Executive Director

I am a Washington-based restoration practitioner and Executive Director of Free The Green, where I lead community driven salmon habitat restoration, native plant initiatives, and workforce development programs across the Green-Duwamish and Puyallup watersheds. My work centers on restoring ecological function while building strong partnerships with Tribes, local governments, schools, and community members to advance equitable, place based environmental solutions. I bring over seven years of experience in habitat restoration and community based conservation, with a focus on riparian reforestation, invasive species removal, and streambank stabilization. Through my work, I have led large scale restoration projects, secured and managed multi partner grants, and developed youth and community programs that connect people directly to restoration and stewardship. I am especially passionate about integrating traditional knowledge, food sovereignty, and native plant systems into restoration design to support long term ecosystem resilience.

I hold a Master of Marine Affairs from the University of Washington, where my thesis focused on integrating traditional food forests into salmon habitat restoration in partnership with Tribal and community organizations. I also earned a dual bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and American Indian Studies from the University of Washington, and an associate’s degree in Natural Resources from Green River College with concentrations in water quality, forestry, GIS, and parks management. In addition to my role at Free The Green, I serve as a board member with Orca Conservancy, where I contribute to regional policy and recovery efforts for Southern Resident Orcas. My broader work is rooted in the understanding that salmon recovery, ecosystem health, and community wellbeing are deeply interconnected, and I am committed to advancing restoration approaches that reflect that relationship.

Botanist and Education Outreach Specialist  

Hello! My name is Zach Ziska. I am a Greenriver college graduate who earned the degree in Forest Resources Management with an emphasis on ecological sampling and assessment. I have a passion for ethnobotany, plant ecology, and invasive species management.   I am the Botanist and Education Outreach Specialist with Free The Green and have experience and passions working with native plant ecology, growing and production, as well as noxious weed best management  practices.   Native plants are such a key element for ecological restoration and I am honored to be a part of the team in which I oversee native plant orders and operations, community outreach and social media, educating interns and volunteers about diverse restoration techniques, and the interconnectedness of our Pacific Northwest ecology while fighting the battle against noxious weeds.   Stick your hand in dirt, identify and plant a native  plant, pull noxious weeds, and marvel at this beautiful planet we share with so much flora and fauna that we must protect at all costs. Earth is above, below, around, and inside of us. We are from the Earth.

Project Planner and Media Specialist

Hi, I’m Madison Brown and I am a studying Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation science at Oregon state university. I worked with the Washington Conservation Corps as a technician and assistant supervisor for two years and bring knowledge on large scale restoration projects and the techniques needed to organize and lead them. As Project Planner and Media Specialist for Free the Green, I combine hands-on fieldwork experience with my education in visual communication using art to inspire local stewardship and protect native ecosystems. I bring expertise in visual communication and stakeholder collaboration, having worked alongside local governments, and community organizations like the Pierce Conservation District. I hold certifications as a Wilderness First Responder and chainsaw sawyer. Driven by a passion for biodiversity and ecological justice, I believe in empowering communities to restore and sustain healthy, thriving environments.

Free the Green President and Project Manager

Hello everyone! My name is Tanner and I’m thrilled to introduce myself as the President and Project Manager for Free the Green! I am a 2022 graduate from Green River College with a bachelor’s degree in Forestry Management and am currently working towards my masters. I have 7 years experience in restoration work!

My journey into the world of restoration has been unconventional with me starting out with a planned major in biology transfer degree doing running start– The forestry program caught my eye for it's a genuine passion for nature and a commitment to making a positive impact and at 17 I jumped in! One of the opportunities offered to me due to my changed educational pathway was an internship focusing on river restoration which quickly found its way to being more than just an internship but a mission to ensure that our rivers thrive and provide a healthy habitat for all our species here in Washington.

Field Technician

Hi, my name is Ben Hogle. I’m a Natural Resources student at Green River College, where I am studying forestry, water quality, park management, and GIS. I enjoy hands on field-work and research and learning about how forests, streams, and wildlife function together as connected systems. I’m also interested in understanding how past ecosystems can inform conservation and land management today.

Project Manager

My name is Kat and I am passionate about aquatic sciences and environmental conservation. I have a BS in oceanography from Cal Poly Humboldt and have recently earned a MS in Marine Affairs from the University of Washington. I grew up in the desert and fell in love with the Pacific Northwest when I went to college. Every summer growing up was spent on both coasts, developing a love for the ocean and how to protect it. I moved to Washington and have learnt so much from living amongst the woods and the Puget Sound. In graduate school I developed a love for watersheds and riparian systems: it’s all connected to the biodiversity we see in this beautiful region. My experiences have given me a deep appreciation for ecology and that complex ecosystems exist in every biome. I joined Free the Green as a restoration technician and am proud to have become a project manager. It is where I can combine my loves for conservation, restoration, and creating into one. Facing an uncertain future may be overwhelming, but it means so much to me that I have a team and a space where I can make a tangible difference in my community and in my corner or the world.