Meet Our Staff
Management & Operations Team
Heather McCoy
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Heather joined the District in June of 2021 as the new Executive Director. She moved to the Pacific Northwest from northern California, where she was the Executive Director of the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. Prior to her work in Santa Cruz, she led the education and exhibits departments of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and its marine science-focused sister institution, the Sea Center. Heather has a Bachelor’s in Geology from Smith College and two Masters of Science focused in paleontology and geology from the University of Southern California and the University of Rochester. For more than 20 years, her career has focused on connecting people with the natural world and inspiring stewardship of it. She is thrilled to lead the District in its mission to provide natural resource expertise and support to all of Whidbey. Heather is available Monday - Friday. |
Michelle Maynard
FINANCE & OPERATIONS MANAGER Michelle joined the District in May of 2021 as the Finance & Operations Manager and brings over 15 years of experience in the Finance and Operations world. Michelle moved to the Pacific Northwest from the San Francisco Bay Area in 2012 where she worked as a Finance Director and Consultant to Professional Services Firms and Non-Profits. Most recently she worked with Sound Salmon Solutions, a Washington State Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group and is currently their Board Treasurer. Michelle has thoroughly enjoyed the Pacific Northwest’s nature and has taken advantage of the beautiful hiking areas on Whidbey Island, where she now lives. Michelle is also an avid gardener and is learning to enjoy the Pacific Northwest weather by cooking, knitting, gardening (sometimes in the rain), and putting on rain gear to enjoy the outdoors with her dog Issie. Michelle is available Monday - Thursday. |
Education & Outreach Team
Allison Rinard
Community Engagement Manager Allison joined the District in October of 2021 as the Natural Resource Educator. She a is a former environmental non-profit leader with over a decade of experience in sustainable farming, ecological restoration, and public education. Allison has a long history of gardening and love of food dating back to her childhood, on through volunteerism and professional pursuits. She has been improving non-profit systems since managing Books to Prisoners Olympia while pursuing her Bachelor of Arts at The Evergreen State College. After two years traveling with the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms program, she dedicated herself to creating more just, effective urban farms in Seattle as a Children's Garden Educator, Master Gardener, Farm Manager and Executive with Alleycat Acres, and Executive Director of The Common Acre. She is thrilled to be embarking on her own family farming journey here on Whidbey Island at Pickle Smoke Farm. Allison is available Tuesday - Friday. |
Planning & Technical Assistance Team
Kelsi Mottet
SENIOR NATURAL RESOURCE PLANNER Kelsi joined the District team in fall 2016 and served as the Marketing, Education & Outreach Coordinator for three years. In fall of 2019, she transitioned into the role of Natural Resource Planner serving residents with planning assistance in agriculture, forestry, backyard habitat stewardship, and wildfire preparedness for nearly three years. In winter of 2022, she transitioned into the role of Senior Natural Resource Planner and is the District's primary conservation planner. A sixth-generation Whidbey Islander from Coupeville with a family history in agriculture, forestry, and the trades, Kelsi has over fifteen years of experience in the fields of natural resources and education. She is a graduate of Western Washington University's College of the Environment and holds a Masters of Education with a Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership & Administration from North Cascades Institute. She and her husband Brad enjoy living in their hometown of Coupeville where they grew up and are busy building their own home from wood on their own property that they've milled themselves! Kelsi is available Monday - Friday. |
Stacey Dixon
REGIONAL FORESTER Stacey joined the District team in spring 2021 and serves as Forester for both Island and Snohomish counties, providing forest stewardship and timber management assistance, with an emphasis on forest health. Stacey's time is shared between Whidbey and Snohomish Conservation District, facilitating a regional and coordinated approach to forest management. Stacey earned her Masters in Forest Resources from the University of Washington and subsequently worked as the Forest Manager for the University of Washington’s Center for Sustainable Forestry at Pack Forest. She holds a BS in Society and Environment and a minor in Forestry from the University of California, Berkeley. She was born in Fort Bragg, California and grew up in a coastal redwood forest. Stacey's availability for service to Whidbey residents on forest stewardship requests can be determined by emailing her directly. Click the button below. |
Tom Slocum REGIONAL ENGINEER Tom is the Washington conservation districts’ Northwest Region engineer, providing licensed professional engineering services to San Juan Conservation District and its counterpart districts in Skagit, Whatcom, and Island counties. Tom’s background includes over twenty years of experience in the environmental field working with public agencies and consulting firms at the local, national, and international level. Tom is particularly interested in natural habitat restoration projects and has assisted individual landowners, non-profit organizations and public agencies in obtaining funding for, permitting, designing and managing construction of scores of such projects. He has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Dartmouth College, a master’s degree in civil engineering from Northeastern University, and a law degree from Seattle University. Tom's availability can be determined by speaking with our District Manager, Heather McCoy, about your project needs. |
