Staff

Gala Miller

Executive Director (360) 882-0936 ext. 221 gmiller@columbiasprings.org Gala began working at Columbia Springs in January of 2007. She is responsible for the development, administration, and implementation of educational programming, policies, and goals. Gala oversees the day to day business and administrative operations of Columbia Springs. Her duties also include promoting public understanding of and support for Columbia Springs through community building and the development of external relations. Gala is a native of the Pacific Northwest, growing up in Bellevue, Washington. She later earned a B.A in Liberal Arts from the Evergreen State College in Olympia and a Master in Education from Western Washington University in Bellingham. She is a certified teacher with experience teaching in the classroom and in outdoor settings. Following graduate school Gala spent 2+ years in Niger, West Africa, serving as a Peace Corps volunteer. Prior to coming to Columbia Springs Gala spent 13 years working for the US Forest Service at the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. While there she served multiple roles within both the public service and recreation programs from Environmental Education Coordinator to the Chief of Interpretation. When not working Gala enjoys playing soccer, venturing out into the woods to hike, x-country ski, or pick mushrooms, wine tasting, reading, and hanging out with her husband Dave and her dog Henry.

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Mariah Acton

Volunteer & Special Events Coordinator (360) 882-0936 ext. 230 volunteer@columbiasprings.org Mariah Acton joined the Columbia Springs staff in February of 2010. As the Events and Volunteer Coordinator, Mariah works hard to insure the success of our annual events, to build a burgeoning new service learning and volunteer program, and is responsible for much of Columbia Springs’ online presence. Mariah grew up on a family farm in northern Vancouver and attended public school in the area up through completing her Associate’s degree through Running Start at Clark College. She then spent three years studying environmental policy and working in organizational leadership development at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, graduating with her Bachelor’s degree in 2009. After spending a summer backpacking and hitchhiking across Alaska, Mariah returned home and quickly found her place at Columbia Springs. When Mariah is not working, she enjoys spending time outside, helping on her family’s dairy goat farm, registering voters, and learning more about the role of conflict mediation and collaborative decision making in land use planning, community development, and environmental policy.

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Jo Anne Dolan

Sustainability Programs Director (360) 882-0936 ext. 224 mcr@columbiasprings.org Jo Anne Dolan joined the Columbia Springs staff as Sustainability Programs Director in April 2008. Jo Anne provides leadership for the Master Composter/Recycler Program in Clark County. She engages community members in learning about ways to steward our natural resources – through workshops, community outreach, and social media. Prior to joining the Columbia Springs team she worked as Director of Outreach and Education for a Pacific Northwest watershed council where she worked with watershed restoration projects, engaging community members and volunteers in educational and stewardship activities. Jo Anne’s natural resource background includes work as a park ranger, field biologist and botanist, natural and cultural history guide, interpretive specialist and visitor center director, and outdoor science instructor. Jo Anne received a BA in Zoology and Natural History from the University of Montana. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, bicycling, back country skiing, whitewater boating, writing, and reading.

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Lynn Findlay

Finance Director (360) 882-0936 ext. 225 finance@columbiasprings.org Lynn joined Columbia Springs in May 2008, filling the newly-created position of Finance Director. In May 2006, Lynn moved to Washington from Milwaukee, WI, where she lived for 26 years. Most recently, she was Comptroller for the North Shore Fire Department in Brown Deer, WI. Prior to that, Lynn was the Business Manager and then Executive Director for Milwaukee’s Humph IMAX Dome Theater. In fall 2007, Lynn completed the WSU Clark County Master Gardener program. In addition to volunteering for the Master Gardeners, Lynn spends time in her own gardens and raises chickens and guinea fowl. She likes to sew, read and is learning Spanish. On beautiful days, you can find her on the back of a red Harley Davidson.

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Brian Harvard

Fish Hatchery Specialist 3 (360) 892-2581 Brian.Harvard@dfw.wa.gov Brian Harvard joined the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in 1991 at the Washougal Salmon Hatchery. He later joined the Vancouver Trout Hatchery in 1995 where he was promoted and now serves as Fish Hatchery Specialist 3. Brian is charged with management and oversight of fish production, grounds maintenance and hatchery facilities at Columbia Springs. Brian works with the Vancouver Trout Hatchery team in ensuring the fish production is accomplished on schedule and in compliance with state standards. In addition, Brian implements the annual operating budget of the Hatchery and ensures budgetary compliance. Brian received an Associate’s Degree in Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management from Bellingham Technical College. In Brian’s free time he enjoys fishing and spending time with his family.

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Gary Millhollin

Fish Hatchery Specialist 2 (360) 892-2581 Gary.Millhollin@dfw.wa.gov Gary Millhollin joined the Department of Fish and Wildlife in 1988 where he worked for the Bonneville Hatchery in Oregon. He later joined the Vancouver Trout Hatchery team in 1998 where he currently serves as Fish Hatchery Specialist 2. Gary is charged with assisting with the hatchery operations. He manually maintains the hatching troughs and the incubation rooms. This includes initial setup of units, watering, filling them with eggs, and cleaning units. Gary also works to ensure the round ponds and raceways are clean and controlled. In addition to his hatchery work, Gary works diligently to maintain the grounds and facilities at Columbia Springs. Gary received an Associate’s Degree in Fisheries Technology from Mt. Hood Community College in 1990. In Gary’s free time he enjoys fishing, hunting, mushrooming, and gardening.

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Lauriel Schuman

Environmental Educator Salmon in the Classroom (360) 882-0936 ext. 228 sitc@columbiasprings.org

Lauriel began working with Columbia Springs in August of 2012 as the Salmon in the Classroom (SITC) Program Coordinator and Environmental Educator. SITC is a program of Columbia Springs in partnership with and funded by Clark Public Utilities. The program was created in 1991 by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to provide students an opportunity for hands-on environmental education. Lauriel manages 52 aquarium tanks in schools across Clark County which are used to rear over 12,000 Coho salmon each year. Lauriel is also an educator for the on-site education programs at Columbia Springs, including Nature Day Camps in summer. Lauriel grew up in the Pacific NW and is deeply passionate about connecting young people to the natural world. Before coming to Columbia Springs, Lauriel worked in program development and as an environmental educator with many local and national organizations including The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), The Audubon Society of Portland, Friends of Tryon Creek State park, the Girl Scouts, the YMCA and AmeriCorps. Lauriel has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the Evergreen State College, a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Education from the University of Idaho, and a Master’s Degree in Leadership for Sustainability Education from Portland State University. In Lauriel’s free time she is an avid photographer and enjoys spending time outdoors, gardening and traveling to far-off places.

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Jennifer James

Education Director

(360) 882-0936 ext. 226

 schoolprograms@columbiasprings.org

Jennifer James is really excited to join the Columbia Springs community as the new Education Director! As a self-professed lifelong learner, she feels deeply committed to cultivating others’ curiosity about and desire for connection to the natural world. Prior to arriving at Columbia Springs, Jennifer has spent several years as a passionate educator of youth and adults in many aspects of environmental education. Her teaching experience has included, but is not limited to, organic farming and gardening, forest ecology, sustainability issues, social justice, plant propagation, ethno-botany, and nutrition education.

For the past 5 years, Jennifer worked as Education Program Manager at Sauvie Island Center (SIC), a non-profit organization dedicated to educating youth about the importance of food, farming and the land. She feels that the Columbia Springs Education Director position presents her with a fantastic opportunity to utilize her enthusiasm for environmental education, her naturalist skills, and her program management knowledge in a very tangible way. Jennifer is looking forward to cultivating this important environmental education program that provides opportunities for so many young people to connect to nature!

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