we're some fishy folks
Meet our dedicated team! We work hard every day to restore and protect Pacific Northwest salmon and steelhead populations and habitat in the Hood Canal region of Washington State.
Mendy Harlow
Executive Director
Mendy Harlow moved to Mason County in 2003 from Tucson, Arizona where she received her Bachelor of Science in Wildlife, Watershed and Rangeland Resources from the University of Arizona. Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, she returned to pursue her passion for connecting people with the natural world around them. In her first year with the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG), Mendy was the Team Leader for the Group’s AmeriCorps team which was an opportunity for her to engage in community projects and citizen science activities while truly falling in love with the flora and fauna of the Hood Canal watershed and its people. The majority of Mendy’s time with HCSEG has been focused on managing small and large scale habitat restoration projects throughout Hood Canal. She has served as the group’s executive director since 2013. In her spare time, Mendy enjoys gardening, yoga, mountaineering, running, rock climbing and backpacking with her partner Brandon, daughter Allie and their two llamas. She serves in the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs of North Mason, the North Mason Scholarship Foundation and is a Mason County 4-H leader and Master Gardener. Mendy is grateful for the amazing community she works in and the brilliant HCSEG staff and Board of Directors who work with her to save Hood Canal, one wild salmon at a time.
Josh o'hara
Salmon & Steelhead Biologist
Josh starts on October 1st! Stay tuned.
josh@pnwsalmoncenter.org 360.275.3575 ext. 115
Christina Mayfield
Office & Grants Assistant
Christina joined the Salmon Center’s staff as our Office and Grants Assistant in January of 2022 after being our Sustainable Farm intern in 2015, and a long-time volunteer. She brings with her several years of experience in administrative support, team management, and nonprofit coordination. Born and raised in the PNW, Christina has a deep love for our local environment, specifically maidenhair ferns and all types of lichen. In her spare time, she can be found gardening, crocheting, cooking, reading, hanging out with her husband and cats, spending time with friends at community events, at her local yoga studio, and traveling far and wide.
christina@pnwsalmoncenter.org
360.275.3575 ext. 103
Gus Johnson
Habitat Program Director
Gus joined the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group as a Project Field Coordinator in April 2019. When Gus graduated with a BS in Environmental Science from Western Washington University’s Huxley College of the Environment, he decided to go explore the Wild West and study fish, plants, and wildlife as he went. After spending years working in Utah, Alaska, Oregon, and Idaho, Gus is happy to finally be back home- working to restore salmon habitat in his favorite place. Outside of work you might see him out on a beach trying to photograph the sunrise/sunset, or up in the mountains either snowboarding or philosophizing about his love/hate relationship with pillow basalt.
gus@pnwsalmoncenter.org
(Gus is a remote staff member - email is the best way to reach him!)
Alexandra Ehrich
Communications Manager
Alexandra joined the Salmon Center in October 2018 as the Communications Manager. She recieved her BA in Graphic Design from Central Washington University in 2013. Since then Alexandra has searched for ways to use her experience in the arts to serve the environment. She hopes to use her skills to tell the story of The Salmon Center, the pacific northwest, sustainable living and environmental stewardship. Alexandra grew up on the Olympic Peninsula and loves becoming even more familiar with its trails, mushrooms and waterways. She’s an avid backpacker who also enjoys climbing, surfing, fishing and painting.
alexandra@pnwsalmoncenter.org
360.275.3575 ext. 112 (Alexandra is a remote staff member, email is the best way to reach her!)
Andy Hokit
Water Quality and Shellfish Project Manager
Andy is a Washington local, growing up in Kent (lettuce capital of the world). He received his BS in Resource Conservation at the University of Montana and shortly after moved to the Olympic peninsula. Andy proceeded to work for 8 years on various monitoring projects in Washington state; he’s sieved macroinvertebrates on the outer coast, mapped streams in the Columbia Mountains, snorkeled frozen rivers for Chinook, and banded owls in old-growth forests. Andy now lives in Sequim, and in his free time he likes to play music, surf, harvest wild food and go camping with his friends.
