Meet the Team
Staff
Administration
District Manager - Emmett Wild
Emmett joined Skagit CD in 2018, first as Senior Farm Planner and later as District Manager. Emmett brings more than 20 years of experience with livestock and land management to his work at the District and enjoys the opportunity to grow services for our community. He has a strong track-record of developing innovative solutions and enhancing existing programs through collaboration. Emmett operates a small farm in Stanwood.
Bookkeeper - Denise Briggs
Denise joined as our Full Charge Bookkeeper in February 2016. She loves Skagit Valley and cannot imagine living anywhere else. She came to us with a background of being an Office Manager for a construction company. She said: "I love the people I work with here at SCD. This is the best job I have ever had." In her off time she likes to read, listen to music, watch movies, and visit with her daughters.
Office Assistant - Kelsey Freeman
Kelsey joined SCD as our Office Assistant in 2024. Before joining the District, she worked for a local ophthalmology practice for several years. Her experience in office administration and her passion for our natural world ultimately led her to the District, where she enjoys helping our team in the office and interfacing with our community. When she is not at work, she spends her free time reading or hiking.
Planning and Restoration
Senior Farm Planner - Jeffery Frazier
Jeff joined SCD in 2013. Jeff’s agricultural background, experience, and overall love for the agricultural community, ultimately led him to coming to the District. Today, Jeff is our Senior Farm Planner and works alongside our other planner to help dairies, commercial, and small farms with managing their natural resources. Jeff has 4 adult sons, a small hay farm, and is a varsity assistant football coach.
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Farm Planner - Ryan Gelwicks
Ryan grew up on a small farm in Whatcom County where they raised cattle for milk and beef. After majoring in environmental science at Western Washington University he spent a couple of years working for the WSDA and Snohomish Conservation District before coming to Skagit CD in 2023 where he is a farm planner who works to help dairies and other small farms to manage their natural resources. When Ryan is off the clock, you will find him playing baseball, climbing, sailing or spending time at home with his partner, dog, and cat.
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GIS/CREP Coordinator - Joe Holtcamp
Joe Holtcamp has served SCD since 1996. He specializes in Riparian planting projects
Program Manager - Allison Hutchens
Allison is a former environmental non-profit leader with over a decade of experience in sustainable farming, ecological restoration, and public education. Allison has a long history of gardening and love of food dating back to her childhood and through her volunteerism and professional pursuits. After completing her Bachelor of Arts at The Evergreen State College she spent two years traveling across the States and Europe with the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms program. She returned to Puget Sound and dedicated herself to creating more just and engaging urban farms in Seattle for seven years as a Children's Garden Educator at Seattle Tilth, King County Master Gardener, Farm Manager and Executive Director with Alleycat Acres, and Executive Director of The Common Acre. She spent four years managing education and outreach with Whidbey Island Conservation District before moving to the magic Skagit.
Forestry and Wildfire
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Forester - Nicholas Kunz
Nicholas holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Forestry and Natural Resources and professional certifications in GIS, wetlands, dendrochronology, and wildland fire, with extensive experience across private, state, federal and tribal forestlands.
He assists landowners through our forestry program which provides no-cost, voluntary technical assistance for developing integrated forest management plans for cost share eligibility. In addition to planning services, the program provides all landowners with resources on establishing and maintaining healthy trees and forests, natural resource conservation practices, local forest products resources, tree farm certification for eligible forest landowners, and supports outreach and education for a variety community groups, students, educators, and forest landowners.”
Wildfire Resilience Technician - Alexis Bryson
Alexis joined on as our Community Wildfire Resilience Technician in April 2024. She graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor's of Science in Environmental Science and a minor in Political Science. As of 2024, Alexis has started her Master's of Science in Environmental and Climate Law. In her previous roles, she has worked as a Special Education Paraeducator for Bellingham Public Schools, a U.S. Embassy Economics, Environment, Science, and Technology intern in New Delhi, India and has been a volunteer with the local humane society and local habitat restoration groups for many years.
Alexis has lived in Western Washington most of her life and became connected to this region's ecology at an early age, leading to her passion for conservation, ecology, and animal sciences. When she isn't at work, you can find Alexis on a beach, in a forest, or in another country exploring the world around her
Wildfire Resilience Specialist - Robert Walters
Robert joined the Conservation District in February of 2024. Robert brings extensive experience across a variety of professional fields to, once again, pursue his passion for natural resources. He often finds himself in awe at the beauty of natural systems and their interactions. Fire plays an important role in these systems, but also requires that we are prepared and have plans in place for when fire crosses from the wildland into the settled land. With his background in construction, operational management, customer service, and natural resources management, he strives to reach multiple, varied audiences with resources and tools that landowners can use to protect their property and structures.
Robert received his Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Policy & Management from Oregon State University, graduating summa cum laude. He has previously worked in water quality and wildfire preparedness for the San Juan Islands Conservation District and is excited to build upon that experience in his new home of Whatcom County. In his spare time, Robert can be found on a golf course, in a local river or stream, or enjoying a good football game.
Outreach & Education
Outreach & Education Coordinator - Cindy Pierce
Cindy joined the Skagit Conservation District on November 1, 2001, as a part-time office assistant. Over the years, her duties at the district have continued to evolve; From database management, to outreach and education activities such as teaching environmental science to Skagit County youth. One of the tasks she enjoys at the district is managing the faithful, hardworking volunteers of the important citizen-science program “the Skagit Stream Team”.
Cindy lives with her husband Dave in Sedro-Woolley, where they enjoy gardening, hiking, walking, grandchildren, and pets.
