ESC STAFF
ESC maintains a corps of highly qualified part-time naturalists and teachers in addition to an administrative staff. Our current administrative staff includes:
Caroline Bobanick, Executive Director, has more than 15 years of experience in administration, marketing and non-profit development. Her previous work experience includes leading development for Gage Academy of Art and special events for Pilchuck Glass School. She has worked with a number of prominent Seattle artists including Preston Singletary, Sonja Blomdahl and Dale Chihuly. Bobanick served as a trustee for the Burien Arts Association and as an Arts Commissioner for the City of Burien where she wrote grants and worked with various constituent groups to make arts education accessible to children. She holds a master’s degree in Art History and a professional certificate in Marketing Management from the University of Washington. Her passion is spending time in nature and helping kids explore the natural world through art making.
Jennifer Dumlao, Outreach Manager, received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Washington. She has worked with the ESC as a naturalist since 2008 and continues to enjoy working with students in the classroom and outside. In the office, she coordinates outreach programs such as ESC after-school programs and family programs. Additionally, she writes grants, handles communications, and coordinates events such as the Moonlight Beach Walks. Jennifer volunteers in the Tewksbury lab at the University of Washington and studies the evolution of chili peppers as well as the role of Natural History. Also at the UW, Jennifer leads Biology 180 students on field trips at Deception Pass to teach them about biodiversity. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking anywhere in the wonderful Pacific Northwest!
Joanna Stodden, Education Coordinator, a Pacific Northwest native, Joanna loves nothing more than sharing her love of nature with others. She graduated from The Evergreen State College in 2007 with a B.S. in Field Biology and Environmental Sciences. Shortly after, she conducted amphibian and salmon stream surveys in Washington, Oregon, and Southeast Alaska. She eventually found herself a bit lonely in the field amongst the grizzly bears and missed sharing the remarkable biodiversity of the Northwest with others. Joanna has taught environmental education for many years at the Pacific Sciene Center’s Mercer Slough Campus and the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies out of Homer, Alaska. Joanna is thrilled to have found her current home at the Environmental Science Center as she loves working with the diverse populations we serve. You will most likely find Joanna following an ant back to her colony or squawking with the herons.
Nicole Killebrew, Naturalist Trainer, has a B.S. in Marine Biology and an M.S. in Environmental Education and Ecological Literacy. She has been with ESC since 2004. Nicole is also an Interpretation Supervisor, Staff Diver, and Beach Naturalist Captain at the Seattle Aquarium. She trains staff and teaches ESC classroom and field programs. She assists with the development and facilitation of after school science programs with New Futures and the Para Los Niños community group in Burien as well. Her greatest passion is sharing the wonders of the natural environment with others. Nicole is also a member of the ESC Program Committee.
ESC Program Committee
Jean Spohn, Chair, Program Committee, was a Montessori kindergarten teacher and later a Systems Analyst and Senior Project manager at Group Health Cooperative. She currently serves as a Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist, WSU Land-Water Steward, Burien Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member, Shorewood on the Sound Community Club director and Adopt-a-Park steward. In 2007, Jean was voted City of Burien 2007 Environmental Leader of the Year.
Barbara Bruell is an environmental educator for Olympic Park Institute, Passages Northwest, and Washington Trout as well as for the Environmental Science Center. She brings strong leadership and organizational skills to the organization. She is also a Land and Water Steward, and a beach naturalist with the Seattle Aquarium and has served on the Board of Directors of Earth Corps. Barb develops curricula and teaches the ESC’s classes in the classroom and in the field.
Joy Neubauer is a retired teacher with a degree in Natural Science. She taught ecosystems in the classroom for many years, and regularly took her students to the beach to study animals and habitat. She is a trained Beach Naturalist, a Cedar River Naturalist and a King County Salmon Watcher. She is a gifted naturalist and develops curricula and teaches the ESC’s classes in the classroom and in the field.
