Meet the Team

“As a young female professional, it is sometimes difficult to be taken seriously in the forestry industry. At the Guild, my knowledge is valued. I enjoy working with landowners, professionals, and community members who share the goal of improving forest health and the benefits to communities dependent on them.”

Dakota Wagner

Southeast Region Coordinator

"I work for the Guild because no other organization I know of so seamlessly blends lofty aspirations with the ability to get good work done on the ground. The Guild’s principles provide a vision for improving our world one stand at a time.”

Zander Evans

Executive Director

“I enjoy helping people connect with their environment in a personal way. The Guild community and projects help a wide diversity of people find their way toward those connections.”

Colleen Robinson

Communications Coordinator

“A Guild strength is meaningful partnerships. Part of my job is coordinating field trips, workshops, and webinars on relevant topics that help put science into practice. Our partnerships make that possible.”

Amanda Mahaffey

Deputy Director

Zander Evans

Executive Director

zander@forestguild.org

505-983-8992 ext 705

Southwest office, New Mexico

Read Bio

Zander was the Guild’s research director for 11 years prior to his current role. His research supports on-the-ground implementation of ecological forestry. He has a PhD from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and worked as a cartographer and spatial analyst with the US Geological Survey.

“In college, I became obsessed with environmental threats and thought the only way to make a difference was through international policy. In contrast, I learned there were opportunities to make a positive impact in forests right where I grew up in southern New England. With just a Master of Forestry and some blue paint, I could change the course of a woodlot for a generation. As the Guild’s executive director, it is incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact Guild members have in the forests they manage and how, collectively, we can tackle the environmental challenges that first motivated me."

Eytan Krasilovsky

Deputy Director

eytan@forestguild.org

505-470-0185 (mobile)

505-983-8992 ext 707

Southwest office, New Mexico

Read Bio

The Southwest program continues the legacy started by the Forest Trust in 1984 to practice and promote excellence in stewardship by building a sustainable forest-based economy, developing future forestry leaders, practicing ecological forest restoration, and training and educating fire and forest workers and landowners. Eytan develops, funds, and implements projects to support these goals. The Southwest program currently works on landscape-scale restoration, youth education and training, wildland firefighter training, and effectiveness monitoring. Eytan is involved in several local collaborative efforts to improve forest management and serves on a wildland-urban interface risk reduction grant review panel. He received his master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania after working as a field archaeologist in the Northeast and a fire effects monitor and wildland firefighter with the National Park Service.

Matt Piccarello

Deputy Director

matt@forestguild.org

505-470-9725

Eastern United States

Bio coming soon...

Rhiley Allbee

Pacific West Coordinator

rhiley@forestguild.org

231-629-6996

Pacific Northwest office, Washington

Read Bio

Rhiley is passionate about facilitating sustainable relationships between people and their environments. She is based in Seattle, Washington and is currently the Pacific Northwest Region Coordinator, involved in expanding Guild membership and organizing the Northwest Innovative Forestry Summit. Rhiley holds a B.S. in Biology from Saginaw Valley State University and a M.S. in Forest Ecology and Management from Michigan Technological University. She’s had work experiences that range from being a Timber Stand Improvement Forestry Technician with USFS, an Agroforestry and Extension Agent with the US Peace Corps in Senegal, and a Sustainable Landscapes and Investment Fellow at the Global Green Growth Institute in South Korea. Rhiley is excited to use her previous experiences to further expand the Guild’s work and membership in the Pacific Northwest.

Rachel Bean

Southwest Program Manager

rachel@forestguild.org

505-919-9062

Southwest office, New Mexico

Read Bio

Born in New Mexico and raised on the principles of responsible land stewardship, Rachel earned her B.S. in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology with a focus in Ecosystem Management from New Mexico State University. She spent her post-collegiate years immersed in forest thinning and fuels reduction and now works in her capacity at the Guild to support and expand community and organizational land management projects. From fire resiliency learning networks to programs designed to assist landowners reduce pests and disease, these proactive and collaborative projects address a spectrum of challenges facing the landscape and people of the southwest. A typical day may find Rachel assisting the Forest Stewards Youth Corps, in the field performing ecological monitoring, or facilitating wildfire preparedness knowledge sharing between experts and community members. When not at work Rachel enjoys hiking, rock climbing, baking, and settling down with a good book and mug of black tea.

