Board of Directors

Officers

Craig McKibben - President

Craig was the co-founder of WRQ, Inc., a Seattle software company, and is now enjoying the ability to get outdoors more often to climb, ski and hike during his retirement.  His favorite hikes are in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the fall in search of huckleberries and larches.

David Schoenborn - Vice President, Advocacy

David is an avid hiker, trail maintenance volunteer, and attorney from Vancouver.  He has also been involved in government relations and legislative politics for many years, including working as Legislative Counsel to a Congressman and on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.  His favorite hike is Snowgrass Flats in the Goat Rocks Wilderness.

Michele Coad - Vice President, Board Development

Michele is an attorney and volunteer steward at Tiger Mountain for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Michele also serves on the Internal Review Board for the University of Washington, reviewing ethical considerations for proposed research involving human subjects, and she volunteers at the Veterans Administration Hospital.  Her favorite hike is Mt. Dickerman.

Melissa Strauch - Vice President, Fundraising & Membership

Melissa currently works on transportation issues for the City of Seattle and previously worked as the Development Director for another local nonprofit.  She holds a certificate in non-profit management from the University of Washington. Her favorite hike is Green Mountain in the Darrington District, which is currently inaccessible due to 2006 storm damage.

Susan Ball - Treasurer

Susan is a Senior Associate Treasurer at the University of Washington, where she has worked since 1989.  She is a senior member of the investment team responsible for the management of the University's investment programs.  Susan has been a member of WTA since her husband Greg Ball joined the Board in the 1980s.  Greg's later involvement as Executive Director then Operations Director for WTA insured a continuing close involvement with the organization.  Her favorite hike is the Boulder River near Darrington.

Rob Shurtleff - Secretary

Rob has a background in technology and investments, and is currently a Managing Director of Divergent Ventures.  He is an avid hiker and a frequent user of the WTA web site.  At this moment, his favorite hike is Lake Valhalla, off Smithbrook.

At Large Directors

Doug Breckel

Doug has served as Senior Associate Treasurer for the Board of Regents
for the University of Washington since 1993. As CFO for Financial Management, he current oversees the University's $1.2 billion in operating funds, capital funding, cash managment, real estate and risk management. His favorite place to hike is in the Columbia River Gorge: Mt Hamliton, Eagle Creek and Falls Creek Falls.

Kirk Clothier

Kirk Clothier has been a CPA for 40 years and is the founder and a shareholder of Clothier and Head. Kirk has been involved with hiking since he was a Boy Scout and has hiked extensively in the Cascades and Olympics.

Dave Egan

Dave is the owner and principal rep for Egan & Associates LLC, an outdoor equipment and apparel sales agency located in Fall City, servicing retail partners in the Northwest. He enjoys backpacking, hiking, cycling, skiing, climbing and snowshoeing with his wife Tracy and his two sons, Sam and Addison. 

Tim Gould

Tim is a researcher on air quality at the University of Washington.  In his free time, he is an environmental advocate whose passion for hiking combines recreation, fitness, advocacy and a deep appreciation of nature.  One of his favorite hikes is the O'Neill Pass trail in Olympic National Park.

Richard Johnson

Richard is a longtime WTA member who hikes in Washington and British Columbia whenever he can get away from his software job. He also leads outings for Sierra Club and Wilderness Volunteers. His favorite hike is the Ptarmigan Traverse.

Kathleen Learned

Kathleen is a retired King County Superior Court judge who now works as a part-time mediator and arbitrator.  She was co-founder of the Northwest Women's Law Center and served on the boards of PCC Natural Markets, Pacific Biodiversity Institute and the North Cascades Conservation Council. Her favorite hikes are Yellow Aster Butte and Tomyhoi Mountain in the North Cascades.

Chad Lewis

Chad is a Public Information Officer at the headquarters for the Washington State Department of Corrections in Olympia. Previously he was an editor at the Bremerton Sun. He lives near downtown Tacoma.  His favorite hike is Mount Ellinor in the Olympics.

Ken Mondal

Ken is a Spokane Ophthalmologist who has the distinction of being the first person to have hiked each of the trails in 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest. He is an active member of Conservation Northwest, the Spokane Mountaineers and the Lands Council. His favorite hike is the Enchantment Lakes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Christine Peterson

Christine is a seasonal trail technician for the Forest Service and works out of the Hoodsport Ranger Station.  With her work hat on, she surveys trails and as a volunteer she leads work parties in the southern Olympics.  Her favorite hike is the South Fork of the Skokomish in the Olympics.

Kate Rogers

Kate is the editor in chief of The Mountaineers Books/Skipstone Press and has been a part-time lecturer on editing, publishing and general media at the University of Washington and Seattle Community Colleges.  She was previously senior editor at Sasquatch Books and launched her own book packaging firm, Unleashed Book Development.  Her favorite dayhike is to Melakwa Lake.

Stephen Tan

Stephen is an attorney with Cascadia Law Group.  His law practice focuses exclusively on environmental and natural resource issues, with an emphasis on remediation and other causes serving the public interest. Currently, he serves as a local counsel to the Sierra Club and chairs the Board of Trustees for PCC Natural Markets.

Rick Watson

Rick is Director of Distribution Operations for REI where he has worked since 1991.  Rick is an avid hiker and trail maintenance volunteer.  He enjoys hiking in the Squak and Cougar Mountain areas.

John Woolley

John is a retired teacher of politics, environmental education, and history.  An avid hiker, he is currently Chair of the Olympic Forest Coalition, vice-president of Olympic Park Associates, a board member of the Olympic Coast Alliance, and Secretary of Friends of Miller Peninsula State Park.

Advisory Board

Ron Barensten
Mark Boyar
Bill Chapman
Karl Forsgaard
Kevin Hall
Ken Konigsmark
Tom Lucas
Margaret Macleod
Susan Saul
John Spring