2022 AWRA-WA Board of Directors

RABIA AHMED

Rabia is Principal Economist and Managing Partner at Greene Economics in Seattle, where she has worked since 2018. She served as the 2019 AWRA-WA Chapter President, was 2017 co-chair of the State Conference, and is on the Board of Directors and incoming 2023 President-Elect for AWRA National. She is also Co-Chair of the 2022 AWRA National Conference. She has over seventeen years of experience in water and natural resource economics, policy and regulatory economics, litigation support, and international development. Prior to work at Greene Economics, Rabia spent twelve years at Maul Foster & Alongi, Ramboll, and Cardno. Her expertise in the water sector includes water law, water markets, surface and groundwater rights assessment and valuation, water supply security analyses, water rights permitting, and cost-benefit and feasibility analyses of water projects. She has led water management projects in over twenty-five US states and internationally, including development work with some of the most remote communities of Pakistan and Bangladesh. She has an MS degree in Economics from Portland State University. She lives in Lynnwood, Washington, with her husband, two children, two sweet budgies, and a beautiful cockatoo. In her spare time, she likes hiking and sailing with her family.

COLIN BUTLER

Colin is a hydraulic engineer with Watershed Science & Engineering in Seattle. He specializes in river modeling and technical water resources projects, working on flood studies, basin-wide hydraulic and hydrologic analyses, habitat restoration, culvert replacements, and field data collection throughout the Pacific Northwest. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington where he worked in mountain and snow hydrology research and served as the UW AWRA Student Chapter President. He is a licensed professional engineer in Washington and California and an FAA certified remote pilot. Outside of his professional life, he loves to cycle, swim, ski, backpack, and support student-led outdoor education trips run by a local nonprofit. He also enjoys traveling, attending concerts, exploring new cuisines, and cheering on his local professional sports teams.

ANURAG MISHRA

Dr. Mishra is Senior Hydrologic Engineer at DSI, with more than a decade of consulting experience. He completed his master’s and PhD at Virginia Tech. His research focused on estimating uncertainty in water quality modeling. He worked at AQUA TERRA Consultants/RESPEC for more than ten years before moving to Pacific Northwest area to work at DSI. Dr. Mishra lives with his wife and high school age son and enjoys all the natural outdoor activities that PNW has to offer, year around. He likes cricket, kayaking, skiing, hiking, biking, and running, in “no particular order”. His interest in improving the environment doesn’t stop at the work boundary, and he volunteers with local organizations in water quality data monitoring and habitat restoration.

TOM FITZHUGH

Tom FitzHugh is a Water Resources Scientist with Stantec Consulting, in Bellevue, Washington. He specializes in hydrologic modeling of surface water systems, including reservoir and water supply system operations, riverine and reservoir temperatures, and rainfall-runoff processes. His current work is analyzing water supply operations for water agencies and other clients in California’s Central Valley. Prior to joining Stantec in 2015, he worked for the Bureau of Reclamation in Sacramento, California for 5 years, where he conducted modeling for long-term planning studies such as the Shasta Lake Enlargement study and analysis of new environmental flow standards in the San Joaquin River Basin. From 1999-2009 he worked for The Nature Conservancy in Chicago and Olympia, where his responsibilities were regional conservation planning, analysis of environmental flows, scientific software development and training, and GIS. He has an M.S. in GIS and Remote Sensing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a B.A. in Political Science from Lawrence University. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, learning and practicing his Spanish and French, and following the Seattle Sounders and the OL Reign.

HAYLEY VENTOZA

Haley is an associate at Tupper Mack Wells in Seattle, Washington. Her primary practice areas are water rights, environmental compliance, and administrative and judicial appeals in the areas of environmental law, land use, and natural resources. Hayley has represented clients in both state and federal court and has negotiated hundreds of tough cases to a favorable resolution. Hayley has been named a "Rising Star" by Washington Super Lawyers® for 2021 and 2022. Hayley is also passionate about improving our community. She helped establish the first Veteran's Treatment Court in Lakewood, Washington, which assists veterans by providing them access to treatment, employment, and a supportive community. She successfully petitioned the Clemency and Pardons Board on behalf of the first woman sentenced to life without parole under Washington’s three-strikes law. And she serves on the City of Burien Parks and Recreation Board, which is dedicated to strengthening the community through outdoor spaces and events.

