Staff
Tom Uniack(he/him)
Executive Director
Tom joined Washington Wild in 2003 after graduating from the Master’s program at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington. For 13 years he served as Washington Wild’s Conservation Director and in early 2016 was named Executive Director. His leadership role within a core group of both local and regional Wilderness advocates has significantly advanced the protection and restoration of Washington’s wild land and waters. This notably includes the successful passage of the Wild Sky Wilderness Act (2008) and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions Act (2014).
Tom’s role as Executive Director has been carefully structured to combine organizational and mission leadership. His ability and passion to lead both Washington Wild and the conservation community will ensure continued success in protecting wild lands and waters in the beautiful state of Washington, now and for future generations.
Prior to grad school, Tom was with Defenders of Wildlife for seven years in Washington, D.C. where he worked on a range of issues from Arctic wilderness to preserving Florida black bears. Tom and his wife, Stephanie, are the proud parents of son Luke, and twins Charlize and Sierra.
Evan Lepine (he/him)Deputy Director
Evan joined Washington Wild in July of 2019. He grew up in Northern Michigan exploring everywhere from Pictured Rocks on Lake Superior, to the sand dunes of Sleeping Bear National Park near his hometown of Traverse City.
With years of development experience, his main focus is to strategize, create, and implement a comprehensive fundraising program that will increase both engagement and financial support for the organization and its programs. Celebrating 18 years in Washington, Evan and his family enjoy paddleboarding on Lake Washington, snowboarding at Stevens Pass, and backpacking in the North Cascades.
Chris Chappell (he/him)Brewshed® Alliance Director
Chris joined Washington Wild in February 2020 to manage the Brewshed® Alliance and Washington Wild’s conservation campaigns. Hailing from the Sonoran Desert (Phoenix, AZ), Chris has a background in conservation and craft brewing, spending 4 years with The Nature Conservancy in Arizona and 2 years with Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.
His focus with the Brewshed Alliance is to build a community of brewers, maltsters, hop growers, pub owners, etc. around protecting our incredibly valuable wildlands and waterways now and forever. While not at work, you can find Chris in any of the Seattle area’s music venues, breweries, or forests.
Christal Belsterling (she/her)Business and Finance Manager
Christal joined Washington Wild in June 2023 after graduating from Bethel University with a degree in Business HR and a minor in Reconciliation Studies. She grew up exploring the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood Forest, which helped cultivate her love for the Pacific Northwest and the drive to care for it.
As Business Coordinator, Christal works to oversee our database, membership, and assists with our Wild Night Out Event. Outside of work, Christal enjoys going hiking and backpacking with her sisters or working on her various craft projects ranging from embroidery to lettering.
Edith Han (she/they)Communications Manager
Edith joined Washington Wild in March 2026, bringing over a decade of experience in nonprofit marketing and communications.
They graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on public health and international development policy. A scientist in mind and a creative at heart, she is constantly thinking of innovative ways to bridge storytelling, data, and community mobilization. Their experience and diverse background have fostered their ability to work with groups of all backgrounds and to tell impactful stories to drive audience and community engagement.
They moved to Washington in 2022 after living in the other Washington for 15 years because they missed the western mountains. During her free time, depending on the season, you can find them backpacking, mountaineering, ski touring, whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, dancing, or crafting.
Board of Directors
If you are interested in joining the Washington Wild Board of Directors click here for more information.
Lyndsay GordonPresident
Lyndsay has a long history with Washington Wild. Starting as a volunteer in 2007, she eventually joined the staff in 2013. Utilizing her experience and industry knowledge gained by working at two different breweries and earning Cicerone Certification, Lyndsay took the reins of the fledgling Brewshed® Alliance. Instrumental to its growth, Lyndsay’s expertise contributed significantly to realizing the vision of the Brewshed®—to bring the conservation and craft brewing industry together to advance our shared interest in protecting clean water sources.
In 2019 she returned to get her Master’s in Public Policy & Governance with a focus on environmental policy and public finance. After graduate school, she started at the Department of Ecology in the Toxics Cleanup Program, where she works to help clean up legacy contamination throughout the state.
Her love of the outdoors started at a young age through hikes, tent trailer camping, backpacking, and a general desire to explore the great outdoors.
Dan DillingerVice President
Dan grew up exploring the pine forests, rivers, and marshes of South Georgia and North Florida. With a degree in advertising from the University of Georgia’s Grady School of Journalism, he began his career in Atlanta, backpacking in the southern Appalachians on weekends.
