Manager
Sara is no stranger to PCEI, she worked with PCEI as a watershed
restoration technician during the 2003 field seasons. A recent
graduate of the University of Idaho with an M.S. in Rangeland Ecology
and Managment with an emphasis in restoration ecology, Robson re-joined
the PCEI watershed team in April 2006. Robson has a diversity of
experience including serving in the Peace Corps in Nepal from 2000-2002
and working with the Whitman County Noxious Weed Control Board
Assistant Coordinator from 1999-2000. At home in Moscow, Robson’s
allies include Ellis,and Jaeger, Henna, and G.G. (one husband, two
dogs and a cat). Like any good ecological restoration specialist, Sara
enjoys growing and planting native plants, and getting really dirty.
In her spare time she enjoys reading, learning new plants and birds,
knitting, and baking.
sara@pcei.org
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Ali Jo Hart, Watershed Restoration Technician (AmeriCorps Member)
Ali Jo grew up in a “domestic zoo”. Her family has cared for multitudes
of creatures including dogs, cats, bunnies, birds, hamsters, rats,
gerbils, fish, frogs, turtles, snakes, snails and even spiders.
Consequently, she has always been passionate about animals and felt a
deep connection with nature. Ali Jo's favorite childhood memories
include roasting marshmallows over camp fires, riding bikes with her
brothers and sister, catching toads, playing in mud holes, and hiking
through her hometown desert landscape. She has lived her whole life in
Washington and recently graduated from WSU with a B.S. in Natural
Resource Sciences (concentration in Wildlife Ecology) and a Minor in
Biology. While Alijo was an undergrad at WSU she spent her summers
working at the Oregon Zoo rearing endangered butterflies, raising mule
deer near the WSU campus and researching tiger salamander behavior in
conjunction with the School of Biological Sciences. In her spare time
Ali Jo enjoys camping, cooking and spending time with her family and
friends!
Email Ali Jo |
Greg Fizzell, Education Program Director
Greg earned a MS in Forest Resources from the University of Idaho, a BS
in Forestry from the University of Illinois, and has been working in
the field of environment and education for fourteen years. In 2001, he
co-founded the University of Idaho McCall
Outdoor Science School (MOSS) along with Dr. Steve Hollenhorst.
Greg now manages PCEI
environmental education efforts and is Program Director for MOSS.
In addition to environmental education, Greg's interests include dogs,
guitars, college football, and being outdoors with friends and family.
email Greg!
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Jenica Wood-Beauchamp, Education Program Manager
Jenica’s roots lie in upstate New York, where she grew up playing
outside and spending long hours exploring her family’s garden, pond,
and stream. After earning her B.S. in Natural Resources Planning and
Interpretation at Humboldt State University, Jenica taught at several
non-formal education settings: two residential outdoor schools,
Yellowstone National Park, Mount St. Helens, the Santa Barbara Zoo, and
the Pacific Science Center. In 2005 Jenica returned to school for her
M.Ed. in Environmental Education through Western Washington University.
This program included a year-long professional residency at the North
Cascades Institute’s Environmental Learning Center in which she lived,
worked, learned, and played within sight of glaciers. Jenica joined
the PCEI community in August 2007, and has thoroughly enjoyed getting
to know the local people and places. When she’s not working in the
office, you might catch her hiking, plunking away on her guitar,
knitting Christmas presents, or practicing her cake decorating skills
through Jenica's
Caketastic Creations.
email Jenica!
