Board of Directors

Bruce Williams

President

Bruce Williams fell in love with this area while backpacking in the Enchantments in 1971. Today he, his wife Gro Buer, and their daughter live in Leavenworth where they enjoy the natural beauty, the many outdoor activities and the strong sense of community. Bruce is a retired CEO, lawyer and Peace Corps Volunteer and served nearly 20 years on the board of the Cascade Land Conservancy (now “Forterra”).

"I support CDLT because it conserves our natural environment and builds community, literally and figuratively finding common ground among diverse stakeholders. I am excited to serve on CDLT’s board to help our region protect outstanding natural landscapes, enhance world class outdoor recreation and maintain a strong economy"

Rob Shurtleff

Vice President

Rob and Cindy Shurtleff have been members of CDLT since 2001. Rob’s non-profit board experience includes Washington Trails Association 2007-2016 (board president; chair of tech, governance and fundraising committees), and Pacific Science Center 2017- present (secretary, real estate committee chair). Rob co-led CDLT's Save Nason Ridge Campaign in 2018. Rob continues as a volunteer with the WTA, serving on the Technology Committee, as a content contributor to the Hiking Guide and doing trail work.

Rob is an experienced software development veteran and early-stage technology investor with key strengths in leading the development of technical and business strategy, new product development and product management. He worked for 22 years in the technology field before focusing on early-stage tech investing, first as an Angel Investor, then as a founding partner at Divergent Ventures in 2005.  

Rob and his wife Cindy, and his ever-present German Shepherd, Shasta, split time between living in Pike Place Market in Seattle and Lake Wenatchee with occasional travel mixed in. They have 2 grown children who live in Seattle and Santa Cruz, California.

“We have been hugely impressed with the accomplishments the CDLT has made over the last 20 years,” says Rob. "As I work on the ‘give back’ chapter in my life, I am very excited to contribute to the CDLT and share learnings from other exceptional non-profits I have had the honor to serve.”
 

Steve Jacobs

Secretary/Treasurer

Steve Jacobs has lived in the Wenatchee Valley area since 1984 and moved to Leavenworth in 2002. Steve and his wife, Juli, love the outdoors and what it has to offer. They enjoy hiking, camping, running and cross country skiing. Steve is a CPA and semi-retired from Confluence Health and served as Controller and CFO for Central Washington Hospital and Vice President of Finance for Confluence Health. Steve has served on various boards including United Way and the Women’s Resource Center and currently serves as the public member of the Washington State Health Care Facilities Authority.

“We are fortunate to live in this special place and it is vital that this wonderland is preserved for current and future generations. The mission and activities of CDLT support this and I am honored to serve as a Board Member.”

Suzanne Hartman

Board Member

Suzanne Hartman is a 30-year communications professional, dually accredited by both the Public Relations Society of America and the International Association of Business Communicators. An avid outdoors person, Suzanne brings her passion for preserving and protecting the beautiful landscape and natural resources of North Central Washington. Suzanne has worked on environmental PR and sustainability issues throughout her career. Most recently, she was director of communications at Chelan County PUD. She also worked on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and in television at two local Seattle network affiliates.

"More than two-thirds of my life has been spent exploring and studying the mountains, waters, canyons and plateaus of our beautiful state. To say that I am a conservationist doesn’t quite capture my reality, but it’s close. The Land Trust answers two key questions for me: Why do I care; and What does it mean to me? This is a journey I am looking forward to taking with you."

John Lehmkuhl

Board Member

John earned degrees in wildlife biology (Humboldt State University), wildlife ecology (University of Montana) and a PhD in forest science (University of Washington).  As a U.S. Forest Service research wildlife biologist, he has worked at both the Olympia and Wenatchee forestry sciences labs, and has had adjunct faculty appointments at EWU, WSU, and UW.  John and his wife, Katherine March, have been active CDLT members since 2002.  John has served on the CDLT Lands Committee for a decade.  John is an active horseman and long-time member of Appleatchee Riders, as well as an all-round outdoor enthusiast. At his Squilchuck canyon log home, newly retired John is most likely to be out in his barn/shop, or at his leather-working bench. As a board member, John will help guide CDLT land stewardship, applying his understanding of wildlife and the ecology of the Pacific NW ecosystems.

“I want to contribute to the excellent work of the CDLT in conserving urban & rural wildlands, which are essential to the high quality of life that we enjoy in north central Washington.  My education and experience with wildlife and wildland ecology and management, and my long-time involvement with the horse community, I hope will add important dimensions to the CDLT Board.”
 