JASON MCCORMICK

Jason is Principal and Founder at McCormick Water Strategies (MWS) with fifteen years in water resources. Jason is recognized regionally as a water rights and water transactional expert. In 2015, Jason formed MWS after working in the private and non-profit sectors. His formative experience includes ten years specializing in water transactions, trust water, mitigation banking, permitting and water rights administration, water right due diligence and examination, representing private and conservation buyers and sellers, and geospatial water rights evaluation across Washington State. Early in his career, Jason worked as a permit writer for the newly formed Washington State Department of Ecology, Office of Columbia River, where he focused on water right permitting, project planning, geospatial water resources mapping, program outreach, and coordinating initial grant solicitations. From his experience in the private, non-profit, and public sectors, he excels at water right permitting and administration, water transactions, water banking, water right evaluations and due diligence, and complex water resources problem solving. In addition, he draws a strong appreciation for the communities and unique values of Washington State from his local roots in Central Washington.

ROBIN NIMMER

Dr. Nimmer is Senior Hydrogeologist and has worked as a project management lead at the Water Resources Division at Alta Science and Engineering for the last 14+ years. She has a B.S. in Geology from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, an M.S. in Hydrology from the University of Idaho, and a PhD in Geology from the University of Idaho. She is a Professional Geologist in Idaho and a Licensed Geologist in Washington. Robin works on hydrogeology-related projects in the northwest and specializes in flow and transport in fractured rock. Her projects range from characterizing and remediating groundwater to helping individuals and communities have a sufficient water supply.

TOM RING

Tom served as a hydrogeologist with the Water Resources Program of the Yakama Nation from 1990 until his retirement in late 2019. He worked on a variety of projects involving groundwater and surface water quantity and quality, water rights, irrigation and fisheries issues and planning for future water needs. He continues to be active in the Managed Aquifer Recharge component of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. Tom has BS and MS degrees in geology from Central Washington University and Northern Arizona University, respectively. He has taught geology and hydrogeology classes at Central Washington University and is a licensed geologist and hydrogeologist in Washington State. He enjoys getting out in the mountains, coasts, and deserts of the American west.

KATHERINE RYF

Born and raised in rural Franklin County, Katherine is a native of the rolling dry land wheat hills of Kahlotus, Washington. She graduated from Eastern Washington University with a BS in Environmental Biology. She has three daughters immersed in Quincy’s community, public and private schools. Katherine manages the Quincy office of Landau Associates. Katherine has nearly 20 years of experience with water rights and water supply solutions. She is highly knowledgeable of Washington and federal water laws, agricultural practices, and real estate acquisition. Prior to joining Landau Associates, she served as a water right analyst for the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) and water right specialist for the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife. Katherine represented Ecology as a liaison to the US Bureau of Reclamation, the Columbia Basin Irrigation Districts, municipalities, water users and local stakeholders to implement integrated water supply solutions. While living in Four Lakes, Washington she served as the Board of Directors for the Friends of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. Living in Quincy, Washington, Katherine currently serves on the Grant County Economic Development Council Board of Directors and is a regular participant of the Ecology Water Resources Advisory and Palouse Basin Aquifer Committees.

JAMES BUSH

James is a licensed hydrogeologist in Aspect Consulting’s Olympia, Washington office. He has over 11 years of experience assisting public and private sectors clients in water supply planning and development, groundwater-surface water interactions, water reuse, artificial groundwater recharge, and aquifer sustainability. At Aspect, James specializes in developing and applying groundwater models using a decision-support framework to identify water resources solutions in complex groundwater environments. He has advised clients and delivered technical solutions throughout Washington, Oregon, and the broader Western U.S. James holds a B.S. in Geological Sciences from the University of Idaho and an M.S. in Applied Geosciences at the University of Washington. He lives in Tumwater with his wife where he enjoys skiing and playing rec-league softball and volleyball.

