The Methow Valley Citizens’ Council is a nonprofit organization incorporated in 1976 in the Methow Valley, Washington.

MVCC Staff

Dana Golden

Resilient Methow Program Coordinator
dana@mvcitizens.org

Resilient Methow, which grew out of the Methow Valley Climate Action Plan (MVCAP) and has been fiscally sponsored by MVCC for the last few years, officially became a program of MVCC in April. Resilient Methow works to build collaboration with partners throughout Okanogan County to advance the goals of the Methow Valley Climate Action Plan (MVCAP).

Dana has loved the Methow Valley since the age of four, when her parents built a yurt in Mazama. She feels incredibly privileged to be living in the valley full time now, working on addressing the impacts and causes of the climate crisis while soaking up the wonder of this place and community. Dana brings eight years of environmental consulting and leadership experience to work on implementation and facilitation of the Methow Climate Action Plan. She has a degree in Environmental Policy from Williams College, and recently completed her MBA in Sustainable Systems from Presidio Graduate School where she learned to apply an equity and systems lens to complex problems. She’s also passionate about health and movement, and teaches yoga, mindfulness, and movement classes.

Madelyn Hamilton

Public Lands and Wildlife Program Coordinator
madelyn@mvcitizens.org

Nick Littman

Communications Manager
nick@mvcitizens.org

Nick joined MVCC in 2021 following a decade in Missoula, MT. After earning a MSc in Environmental Studies from University of Montana, he led experiential college field courses for the Wild Rockies Field Institute, taught poetry to 4th graders in schools around rural Montana, and was an active board member of the Great Burn Conservation Alliance. 

Nick has published nonfiction essays and poetry widely. He loves to use writing to explore the intricacies of place by telling the stories of landscapes and the people who live upon them. He feels fortunate to attune his listening, learning, and communicating to the Methow Valley. Lately, he’s using his free time to wander the forest with his two little ones and build a home.  He has also begun teaching poetry in schools around Okanogan County as the Literary Arts Specialist for Methow Arts. 

Nancy Milsteadt

Accounting Director
nancy@mvcitizens.org

Nancy fell in love with the Methow Valley as a teenager on a camping trip. She knew it was time to move out of Seattle when her husband began “sharecropping” on the neighbor’s parking strip. Since moving to the Methow in 2014, Nancy has gotten to know a wide cross-section of the Valley while doing bookkeeping/contract management for many organizations including: the Winthrop Ice Rink, Methow Valley Nordic Team, Jamie’s Place, Twisp Works, Room One and Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival. Over the past five years, Nancy has been the CFO/Controller for Sun Mountain Lodge. She is looking forward to a new chapter with MVCC helping to protect the natural environment and rural character of the Methow Valley. You can reach Nancy at nancy@mvcitizens.org

Lorah Super

Program Director
lorah@mvcitizens.org

Lorah works closely with MVCC’s Executive Director and Board of Directors to develop the organization’s level of engagement and strategy across the range of issues MVCC addresses, with a strong focus on land use planning, water law and public lands management. Lorah’s work involves significant collaboration and problem-solving with local communities, nonprofits, agencies and government officials. She cultivates and manages teams that include board members, staff, volunteers, and contractors to implement MVCC’s programs and ensure their effective delivery. Lorah has also volunteered since 2010 as a state-appointed Supervisor for the Okanogan Conservation District.

Lorah has lived in the Methow Valley since 2001 and brings a wealth of hard-earned and widely endorsed experience in the realms of natural resource conservation, land-use planning, organizational development, conflict management and public engagement. She and her family recently moved from their small farm near the town of Methow, to the big city of Twisp to be closer to all the action.

Mary Yglesia

Interim Executive Director
mvcc@mvcitizens.org

Mary’s love affair with the Methow Valley started in the 90’s when she first came here and set up an off the grid home with her family. She brings more than 25 years of experience in non-profit administration to MVCC and is proud and honored to support this organization.  Her experience includes serving as the Executive Director of the Seattle Midwifery School, the Clinical Education Director for Bastyr University’s Department of Midwifery and the Methow Valley Interpretive Center.  She has extensive board experience serving on the boards of directors for the Association of Midwifery Educators, the Seattle Girls Choir and the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council board.

