Our Staff
JCWC Staff, left to right: (upper) Cathy Geiger, Alison Perkins, Noah Jenkins, Sara Volk, Elizabeth Brosig; (lower) Sima Seumalo, Daniel Newberry, Marlee Eckman
Holly Etherton
Restoration Project ManagerHolly Etherton joined the Council in May 2024 as Restoration Project Manager. She is providing direction to the Council’s restoration programs and managing implementation of specific Council restoration projects. Holly graduated from Oregon State University in 2014 with a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife. She has done fisheries work from California to Alaska working internationally with tribal, state, local, and federal agencies. She has extensive experience communicating policy, conducting negotiations, and fish population monitoring. Holly is passionate about work that connects sustainability and accessibility. In her free time Holly enjoys diving at the coast, foraging, and doing outreach work around disability and mental health.
Contact Me About: restoration, stormwater management, ongoing projects
She/They
holly@jcwc.org
971-917-4520
Marlee Eckman
Volunteer Program ManagerMarlee joined the Council in March, 2022. Since graduating from Pacific University in 2019 with a B.S. in Biology, they have been exploring what the world of natural resources, environmental education, and community engagement has to offer. Before joining the Council, Marlee served as an Americorps member with the City of Gresham and directed environmental education programs with Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District. As an advocate for environmental and social justice Marlee believes in building equitable futures through collaboration with the community. They are very excited to be working with volunteers throughout the Johnson Creek Watershed to further watershed health and community building.
Most of their free time is spent eating food with friends, cuddling with their cats Worf and Barclay, and taking walks around their neighborhood.
Contact Me About: volunteer stewardship, general outreach
They/Them/Theirs
marlee@jcwc.org
971-917-4518
Cathy Geiger
Finance ManagerCathy joined the Council in 2012. She earned her B.S. in Business Administration from Warner Pacific College. Cathy has worked in a variety of financial capacities and businesses since 1984. Before coming to JCWC she worked at Portland General Electric for 12 years as a Business Analyst.
Cathy is active in the community volunteering or serving on a board, “restoring” her bit of land along Johnson Creek, teaching Qigong, hiking with her dog Kona and creating mischief with her partner Joe.
Contact Me About: general accounting questions, grant billing
She/Her/Hers
cathy@jcwc.org
503-652-7477 ext 105
Noah Jenkins
Riparian Program ManagerNoah has been with the Council since 2005, beginning with two years of AmeriCorps service before joining the Council’s staff. He holds an M.S. in Environmental Sciences from Portland State University, where he studied wetland vegetation management for his thesis. Prior to that, he served as a member of the Peace Corps in Uzbekistan, where he ate some really questionable stuff.
When not being paid to plant things, Noah spends his time planting things without being paid. He can also often be found trying to keep his cat from destroying important documents, playing the violin with anyone who’ll put up with it, and cooking good food and reading with his amazing wife, Lora.
Contact Me About: streamside property, native plants, invasive species
He/Him/His
noah@jcwc.org
971-917-4526
Deb Merchant
Interim Executive DirectorUpon Daniel Newberry’s departure for other watershed adventures, Deb joined the Council in October 2024. Deb brings almost 30-years of environmental nonprofit work for local, regional, statewide, national and international scales serving as program manager, fundraiser and executive director. Deb’s service to watershed councils runs deep, along with her passion to protect local lands, waters, wildlife and community quality of life.
When not at the Council, Deb can be found photographing, hiking, camping, kayaking, snowshoeing, cycling or gardening.
Contact Me About: media publicity, Board of Directors, partnerships, new executive director hire
She/Her/Hers
deb@jcwc.org
971-917-4525
Sima Seumalo
Outreach & Riparian SpecialistSima Seumalo joined the Council as a Confluence Americorp member in September 2023. She earned her degree from Mount Hood Community College’s Natural Resources program and previously worked as an event coordinator. She has spent the last 12 years volunteering with local, conservation- oriented organizations and is excited to be on board with JCWC as their Outreach and Riparian Specialist. She looks forward to facilitating community stewardship, nurturing relationships with partners and working on restoration projects during her Americorps term. In her free time, she enjoys bikepacking, cooking with her housemates, and (consensually) petting your fur baby.
Contact Me About: field trips, community partnerships
She/Her/Hers
sima@jcwc.org
971-917-4519
Sara Volk
Community Outreach CoordinatorSara served the Council as the 2022-23 Confluence AmeriCorps member before filling the role of Community Outreach Coordinator in 2024. With a passion for the environment, Sara earned a B.S. in Environmental Science at Portland State University after a 15 year career in education. Her dedication to her work, coupled with her educational background, equips her with the knowledge to explore critical environmental issues and inspire others to do the same.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Sara remains deeply connected to nature and believes in leading by example. She enjoys spending her free time exploring the great outdoors both on the trail and in the water, volunteering for environmental causes, and nurturing her own connection to the natural world through art, music, and time with family and friends. She also enjoys spending time with her partner and their three children and taking walks with their two pups, Stellaluna and Professor Cheese.
Contact Me About: community science, bilingual program, communications
She/Her/Hers
sara@jcwc.org
971-917-4521