Board & Staff

Jenny Lange, President

Jenny and her husband John, a Bainbridge Island native, settled here over 25 years ago. Jenny worked in Government Relations at the Seattle office of The Nature Conservancy, pursuing public partnerships in conservation and helping to protect natural areas at the state and federal levels. After starting a family, she became an active volunteer on Bainbridge, including serving on the Vestry and leading annual campaigns at Grace Church, and helping to establish Mom’s Morning Retreat, a support group for mothers. Jenny earned two degrees from Duke University – a B.S. in zoology and a law degree. She enjoys sea kayaking, walking on our local trails, and living in a place that values natural spaces and a vibrant community.

Carolyn Harper, Vice President

Carolyn Harper is a long-time resident of Bainbridge Island and the Pacific Northwest. After earning an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington and an MBA from Columbia Business School, Carolyn worked for over 30 years in professional services as a management consultant. She retired from Willis Towers Watson, a global professional services firm, in 2020. Carolyn currently serves as the board treasurer for PeaceTrees Vietnam, a Seattle- and Viet Nam-based NGO focused on de-mining and economic development in Viet Nam. She has also served on the board of The Island School, as well as committees for the Bainbridge Island School District and Grace Episcopal Church. In the winter she teaches skiing to veterans and people with disabilities through Higher Ground, a Ketchum, Idaho based organization. Carolyn is an avid cyclist, skier and hiker and a fledgling flyfisher.

Laurie Miller, Treasurer

Laurie grew up on a ranch in the mountains of Montana, enjoying a childhood largely spent outdoors on horseback exploring the national forests that border the ranch. Laurie’s parents were dedicated conservationists whose passion for preservation and environmental sustainability was passed on to their children. With family in tow, Laurie arrived on Bainbridge Island in 1991 to pursue a career in corporate Seattle as a CPA with an MBA. She inevitably recognized her affinity for the not-for-profit sector and has devoted the last 20 years to the art of financial and operational leadership for mission-driven organizations. Laurie honed her business skills during 16 years at IslandWood, then transported her knowledge base to New Zealand to provide strategic guidance to a start-up group of sustainable companies formed to benefit the local New Zealand communities.  She has served on several nonprofit boards and is currently a financial advisor to Global Child Nutrition Foundation, an international organization dedicated to school feeding programs around the world.

Tom Ringo, Secretary

Tom is a native of Puget Sound who grew up Seattle and has lived on Bainbridge for over 30 years.  After obtaining a BA in History from Stanford and an MBA from the University of Washington, Tom worked for Price Waterhouse and Westin Hotel Company in Seattle before moving to Kitsap County in the late 1980’s to take a position with Pope Resources, a publicly traded timber and real estate company based in Poulsbo. After 33 years at Pope Resources in executive management roles, Tom retired in 2020.  His free time interests include cycling, golf, cello-playing, and walks with his 2-year-old English Shepherd in the parks of south Bainbridge.  He is actively involved in lay leadership at Grace Episcopal.

Tyler Benson

Tyler is originally from Seattle and has lived on Bainbridge for the past five years. After earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, he commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy and completed two deployments, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and GWOT. After returning home to the PNW, Tyler started an investment banking career at RBC Capital Markets. He is now with Hilltop Securities, where he specializes in municipal finance and serves as an advisor to public entity clients around the Northwest. Tyler and his wife, along with their four-year-old son and newborn son (October 2024), enjoy an active lifestyle of sailing, paddle boarding, hiking, and skiing.

Azure Boure

Azure is a professional community educator in the field of traditional foods, medicine and Indigenous technologies. She is knowledgeable and passionate about the natural environment and dedicated to community service. Azure has found that teaching about gathering and use of native plants and materials goes hand in hand with caring about land restoration. Recently she was elected to her first term on the Suquamish Tribal Council. Prior to joining the Board of the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, she was involved with the annual native plant sale. Azure lives in Indianola, Washington.

Maradel Gale

Maradel grew up in the state of Washington and worked for two summers on forest service lookouts on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This experience, combined with early camping and hiking activities with her family, created in Maradel a strong desire to protect the environment from corporate and industrial mismanagement and overuse. After five years in Michigan, Maradel returned to the Pacific Northwest and became active with the effort to protect Oregon’s coastal beaches for public use. She then enrolled in the UO Law School, at a time when women were just beginning to enter the law sector in significant numbers. Maradel’s primary career was as a Professor at the University of Oregon, where she taught courses in legal issues in planning and public administration, environmental law, and leadership skills.Upon retirement, Maradel returned to the Puget Sound area and settled on Bainbridge Island, where she was appointed to the city’s Planning Commission, on which she served for 11 years. She was the founder of Sustainable Bainbridge and is thrilled to bring her extensive experience in environmental issues to the Land Trust’s Board.