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Caroline Pechuzal, Environmental Educator (AmeriCorps Member)
Caroline is a child of the sun, born and raised in the Sonoran desert of
southern Arizona. After high school she escaped from Phoenix gridlock
and headed south to Tucson, where she completed a Bachelor of Science
degree in Biology at the University of Arizona. Amidst her studious
moments in Tucson, Caroline made sure to take time to explore her many
interests and passions, such as rock climbing, studying Spanish in
Ecuador, doing yoga, playing ultimate Frisbee, working with kids,
crocheting, and always trying to improve her guitar skills. Her year
and a half of working in conservation after graduating led her to many
exciting places. She has led trail crews for the Student Conservation
Association in Alaska, the Olympic Peninsula, Lake Michigan, and the
Appalachian Mountains, as well as leading for the Southwest
Conservation Corps in southern Arizona. While trail life was rewarding
and exciting, Caroline is happy set down her pack in Moscow and welcomes
the chance to become an active member of Moscow’s lovely community,
teaching environmental education through PCEI. |
Jacob Dolence, Environmental Educator
(AmeriCorps Member)
Jacob Dolence hails from Laramie, Wyoming. Most of his life has been
spent playing in the outdoors. His passion for outdoor recreation has
driven him to devote much time to the preservation of wild areas. Jacob
attended University of Idaho earning a B.S. in Conservation Social
Sciences and completed a graduate residency at the McCall Outdoor
Science School in Environmental Education. Jacob believes that
education will play a humungous role in solving the world’s problems.
His past few jobs include being a field instructor at MOSS, a rock
climbing guide, a conservation intern at a nonprofit, and an
interpreter at a state park. Jacobs’s current goals include trying to
save the world, being a positive influence on children, and getting out
rock climbing as much as possible. Other interests are sustainable
living/design, mountain biking, and eating cookies.
Email Jacob |
Laura Milewski, Community Outreach Specialist (AmeriCorps Member)
Laura has come a long way from the beautiful and lively city of Chicago
to join the PCEI team as the Community Outreach Specialist! It was as
an undergrad at Lawrence University in northern Wisconsin that she
fully developed her passion for environmental work and saving the
entire planet! Durring her last year at LU, she worked in the
Volunteer & Community Service Center as a coordinator of environmental
and social justice programs. This experience, along with her work as a
quasi-environmental educator through Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots
program, fueled her passions and Laura now strongly believes that she
really can begin to change the world. Overall, Laura enjoys rocking
out on her flute, making small talk with her little brother and sister,
playing with her beautiful new dog Mya, spending time with her wonderful
fiancé, and stargazing. Most of all, she hopes to someday do service
work in Africa.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~ Gandhi
E-mail Laura
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Karla Bradley, MOSS Director of Education
Karla teaches CSS565 - Instructional
Methods for Environmental Educators. She is a Doctoral student in
Conservation Social Science in the College of Natural Resources at the
University of Idaho. She has been working with the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS) program
since 2002. Karla has worked as a crew leader for the Student
Conservation Association, a field instructor at Teton Science School in
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, and led conservation service
projects with the OutDoor School Alternative High School, part of
Northwest Youth Corps. She loves playing music, biking and skiing.
Email Karla
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Adrienne Boland - MOSS Program Coordinator
Adrienne is a Moscow, Idaho native that started out as an art major and
turned to science. After a tour of many colleges in the west she came
back to Moscow to finish her degree. She came to McCall to participate
in the Graduate Residency in Environmental Education program at MOSS.
She has completed two AmeriCorps positions through Friends of the
Clearwater and PCEI, both of Moscow, Idaho. The last two summers have
been spent monitoring Coeur d’Alene Salamanders in the Clearwater
National Forest. She has a passion for learning and research and
passes this along to all that she meets. Adrienne enjoys hiking,
biking, rock climbing, mountaineering, snowboarding, skiing, knitting
and art. One day she would like to guide women’s adventures. She
hopes to continue her schooling and study salamanders or alpine
ecology. Email Adrienne
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Mama Cat, Director of Purring
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Henry Gardes, Director of Chewing
Henry has his work cut out for him at PCEI, he chews. Currently he is
working on a large chunk of rawhide expected to last for about a week
or two. |
Jaeger Robson, Director of Fetching
Jager chases sticks. Life is good. |
Ukaya Fizzell, Director of Listening
He's all ears and waiting for instructions. |
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