JENNA R. MANDELL-RICE

Jenna is a Partner in the Seattle office of Van Ness Feldman LLP. She practices in the areas of water, natural resources, and environmental law, with a focus on water resources development, civil litigation, and public policy. Jenna has worked with municipal water utilities and suppliers to address water rights, water supply and water quality challenges, and has assisted clients in finding solutions for municipal and agricultural water supply. She also helps clients navigate complex regulatory, permitting, enforcement and litigation matters under a range of environmental statutes, including the Federal Power Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Washington State Environmental Policy Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and Endangered Species Act. Prior to joining private practice, Jenna served as a law clerk for the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), an office within the Executive Office of the President that coordinates Federal environmental efforts and works closely with agencies and other White House offices to develop environmental policies. She also served as an intern for the Honorable Christine M. Arguello in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

GREG MCLAUGHLIN

Greg is a Program Director with Washington Water Trust, where he has worked since 2006, opening the Ellensburg Field Office in 2008. His instream flow and water resource management projects have provided permanent streamflow to rivers and tributaries throughout Washington State. His work includes water right reviews, connecting project benefits to salmon recovery plans, and shepherding those projects through the Ecology review process. He is a frequent presenter statewide on water rights valuation and transactions, trust water, and water law. Greg has worked since 1997 on collaborative resource management projects from his hometown in rural Missouri to the Mekong River in Thailand. Greg currently lives in Lynnwood, WA, and spends his free time cross country and telemark skiing, traveling, and spending time with his wife and four sons. He is also the AWRA-WA newsletter editor.

STEPHEN THOMAS

Stephen is lead hydrogeologist in the Redmond office of GeoEngineers, Inc. He has 30 years of experience as a hydrogeologic and water resources consultant. He manages and performs technical aspects of hydrogeological investigations for groundwater resources development, wellhead protection and groundwater management, groundwater contamination and waste disposal, dewatering, and environmental projects. A native of the United Kingdom, Stephen moved to Seattle in 2001, having previously lived in Los Angeles since 1992. He holds a BS in Geology from the University of Cardiff (Wales) and a MS in Hydrogeology from the University of Birmingham (England) and is a licensed hydrogeologist in the states of Washington and California. Stephen has been on the AWRA-WA Board since 2009, and has held positions of Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and has chaired the Dinner and Sponsorship committees. Stephen enjoys many outdoors activities, notably triathlons, skiing, and tennis, as well as annoying his neighbors with his guitar playing.

PATRICK VANDENBERG

Patrick is the Lead Water Resources Engineer at WSP, where he specializes in hydrology and hydraulic modeling. He received his BS from UCLA and his MS at UW, both in Civil Engineering. He was formerly the University of Washington Student Chapter Representative to the AWRA-WA Board. Patrick previously worked for Seattle Public Utilities and King County as a hydraulic modeling engineer for the local and regional drainage and wastewater systems. Before moving to Seattle, he worked as an environmental engineer for AECOM in Long Beach, CA. He enjoys playing ultimate Frisbee and volleyball. He is also the AWRA-WA Webmaster.

JESSICA KUCHAN

Jessica is a partner with Confluence Law, PLLC where she helps clients with issues relating to water resources, land use and natural resources. Jessica works with local governments, non-profits, and private water users to find innovate solutions to complex water resource issues. Prior to law school, Jessica was an environmental scientist with the King County Department of Natural Resources researching the impact of water quality changes on freshwater mussels, macroinvertebrates and salmon. Jessica received a BS in biology from Gonzaga University and juris doctor from Lewis and Clark Law School with a certificate in Environmental and Natural Resource Law.

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