Barb Williams has a Ph.D. in Biostatistics, is a trained Beach Naturalist, Cedar River Naturalist, volunteer for People for Puget Sound and the Seattle Aquarium, and a Certified Interpretive Guide. She regularly teaches ESC programs in the classroom and in the field. An ESC board member, Barb continues to deepen her knowledge about the local environment and volunteers in an ESC staff teaching capacity.
Nicole Killebrew (see ESC staff)
ESC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ron Kreizenbeck, President — Retired from the US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington). Deputy Regional Administrator until January 2008. January 2008-December 2008 served as Senior Advisor to the Puget Sound Partnership and assisted in the development of the Action Agenda and in the organizational development of that new state agency. BS Biological Sciences, University of Alaska, MPA University of Washington
Chris Jansen, Vice-President — over 25 years experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) management and cartography. He holds a B.S. degree in geography from Western Michigan University and is on the Green River Community College GIS program Advisory Committee. His experience includes printed maps for local organizations, environmental sampling work of Super Fund sites, and internet map application development. Currently he is back in environmental engineering with Tetra Tech EC, Inc. after 10 years at King County as part of the management team at the GIS Center.
Jacqueline Drumheller – Jacqueline holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager with over 20 years of experience in the environmental industry. As an Environmental Project Manager at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air for the past 13 years, she has been responsible for environmental and safety training; the corporate storm water, storage tank, drinking water, site remediation, and audit programs; and designing systems to manage environmental data. In 2008 she helped found Alaska Airlines’ corporate sustainability program.
Kerry Lohr — Masters in Public Administration, former math and science teacher, assistant principal and principal, currently an Associate Broker for Prudential Northwest Realty Associates, specializing in sustainability and environmental conservation and stewardship, AAUW, Discover Burien.
Michael Lufkin— Michael is a Senior Environmental Strategy Manager at the Port of Seattle where he focuses on integrating environmental thinking and sustainability strategies across the entire organization. Prior to joining the Port, Michael practiced law for more than ten years focusing on environmental and natural resource litigation and climate change issues. During the course of his career, Michael has represented both public and private clients in matters involving project permitting, hazardous waste cleanup, development of environmental impact statements, energy facility siting, and carbon management. Michael writes and speaks frequently on the issue of climate change and carbon emissions.
Julie M. Miller — Mammal Biologist and Trainer at the Seattle Aquarium, Beach Naturalist Captain 2003 – 2005, Interpretive Supervisor and Teacher at Seattle Aquarium 2003 – 2005, Certified Interpretive Guide.
Nancy Riedel, Secretary — Serving 31 years in numerous roles in the Kent School District, has taught grades K through 12. She has a BA and a MA in teaching. 2004 King County Earth Hero at School.
Jean Spohn, Chair, Program Committee — kindergarten teacher; Spring Valley Montessori School 1968-1983, Systems Analyst and Senior Project manager, Group Health Cooperative-1983-2004 (retired), Volunteer Seattle Aquarium Beach naturalist 2004-present, WSU Land-Water Steward 2006-present, Burien Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member 2005 to present, Shorewood on the Sound Community Club director 1993-present, Adopt-a-Park steward 2007-present, City of Burien 2007 Environmental Leader of the Year.
Brenda Sullivan — Brenda studied at London University (B.S. in Physics) and the University of Southampton (M.S. in Acoustics). After graduate studies at the University of Southampton, she came to the United States to work in community noise and psychoacoustics research at MAN-Acoutics and Noise in Seattle. After a period as a software engineer at the University of Washington and Bruce Franklin, Inc, she moved to Virginia, where she worked as a research engineer in psychoacoustics at NASA for 25 years. On retiring from NASA, she returned to the Pacific Northwest, where she enjoys the environment and the weather. She has a lifelong interest in music and has played clarinet in many groups, large and small, and currently performs with the Orchestra of Flight and the West Seattle Community Orchestras.
Loren Tomlinson — President, Gates and Controls Inc., former President, Burien Arts Association, Chair, Burien Strawberry Festival.