Jack Mynatt

Board Member

When Jack was a college professor, he and his family spent 25 summers in Leavenworth, hiking, backpacking, and climbing. Jack has carpentry and electrician skills, used in building two homes. As a PhD psychologist, he taught advanced statistics and research design, authored psychology textbooks, and served as a principal investigator on research grants. After retiring from Bowling Green State University, he became a permanent Leavenworth resident, taking up skiing and kayaking, and joined the CDLT in 2011. The CDLT Board will benefit from Jack’s mathematical and analytical abilities.

“I first came to Leavenworth in 1974 to backpack the Enchantments. I fell in love with the land - the mountains, the rivers, a bit later the shrub-steppe. How can you stand at the top of Windy Ridge on a sunny winter day, look at the Cascades in one direction and the Columbia River in the other, and not feel blessed? But as I've lived in the Wenatchee valley, I've come to love our community, this remarkable group of smart, accomplished, dedicated people, as much as I do the land. How can you be around them and not feel blessed? For me, being on the CDLT Board is a way to give something back for being lucky enough to live here.”

Celeste Barry

Board Member

Celeste Barry grew up in Cashmere and returned in 2010 to Wenatchee to raise her family. She has a degree in community and environmental planning from the University of Washington and several years of experience as an urban planner in the Seattle area. Currently, her time is spent raising her two children, and staying involved in the community through opportunities such as volunteering for the Land Trust and coaching Girls on the Run. 

"I spent my childhood hiking and backpacking in our beautiful state, and I want to make sure that this opportunity stays a reality for all future generations. I also love to travel and have lived abroad in Costa Rica and traveled extensively in Europe and the Americas. These experiences have given me special appreciation for all that we have here in the Wenatchee Valley. My favorite activities include family, photography, travel, skiing, biking, birding, Spanish, running, hiking and mountain climbing - which is why I love living in Wenatchee! I believe that growing up here in the Wenatchee Valley and also having experienced environments such as Seattle, Yakima, Alaska, and Costa Rica has given me a broad vision for the future of North Central Washington. We have such a magical valley and I want to help enhance and protect it for future generations."
 

Leah Hemberry Ricketts

Board Member

Leah grew up in the Wenatchee Valley on a pear orchard near Peshastin. Her background as the third generation in a farming family led her to advocacy work focused on land use, immigration reform and preservation of agriculture in the Upper Valley. Leah has a lifelong love of the outdoors and our local rivers, having spent much of her free time hiking and exploring in the mountains. She currently serves on the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board’s Chelan County Citizen Advisory Committee to assist in aiding in the recovery of our salmon, steelhead and other at-risk fish species. As a small business owner, her professional work has focused on marketing, content creation, and creative pursuits. Leah lives with her husband Russ and daughter Charlie in Leavenworth.

“As our region continues to grow and change, I believe the CDLT is in a unique position to continue to play an integral role in preserving the quality of life for people who live and play here, habitat for fish and wildlife, and open spaces for their intrinsic value. I am honored to be a part of this organization and excited to see what the future brings.” 

Cody Gillin

Board Member

Cody Gillin was born and raised in Wenatchee where his family has roots dating to the early 1900s. He earned degrees from Western Washington University and Virginia Tech and spent time traveling in Latin America before returning to the area in 2014. Cody, his wife Maura, and their daughters Adair and Hollis enjoy the diversity of people and landscapes found in North Central Washington.

“Serving the CDLT through board and committee membership is an expression of my conservation ethos. Lands and waters are the lifeblood of this community; they nourish crops, provide electricity, sustain fisheries and wildlife, and enrich the lives of all who experience their power and wonder.”
 

John Eli Sirois

Board Member

John Eli Sirois - say' ay' (pronounced Sigh Eye) say' ay' is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and is of the respective Okanagan, Methow and Wenatchi Tribes. say’ay’ was born and raised on the Colville Indian Reservation in Omak, WA.  John carries cultural teachings and histories from his grandmother and extended family that tie him to the lands and waters of the greater Okanogan and Wenatchee Valley regions. John earned degrees from Dartmouth College (History, and Native American Studies) and Masters of Public Administration at the University of Washington. He worked for over 20 years in the Colville Tribes’ government as former Council Chair and representative, and he also led departments that focused on tribal lands, cultural preservation and revitalization, economic development, renewable energy project development, policy development, governance. John currently serves as the Traditional Territory Advisor for the Colville Confederated Tribes advocating for the Indigenous rights to ensure that those rights are fully respected. He harvests Chinook salmon at the Icicle every year and can be seen there every spring. He seeks to build a better future for all for generations to come.  You can find say’ay’ camping, hunting, hiking, reading and salmon fishing with his family.
 

