Meet the Staff

Lissa Adams, Grants & Finance Manager

Call me about: Small grants and cost share programs

Lissa came on staff as the Finance and Grants Manager in July 2008. She earned her B.S. in Accounting at the University of Denver in 1983, and went on to study computers and management at San Diego State University's M.S. Program in Information and Decision systems. Lissa has worked in the nonprofit sector since 1995 in a variety of program and financial capacities. She has served on the boards of a number of community organizations as well as volunteering her time to create a more equitable and sustainable society. When not working or volunteering at one of her many "amazing" organizations, she loves to hike, bicycle, putter in the garden, and reconnect with Mother Earth.

Chris Aldassy, Conservation Technician

Call me about: Weeds, restoration

Chris grew up exploring Oregon's wild places where he developed a love and sense of stewardship for the natural world. He received a degree in Environmental Science in 2000 and promptly went to the tropics to study in the one of the worlds hotspots of biologic diversity in the equatorial Amazon. Upon returning stateside he began guiding wilderness river trips. Soon local natural resource issues began to burden the areas he cherished. It was his motivation to create positive change in the world that led him to The Nature Conservancy and then ultimately to EMSWCD in 2007. His sense of adventure and knowledge of native plant communities and noxious weeds fit him perfectly in his role working on invasive species and streamside restoration projects.

Dave Bowman, Conservation Technician

Call me about: Mud and manure, weeds, fencing, erosion, crops and trees, equipment/machinery selection and operation

Dave provides practical how-to options for real-world solutions. His technical assistance in finding cost effective, labor efficient conservation choices can help you onto the winning side of the "do it right, do it once; do it wrong, do it twice" experience.

Dave was raised on a diversified Willamette Valley commercial farm which produced fruit, seed, xmas tree, livestock, and forage crops and has many years of experience in excavation, land clearing/logging, construction, and environmental restoration.

Francine Martin, Administrative Assistant

Call me about: General District information, facilities

Francine came to EMSWCD in 2011, having worked in various capacities in the public, private and non-profit sectors, most recently in the advertising and creative services industry. She is very pleased to be back in an environment where making a positive difference in our world is key. Francine has a BA in English and an MS in Health Education.

Jean Fike, Executive Director

Call me about: Partnership opportunities, personnel matters, District strategic plan and budget, legal or policy matters, interest in serving on our Board of Directors, Budget Advisory Group or on one of our committees

Jean has been with the District since 2005. She works closely with our Board of Directors to set, implement and monitor the strategic direction of the District's work. She is responsible for District operations including personnel, legal and policy matters, planning and the budget. Most recently she has led the financing, purchase, rezoning and renovation of the District's new headquarters at 5211 North Williams Avenue in Portland.

Prior to joining the District, Jean managed Pennsylvania's Natural Heritage Program and served as Section Chief for Ecological Services in the DCNR Bureau of Forestry. In that role she led bioreserve design on over 2.2 million acres of public land, oversaw the ginseng program, wildlife management on DCNR land and the state's native plant program. A plant ecologist by training, she is the author of Terrestrial and Palustrine Natural Communities of Pennsylvania, 1999.

Julie DiLeone, Conservation Technical Assistance Program Supervisor

Call me about: Scheduling a site visit, cost share, and any conservation questions you may have

Julie has been with the EMSWCD since 2001. Her work with the district includes providing agricultural landowners with information about conservation practices, with a focus on water quality. Julie has expertise in the use of native plants, erosion prevention, and weed control. Prior to joining the district she worked as a researcher with the USDA focusing on wine grapes, berries, hops, and nursery crops. Her work at Oregon State University focused on diagnostics, tree fruits, berries, and wheat. During college, she worked at a nursery, coordinating their integrated pest management program and assisting with propagation, plant maintenance, harvest, and sales.

Andru Grimm, Marketing & Media

Call me about: Advertising, Press Interviews

Andru (Johnson) came to us in 2006 after a many years in the professional services advertising and creative services worlds. Fed up and wanting to do something that really mattered, he closed his ad agency and came to work with us.

He is also the coauthor of Lawyers Guide to Effective Yellow Pages Advertising: The Complete Guide to Creating Winning Ads, Second Edition, 2005.

Aaron Guffey, Conservation Technician

Call me about: Weeds, mud and manure, pasture management, streamside areas, erosion

Aaron has been with the District since 2006. He offers site visits to rural landowners to address their conservation concerns and recommend solutions. Aaron obtained a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Iowa, after which he managed the construction of water systems in the Peace Corps. Prior to joining the District he worked on a small farm.

Katie Meckes, Outreach & Workshops

Call me about: Hosting or scheduling a workshop, workshop registration

Katie came to EMSWCD in September 2008. She coordinates and promotes the District's educational workshops and special events such as Welcome the Rain and the Annual Native Plant Sale. She is your go-to person if you are interested in hosting or participating in a workshop, or brainstorming new and creative ways to promote programs.

Katie's love for clean water began as a youngster when she spent every possible moment swimming in and exploring Minnesota's many lakes, shorelines, marshes & wetlands. For the past ten years she has enjoyed fostering her appreciation for nature by working to create a positive impact locally through natural area restoration work, environmental education program development, and ultimately through community outreach.

Lucas Nipp, Conservation Technician

Call me about: Weed control and streamside areas

Lucas has been with EMSWCD since 2007. He works on large-scale noxious weed control projects in rural East Multnomah County, primarily focusing on control of garlic mustard in the Columbia River Gorge and watershed-based knotweed control. He also leads field efforts to restore native vegetation along Beaver Creek as a part of our StreamCare program. Another exciting program Lucas is involved in includes working with partnering groups on developing an "Early Detection and Rapid Response" program to prevent new weeds from gaining a foothold in the region. Lucas received a degree in Environmental Science and Biology from the University of Oregon and prior to working for the district performed marine research on the Oregon coast.

Kathy Shearin, Sustainable Urban Landscapes Program Supervisor

Call me about: Naturescaping workshops, presentations on native plants, naturescaping, and invasive plants

Kathy has been with the EMSWCD since 2002. She is the program supervisor for the Sustainable Urban Landscapes Program, best known for their Naturescaping and Rain garden workshops. Kathy has degrees in Sociology and in Plant, Soil and Insect Ecology.

Prior to her position with the Soil and Water Conservation District here in Oregon, she worked with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA/NRCS) and the Soil and Water Conservation District for Pima county in Tucson, Arizona where she managed a water conservation program.

Candace Stoughton, Sustainable Urban Landscapes - Low Impact Development Specialist

Call me about: Rain garden workshops, pervious pavement, ecoroofs, and more

Candace has been with the EMSWCD since 2007. She works on urban conservation issues with a current focus on sustainable stormwater management. Candace has expertise in low impact development methods that protect streams and rivers from urban stormwater runoff.

Before joining the district, she worked as a watershed manager for The Nature Conservancy in Georgia and as a biologist with the Environmental Protection Agency.