Bruce Galloway

Bruce, his wife Susan, son Tommy, and daughter Kitty have been living on Bainbridge Island for nearly 30 years.  Throughout Bruce’s life, he has focused both on entrepreneurial pursuits and bettering the world.  While in high school, Bruce discovered he was an entrepreneur.  After college, he moved to Southern California and focused on shopping center development.  He now has more than 40 years of real estate experience.  Currently, he is the Chief Investment Officer for Evergreen Investment Company, a real estate development company, which he launched in 2018.  In 2001, Bruce founded the Evergreen Global Foundation which supports conservation of land for parks. Through The Nature Conservancy, Evergreen Global has permanently conserved more than 13,000 acres of land.  Evergreen Global has also partnered with the Bainbridge Island Rotary Club to provide 20,000 people in Tanzania improved access to credit. Bruce has served on the boards of the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation and the Bainbridge Island Rotary Club.

Steve Jenning

Steve was born and raised in western Oregon where his family was involved in farming, the forest products industry and politics. Moving to Bainbridge Island in 2017 with his wife, Linda, a writer and former Georgetown University professor, was a homecoming after 30 years working in Washington DC as a congressional staff person and a health care lobbyist. Prior to those years he was a newspaper, magazine and wire service reporter in New York, San Francisco and Portland. During college at Columbia University, Steve worked four summers as a US Forest Service firefighter in the Pacific Northwest. He has served on several non-profit agency boards, most recently the Washington DC Tennis and Education Foundation for 12 years, primarily on fundraising and capital projects.

Ben Klasky

Ben is the Founder and Principal of Seismic Philanthropy, which advises foundations and families on philanthropic strategy. For over a decade, he served as the CEO of IslandWood – an environmental education organization based on Bainbridge Island. Ben was formerly the CEO of Net Impact, cofounded Camp Galileo, and worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help turbocharge the giving of some of the world’s wealthiest individuals. Ben has taught graduate courses on Social Entrepreneurship and Nonprofit Management at the University of Washington. He began his career as a Teach For America corps member in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He has served on over a dozen boards including PCC Community Markets; KUOW; and the Japanese-American Exclusion Memorial. He and his wife Lisa do their best to keep up with their two boys, Jake and Eli.

Nora Nickum

Nora grew up on Bainbridge Island and moved back in 2017 with her husband (also a Bainbridge native) and daughter. She works at the Seattle Aquarium as the VP of Conservation Programs and Partnerships, overseeing the conservation policy, research, and species recovery teams. Previously, Nora was an environmental consultant leading climate change planning efforts and community engagement projects. She also worked at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) as a Senior Climate Change Adaptation Specialist, served on the US negotiating team to the UNFCCC, and sat on the Climate Change Advisory Committee to the Bainbridge Island City Council. She has a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. Nora is also a children’s author writing about science, nature, and conservation, including multiple picture books as well as Superpod: Saving the Endangered Orcas of the Pacific Northwest (for ages 8-12+, Chicago Review Press). She and her family love spending time exploring the outdoors, especially in the Grand Forest.

Sandy Schubach

Sandy immediately fell in love with the Pacific Northwest’s beauty and outdoor activities, including sailing, hiking, bicycling and cross-country skiing, when she moved to Seattle after growing up and attending college in Michigan. She moved to Bainbridge in 1999 with her husband Ed and son Conrad and was soon an active volunteer with several local nonprofits. She was a founding member of the Bainbridge Community Foundation and was active in the early days of IslandWood.  Volunteering with a local nonprofit that helped landmine victims, she traveled extensively in Southeast Asia and filmed testimonials and videos of projects. This eventually led to her co-creating a nonprofit organization to help provide educational opportunities for under-served children in Myanmar. Sandy has worked with the Land Trust for many years and looks forward to continuing and expanding her Land Trust work to help preserve and protect her beautiful island home.

Lori Weise

Lori is a Southern California native who relocated to Bainbridge Island with her husband Steve in 2018 to be closer to family. Lori grew up camping, hiking, and fishing along the Pacific Coast, including trips to Western Canada and Alaska. Lori attended UCLA for both her undergraduate and graduate school programs in Political Science and Urban and Health Planning. Lori worked in a variety of leadership positions in healthcare strategic forecasting and business planning in her career, including 20 years at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles serving as Vice President, Strategic Planning and Business Development. She and Steve enjoy running, cooking, travel, and entertaining grandchildren. Lori also provides pro bono consulting services for non-profit organizations through the Seattle-based 501 Commons, and is the former Board President of Bainbridge Island’s only synagogue, Congregation Kol Shalom.