Elizabeth Wilson

Board Member

Elizabeth earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (Central Washington University) and a Master’s Degree in Economic Geography (University of Washington).  After owning and operating a dance school for 10 years, she spent most of her career in commercial real estate, developing and redeveloping shopping centers, office buildings, residential plats and a marina. In the last 6 years, as Vice President of Olympic Property Group, the real estate division of a major timber company, she helped to preserve over 10,000 acres of forest lands by managing fee and easements conservation sales in Kitsap and Skamania Counties.  In doing so she coordinated with land trusts, funding agencies, government jurisdictions and community groups. As a retiree, Elizabeth has served on the Land’s Committee for 4 years, teaches ballet, golfs, and enjoys the tremendous vistas and recreation opportunities of North Central Washington.

“As a Board Member, I hope to contribute my skills to furthering the mission and adding to the considerable success of the Chelan Douglas Land Trust.  My husband and I love living here and I want to help preserve and care for the lands and waters of the area for future generations.”
 

Randy Asplund

Board Member

Randy Asplund is a long-time Wenatchee native who grew up hiking and skiing in the foothills around Wenatchee and the Cascade mountains of Chelan County.  Randy and his wife Cici Bean Asplund returned to the Wenatchee Valley in 1990 to be close to their families and raise their family.  Randy is a professional civil engineer and is a senior principal with the firm of RH2 Engineering.  As Randy transitions towards retirement, he is looking forward to putting his 38 years of engineering, planning and communication experience to practice with the Land Trust.  Randy has previously served on the Wenatchee City Planning Commission where he was the Commission chairperson for 6 years.  He is currently serving on the Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board representing the seven counties located east of the Cascades and west of the Columbia River.

“As a 20-year participant in Land Trust activities and frequent hiker of the foothills, I look forward to serving on the Board and assisting as the Land Trust moves forward with new projects and opportunities.”
 

Ariahna Jones

Board Member

Ariahna grew up in Tonasket, developing a close connection to the land and the community in Eastern Washington. One of her first jobs out of high school was working as a Wilderness Ranger and wildland Firefighter out of the Tonasket Ranger District. Her love for the outdoors and in-turn desire to be a steward only grew as she pursued degrees in Natural Resource Management & Integrated Water Resources from Western WA University and McGill University. Ariahna continued to work in the field of Natural Resources as an environmental educator, both in and out of the classroom, for all ages. Transitioning from academia into community environmental action, Ariahna and her husband Colin started a small nonprofit (Waste Loop) to address the waste challenges where she resides in Leavenworth. For Ariahna, one of the gifts of growing up in the Okanogan was to see and be a part of passionate community action that served to not only protect natural resources but to also connect people to the land and each other. This has been a foundation in Ariahna’s personal and professional life and she hopes to inspire this active stewardship wherever she goes.

"Growing up in the Okanogan Valley and living in Chelan County is a gift beyond measure. With this gift comes the responsibility to live in reciprocity with the natural world and be an example of stewardship. I believe that serving on the CDLT Board is one way in which I can utilize my experience and passion to give back to the land and community."
 

Todd Kiesz

Legal Counsel

Born in Eugene, Oregon, Todd earned his law degree from the University of Washington and joined the Wenatchee firm of Jeffers, Danielson, Sonn and Aylward in 1996. His practice areas include estate planning, real estate, corporate and commercial law. Together with his wife Amy and their four children ages five through eleven, he enjoys being part of this community and has been actively involved in different community charities and events through the years. His favorite outdoor pursuits include skiing, biking, running and windsurfing. Todd was awarded special recognition at our 2011 Annual Dinner for his outstanding effort navigating CDLT through the legal issues of complicated land transactions. He has served as Legal Counsel for the Land Trust since 1998.

“I very much enjoy the opportunity to be involved in our community helping to secure the natural resources for the enjoyment of future generations.”

Ruth Traxler

Board Member

Ruth Traxler is a land use planner with experience across the western states. She has a Master of Science in Geography and Planning, and is accredited by the American Institute of Certified Planners. Ruth began her career working as an AmeriCorps volunteer for the Cascade Land Conservancy (now Forterra) out of their Ellensburg office. Since then, she has maintained a personal interest in conservation for the purposes of habitat and working land preservation, outdoor recreation, and the aesthetic values of open space. Professionally, she has extensive experience in current planning and entitlements, as well as in policy development and growth management. She and her family live and work in the Wenatchee valley, and enjoy spending time together outside, whether they're playing soccer at the park or mountain biking in the foothills.  

“I believe that good planning and conservation work both rely on principles that prioritize creating livable and affordable communities and protecting the range of values that our natural resource lands provide. Since we moved to Wenatchee, I have been impressed with CDLT’s success in conservation in the Wenatchee valley and am grateful for the opportunity to advocate for the organization and their work.”