Contract Assistance

MVCC also receives contract assistance from the following individuals:

• Liz Walker, Clean Air Methow
• Sam Israel, Forestry
• Joanna Grist, Grist Public Affairs

MVCC Board

Easton Branam

Secretary

My name is Easton. I am a full-time resident of the Twisp River flats on shared land, with my partner Caitlin and our two cats. I am an Army Veteran committed to building a future that honors our connection to the natural world. I was raised working class in rural Montana and know how unusual and valuable it is to have an organization like MVCC working hard to keep this valley alive and well-tended.  I currently work as a strategic planner and I hope my skills in communications, facilitation, project management, and scenario planning will be an asset to the whole MVCC team.

Douglas Marconi Jr.
Chu’ma (choo-ma)

e’he oy’kalo (hello everyone, in the nimiipuu dialect), I appreciate the opportunity to share a few words that may help describe myself as a human being. I am enrolled nimiipuu (Nez Perce) ka (and) palus (Palouse) on the Colville Indian Reservation. I also have lineal descendancy from the Nez Perce Reservation in Lapwai, Idaho. I currently work as the Grant Development Coordinator in the Colville Tribal Planning Department at Nespelem. I bring almost twenty years of technical writing experience from various environmental sciences to the Tribe. Over the course of my professional career, I have focused on understanding, learning, and applying sustainable land use principles and practices in the context of traditional ecological knowledge. In the last few years I have been building a relationship with the Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness via backpacking to find our sacred foods and medicines. I look forward to continuing to learn about the homelands of the Methow People.

Marit Nelson

Junior Board Member

Marit is sixteen and just wrapped up her sophomore year at Liberty Bell High School. She has been granted the great privilege of growing up in the Methow Valley and experiencing the natural wonders of her home. Throughout her early and teenage years, Marit has especially found a love for running, skiing, swimming, and exploring the surrounding mountains. More recently, Marit has been increasingly alerted of the effects of environmental change on the surrounding Valley and its ability to flourish naturally. She notices the incredibly apparent threat climate change is implementing and is motivated to help create positive environmental strides. Marit hopes to help connect the bridge between youth and board members to better fight the climate crisis. She has enjoyed taking on leadership roles within Liberty Bell, while also completing civic action projects to create a better future for the community. In the near future, Marit is excited to become a part of an inspired group of individuals working to prioritize a sustainable environment.

Mira Hirsch

Junior Board Member

Mira is fifteen and a sophomore at Liberty Bell High School. Born and raised in the Methow Valley, Mira appreciates growing up surrounded by wildlife and natural beauty. She loves swimming in the clean lakes and rivers of the Methow and being able to explore and be surprised by natural life. She also experiences the increasing fire season and drought firsthand.  She sees the important role MVCC plays in spreading awareness on how to protect the Methow Valley and the significance of educating Methow Valley youth. She is committed to educating her peers about environmental issues and is eager to assist in any way she can. In the past, Mira collaborated with the Methow Beaver Project to create beaver dam analogs. She hopes she can continue to help ensure the safety of our beautiful valley and gain new experiences along the way.

Catherine Hennings

Vice Chair

Catherine’s passion for the natural world began while growing up in West Virginia, where she spent her childhood exploring the woods around her home with her brothers. After moving west, and raising a family in Seattle, she discovered the Methow Valley and is now living her dream of again being surrounded by wild, natural places. Catherine has a master’s degree in botany, with a specialty in lichens, and loves continuing to build her knowledge of the flora and fauna of their property on Wolf Creek and throughout the Valley

Catherine served on the Cascade Bicycle Club Board of Directors for 6 years, where she was very involved in advocacy work. That experience in the value of advocacy led her to the Methow Valley Citizens Council, where she understands the importance of its advocacy work and served on the legislative committee of the MVCC Action Fund for the past two years. She is committed to continuing her service on the Board to support the critical work that MVCC does to protect our valley and its natural environment.