In 2005, he moved to Seattle, where he has worked in technology and media for around 20 years. An avid outdoorsman, Dan enjoys rock climbing, fly fishing, and trail running in Washington and throughout the American West. He is committed to protecting wild places for future generations including his two children and nine nieces and nephews.
Adam LenhardtTreasurer
Adam brings a strong business background specializing in finance and currently serves as Vice President, Finance Business Partner at BECU. He has held financial leadership roles at Porch, OnlineShoes, Washington Mutual, and JPMorgan Chase, and began his career at GE Capital. Adam earned a B.S. in Finance & Accounting from the University of Dayton.
When not crunching numbers, Adam enjoys traveling both domestically and internationally, with a focus on backpacking, hiking, and camping. His adventures include the John Muir Trail, sections of the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington, and treks across South America, including Torres del Paine, Machu Picchu, and the Huayhuash Circuit.
Inspired by a deep appreciation for the beautiful forests, mountains, and rivers in Washington, he rejoined the Board of Directors in 2026 after previously serving from 2012-2019. He is motivated by the organization’s ability to unite communities and drive lasting conservation and believes protecting these natural resources is essential for future generations.
Colin KikawaSecretary
Colin joined the Washington Wild Board in September 2020. Growing up in Southern California he developed a love of nature by visiting the National Parks with his family.
He fell in love with the Pacific Northwest after moving to Seattle to attend the University of Washington. He and his wife Katie have raised a family with a love of all things outdoors and a great appreciation of the natural beauty of the area. Colin has enjoyed winters skiing at Crystal Mountain where he has been a part-time snow sports instructor for more than 15 years. In the summer, he has enjoyed climbing most of the area’s volcanic summits and is now looking to spend more time hiking and fly fishing.
This love of the outdoors and knowing that these resources must be preserved and protected for future generations drew him to join the Washington Wild board.
Samantha BazantBoard Member
Growing up in Oregon, Sam spent weekends hiking, biking, swimming, and skiing in the Mount Hood National Forest and later outside of Eugene, Oregon, where she received a B.S. in Business Administration and a minor in Arabic Studies. These early experiences formed a lifelong love for the outdoors.
Sam is passionate about bringing awareness to climate change, ensuring the outdoors are protected and accessible to all current and future members of our society, and understanding how organizations can implement practices that honor people and planet, not just profit.
She currently lives in Seattle with her dog, Larry, and can be found running, biking, and walking around the city or camping, trail running, and hiking somewhere in the woods.
Layne CarterBoard Member
Layne is the Chief Operating Officer at Aslan Brewing Co. and is based out of Bellingham, WA. Having spent most of her life in eastern Washington (Spokane and Leavenworth areas), Layne has a high appreciation for the conifers of the east side and the lush greenery the west side has to offer.
Coming up on 9 years in craft beer, she has worked at various breweries, having spent the last 5 years at Aslan. She is a believer in regenerative organic agriculture, sustainable brewing techniques, and an all-hands-on-deck approach when it comes to helping to mitigate the climate crisis.
Brian MueggeBoard Member
Brian is the Farm Program Manager for Salmon-Safe, a PNW-based environmental certification non-profit working with landowners to better promote watershed-friendly stewardship practices.
A wildlife biologist by trade, he has worked in several fields prior to joining Salmon-Safe – from working for the US Forest Service, a foodtech startup, to a couple Washington state craft breweries. Brian manages Salmon-Safe’s agricultural program throughout the Pacific Northwest, largely working with farmers directly as well as with place-based partners to further facilitate climate-resilient land stewardship practices.
Brian is acutely dedicated to enacting sustainable land practices in order to protect natural resources and wildlife, and is passionate about connecting with people across urban and agricultural settings to find common ground relating to conservation.
In his free time he can be found birding, fly-fishing, attending various sporting events, and reveling in his role as “Fun Uncle” to his 3 year old nephew.
Steve RobinsonBoard Member
Stephen “Steve” Robinson is a graduate of the University of Oregon School of Journalism and a Native of the Pacific Northwest. He is a US Army veteran and has fifty years of experience in the communication field, serving as a newspaper reporter, a corporate public relations executive, Public Affairs Manager for the State Department of Natural Resources, Information Services Manager for the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, and owner of SR Productions, a tribal support company.
