Amanda Ward
Before she became Executive Director of UCSRB, Amanda served as District Manager for the Foster Creek Conservation District. Although originally from New Zealand, Amanda has lived and worked in the US for over 20 years. Her diverse career in conservation includes environmental consulting and planning in the Chicago region, managing a lake restoration program in New Zealand, and conducting stream assessments and restoration projects in Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Land and Water) from Charles Sturt University, Australia and an Advanced Diploma of Land Management from the University of Sydney, Australia. In her free time, Amanda is a keen photographer who enjoys capturing the landscapes of the PNW while hiking and exploring Washington state.
Ryan Niemeyer
Ryan is a seventh generation Washingtonian and grew up on an alfalfa farm in Okanogan County where his parents still live. He completed his Masters in Natural Resources and PhD in Water Resources both at University of Idaho. He subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at University of Washington and University of California Santa Barbara. He has worked on various natural resource issues including the impact of dams on river temperatures in the Eastern US, forest thinning impacts on water resources the interior Pacific Northwest, and riparian buffers in Nicaragua. He currently lives with his wife and two kids and enjoys hiking, hunting, and fishing.
Julie Foss
Julie Foss is a Washington native and an Accounting Operations Professional who has worked in many financial capacities within various industries, resulting in a well-rounded and fulfilling career. She is thrilled to continue her professional path and growth within the non-profit sector at UCSRB. Julie is passionate about all things outdoors, from flower farming to road and mountain biking to open water swimming. As an Ironman finisher, she now enjoys volunteering at Ironman sanctioned races. Julie is a Washington State Notary and a member of the National Notary Association.
Meghan Camp
Meghan grew up in Washington in the verdant foothills of the Cascades where she developed a deep passion for the natural world. She earned a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Natural Resources with an emphasis in Wildlife Ecology from Washington State University and University of Idaho. Meghan has conducted research on a variety of wildlife species including pygmy rabbits, American pikas, mule deer, white-tailed deer, Andean bears, and songbirds. Prior to joining the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board as Salmon Habitat Recovery Project Manager, Meghan worked at Cramer Fish Sciences where she gained experience in salmon recovery and habitat restoration. Outside of the professional realm, Meghan is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and fly fishing, activities that reinforce her connection with nature and commitment to environmental stewardship.
Ariel Edwards
Ariel’s love for the environment began while growing up in southeast Idaho, where she spent much of her time enjoying wild and scenic places on foot or skis with family and friends. Before moving to Wenatchee to join UCSRB, Ariel worked for multiple natural resource agencies in Oregon, Idaho, California, and Alaska. She completed her Master of Science in Biology at Northern Michigan University, where her research focused on the trophic dynamics of the Lake Superior fish community, and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Western Washington University. Ariel has extensively worked with salmon in their native ranges in Northern California and Alaska, as well as their nonnative range in the Great Lakes. Her passion for salmon and their habitats extends beyond the workplace, as she enjoys exploring the waters of the PNW while fly fishing, hiking, and backpacking.
Gabby Vermeire
When Gabby moved to Wenatchee to start as Program Assistant for UCSRB, she traded her views of the Boulder, CO Flatirons for those of the Cascade mountain range. After graduating with majors in Political Science and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado, Gabby became interested in the ways combining the two fields can create smart conservation policy. For the past three years, Gabby worked as a paralegal in the areas of criminal defense and family law and was previously the executive assistant to the Vice President of the Public Interest Network. She is also a freelance writer who believes in the power of creative messaging in helping organizations reach new audiences. Gabby has found the Pacific Northwest to be a natural environment for her hobbies of flannel-wearing, rock climbing, and being an active bird nerd.
