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Washington Invasive Species Council
Member Profiles
This page last updated April 9, 2008
Click on a council member's name to see a brief biography.
| Name |
Organization |
| Kate Benkert |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
Ms. Benkert is deputy manager of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Office. She is an aquatic ecologist with more than 25 years of experience in federal and state government. She has been with the Fish and Wildlife Service in Washington since 1990, where she has managed programs in environmental contaminants, restoration, Northwest Forest Plan, and fisheries. Ms. Benkert received a bachelor of science degree in zoology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a master of science degree in zoology from the University of Florida.
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| Wendy Brown |
Department of Natural Resources |
Ms. Brown has been with the Department of Natural Resources for the past seven years, working on projects related to invasive species management and policy. Specific projects have included spartina control and monitoring in Willapa Bay, tunicate response in Hood Canal, and management of phragmites in eastern Washington. Before her work in state government, she worked in the private sector on environmental management projects for the U.S. Army. Ms. Brown received a bachelor of science degree in biology from Bucknell University, a master of science degree in restoration ecology from the University of Washington, and a master of environmental management in conservation biology from Duke University.
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| Vacant |
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
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| Barbara Chambers |
U.S. Department of Agriculture |
Ms. Chambers serves as the state plant health director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Plant Protection and Quarantine Department in Washington State. She has been with the Department of Agriculture for more than 25 years and has worked on agricultural, invasive species issues and in numerous ports of entry into the United States. She also manages a trade specialist position that covers 11 states, a plant inspection station that provides identification services to nine states, and a smuggling interdiction and trade compliance team that covers seven states. Ms. Chambers is a biologist by training and a graduate of the University of Texas.
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| Chris Christopher |
Department of Transportation |
Mr. Christopher is co-director of the Washington Department of Transportation’s maintenance and operations. During the past four years, he has been involved extensively in refining the transportation agency’s integrated vegetation management program. Mr. Christopher received a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Saint Martin’s College in 1992 and is a registered professional engineer in Washington.
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| Dana Coggon |
Kitsap County |
Ms. Coggon is the coordinator of the Kitsap County Noxious Weed Control Program. Previously, she served as the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board education specialist for three years. She received a master of science degree in weed science from Colorado State University.
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| Bob Koch |
Franklin County |
Mr. Koch has served as a Franklin County Commissioner for the past three years. He is involved with the Benton Franklin Board of Health, the Benton Franklin Community Action Committee, Benton Franklin Council of Governments, Ground Water Management, the Columbia Basin Development League, the Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Committee, the National Association of Counties, and the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. He is a member of the Benton Franklin Transit and the Greater Columbia Behavioral Heath/Regional Support Network boards. Mr. Koch has served as the Franklin County fire chief for the past 20 years and as the fire chief for the city of Cornell since 1990.
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| Gene Little, Vice-Chair |
WA Noxious Weed Control Board |
Mr. Little is a retired forest manager, representing the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board, where he has been a member for 14 years. He worked for the state Department of Natural Resources for 32 years, retiring in 1982 as deputy supervisor of the department. He also has served on the Thurston County Noxious Weed Control Board for 22 years, 14 as chairman. Mr. Little received a bachelor of science degree in forestry from the University of Washington.
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| Bridget Moran, Chair |
Department of Fish & Wildlife |
Ms. Moran is the environmental policy lead for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife where she works on timber, water, growth, climate, and agricultural policy issues. Previously she worked for public and private entities using her experience in applied environmental chemistry and toxicology. Ms. Moran then transitioned into environmental policy and management working on issues ranging from pesticides and endangered species to current issues regarding timber and growth. She has more than 15 years of experience ranging from research and applied environmental chemistry and toxicology to environmental policy and management. Ms. Moran received a bachelor of science degree in microbiology from the University of California, Davis, and a master of science degree in environmental toxicology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
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| Brid Nowlan |
Washington Invasive Species Coalition |
Ms. Nowlan is a biologist, writer, and educator with more than 20 years of experience in research, project management, and writing. She directed Audubon’s nationally recognized “Washington Wetlands Network” grassroots outreach and education program for eight years. She has represented Washington State’s environmental community on a number of statewide policy committees, including wetlands rating, wetlands mitigation banking, and transportation mitigation policy. She has written, edited, and designed technical reports and educational materials on diverse topics. Ms. Nowlan represents the environmental community’s perspective to the council, through the Washington Invasive Species Coalition. She received a master of science degree in wildlife studies from University College Dublin.
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| Niles Seifert |
Coast Guard Liasion to the Council |
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| Melodie Selby |
Department of Ecology |
Ms. Selby is a senior policy advisor for the Washington Department of Ecology. She has been with the department for 15 years and her responsibilities have ranged from environmental engineer in the Nuclear Waste Program to section manager responsible for point source permitting. Previously, she worked in a number of engineering consulting firms. Ms. Selby received a bachelor of science degree in engineering from Walla Walla College and a master of science degree in environmental engineering from Washington State University. She is a registered civil engineer in Washington and California.
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| Pat Stevenson |
Stillaguamish Tribe |
Mr. Stevenson serves as the Stillaguamish Tribe’s environmental manager where he oversees water quality and the forest fish wildlife programs. Mr. Stevenson co-chairs a local watershed salmon recovery committee. His previous experience includes working with the animal and plant health inspection service to eradicate gypsy moths in Bellingham and working on fish passage and habitat restoration development programs for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Mr. Stevenson received a bachelor of science degree from Huxley College and a master degree from Western Washington University.
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| Mary Toohey |
Department of Agriculture |
Ms. Toohey is the assistant director for plant protection for the Washington State Department of Agriculture. For the past 10 years, she has managed survey, exclusion, inspection, control, and eradication programs for insects such as gypsy moth and citrus longhorned beetle, plant diseases such as sudden oak death, and noxious weeds including Spartina, invasive knotweeds, and purple loosestrife, as well as pest snails. She serves as the department’s representative to the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. During her career with the department, her responsibilities have included pesticide; feed and fertilizer regulation; laboratory management, inspection and certification of grain, hops, nursery stock, and other commodities; weights and measures; and biofuels regulation. Previously, she worked as a zookeeper. Ms. Toohey received a master of science degree in weed science from Purdue University and a bachelor of science degree in botany from the University of Massachusetts.
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| Thanks to Joan Cabreza for her contributions as a council member.
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