Tom Jones

Board Chair

Tom first came to the Methow Valley in the mid-’80s to ski and hike.  Recently, Tom and his wife, Leslie Tregillus, retired from their professions in Seattle and moved to the valley as full-time residents.

Before retirement, Tom worked as an attorney for 35 years in Cozen O’Connor’s Seattle office.  Cozen O’Connor is a national law firm with 30 offices across the country.
While at Cozen O’Connor, Tom served as Vice-Chair of the firm’s Global Insurance Department, Co-Chair of the Climate Change Practice Group, Managing Partner of the Seattle office, and also served on the firm’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
Tom and Leslie enjoy gardening, biking, hiking, skiing, canoeing, and birding in the valley.

Kiana Sam

way’ iskʷíst wípatkʷ,

Kiana Sam is an enrolled member of the Colville Confederated Tribes who proudly descends from the Wenatchi, Lakes, San Poil, Entiat, and Okanogan bands. She was born and raised on the Colville Reservation in Nespelem, WA.

Sam currently serves as the nsəlxcin Traditional Territories Coordinator for the Colville Confederated Tribes, where she is deeply committed to the protection and advocacy of traditional lands, waters, first foods, and cultural resources. Raised within her culture and traditions, that foundation continues to guide her in all she does — from asserting inherent tribal rights to ensuring tribal sovereignty is upheld for generations to come.

Sam holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Tribal Governance & Business Management, and is currently earning my Master of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership at Eastern Washington University.

Outside of work and school, she spends her time doing what grounds her — being outdoors, hunting, fishing, gathering, and hiking. she grew up in a stick game family, spending summers traveling the stick game trail and playing the game that connects so many across Indian Country. She carries a deep passion for reconnecting with her history, learning her language, and carrying and passing on these teachings.

Sam is excited to join the MVCC board and looks forward to working alongside fellow members to safeguard the character, environment and spirit of this Valley.

say’ ay’  John Eli Sirois

say’ ay’ is a father of two beautiful girls, husband and committed citizen of the Colville Reservation.  An enrolled citizen of the Okanagan, Methow and Wenatchi Tribes of those Confederated Tribes, he was born and raised on the Colville Indian Reservation in Omak, WA.  Mr. Sirois carries cultural education from his grandmother and extended family that ties him to the lands and waters.  He completed degrees at Dartmouth College (AB History, Minor Native American Studies) and Master of Public Administration at the University of Washington.  Working over 20 years in the Colville Tribes’ government, he was able to work on tribal lands, cultural preservation and revitalization, economic development, renewable energy project development, policy development, governance. Mr. Sirois promotes the rights of sovereign Indigenous Peoples and Nations to ensure that those rights are fully respected and upheld.  Mr. Sirois currently serves as the Committee Coordinator for the Upper Columbia United Tribes to assist the collaboration of those Tribes’ work on reintroduction of salmon, wildlife habitat, water, forestry and addressing climate change impacts.  Mr. Sirois seeks to build a better future for all for generations to come.  You can find say’ay’ camping, hunting, hiking, reading and salmon fishing with his family

Murray Taylor

Treasurer

Murray’s journey to the Methow valley started 23 years ago when he moved to Washington after living and working in Kenya, UK, and Australia. He and his family became regular valley visitors to this unique and special place. Murray and his wife Helen become full time Winthrop residents after Murray retired from a career in the technology industry which centered on the intersection between the technical, legal and business domains.

Murray has a deep passion and interest in the natural world from his initial training in the biological sciences and botany, an ongoing engagement in environmental causes and a consuming love of the outdoors. Through backpacking and travelling in diverse and remote areas of the world including Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Africa, and Australia, Murray recognizes the vital importance of valuing and working to protect our planet’s special places.

Board Chair Emerita, Maggie Coon

Sounding Board

Our sounding board includes individuals with wide ranging expertise who are available to help connect us with our surrounding communities, make professional connections, and deepen MVCC’s understanding of relevant issues.

Current members include:

Bill Gaines
K.C. Golden
Katie Haven
Maria Hines
Michael Lazarus
Joaquin Marchand
Amelia Marchand
Mark Miller
Susan Prichard
Kent Woodruff
Raechel Youngberg
Ed Zuckerman