Judi Beal

Business Coordinator

judi@forestguild.org

505-983-8992 ext. 718

Southwest office, New Mexico

Read Bio

Judi brings a diverse background of skills and experience in the environmental and healthcare world to her role as Business Coordinator for the Guild. While pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies at UNC-Asheville she worked in the Grassroots Field Office of The National Parks and Conservation Association holding positions from administration to advocacy and outreach. After a summer volunteering with the Bureau of Land Management in SE Utah, she was hired as a Backcountry Ranger and then transitioned into the office to implement the first Fee Demo Program for the BLM. After several years with the BLM she moved back to Asheville, NC to be closer to family and to work as manager of Group Education Programs with the North Carolina Outward Bound School. Her love of learning led her to pursue a degree in the healthcare industry where her career has been focused (for the past 10 years). Joining the Guild has brought her back to her environmental roots. Judi lives in Santa Fe, NM with her husband and enjoys anything in the outdoors, listening to music, and most recently playing KLASK.

Sam Berry

Southwest Associate Director

sam@forestguild.org

541-816-6371

Southwest office, New Mexico

Read Bio

Sam Berry works on facilitating the return of good fire, building fire resilient communities, and supporting workforce development in the landscapes of New Mexico and beyond. Sam works on a variety of projects but leads the Guild’s Southwest Office’s Fire and Fuels Program and Forest Stewards Youth Corps program. His work in general seeks to build connections and do work on the ground that leads to better relationships between wildland fires, the natural world, and communities. Sam holds a MNR from the University of Idaho. He has worked on various wildland and prescribed fire crews, engines and wildfire use modules in several states. He worked in the Klamath region of Northern California promoting fire adapted communities, running chainsaws on thinning crews, managing noxious weeds, and on fisheries crew. In Montana Sam developed and completed two oral history projects documenting lives rural communities. In his free time, he enjoys being with his favorite people and dogs, crafting things, cooking, and being outdoors.

Lily Bruce

Southwest Project Manager

lily@forestguild.org

505-983-8992 ext. 708

Southwest region, Colorado

Read Bio

Lily is from rural Vermont, where she watched small communities struggle as they transitioned away from logging economies. After earning her BA in Fine Art from the University of Vermont, Lily spent a decade researching and writing about the connection between place, identity, and natural resources through the lens of traditional textile crafts. This exploration sparked her interest in policy’s role in maintaining vibrant rural communities. Lily received her MS in Forest Stewardship from the University of Colorado, where she deepened her understanding of the federal policies that support community-based forestry.

Through her work with the Forest Stewards Guild, Lily supports small-acreage and underserved landowners in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado in implementing climate-smart forest projects. She also supports the collaborative restoration of key watersheds by coordinating the Executive Committee of the 2-3-2 Partnership. Her goal is to support resilient, connected human and ecological communities that thrive amidst changing environmental and economic landscapes.

Esmé Cadiente

Southwest Director

esme@forestguild.org

505-470-0032 (mobile)

Southwest office, New Mexico

Read Bio

Esmé manages Collaborative Forest Restoration Program (CFRP) projects. Her work addresses wildfire on a fireshed scale, with a pro-active and collaborative approach to improve the health and long-term resilience of our forests and communities. Esmé also communicates science to the public through project outreach materials, website design, verbal communication and photography, helping a range of audiences understand and engage in their natural world. Esmé holds an M.S. in Ecohydrological Science and Management from the University of Idaho in Moscow, and a B.S. in Environmental Biology from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. Her work has emphasized the mixed use of watershed and fireshed landscapes and the coupling between human and natural systems to manage forest and water resources at the landscape to regional scale. Esmé’s past research examines the interface between hydrologic and riparian systems and the ecological role of fire in forested watersheds for maintaining forest health and ecological resilience in a changing world.

Cody Dems

Southwest Program Manager

cody@forestguild.org

720-253-6419

Southwest office, New Mexico

Read Bio

Cody joined the Guild to work at the confluence of people and forests. With a background in prescribed fire implementation and research, community outreach, and ecological monitoring, Cody supports multiple programs throughout the Southwest. Ever learning, Cody is excited to combine landscape-scale planning with on-the-ground projects to restore, protect, and promote resilient forest communities. He has a B.S. in Resource Conservation from The University of Montana and an M.S. in Forest Resources from Penn State.

