Meet our Officers & Directors
WACD Officers and Directors are elected by the association to provide leadership and in some cases represent WACD at either the state or national level. These individuals are charged with administering and executing the policies of the association, in addition to their own defined responsibilities. To reach our Officers, please email: officers@wacd.org
Position: President
Whitman Conservation District
Conservation issues are hugely important to Amy, considering her and her family’s farming and ranching livelihood depend on sustainable conservation practices to keep the ground healthy for crops and animals to prosper. Amy furthered her interests in agricultural conservation by joining the Whitman Conservation District in 2017 as a supervisor. In 2018, she was chosen to serve on the WACD State Board of Directors as one of two SE Area Directors. Then, at the 2019 Annual WACD Meeting, she was selected to be Secretary of the Association and in 2021 she was elected as the Vice President and in 2024 she was elected to serve as the Association's President. She believes that for animals and people to coexist harmoniously, conservation practices need to be approached in a unique way. This individuality will permit people to be successful in earning a living and allow flora and fauna the habitat they need to thrive. Informing landowners about conservation practices will improve their land and enhance the surrounding ecosystem. Amy earned a B.S. in biology from Eastern Washington University. When she is not volunteering her time for the conservation district, she can be found assisting her husband with their farm and ranch responsibilities, working in a salon as a colorist/stylist and doting on her horses, dogs, cats and chickens.
Position: Vice-President
Lincoln County Conservation District
Jeff is a 4th generation agricultural producer in the southwest corner of Lincoln County. He is a graduate of Spokane Community College with two degrees, one in Automotive and a second in Heavy Equipment. Jeff's family farm contains dryland and irrigated cropland producing 7 different crops. Jeff has collaborated with Washington State University on cropping systems and the University of Idaho on variety trials. He has served on the Lincoln County Conservation District (LCCD) board for 11 years and he has also served as a WACD Northeast Area Director for 6 years. Jeff was honored as the LCCD Conservation Farmer of the Year in 2013 and was recognized in 2020 by the Washington Conservation Commission with a Special Recognition award. In addition to serving the conservation community, Jeff has also served on his church board, 2 co-op boards, the WA Oilseed Commission, Lincoln Co. Water Conservancy Board, and the Columbia Basin Development League board. Present boards include LCCD, Lincoln Co. Hospital District #1, and Lincoln Co. Civil Service. Jeff is also a 40-year member of Lions International and a lifetime member of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers and the National Rifle Association. Jeff truly believes in giving back.
Jeff is married to his wife Cheryl. They have 2 daughters and 6 grandkids who serve as Jeff's foundation. His hobbies include fishing, hunting, golfing, and auto racing. According to Jeff, "I seem to have a need for speed."
In July 2024 Jeff decided to retire, it was time for the next generation to be the caretakers of God's garden.
"It is an honor and privilege to represent the 45 CDs on the WACD board." Jeff Schibel
Elizabeth Bella, or just “Bella” for short, is an Associate Regional Director for the Alaska Region of the National Park Service, leading natural and cultural resources, subsistence, wilderness, inventory/monitoring, GIS, and compliance divisions. While her day job is mostly administration and operations these days – leading teams in meeting agency missions of environmental and resource conservation and public enjoyment – she still enjoys a deep dive into the complexities around conservation policy and technical work on invasive species and forest management. Bella is a new supervisor on the Underwood Conservation District board, and is most excited for understanding district and state-wide processes, growing community connections, and continuing to develop efficient and strong board practices. Her educational background includes a PhD in conservation policy from UC-Davis, an MS in forestry from the University of Montana, and a dual biology-forestry degree from SUNY-ESF. She loves to get outside with her husband Ryan, son Pirlo, dog Honey, and extended family in the area.
Position: Treasurer
Snohomish Conservation District
Bio Coming Soon
Position: National Director
Grays Harbor Conservation District
Bio Coming Soon
Position: Past President
Pend Oreille Conservation District
Mike grew up in Southwestern Michigan on a sixty plus acre hobby farm (though if pressed, he’ll admit it was more work than hobby). The farm had a small commercial asparagus operation and for a while his dad ran a sixty head pig business. There were always two to three Holstein steers hanging around; all of the corn and alfalfa used to feed the steers was grown on the farm. Besides picking asparagus he earned spending money picking raspberries, grapes and helping bale hay for local dairy farmers. Mike graduated from Michigan Technological University with a bachelor of science degree in forestry. He worked for almost thirty years for the U.S. Forest Service as a small sales/salvage sales forester, a presale forester/logging systems specialist as well as in various positions within the Fire and Aviation Management division ending his career doing resource protection work. When he was stationed on the Paisley Ranger District of the Fremont National Forest he gained experience with large scale beef cattle operations including how to navigate a rig through a 1,000 head of cattle being driven down a state highway! Because of his forestry knowledge Mike was asked in October 2015 to join the Pend Oreille Conservation District’s Board of Supervisors, and in June of 2019 joined the Washington Association of Conservation Districts as an Area Director; he served three years as the Association's President and he currently serves as the Association’s Past President. Mike’s interests are small farm operations (including farmer’s markets), small woodlot management, wildfire prevention/protection especially in the wildland urban interface and wildfire smoke intrusion into populated areas.
Meet Our Area Directors
Northwest Area Directors
Alan Chapman
Whatcom Conservation District
6975 Hannegan Rd.
Lynden, WA 98246
David Vliet
Kitsap Conservation District
10332 Central Valley Rd.
Poulsbo, WA 98370
Vacant
Bruce McDonald
Lewis Conservation District
2057 Salsbury Ave.
Chehalis, WA 98532
John McLean
Foster Creek Conservation District
203 S Rainier
Waterville, WA 98858
John Preston
Columbia Basin Conservation District
903 W. 3rd Ave.
Moses Lake, WA, 98837
Vacant
Cindy Reed
North Yakima Conservation District
1606 Perry St UNIT C
Yakima, WA 98902
Mary Collins
Palouse Conservation District
1615 NE Eastgate Blvd, Suite H
Pullman, WA 99163
Vacant
Sarah Moorehead & Craig Nelson
WADE Co-President
Thurston CD & Okanogan CD