Steve served as Billy Frank Jr’s “PR Guy” for 30 years. His focus through the past three decades has centered on environmental protection and habitat restoration from the perspective of the tribes. Since retiring his public relations/lobbying business in 2019 he has become more active in volunteer work, serving on several environmental/Climate Change boards and committees. He is of Salish Kootenai descent.
Scott SchuylerBoard Member
Scott is a member and lifelong resident of the Upper Skagit Tribe; his mother is an Upper Skagit and his late father was Oneida.
He attended Skagit Valley College, The Evergreen State College, and the University of Washington. Serving as the Natural Resources Policy Representative for his Tribe since 1987, Scott has been instrumental in protecting the Skagit River from mining and other destructive activities.
An avid tribal fisher for over 42 years, Scott is also a proud father of four and grandfather of six.
Sanjay SubbaraoBoard Member
Sanjay Subbarao is an accomplished entrepreneur, mentor, and product evangelist with expertise in technology, startups, mental health, and environmental conservation.
Originally from Bengaluru, India, he earned a Master’s in Electrical Engineering and an Executive MBA in the U.S. Sanjay has worked in semiconductors at NXP and Marvell, and in AI with Amazon and Dextego, launching products for tech giants. He now advises startups, particularly in mental health, as a Business Mentor at the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and Principal Partner at VentureBay. As founder of The Joyyus Foundation, he drives mental health initiatives, while his role on the Washington Wild board reflects his commitment to nature conservation.
Sanjay has hiked over 4,000 miles and volunteers over 500 hours annually, advocating for STEM education. His diverse experience, strong communication, and mission-driven approach enable him to provide empathetic yet rigorous evaluations, fostering innovation for healthy minds and a sustainable planet.
Jessie TaylorBoard Member
Jessie joined the Washington Wild Board in April 2026. A lifelong Pacific Northwest local, her connection to wild places runs deep — from childhood explorations of the region’s forests and waterways to a career built around helping people discover and fall in love with the natural world.
Jessie has spent her career at the intersection of technology, outdoor adventure, and human connection — creating pathways for millions of people to step outside, explore their surroundings, and form meaningful bonds with the places they explore. She believes that personal connection to place is one of the most powerful forces in conservation, which is what drew her to the Washington Wild board.
She’s an avid geocacher, hiker, and explorer of the world’s landscapes. She brings to the board a passion for community-building, inclusive outdoor spaces, and the conviction that wonder is one of the most renewable resources we have. She lives in Seattle and is always planning her next adventure.
Roger MellemBoard Member Emeritus
Roger Mellem has been an avid wilderness conservationist since before the first Earth Day in 1970. He has testified at many Congressional hearings and was the Sierra Club’s Acting Northwest Representative in 1973. Roger is a Life Member of the Sierra Club, Olympic Park Associates, and Montana Wilderness Association. He is also a member of a Yale University international environmental committee, the Leadership Council of the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
Roger is an attorney at Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland, PLLC in Seattle. He prosecutes, defends and resolves tough securities, real estate and other commercial cases on behalf of businesses and individuals, and serves as a mediator as well.
Roger graduated from the Honors College of the University of Oregon. Prior to entering law school, he spent four years managing environmental issues in Oregon government. Roger obtained his first year of legal training at the Yale Law School. He then transferred to the University of Oregon Law School, where he graduated second in his class. He clerked for a federal judge in Oregon for two years and then joined a Seattle law firm.
Roger’s affection of the outdoors involves climbing. In 1974 he did the first ascent of a 20,300-foot peak in northern Pakistan with the late wilderness advocate Willi Unsoeld. Roger instructed for the Pacific Crest Outward Bound School for parts of five summers, and during 2011 he climbed in the Colorado Rockies, Ecuadorian Andes and the Nepal Himalaya.
Art WolfeConservation Photographer
Washington Wild Honorary Chair
I am honored to have just hit my 5-year Anniversary as an Honorary Chair for Washington Wild. By supporting Washington Wild, you are joining thousands of Wilderness Advocates across the state to make sure these places stay preserved for future generations to come. In this time of uncertainty, it is imperative to protect and defend the wild places that feed our spirit. Washington Wild is prepared to fight harder than ever to protect our conservation investment in the snowcapped mountains, low-elevation old growth forests and salmon spawning streams that make Washington State such a remarkable place.
