Hannah Tennent

Hannah is a climate change specialist for the Hoh Indian Tribe’s Natural Resources Department. As a 2023-2024 WA Sea Grant Hershman Fellow for the Tribe, she interviewed Tribal members and created the department’s first climate change vulnerability assessment. Currently, her work focuses on communication projects and keeping the department updated on current climate-related opportunities. She […]

January 8, 2025

Connie Allen

Connie Allen is a community activist farming near the coastal beach known as WashAway. She is self-educated on the beneficial and destructive forces of the wind and water; adaptively managing the shore to minimize the loss of uplands using natural material interventions. Connie fosters the working relationship between her rural neighbors and Washington’s coastal science-based […]

Bridget Moran

Bridget is a Habitat Ecologist with the Skagit River System Cooperative’s Habitat Protection Program. Bridget’s work protects fish and shellfish habitat in the Skagit River watershed and nearshore environments through review of proposed federal, state, and local activities. She prioritizes climate adaptation considerations, visionary solutions, and long-term thinking to protect critical habitats. Bridget has a […]

Natalie Weiss

Natalie is the Climate Resilience Coordinator for the City of Olympia. Her work integrates climate adaptation across the City and builds consensus for climate action. She is leading the development of the City of Olympia’s first Climate Resilience Sub-element to the Comprehensive Plan and is an active member in the regional Sea Level Rise Collaborative […]

Matt Lurie

Dr. Matt Lurie is an Environmental Planner with the WA Department of Fish and Wildlife and is part of the Habitat Strategic Initiative Lead (HSIL) team where he provides expertise on nearshore habitat protection and restoration issues in Puget Sound with a focus on shoreline armoring. HSIL is a cross-agency team co-led by the WA […]

Love, Katie

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, I have always gravitated towards ocean and coastal ecosystems. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly SLO in Anthropology and Geography and a minor in Biological Sciences, I spent five years in the field of environmental education, learning the value of connecting people to places to advance […]

September 11, 2024

Thomas, Christopher

Chris Thomas is a Senior Ports & Coastal Specialist at Baird & Associates, based in Gig Harbor, Washington. Chris has a technical background in coastal science, with experience in hydrodynamic, wave and sediment transport modelling, and expertise in nearshore metocean analysis, coastal structures, dredging and port and terminal layouts. Over his career he has applied […]

August 20, 2024

Ellen Chappelka

Ellen Chappelka is a Coastal Resilience Specialist for the Washington State Emergency Management Division. Ellen works on the interagency Coastal Hazards Organizational Resilience Team (COHORT) with Washington Sea Grant, WSU Extension, and Washington State Department of Ecology. She assists communities in addressing coastal hazards through coordination, resource connection, technical assistance, and planning. She’s particularly interested […]

Wells-Yoakum, Kayla

Kayla Wells-Yoakum is an Associate Professor with WSU Extension.  She has her Master’s in Teaching from Washington State University (WSU) and her areas of expertise are outreach education and community engagement.  Kayla is one of the WSU Extension representatives on COHORT, the Coastal Hazards Organizational Resilience Team.  She is the County Director of the WSU […]

Wolcott, Reid

Reid is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Seattle, WA. In this role, Reid serves as the primary liaison between the NWS and its core partners. He has a wealth of experience assisting organizations use and adapt NWS resources, creating all-hazards response plans, and providing critical weather information during natural […]

August 7, 2024