Cullen Brady, Executive Director

Prior to his role as Executive Director, Cullen served for two years as the Director of Development and Communications, and two years on the Board of Directors of the Land Trust before joining as staff, including on the organization’s Executive Committee. During his time as a Board member and as Director of Development and Communications, Cullen helped develop and lead the unprecedented Stand for the Land campaign – which has raised nearly $8 million for Island conservation and protected over 120 acres of critical habitats. He also led the development and adoption of the organization’s current five-year strategic plan.

Before his involvement with the Land Trust, Cullen served in regional and national fundraising and government relations roles with The Wilderness Society, Sustainable Northwest, and The Nature Conservancy. Cullen also served as a Maritime Policy Fellow within the Washington State Department of Commerce for the Governor’s Maritime Sector Lead.

Born in Colorado and raised in the Midwest, Cullen has lived on the Island for over ten years. He holds a bachelor’s degree with dual majors in International Affairs and German Studies from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and a master’s degree in Marine and Environmental Affairs from the University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs in Seattle.

Cullen currently the President of the Board of Directors for the Washington Association of Land Trusts.

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Kate Kelly, Development Manager

Kate lives on the island with her loving family and dog, Birdie.  Kate enjoys paddle boarding and photography and has recently developed a keen interest in birding, finding immense joy in connecting with nature on a deeper level.

With a background in commercial real estate from Marcus & Millichap and electric transportation with Tesla, Kate’s administrative expertise is well-honed. Her warm-hearted nature and unwavering dedication to preserving the environment make her an invaluable member of the Bainbridge Island Land Trust team.

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Mac Davenport, Communications Coordinator

Born in the Seattle area but raised in Texas, Mac recently returned to the Pacific Northwest and is eager to explore Bainbridge Island and its diverse natural spaces. Mac holds a B.S. in Advertising and B.A. in Sustainability Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Previously, they led graphic design and communications efforts for environmental organizations including Keep Texas Beautiful, UT Austin’s Office of Sustainability, and Solar Austin. They also worked as a barista for five years and are always happy to chat about coffee. In their free time, Mac enjoys thrifting, watching movies, exploring local coffee shops, and caring for their houseplants.

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Barbara Shane, Development Associate

Barbara moved to the island two decades ago from the east coast and has been elated by the green island environment ever since. She had a long career in international public health, developing, managing, and writing about reproductive, maternal, and child health programs. Long a supporter of the Land Trust, she is excited to contribute to its important work preserving natural areas on the island. She enjoys rowing in Eagle Harbor, getting her hands dirty in the garden, and hiking with her family.

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Lauren Warkentin, Operations Manager

A Pacific Northwest native, Lauren was born and raised in Seattle. Moving to Bainbridge Island at the age of twelve, she immediately was taken with the natural beauty the island has to offer. Lauren is a first-generation college graduate, holding a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Victoria. With a background in Real Estate Appraisal and Finance, Lauren’s organizational skills are fine-tuned. In her free time, Lauren enjoys reading, thrift shopping, and cooking. She also loves exploring natural spaces with her husband Sam, and their dog Jordy.

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Jennifer Sharp, Accounting Manager

Jennifer is a native New Yorker who grew up in a small town and spent many hours exploring the woods and streams near her home. Since, 1990 Jennifer has had the pleasure of calling Bainbridge Island her new home. Her love of nature drew her to IslandWood where she spent 20 years ending her career there as the Director of Accounting. Before joining IslandWood, she worked mostly with non-profit companies including as an auditor in New York City where her clients were visual and performing arts companies. Since living on BI, she has been the Treasurer of several non-profits including the original Kids Up!, Meadowmeer Water Service Association, BHS PTSO and Bainbridge Parks Foundation. She is also a current board member of One Call For All. After raising two kids on BI, she and her husband are now empty nesters, and are kept company by their two much-loved dogs.

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Gina King, Conservation Director

Gina moved with her family to Bainbridge Island in 1983 and has had one foot on the Island ever since. She went off to study zoology and natural resource science at University of Washington and UC Berkeley and spent 26 years as a wildlife biologist with the Yakama Nation, protecting sensitive species and habitats in south-central Washington. When her daughter started at UW she moved back to the area, and is excited to be back on the wet side of the mountains, helping to preserve the natural places that make the Island so special. She and her husband enjoy hiking, reading, and travel, and are finally learning to kayak like true Northwesterners.