Fallon Grafe

Business Manager

fallon@forestguild.org

505-983-8992 ext. 717

Southwest office, New Mexico

Read Bio

Fallon focuses on operations and employee interests. Her background is in the New Mexico timber industry. She worked for several years at a family-owned sawmill started by her father that specializes in using local timber. Her experience is in operations management, accounting, project management, customer service and collaboration. She is originally from Santa Fe, NM and earned her undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin and MBA from the University of New Mexico. Fallon became interested in forest management and sustainable resource management while working in the timber industry. Working at the guild has inspired her to expand her knowledge. At home, Fallon finds happiness in spending time with her husband, two daughters and a large extended family. She also loves sewing, learning new mountain biking skills, running, and remodeling her house.

Sarah F. Hagan

Southeast Project Manager

shagan@forestguild.org

540-254-0320

Lynchburg, Virginia

Read Bio

Born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Sarah feels most at home out of doors and has made a career of trying to better the natural environment around her. In her role at the Guild, Sarah’s responsibilities include forest restoration project management and forestry outreach and communication. Sarah has an undergraduate degree in Biology and a master’s degree in Environmental Management. She is an ISA certified arborist. Sarah's hobbies include playing the piano badly, reading, and obsessing over her houseplants.

Gabe Kohler

Program Manager

gabe@forestguild.org

509-844-3048

Southwest office, New Mexico

Read Bio

Gabe has a strong interest in the human dimensions of natural resource management and wants to develop forest and fire management that strengthens the connection between rural communities and the forestland that surrounds them. He holds a B.A in Environmental Studies from Lewis and Clark College and a M.S in Forest Ecosystems and Society from the Oregon State University College of Forestry. During his graduate studies, Gabe learned to approach natural resource challenges from an interdisciplinary perspective, merging the social sciences with fire science and management. In his work as a social scientist contractor and research associate, Gabe talked with hundreds of natural resource professionals throughout the western US about their experiences, and hopes to bring these diverse perspectives to his work with the Guild. Gabe’s weekends are spent camping, biking, listening to live music, and road-tripping around the states with his girlfriend and their dog Magoo.

Chanda Littlefield

Pacific West Coordinator

chanda@forestguild.org

541-913-3221

Pacific West office, Oregon

Read Bio

Chanda brings valuable forestry experience to the Forest Stewards Guild, having previously worked as a forester at the Washington Department of Natural Resources and the US Forest Service in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Most recently, at Nakamoto Forestry, she played a key role in setting up their sustainability department, deeply engaging with Japanese forestry practices. Holding a degree in Forestry with a dual focus in Forest Management and Forest Restoration and Fire from Oregon State University, she is well-versed in both the practical and ecological aspects of forest stewardship. She is driven by a commitment to improving the planet's health and is enthusiastic about expanding Guild membership in the Northwest, while also strengthening connections with existing members. Her work emphasizes bird population management, climate considerations, and biodiversity, with a goal of increasing environmental education access for underserved communities. Beyond her professional life, Chanda enjoys outdoor activities like backpacking, mountaineering, and Nordic skiing.

Michael Lynch

Great Lakes Director

mike@forestguild.org

608-449-0647

Lake States office, Minnesota

Read Bio

Michael focuses on regional research needs, collaboration opportunities, and natural resource planning at a landscape-scale. Michael has specialized experience developing integrated solutions to balance the multifaceted ecological, economic, and social needs of the Lake State’s forest resources. Michael holds a BA from Gustavus Adolphus College with majors in Biology and Environmental Studies and an MS in Biological Integration from the University of Minnesota. Prior to working for the Forest Stewards Guild, Michael worked with the Wisconsin DNR, Minnesota Forest Resources Council/Minnesota DNR, Sugarloaf: The North Shore Stewardship Association, and USDA Forest Service. Michael also operates a southern Minnesota corn and soybean farm that pairs land and water conservation practices with production agriculture. He spends his time away from Guild and farming activities engaging in a variety of outdoor adventures with his wife and kids. Michael's office is located in Mankato, MN.

Maggie Mansfield

Northeast Manager

maggie@forestguild.org

207-370-8077

Northeast office, Maine

Read Bio

Maggie supports foresters and landowners through Guild programs including Women Owning Woodlands and Forestry for Maine Birds. The child of a maple syrup producer, she was steeped in the complexities of New England forests at an early age. Studies in forestry, ecology, and botany broadened her understanding of the surrounding landscape. Before joining the Guild, Maggie worked as a consulting forester in central Maine, helping landowners make and implement management decisions that considered the ecological, economic, and social realities of our forests. She holds an MS in Forest Resources from the University of Maine, Orono, where she explored the effects of ecological forestry on understory plants, and a BA in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic. She is a licensed forester in the state of Maine.

