Thomas C. Lamar, Executive Director
As PCEI’s Executive Director since 1990, Tom has launched multiple efforts to increase citizen involvement in numerous environmental issues. Tom has served as a Latah County Commissioner since 2015. Before that, Tom served on the Moscow City Council for over seven years. Tom also taught Conservation Leadership at the University of Idaho, Conservation Social Sciences Department for six years. Tom holds an MS degree in Environmental Science from Washington State University (1985). He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Anthropology at the University of Delaware in 1982. While at Delaware and WSU, Tom studied the medicinal use of plants by the Shipibo Indians of the Peruvian rainforest. Tom’s background includes Central American peace organizing in the 1980’s. He also worked with the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides for two years as an advocate for pesticide exposure victims. Tom is currently serving on the Idaho Climate-Economy Impacts Assessment Advisory Board. Tom enjoys swimming, running, bicycling, triathlons, and gardening. Email Tom
Kori Claffey, Business Manager & AmeriCorps Compliance Officer
Although she traveled for most of her childhood, Kori is getting back to her roots in Moscow, ID where she was born. She has an extensive background in many different financial institutions and looks forward to eventually getting her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting at the University of Idaho with a minor in Arts/Music. Kori loves to travel, meet new people, listen to music/sing, read quotes, be outdoors as much as possible and enjoys spending time with her family any free moment she has. Kori is excited to be joining PCEI and says, “It feels so great to be a part of the working family I have always strived to find. I feel so lucky to be included in this amazing organization and the people that are involved with PCEI. Thank you to everyone who supports this beautiful place. I have completely fallen in love with it here and I can’t wait to see where the years take us.” Email Kori
Heather Huston Bell, Program Manager
Born in California, and raised in Illinois, Heather fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and now considers this her home. Since joining PCEI in 2011, she enjoys assisting and providing direction to the restoration and education projects and programs. Her formal training and practical experience are in management, program development, grant writing, environmental education and restoration, and community outreach. She holds degrees from the University of Idaho in Child Development with minors in Psychology and Outdoor Recreation, her Masters degree is in Environmental Education with a certificate in Permaculture Design. She served two terms with AmeriCorps where she enjoyed developing nature-based youth programs. Heather values working with volunteers and community mentors. In her free time she and her family garden, cook, camp and always find water to play in with their dog, Moco. Email Heather
Willow Venzke, Community Engagement Coordinator
Willow was born in northern Idaho but grew up in Moscow. After graduating from the University of Idaho with degrees in Spanish and Sociology, Willow lived in Florida for 10 hot, humid years. Realizing the Palouse truly was home, she moved back in 2011. After beginning her career in social work, she was lucky enough to take a break to raise her three kids during their younger years. Returning to work led Willow to marketing and outreach, which she enjoys because of its creativity and ability to interact with community members. Willow spends her free time hiking, gardening, camping, reading, playing games, and watching her kids’ sporting events. Email Willow
Courtney Warner, AmeriCorps Program Director
Although she has been passionate about the outdoors as long as she can remember, Courtney began cultivating a more sophisticated taste for nature at age 4, consuming the mouthwatering dirt underneath her swing set. Courtney was born and raised on the Palouse, and grew up in the small hamlet of Deary. She graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in Sport Science but considers life to have given her the most valuable formal education, having lived and worked in a many places. Courtney played rugby through her twenties, and was on the US Womens National Rugby Team for most of those, traveling on tour to Scotland, Hong Kong and Dubai. In her post semi-professional sports life, she has branched out into more creative pursuits, playing music, building furniture, and cultivating a large summer garden. When she’s not busy getting things done or cracking jokes at work, you might find her out trailblazing with her two dogs, or recreating in some body of water. Email Courtney
Amanda Minor, Assistant AmeriCorps Placement Coordinator
Amanda spent countless hours observing the patterns and processes of nature as a kid growing up in Michigan, Idaho and Washington. She could be found tasting veggies in the garden, building elaborate forts in the woods, and donning tall rubber boots to hike down the middle of some stream. A person with many interests and creative pursuits, Amanda earned her Bachelors in General Studies at the University of Idaho, with emphases in Horticulture, Art, and Education. After some landscaping and nursery work, she began a 19-year career with the USDA Forest Service, primarily as a Wildland Firefighter. While with the Forest Service, she gained experience in fire management and ecology, forestry, research, contracting, biological science, training and development, public affairs, and more. Amanda credits her former career, especially the dynamic field of wildland firefighting, with helping develop her skills and interests in human and organization development. Driven by curiosity, imagination, a love of learning, and a sense of social justice, she enjoys supporting people in moving toward their goals and dreams. She is delighted to apply this passion to her work with the AmeriCorps program at PCEI. Amanda’s own pursuits have included Yoga Teacher Training and earning a Permaculture Design Certificate. She enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, backpacking, skiing, playing in the water, softball, drawing, photography, travel, reading, and daydreaming.