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Andrew Fraser, Stewardship Manager

A Pacific Northwest native, Andrew grew up spending his summers out along the coast and weekends throughout the year volunteering at invasive species pulls and tree plantings. After earning his undergrad at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, Andrew returned the Northwest to attend graduate school at the University of Washington and earn a degree in Restoration Ecology and Environmental Horticulture. Since graduating, he has worked and volunteered with a number of non-profits, county, and federal agencies though out Oregon and Washington. Having fallen in love with the island during grad school, Andrew is thrilled to join the Bainbridge Island Land Trust and help preserve the unique island landscape for future generations. In his free time, he enjoys cooking new recipes, propagating plants, reading, telling bad puns, and volunteering at restoration projects.

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Sarah Keller, Stewardship Coordinator

A longtime Northwest resident, Sarah grew up in the sagebrush steppes and wide-open spaces of southwestern Idaho. It was in her mid-20s that she fell in love with conservation and resource management. After obtaining her B.S. in Biology from Boise State University, she worked a variety of seasonal positions with state and federal agencies throughout the West. During her time with the National Park Service, she worked on data management and field studies involving fragmentation of habitat in a wildland-urban interface, post-wildfire restoration work, and aquatic invasive species prevention and monitoring. She is excited to start this next adventure with Bainbridge Island Land Trust in such a vibrant community and stunning, diverse ecosystems.

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Sydney Akers, Stewardship Associate

Originally a Hoosier, Sydney fell in love with the Pacific Northwest during a year-long service term with the Washington Conservation Corps. Before that, she was pursuing a master’s degree in environmental sustainability at Indiana University while working part-time at a local composting facility. Her passion for natural resource conservation and management ignited during a study abroad course in South Africa, inspiring her to return to the U.S. with a commitment to local conservation initiatives. In her free time, Sydney enjoys hiking, thrift shopping, and tracking the orcas that frequent the Salish Sea. She also loves spending time with her two kitties, Sunny and Luna.

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Megan Rohrssen, Community Education Coordinator

Megan began visiting the Northwest in the mid-2000s and was immediately hooked by the gorgeous juxtaposition of forest, mountain, and sea. Megan holds a B.A. in geology from Carleton College, a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of California at Riverside and did post-doctoral research at the University of Bristol in England before joining the faculty at Central Michigan University. Prior to the Land Trust, Megan also had the honor of working in environmental outreach and education for the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe. Even outside of work, Megan enjoys learning about native plants, edible perennials, and squishy intertidal life. She can often be found exercising or drinking coffee, usually not at the same time.

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Calista Cranson, Conservation & Stewardship Intern

Originally from Northville, Michigan, Calista just finished her second year at the University of Washington, where she is studying Environmental Science and Terrestrial Resource Management. Calista loves spending time outdoors, reading, and being with friends and family. She is passionate about conservation and environmental research, and she is excited to support the Land Trust’s mission this summer! She’s looking forward to learning more about land stewardship and gaining hands-on experience in the field.

Jake Levin, Conservation & Stewardship Intern

Jake was born and raised on Mercer Island, Washington and grew up exploring and appreciating the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. He is currently pursuing a B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of Washington with a minor in music. Jake has particularly enjoyed studying the ecology and conservation of Washington’s coast and inland seas. Outside of the classroom, Jake plays the trumpet with the Husky Marching Band and works as an official tour guide for the University. He also volunteers with the University of Washington branch of the Society for Ecological Restoration, where he works to manage small pockets of urban forest around campus. In his free time, Jake enjoys hiking, tidepooling, cooking, and spending time with friends.

Nina Pursai, Conservation & Stewardship Intern

Nina is a recent graduate from University of Washington with a Bachelors of Arts in Environmental Studies and minors in American Indian Studies and Law, Societies, and Justice. Originally from the Bay Area, California, Nina has always loved the outdoors and has enjoyed being amongst the towering redwoods and sandy beaches. Moving to Seattle and taking courses at UW has deeply shaped her passion for conservation, specifically within old-growth forests and sustainable agriculture. After interning for The Nature Conservancy last summer as a conservation science intern, Nina has explored fieldwork from marshlands to forests, and is excited to continue following her passion for conservation with Bainbridge Island Land Trust. Her senior capstone project researched how forest and salmon managers, specifically Tribal managers, can collaborate effectively to help salmon populations in the face of increasing wildfires. In her free time, Nina loves to visit local coffee shops, volunteer at a farm, play volleyball, and hang out with her cat, Pumpkin!