Lance Winecka – Executive Director
Lance Winecka was born and raised near the Puget Sound. Lance has worked for SPSSEG since 2001 and has overseen over 100 on-the-ground restoration projects. In 2007, Lance became the Executive Director for the Group and continues to build upon his experience to build better projects and to be more effective in salmon restoration. Lance lives in Olympia, WA with his wife and two kids. lancew@spsseg.org
Christine Garst – Accounts Manager, Sound Nonprofit Accounting
Christine Garst owns Sound Nonprofit Accounting. She has been with SPSSEG since August 2004. Christine brings with her several years of accounting experience in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. She and her husband Sam have become active in environmental and progressive causes in South Puget Sound, and recently completed building the “greenest house in Thurston County.” Christine may be contacted at christineg@spsseg.org
Kristin Williamson- Salmon Habitat Restoration Biologist
A born and bred Minnesotan, Kristin grew up with warm-water fishes like bass, walleye, and northern pike, only to flee the Land of 10,000 Lakes bound for bigger salmon-infested waters of Western Washington. Kristin migrated to Washington in 1998 to attend the University of Puget Sound, where she earned a B.S. in Biology. Following school, she worked as a Creel Surveyor for WDFW for a season and as a fisheries biologist for the Puyallup Tribe for three years. She joined the SPSSEG family in 2005 and is proud to continue her passion of salmon research and restoration alongside her coworkers. Kristin may be contacted at kristinw@spsseg.org
Brian Combs – Salmon Restoration Biologist
Brian is an avid outdoorsman and has been exploring his passion for natural history in the Pacific Northwest since 1995. Brian earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the Evergreen State College in 2003 with emphasis in botany and ecology. He has since been working as a biologist in both the government and private sectors. His professional experience includes wetland biology, habitat restoration, botany, and wildlife studies. His spare time is spent mushroom hunting and fishing. Brian is glad to be a part of a non-profit organization and hopes to grow personally and professionally while being a steward of our region’s great resources. Brian may be contacted at brianc@spsseg.org
Adam Sant – Salmon Enhancement Project Manager
Born in the Bronx and raised in Los Angeles, Adam grew up a city kid finding fish, frogs and fun in the creeks, canyons and oak woodlands near his home. He migrated to the beautiful NW for the first time in 1994, and with time spent in Hawaii and Big Bear, CA, he and his wife returned to the Northwest to put down roots just outside the town of Rainier. He received his BA from Antioch University with an emphasis in natural sciences and education and combines his passion for salmon restoration with scuba diving, zoology, botany and astronomy. Adam’s professional experience includes work as a Habitat Technician for Thurston Conservation District, a Naturalist Guide/Interpreter for Hawaii Forest & Trail, as well as a brief stint doing Prairie Restoration with The Nature Conservancy. Adam is thrilled to be part of the SPSSEG family and looks forward to joining his coworkers as they seek to restore salmonid habitats throughout the South Sound. Adam may be contacted at adams@spsseg.org
Jerilyn Walley – Field Monitoring Technician and Project Assistant
Jerilyn is a work-study student at The Evergreen State College in the process of getting her Masters in Environmental Studies degree. She works with Kristin, Brian and Adam on various field projects that include learning about salmon, salmon habitat, and habitat monitoring techniques. While in the office she creates maps using ArcGIS, edits the SalmonGram and assists the project managers with various projects. Jerilyn may be contacted at jerilynw@spsseg.org
Heather Dalke- Education and Outreach Intern
Heather is SPSSEG’s intern from the Washington State Conservation Corps (WCC). Growing up at the foothills of the Snoqualmie Pass she feels at home in the outdoors skiing, hiking, swimming, and such. Following her passion for nature she received a B.A. in Environmental Education from Western Washington University. Heather primarily spends her time doing Environmental Education and Outreach in the outdoors, local schools, and festivals and can be contacted at heatherd@spsseg.org