Olivia Shan, Restoration Coordinator
Olivia grew up exploring the Umpqua Valley, in Western Oregon, fueling a passion for nature. In college, she studied Natural Resource Conservation Science and worked as a Research Technician for the University’s Experimental Forest. It was during this time that Olivia found a new love: wildfire. For the next four years, Olivia worked for Idaho Department of Lands and the U.S. Forest Service as a Wildland Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician fighting wildfires around the United States. She lived in a remote bunkhouse on the South Fork of the Salmon River for one fire season, which was where she became interested in Idaho’s declining salmon populations and wild rivers. From that point on, Olivia has been an active member of the Sierra Club and has ignited a fire within herself to help preserve Idaho’s natural resources through restoration work and advocacy. In March 2021, she moved back to Moscow, Idaho after traveling much of the West in her converted van with her partner, Cole and cat, Charlie. They have recently added a rescue dog to the family, Piñon, who is often seen working alongside Olivia at PCEI. Olivia enjoys backpacking, white water rafting, rock climbing, international travel, skiing, tending to her house plants, and mountain biking. Olivia first learned of PCEI through a University of Idaho class that led her to volunteering on trail work, and then by serving an AmeriCorps term on the Restoration Team. Olivia hopes to make a positive impact on the Palouse Region through ecological restoration and community involvement, and eventually move on to pursue a term in the Peace Corps in international environmental work to create a more sustainable world. Email Olivia
Trevor Hurd, AmeriCorps Restoration Technician
Trevor was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. After spending his summers doing camps at the local herpetological society he discovered an interest in reptiles, returning a year later to join as a volunteer; something he would continue for the next 7 years. During this time he developed a growing interest in plants and the natural world as a whole, eventually earning a bachelor’s in Conservation Biology and Ecology from Arizona State University. He is excited to work with PCEI in a hands-on role and looks forward to growing his knowledge of local plants and ecosystems.
Ariel Mack, Palouse Roots Coordinator
In many ways my childhood shaped who I am today. I was fortunate to attend all twelve years of elementary education at the largest Waldorf school on the east coast surrounded by a thriving Waldorf community that includes a Waldorf teacher-training center, a self-sufficient fellowship community with biodynamic farms, and a Camphill community. Throughout my career I have nurtured my love of art, design, and architecture, social and environmental policy, indigenous sovereignty, and early childhood education. I have designed museum exhibits and residential and commercial buildings, worked globally doing indigenous sovereignty and environmental policy work, and I have taught children. My teaching experience ranges from working with autistic children, traditional early education settings, Waldorf-inspired outdoor education both as an art director and separately at a Waldorf forest school, and helping run a Montessori/Waldorf/Nature school, and homeschooling my own children. I am overjoyed to learn that not only does the Palouse Roots Program share my passion for early childhood outdoor experiences, but it also has a Waldorf influence. I look forward to being part of this community. Warmly, Ariel.
Fiona Quigley, Palouse Roots Teacher
As a child to two botanists, I was destined to love the outdoors. Nature and conservation played a very present role in my upbringing. I grew up in subtropical Florida, teeming with life in every corner and endless opportunities for curiosity and hands-on interaction. My time spent wandering the cypress groves and swamps instilled within me a deep connection and sense of peace with nature.
In January of 2019, I drove across the country to begin pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Washington State University. The snow was a shock, but the rolling hills and the community of Moscow, Idaho immediately captured my heart. In the fall of 2020, I was introduced to Palouse Roots as a substitute assistant teacher and was delighted by the opportunity to inspire and educate young children about nature by being directly in it!
Children have a natural curious and creative nature that I have always loved to be around, and I think these qualities are best nurtured in the outdoors. The students’ kindness, resourcefulness, and enthusiasm for knowledge is inspiring and constantly teaching me how to be more kind, resourceful, and enthusiastic in my life. Palouse Roots is a program that I feel is incredibly valuable to its students and to the communities they will touch throughout the rest of their lives. I know that I will be a great fit for the role of assistant teacher, and I am excited for this chance to inspire and educate the children in our community!
Bridgette Costa, Palouse Roots Teacher
Growing up on the West Coast, Bridgette’s roots branch from Oregon to Arizona. As one of eight children, their childhood experience was never boring and cultivated a foundation of curiosity and play. During their undergraduate degree at Portland State University, part of their studies gave them the opportunity to lead “Farm Education for the Youth” at a local organic farm. Helping children understand the vital relationship people have with the Earth was an extremely rewarding and gratifying experience for them.
Bridgette’s love of nature and creativity is their driving force and helped them earn a MFA in studio art at Washington State University. Having moved to the Palouse for grad school they were drawn to the region where they now enjoy a simple life in Moscow, Idaho.
Currently Bridgette is most focused on healing, gentleness, and joy and hopes to share these sentiments during their time spent with the children at Palouse Roots.
Terry Knight, Palouse Roots Teacher
I am a recent graduate of Washington State University where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Human Development with a certificate in Early Childhood Education. I began working in childcare during high school; that experience sparked my interest and enthusiasm towards becoming an educator, encouraging me to pursue this field as I entered college. My specialization is with infants and children under five, and I have experience working with children of a variety of ages at both traditional preschools and home day cares.
