People

Corey Weathers - Executive Transition Director

Corey Weathers comes to Friends of the Cedar River Watershed as Interim Executive Director after spending the last year volunteering on the development and outreach efforts of the Watershed Report. With deep roots in the Puget Sound region, Corey comes from four generations of community leadership and stewards of our natural environment and local waterways. With more than 10 years of operations management and business leadership experience combined with a Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies and a Master’s in Science Education, Corey's passion for sustainability drives his desire to be part of an organization that truly makes a difference in the local community.

Cheryl Angle - Development Officer

Cheryl has an eclectic and meandering professional life in communications and development, following completion of her B.A. from the University of Washington studying behavior change theory and program applications in health education. She serves as the Development Officer for The Friends and loves sharing her passion to protect our watershed oasis with others. A lifelong nature and outdoor activities enthusiast, her favorite life memory is a 3 month New Zealand bicycle camping trip. She aspires to return to Bali to study their ancient and still functional water irrigation system and drink copi susu. Cheryl currently enjoys studying the Bliss of the Eternal Now in her rural garden.

Charlotte Spang - Program Manager, Cedar River Salmon Journey

Nisa Karimi - Program Manager, Volunteer Habitat Restoration

Nisa joined The Friends with a passion to inspire people to appreciate the natural world, and help bridge the gap between daily choices and ecosystem health. She brings a diverse background in ecological research, restoration, and community organizing.  Internationally, she has assisted in efforts for cloud forest preservation in Ecuador and developed ecological research and sustainable agro-forestry systems for municipalities in Peru.  As a native plant enthusiast, she spends her free time enjoying  Pacific Northwest flora, and wild foraging for edible and medicinal plants.

Rebecca Sayre - Outreach Manager

Rebecca joined The Friends in May of 2009 to help bring more people on board the effort to make our home watershed a healthier place for all.  She coordinates overall outreach for the Friends and the launch of our newest program, Stewardship In Action.  Rebecca has nearly 15 year experience as a community organizer and advocate.  Rebecca grew up in the northern most edge of the watershed in Woodinville, and has since lived and worked in Skagit County, South Dakota, and Washington D.C.  A firm believer that individuals have the ability to accomplish great things when we work together, Rebecca looks at the Cedar River Watershed as a microcosm of our corner of the world--home to 22% of Washington's population and some of the most diverse neighborhoods in the country,  she thinks this is a great place to develop systems that help citizens care for our resources.   In her free time, Rebecca likes a good book, music of all kinds, cooking, entertaining, hiking, and skiing with her friends and family.

Esther Gregory - Administrative Assistant

Esther joined The Friends in February 2010 after having volunteered with them for several months. She received her B.S. in Conservation and Environmental Biology from the University of Washington. It was also through UW that she first worked in the Municipal Cedar River Watershed as an Assistant Researcher. For The Friends, Esther assists with many of the projects and events that go on. Over time she has become the resident tech guru, and had a large role in the launch of the new website. Esther tries to bring an environmental touch into everything she does, including her hobbies where she re-purposes thrift and vintage items. Despite living in an apartment, Esther has begun growing vegetables on her balcony.

Peter Donaldson - Program Manager, Watershed Report

Peter Donaldson is a consummate storyteller and master teacher with over 29 years experience in education and strategic community facilitation. Peter is the Executive Producer and Leadership Coach for the Watershed Report, a project of the Friends of the Cedar River Watershed in which well informed high school students analyze and broadcast local sustainability trends within a watershed template. In 2010 Peter was recognized as the Non-Formal Environmental Educator of the Year by the Environmental Education Association of Washington. In 2008 he was appointed Distinguished Scholar to the Dan Evans Chair for the Liberal Arts at The Evergreen State College. Peter is currently serving as Adjunct Faculty at Antioch University supporting teachers in integrating the new Washington State Standards for Environmental and Sustainability Education. Peter has authored 17 plays for young audiences and was recognized in 1996 as National Youth Theater Director of the Year by the American Alliance for Theater and Education. He tours a professional one-man show called Salmonpeople with 43 performances in 27 cities.

Erin Frost - Operations Manager

Erin has always been drawn to water. Her first glimpses were of creeks and wetlands which feed the Willamette River flowing through Portland, Oregon where she grew up. While attending college in the Midwest, she eased her homesickness by gazing at Lake Michigan from her dormitory on the urban campus of Marquette University. There Erin came to appreciate the concept of sustainability, inspiring her to pursue an interdisciplinary degree in urban studies, economics, and environmental science. As a Peace Corps Volunteer in coastal Ecuador, she was humbled by the tumultuous nature of the river flowing through her small rural village; during the rainy season, the water often rose up several meters to lap restlessly at the steps outside her back door. She feels quite at home here in Seattle surrounded on all sides by our liquid life source and continually strives to be a good steward of our shared watershed.

Since 2006, Erin has been helping The Friends stay afloat by keeping operations and administrative systems ship-shape. When she’s not navigating spreadsheets at the office, you can find her at a farmers market (look for the straw hat), riding about town on her well-loved touring bicycle, hiking to the top of anything to check out the panoramic view, or stompin’ her boot heel to some live bluegrass.

Don Fiene - Board President

Don attended the University of Houston, majoring in Economics and Accounting, and built his career in the restaurant and hospitality business. As Director of Operations for 15 years for a large chain of local upscale restaurants he oversaw half a dozen locations and over 900 employees. For the next 10 years he ran his own business designing and manufacturing custom trailers. Before retirement he was with a Bellevue firm which designed and installed commercial kitchens for clients across the country.  Don was elected to the Lake Forest Park City Council in 2005 and now donates much of his time to many community organizations which support the environment and sustainability.

John Stokes - Board Treasurer, Secretary

Retired Attorney

John was formerly active in private practice and government service, and retired in 2008. He is a graduate of George Washington University Law School and of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. John is currently a member of the Bellevue Schools Foundation, the Bellevue Parks and Community Services Board, and the Eastside Heritage Center.

Tyson Greer - Board Member

Tyson joined the FCRW board after attending our premier screening of the Watershed Report video in the fall of 2010. Tyson’s interest in and commitment to clean water and healthy habitat align well with the mission and vision of FCRW. For the past 30 years she has been involved in various aspects of environmental protection—from her work as Environmental and Energy Analyst for Simpson Timber/Paper Company in the early 1980's to her current community efforts in Lake Forest Park with the Stewardship Foundation, the Urban Forest Task Force, and Stream Keepers. She is firmly committed to persuading others of the need (and joy) in protecting and enhancing our waters and our green infrastructure. Like all of us, Tyson believes the key to spreading understanding is education.