Education: B.S. Environmental Science, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1998.
Present Position: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Oregon Fish & Wildlife Office, Portland.
Former Positions: Wildlife Biologist, Montana Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Dillon, MT (2005 – 2011); Project Manager,Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Missoula, MT (2002‐2005); Biological Science Technician, Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Great Falls, MT (1999 – 2002).
TWS Involvement: Current member of OR TWS; member of the TWS renewable energy workgroup; past presenter at OR and national TWS.
Interests: Currently, the primary focus of my work is the development and implementation of conservation for the Greater sage‐grouse, which the USFWS designated as warranted for protection under the Endangered Species Act in 2010. I also focus on the cooperative development of Avian and Bat Protection Plans and Eagle Conservation Plans in partnership with energy project developers, primarily wind farms. I am part of a USFWS team that is processing
the first programmatic golden eagle take permits for wind projects in the country. In addition to wind energy, the team works on geothermal, ocean energy and transmission projects, and influencing and developing national policy. I also serve on the team of instructors for the national wind energy guidelines training and webinar series.
A relatively recent transplant to the Pacific Northwest, I spent the first 10 years of my career working on native fish restoration on private land throughout western Montana, where I also worked on a variety of other native species and generally avoided questions about wolves. I enjoy a wide range of outdoors activities, from running marathons and off‐road triathlons to bird hunting and fly fishing. I especially enjoy exploring Oregon’s diverse habitats with my three young kids, hoping to instill a sense of appreciation and stewardship for wildlife and their habitats at an early age.