andy@pnwsalmoncenter.org
360.275.3575
Kim Gower
Project Administrator
Kim is responsible for general business operations and the day-to-day functions of the organization. Among her duties, Kim assists in grant and program administration and other administrative support. In addition, she researches projects and grants, and provides support for volunteer and education activities.
kim@pnwsalmoncenter.org
360.275.3575 ext. 111
Joanne Tejeda
Design & Marketing Associate
Joanne joined The Salmon Center in August 2015 as Newsletter Editor and assists with design and layout of posters, signage, artwork and printing for special events. She brings 10 years experience in the printing industry, bi-lingual skills from working with the Hispanic community, and holds a Desktop Diploma from Art Institute of Seattle and a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Wayne State University in Detroit. She enjoys trilliums, window painting, logo design & liturgical clipart, fiddling on her violin and bicycling to work.
joanne@pnwsalmoncenter.org
360.275.3575 ext. 110
Heather Hamilton
Farm Manager
Heather first came to HCSEG as an AmeriCorps member in 2018, and served as a Sustainability Coordinator for two years. In August 2020 she joined the staff as Farm Caretaker. Heather is a graduate of Whitman College and holds a BA in Environmental Humanities with a Creative Writing minor. When she’s not on the farm or happily researching agricultural practices, she’s in, on, or around water; writing; or dancing and developing choreography. She is particularly interested in producing art that illuminates environmental joys and crises by exploring the relationship between humans and the environment, bringing her experiences at the Salmon Center and as a lifetime PNW dweller into her work.
heather@pnwsalmoncenter.org
360.275.3575 ext. 114
Dana Delhaute
Finance Manager
Dana is responsible for overseeing financial operations, including financial reporting. She brings many years of experience with QuickBooks, managing and running multiple industries payrolls, financial reporting, and helping to meet various accounting needs. Her favorite place to be is exploring the beaches, the waters and the woods of the Pacific Northwest where she grew up.
finance@pnwsalmoncenter.org
360.275.3575 ext. 116
Adrian Nevarez
Stewardship Coordinator
Hello! My name is Adrian and I am the 2021-22 Educational Coordinator AmeriCorps worker. Originally, I have lived in California my whole life, so this is my first time ever moving out of state in a completely new environment. Before leaving, I graduated with a BS in Marine Biology at University of California, Santa Cruz and worked 2 jobs, Natural Reserves Field Assistant at Younger Lagoon Reserve and retail. While working at a reserve I have learned so much about native/invasive plant species interactions, plant taxonomy, transplanting, beach monitoring procedures and so much more! On top of that, I am a passionate person for performing stewardship tasks and is very influential when getting out in the field and putting a smile on everyone’s face. When I am not at the Salmon Center, I like to work out while listening to podcasts, tweak around with my computer that I built, explore the city, and learn more about sharks! P.S. My favorite type of shark is the Thresher Shark!
adrian@pnwsalmoncenter.org
360.275.3575 ext. 124
Whitney McDaniel
Education & Outreach Coordinator
Whitney joined the Salmon Center in October 2021 as the new Education and Outreach Coordinator. She received her BS in Insect Science and Forensic Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she spent her time working in a bee research lab and engaging the community in pollinator conservation efforts. After graduating, Whitney traded the Midwest’s prairies for Washington’s temperate forests to pursue a career in environmental education and deepen her knowledge of the natural world. She served two AmeriCorps terms at Mason Conservation District from 2019-2021, which fostered her love for the South Puget Sound Region and its people. She enjoys crocheting, exploring new trails, and stopping to observe any insects or critters that cross her path.
whitney@pnwsalmoncenter.org
360.275.3575 ext. 119
Sabrina Wilk
Stewardship Manager
Sabrina joined HCSEG as Stewardship Coordinator in April of 2022 after being the WCC supervisor for the HCSEG/Tahuya DNR crew. She is a graduate of Pomona College with a BA in Environmental Analysis. After writing her thesis on southern resident killer whales, Sabrina decided to learn how the world of salmon recovery works in Washington, where she grew up. Her two terms in the WCC taught her the ropes of riparian stewardship and habitat restoration. When she’s not out by a river or in the office, Sabrina can be found hiking, reading, listening to tree podcasts, and cooking, but most often playing soccer.