Outreach & Education Coordinator - Carla Glassman
Carla is a long-time resident of Skagit county, growing up and going to school in Anacortes, and eventually moving back to Skagit County to a small “farm” on the edge of the Samish River in Sedro-Woolley.
In 2013 Carla took a part time position at Skagit Conservation District, and in 2014 became a Skagit county Master Gardener. Carla took over the position of Outreach and Education Coordinator at Skagit Conservation District in 2021 where she combines her love for nature and plants with helping and educating people.
Outreach Specialist -Laura Wagner
Laura joined Skagit CD in August 2026 as their Outreach Specialist. She is a Western Washington University 2023 Alum with an Environmental Science and Chinese Language & Culture double major. Post-graduation, Laura served two terms as an AmeriCorps member on Pierce CD’s communications team, which strengthened her passion for conservation communication, outreach, and education. She is thrilled to connect the Skagit community with their environment through hands-on learning, exploration, and stewardship. Off the clock, Laura’s time is split between multiple interests: D&D, jewelry crafting, linocut carving, cooking, traveling around the Sound, and more
Specialists
District Engineer - Chuck Gerdes
Chuck moved to Washington after completing his education from Florida Tech in 2010. He started his professional career testing soil with InSitu Engineering. Chuck left in 2014 and started working for Mac Engineering as a private land development consultant. Chuck focused on stormwater detention/retention analyses for commercial and residential developments in the greater Snohomish / Skagit areas. In 2020, He moved to Snohomish Conservation District. Chuck became the northwest area engineer in late 2022, and now provides technical support for Skagit County, Whatcom Count, San Juan Island County, and Whidbey Island.
GIS Specialist - Emma Tomaszewski
Emma joined SCD in January 2026, filling a new role as the GIS Specialist. Emma comes to the District with a background in Wildlife Ecology and an expertise in spatial analysis, mapping and data management. She holds a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science, a GIS certificate, and a Master’s in Conservation Ecology. She was born and raised in Whatcom county and grew up with a vast appreciation for the natural beauty and bounty of the area. Emma has a passion for serving and supporting her local community and is excited to contribute to the great work of the SCD. In her free time you will find Emma hiking or running trails with her dog, cooking elaborate meals, curling up with a good book, or backpacking and traveling with her partner.
Conservation Easement Liaison - Eric Nelson
Eric is a Washington native, having been raised in the Skagit Valley. He has lived and worked most of his life in and around the agricultural industry and in the public arena. Following graduation from the University of Washington, Eric went to work for King County’s agriculture program, eventually becoming Program Manager. Part of his duties as Program Manager was overseeing the county’s Farmland Preservation Program, which at the time had over 12,600 acres in agricultural conservation easements. Eric also owned and operated the Cherry Valley Dairy in Duvall, Wa. for 10 years. He also worked for American Farmland Trust as the Environmental Programs Manager in the Pacific Northwest Region. In addition, he was the easement monitoring agent for Skagit County for several years. Most recently he and a business partner, Mark Sollitto, have represented landowners In King County interested in selling or transferring their development rights to King County. They have helped preserve over 1,200 acres, representing 7 different landowners in the Snoqualmie and Green River valleys.
Eric was also an elected supervisor at the King Conservation District and was the co-chair of the King County-KCD Conservation Task Force. He has served on many boards and commissions and is currently serving as the President of the Washington State Holstein Association
Eric has three grown children and four grandchildren who all reside in the Palouse. Eric and his partner Sharlotte and their Boxer, Nacho, reside in Burlington. In his spare time Eric enjoys watching sports, especially his UW Huskies and the Seattle Seahawks and Mariners and playing with Nacho.
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Cultural Liaison - Nubia Gonzalez Maya
Nubia joined the Skagit Conservation District team in 2025 as a contracted Cultural Ambassador through the USDA NRCS Community-Led Conservation Grant, helping the District to improve outreach and communication with Spanish-speaking farmers. Her work has been incredibly valuable to the team and to our community, and the District is thrilled to continue partnering with her. Outside of work, Nubia enjoys spending time in nature, exploring scenic trails, listening to music, and learning new things.
Our History
What is a Conservation District?
The Dust Bowl in the 1930’s, demonstrated the need for improved farming practices. It was understood that they needed people who knew the land, the local concerns and the famers' needs to successfully educate and assist people with sustainable farming practices and so Conservation Districts were created. States committed to Hugh Hammond Bennet’s vision of restoring our countries farmland and the number of Districts grew, now resting at over 3,000.
Hugh Hammond Bennett: The Story of America’s Private Lands Conservation Movement
W-742-9. 3/27/52. Supervisors of Skagit Soil Conservation District. Left to right --Jess Knutzen, Director of the State Association; Albert Gerriets, Vice Chairman; James T. Ovenell, Chairman; W. James Wylie, Secretary-Treasurer; and W. E. Jennings, member. Photo by A. F. Harms
The Skagit Conservation District has served the county since 1942. We have a reputation for putting conservation on the ground, meeting the current needs of our people, while planning for future generations. Our programs reduce soil erosion, help dairies achieve nutrient management standards, enhance wildlife habitat, establish riparian zones, assist in shellfish protection, and educate local citizens about our watersheds.
Partners
Our success is tied to cooperation with other agencies, organizations, and Tribes. We work closely with partners on community projects including: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Washington State Conservation Commission, Washington State Department of Ecology, Department of Natural Resources, Skagit County, Skagit River Systems Cooperative, Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, Skagit Watershed Council, and Western Washington Agricultural Association.