Both my mother’s and father’s parents own farms in central Washington. My childhood home was located between these farms, providing me a beautiful and stimulating environment to explore, fostering my love and appreciation for nature and the outdoors. My rural upbringing gave me an appreciation for the outdoors at an early age and I am eager to be involved with a program that promotes similar principles and provides a valuable and unconventional learning opportunity!
Cameron Nielsen, Volunteer Coordinator
Cameron was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. She recently graduated with a BA in Integrative Studies from Northern Kentucky University which included focus areas in Environmental Studies, Photography and Journalism. Last summer she served a short two-month AmeriCorps term with PCEI and fell in love with the organization. After graduating in December 2021, she packed her bags and moved back to Moscow for another AmeriCorps term. In college she was the Vice President of the hiking club and regularly lead hiking and caving trips which further fueled her love for the environment. Cameron has a strong passion for using photography as a tool to teach others about the environment and hopes to eventually pursue a career in photography. In her free time Cameron enjoys camping, climbing, civil war reenacting, and practically anything craft related. She is very excited to continue learning and working with PCEI.
Brooke Lowry, Nature Explorers Coordinator
Brooke grew up spending as much time as she could outdoors in Calgary, Canada. She has since enjoyed living in Utah, Norway and Spain. Since moving to Moscow in 2008 and becoming a mother of three, she has discovered new ways to enjoy exploring outside with kids. She finds biking, rafting and skiing with her family especially happy making. Brooke previously worked as the Safe Routes to School Coordinator for Moscow schools and coached competitive badminton internationally. She is currently on the PCEI Board and is thrilled for the opportunity to create an exceptional Nature Explorers program for children in our Moscow community where they can experience learning and moving outside at the beautiful PCEI Nature Center.
Chrissy Hoefgen, Nature Explorers Educator
Having moved to Moscow in 2020 to complete her B.S. in Elementary Education, Chrissy is glad to have found the PCEI community. A farmer at heart, Chrissy grew up in Wisconsin but spent her early adult life working on an educational farm in Northwestern Washington. She is passionate about experiential teaching and learning and enjoys building relationships with youth. When not digging in the dirt or talking about her favorite apple varieties, you can find Chrissy doing science experiments in the kitchen, sewing, adventuring around the mountains, biking, spending time with friends and family, or likely doing schoolwork! Chrissy is excited to cultivate her teaching knowledge while actively engaging with the Palouse-Clearwater Region.
Jen Hiebert, IT Coordinator
Jen was born and raised in northern Manitoba, Canada, where she developed a love for the outdoors and a commitment to environmental issues. A convoluted career path has led her to her current position at PCEI. Jen has a B.Sc. in Ecology and a Master’s in Watershed Ecosystems. She has been a research assistant working with everything from fish eggs to seal pups, has taught self-defense for women, and was a Front End Manager at the Neighborhood Co-op Grocery in southern Illinois. Jen has enjoyed living in many places (including France and New Zealand) but thinks Moscow is the perfect picnic spot. Jen loves knitting, gardening, photography, and spending time with her husband and two loveable but demanding rescued dogs. Email Jen
PCEI collaborates with this fabulous Portland-based non-profit
Elizabeth Cabral, CEC AmeriCorps Program Director
ecabral [at] confluencecenter [dot] org
Elizabeth is Confluence’s Program Director. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Public Health from Portland State University.
Elizabeth was raised in the Gorge and is the proud daughter of immigrant parents. Before joining Confluence Environmental Center, Elizabeth worked for six years in active transportation – leading efforts to create safe access to walking, biking and transit in undeserved communities in Portland. Elizabeth brings with her experience at the intersections of transportation, housing and the environment and strong commitment to racial and environmental equity, She hopes to bring her passion and background in equity and culturally responsive programming to the organization and its AmeriCorps members. During her free time she organizes bike rides with Portland based Mujeres en – a local Latina bike group she co-founded 3 years ago to encourage more Latinas to bike. She also enjoys to spending time with her family, visiting the gorge, wine tastings, and exploring new hiking trails in the PNW.
Ashlie Tainer, CEC Operations Coordinator
atainer [at] confluencecenter [dot] org
Ashlie grew up in Portland, Oregon, and after a combined eight years of pursuing graduate studies in environmental studies and working abroad leading experiential learning programs, she is excited to be putting down roots back in the Pacific Northwest.
Her career started unknowingly with Confluence in 2011 when she worked as an AmeriCorps member with PCEI, which is where her passion for environmental education and community service was solidified. She then completed a second term of service as an AmeriCorps member with The Nature Conservancy in Phoenix, Arizona and knew she wanted to pursue a permanent role with the AmeriCorps program in the future. Coming full circle, Ashlie is excited to work closely with PCEI again and have the opportunity to put her experiences from the AmeriCorps and international travels to use leading the next generation of environmental stewards and leaders.
When she’s not working, Ashlie enjoys spending time outside hiking, camping and wine tasting. You can also find her catching up on her favorite true crime podcasts and trying to find a way to put chocolate in almost everything.