About Our Project
About Our Members
Carrie Gergits - Project Director
coho@watershedstewards.com
Bio:
I am originally from Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. I completed my undergraduate work at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, in Liberal Studies, with a focus on environmental ethics, research and writing. After graduation, my husband and I moved to Arcata, CA where I continued my studies at Humboldt State University. In 2003, I graduated with my M.A. in “Environment and Community”. This interdisciplinary degree enabled me to better understand the relationship between communities and their environment, to analyze these issues, and act effectively in situations where values and interests diverge. My work in this field has been extremely useful while living on the northern coast of California where environment and community so often intertwine.
Much of the work I have done since living on the North Coast has been with Friends of the Dunes. I worked as an Environmental Educator for their Bay to Dunes program in 2001, and in 2002, I became their Education Coordinator. In addition to education, I also worked as a Volunteer Coordinator and Grant Writer. In 2003, I compiled and wrote a Teacher’s Curriculum for the Bay to Dunes program as part of my graduate work, on the importance of “Experiential Education In and Out of the Classroom”. In 2004, I became the Operations Manager for Friends of the Dunes and that is what I was doing when I came to WSP at the end of March 2005.
I am very excited to be working with WSP now and I look forward to sharing what I know as well as learning new things everyday. WSP is an excellent model of building communities through education, restoration, and collaboration, in a region where environmental and community needs so often clash. I feel very fortunate to work with so many dedicated and knowledgeable AmeriCorps members and natural resource professionals. One of the things I enjoy most about working with WSP is doing site visits. It is a wonderful opportunity to get to know all of our partners and members and gain a broader understanding of the amazing work being done throughout northern California.
Job Description:
Responsible for the overall guidance of the Project, including securing funding, ensuring member and mentor program compliance, monitoring member and mentor success, budget oversight, and all other functions related to maintaining a quality project that "gets things done".
Lindsay Righter - Project Manager
sockeye@watershedstewards.com
Bio:
A midwestern native, I am originally from the heartland of Springfield, Illinois. After years of camping and teaching environmental education in the forests of southern Illinois, I pursued a Bachelors of Science in Forestry, with a minor in Environmental Studies, from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. There I also learned about and developed a passion for both natural resources interpretation and watershed management. Upon finishing my degree, I moved to California to join WSP, which I found (and still find) to be a perfect blend of these interests.
Through WSP, I have spent almost six years in the fields of fisheries and watershed restoration. I served my first member term in Program Year 9 with the Department of Fish and Game in Fortuna, after which I stayed for another year working as a fisheries technician gaining valuable field experience. My second term with WSP in Program Year 11 was spent in the main office serving as the Outreach Team Leader. My experiences during those three years were so educational, inspiring, and fun that I knew I was not yet ready to leave the program.
Two days after completing my final term as a member, I was thrilled to transition to staff. As the Project Manager, I enthusiastically spend my days helping Carrie run the program, facilitating members having a positive experience in WSP (including mentoring our three Team Leaders - my favorite part), and being constantly inspired by the magic that is WSP. I am so passionate about this program and the amazing work our members do everyday, and am proud to be part of an organization that does so much for both the community and environment.
My interests include spending time with family, our adorable Rottweiler, reading, traveling, hiking, boating, camping, knitting, learning to play the harmonica and fiddle (slowly!), and generally enjoying my time in beautiful, northern California.
Job Description:
Supervises program staff and members. Oversees duties of Team Leaders and is ultimately responsible for community outreach and education efforts with schools, community groups, members, mentors, and regional volunteer networks. Responsible for coordinating member training/development, recruitment, and program, reporting. Serves as Program Safety Officer, and assists Project Director with program funding development.
Kristen Evansizer - Member Coordinator
chinook@watershedstewards.com
Job Description:
Responsible for processing member stipend checks, workers' compensation claims, travel expense claims (TECs) and other important project paperwork. Provides support for Project Director, members, and Team Leaders.
Crystal LaFrance - Project Assistant
helpfish@watershedstewards.com
Bio:
I was born on the east coast of Taiwan, in the city of Hualien. English was one of my favorite classes in school, and so naturally I studied English in college. I graduated from San Yu Ji Du Shue Yuan (or Taiwan Adventist College) in 2005 with a BA in English, emphasis in literature. My American husband and I moved to Humboldt County in September, 2007, and after a brief stint of volunteering for AmeriCorps, I was hired full-time as Project Assistant in January, 2008.
Job Description:
Performs Project assistance, including processing member stipend checks, Daily Project Logs and STD 634s (member timesheets), and other important project paperwork. Provides support for Project staff, members, and Team Leaders.