riparian@pnwsalmoncenter.org
360.275.3575 ext. 124
Jill Grbavac
Project Manager
Jill joined the HCSEG in October 2022 as a Project Manager. Originally from Oregon, Jill has been in NW Washington since 2019, and loves living and working within the spectacular ecosystems of the Hood Canal and Puget Sound regions. Since graduating from Humboldt State University with a BS in Natural Resources Planning & Interpretation, Jill has gained many years of experience in salmon habitat restoration and public lands recreation in every West Coast state. When outside, she loves to hike, camp, and paddle. When inside, she loves to read and listen to her awesome record collection. She is perpetually attempting various fabric arts, fly fishing, gardening, and might eventually learn to play the guitar.
jill@pnwsalmoncenter.org
360.275.3575 ext. 125
Ed Lucas
Maintenance Specialist
Ed is a Certified Facility Management Professional [FMP], Certified Sustainability Facility Professional [SFP], Certified Six Sigma Black Belt [CSSBB], BS Mechanical Engineering Technology, with extensive engineering, safety, facility, and IT experience in a wide range of industries. Outside of work you will find him in the mountains enjoying rock, glacier, and ice climbing.
edward@pnwsalmoncenter.org
360.275.3575 ext. 117
Brett Larson
AmeriCorps Environmental Educator
Brett Larson is one of the 2022-23 AmeriCorps Environmental Educators here with the Salmon Center. A true Western Washingtonian, he grew up in the city of Edmonds, just a few miles north of Seattle, and often spent summers at his family’s seaside cabin in Gig Harbor, exploring the beach and discovering all sorts of critters! A graduate of The Evergreen State College with a BSBA in Environmental science, he has taken programs involving diverse subject matter such as river hydrology, population ecology, and invertebrate zoology. He has also given time to numerous non-profit organizations such as the South Sound Estuary Association and the Edmonds Food bank. In his free time he enjoys getting outside by hiking or kayaking, cooking delicious food, and enjoying storytelling through books, theater, and TTRPGS.
americorps4@pnwsalmoncenter.org
360.275.3575 ext. 131
Cameron Porter
Project Field Technician
Hi there, my name is Cameron, and I am a Project Field Technician for the Stew(ardship) Crew
here at HCSEG. I’ve always enjoyed & been intrigued by the outdoors, and this was rekindled after serving two years from 2017-2019 at the Washington Conservation Corps, here on the Belfair restoration crew, based out of the Salmon Center. After WCC, I worked for the Kitsap County Noxious Weed Control Board as a Noxious Weeds Inspector from 2019-2022, managing various weeds, primarily with herbicide, all throughout Kitsap County. Then I found my way back to Belfair at HCSEG in January 2023, fitting because I was born and raised in Mason County, spending a lot of time along the canal and the Union River. Now, on the Stew Crew, I’m getting to explore & learn more of my stomping grounds, as well as do my part to maintain and improve the beauty that is the Hood Canal Watershed. In my free time, I like to play disc golf, go for walks, play video games with friends, read, and make “dad puns,” though that is really all the time.
cameron@pnwsalmoncenter.org
360.275.3575 ext. 124
Joanie Fieser
AmeriCorps Environmental Educator
Joanie is one of the 2023-2024 AmeriCorps Environmental Educators. Her passion for connecting people to nature was first cultivated in her home of Columbia, Missouri. In May 2023, Joanie graduated from Grinnell College (Grinnell, Iowa) with a BA in biology, with significant coursework in ecology and Spanish. This is her third AmeriCorps term, having served previously with the Audubon Center at Riverlands and Conservation Corps Minnesota and Iowa. Through school, work, and service, she has grown familiar with the prairies of the Midwest, the birds of Costa Rica, the coral reefs of the Florida Keys, and the Northwoods of Minnesota. She is grateful for the opportunity to learn about– and maybe even fall in love with– the Pacific Northwest. In her free time, Joanie enjoys being outside, making art, learning languages (most recently ASL), swing dancing, and playing mountain dulcimer.