Barb Williams Ph.D. — Retired Vice President of Operations, Digital Microwave Corp., Volunteer Beach Naturalist 2000-present, Seattle Aquarium 2000-present, Certified Interpretive Guide, Burien Planning Commission 2003-2006, WSU Land-Water Steward 2003-present, Cedar River Naturalist 2003-present. City of Burien 2003 Educational Leader of the Year.
Ron Kreizenbeck, President and Treasurer — Ron is retired from the US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington), where he served as Deputy Regional Administrator until January 2008. During 2008, he served as Senior Advisor to the Puget Sound Partnership and assisted in the development of the Puget Sound Action Agenda and in the organizational development of that new state agency. He holds a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Alaska and a M.P.A. degree from the University of Washington.
Chris Jansen, Vice President – Chris has over 25 years experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) management and cartography. He holds a B.S. degree in geography from Western Michigan University and is on the Green River Community College GIS program Advisory Committee. His experience includes printed maps for local organizations, environmental sampling work of Super Fund sites, and internet map application development. After ten years at King County as part of the management team at the GIS Center, he currently works as an environmental engineer.
Nancy Riedel, Secretary – Nancy holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in teaching and has served for more than 30 years in numerous roles within the Kent School District including teaching grades K-12. In 2004, she was distinguished as a King County Earth Hero.
Jacqueline Drumheller – Jacqueline holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager with over 20 years of experience in the environmental industry. As an Environmental Project Manager at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air for the past 13 years, she has been responsible for environmental and safety training; the corporate storm water, storage tank, drinking water, site remediation, and audit programs; and designing systems to manage environmental data. In 2008 she helped found Alaska Airlines’ corporate sustainability program.
Michael Lufkin – Michael is a Senior Environmental Strategy Manager at the Port of Seattle where he focuses on integrating environmental thinking and sustainability strategies across the entire organization. Prior to joining the Port, Michael practiced law for more than ten years focusing on environmental and natural resource litigation and climate change issues. During the course of his career, Michael has represented both public and private clients in matters involving project permitting, hazardous waste cleanup, development of environmental impact statements, energy facility siting, and carbon management. Michael writes and speaks frequently on the issue of climate change and carbon emissions.
Jean Spohn, Chair – Jean is a retired kindergarten teacher and Systems Analyst / Senior Project Manager for Group Health Cooperative. She serves as a volunteer Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist, a WSU Land-Water Steward, Adopt-a-Park Steward, Shorewood on the Sound Community Club director and is a Burien Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member. In 2007, she was voted Environmental Leader of the Year by the City of Burien.
Brenda Sullivan, Seahurst Park Steward – Brenda studied at London University (B.S. in Physics) and the University of Southampton (M.S. in Acoustics). After graduate studies at the University of Southampton, she came to the United States to work in community noise and psychoacoustics research at MAN-Acoutics and Noise in Seattle. After a period as a software engineer at the University of Washington and Bruce Franklin, Inc, she moved to Virginia, where she worked as a research engineer in psychoacoustics at NASA for 25 years. On retiring from NASA, she returned to the Pacific Northwest, where she enjoys the environment and the weather. She has a lifelong interest in music and has played clarinet in many groups, large and small, and currently performs with the Orchestra of Flight and the West Seattle Community Orchestras.
Loren Tomlinson – Loren is President of Gates and Controls, Inc. He has also served as president of the Burien Arts Association and chair of the Burien Strawberry Festival.
Kristyn Clayton – Kristyn works for Green House Effects, a company that offers practical sustainability consulting to businesses and individuals. Additionally, she chairs the Washington State Building Code Council’s Energy Technical Advisory Group and represents the state at International Energy Conservation Code Hearings. Previous career experience includes commercial construction management, energy conservation advocacy and regulation, risk mitigation for the NASA space program, owner’s representative, and testing and overhaul for the United States Navy submarine fleet.