Collin McElroy

Southwest Ecological Monitoring Coordinator

collin@forestguild.org

541-222-9571

Southwest Office, New Mexico

Read Bio

Collin comes to the Guild with a passion for ecology and a wide range of ecological monitoring experience. He has conducted avian surveys, rare plant surveys, monitored rangeland health, and assessed efficacy of vegetation treatments. He has a B.S. in Biology with a focus in Ecology and Evolution from the University of Oregon. He is excited to be a part of landscape scale collaborative projects working to inform responsible land management. When not at work, you can find Collin birding, playing disc golf, or planning to go birding.

Alyssa Mineau

Fireshed Project Coordinator

alyssa@forestguild.org

Southwest office, New Mexico

Read Bio

Alyssa is dedicated to interdisciplinary work—with a diverse background ranging from invasive species management to non-human primate pharmacodynamics, to isotope dendrochronology—Alyssa is passionate about approaching ecological issues through many lenses. Originally from Northern California, Alyssa has a deep connection to fire ecology and management, as her home has been affected by increasingly destructive wildfires throughout her life. Within the Guild, she will work as the Fireshed Project Coordinator, striving to improve forest health and promote fire-adapted communities across the Southwest. Alyssa holds degrees in Biology (A.S), Natural Resources (A.A.), Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (B.S.), and Forest Resources (M.S.).

Christian Nelson

Lake States Coordinator

christian@forestguild.org

218-591-2140

Lake States, Duluth, Minnesota

Read Bio

Christian has been professional forester in the Lake States for over 25 years working with state agencies and Native American tribes. He has a passion for science-based, ecologically focused, and pragmatic forestry practices and believes people have a place in the environment and therefore a responsibility to be good stewards. Christian is proud to be part of an organization that promotes good, sustainable, science-based land management, research to fill knowledge gaps, and targeted outreach to help promote good stewardship. He has a B.S. in Wildlife Management from Saint Cloud State University, completed the coursework for an M.S. in forest management at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, went through the National Advanced Silviculture Program, and holds certificates in GIS and computer programming. Outside of work, Christian is a disc golfer, mountain biker, canoe camper, hunter, amateur musician, and routinely slays (pretend) monsters in a game group.

Andrew Pearson

Youth Program Coordinator

apearson@forestguild.org

505-795-2551

Southwest office, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Read Bio

Andrew has been working with youth in the outdoors for nearly a decade from the Northwoods of Wisconsin to the high desert of beautiful New Mexico. He’s honored to work at the intersection of environmental stewardship, outdoor education, and youth development to invest in the next generation of forest stewards. In his role at the Guild he supports crews of young adults as they develop technical competencies and job skills while improving the landscapes of their communities. On his own time Andrew enjoys fixing up motorcycles, exploring Albuquerque on his bicycle, and convincing himself that he’ll get around to the growing mountain of unread books on his shelf.

Mateo Pomilia

Southwest Program Manager

mateo@forestguild.org

847-533-1849

Southwest office, New Mexico

Read Bio

Mateo brings diverse international experience to the Guild, having worked for a decade and a half in biodiversity conservation, agroecology and intercultural education throughout South and Central America, southern Africa and the US. Mateo’s interests include traditional ecological knowledge, ecological restoration, protected areas governance and intersections between environmental and social justice. Mateo is ecstatic to join the Guild’s efforts to collaboratively manage forest landscapes in northern New Mexico for resilience, biodiversity conservation and the benefit of local communities. Mateo holds a MSc in Biodiversity and Conservation from the University of Leeds (UK) and a BA from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Mateo is an avid outdoorsman, linguist and songwriter-singer.

Colleen Robinson

Communications Manager

colleen@forestguild.org

505-983-8992 ext. 700

Lake States office, Wisconsin

Read Bio

Colleen describes her perfect work as helping people recognize and acknowledge their own connections to their environment. She has a Bachelor's Degree in environmental education and a broad background in communications. After 10 years with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' Forest Health Program and 14 years with the non-profit, Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy, her knowledge directly relates to our communication needs. She understands our work with forests and the people who own, manage and recreate within them. Colleen maintains our website, member and donor communications, event registrations, e-news, magazine, and Annual Review. Outside the Guild, she is a Wisconsin Master Naturalist course instructor, a Certified Mindful Outdoor Guide, and enjoys time in the woods and on the water with friends and family. She puts high value on locally sourced, healthy food. You'll often hear her say "I belong outside."

Carlos Saiz

Southwest Fire and Fuels Coordinator

carlos@forestguild.org

505-795-2556

Southwest office, New Mexico

Read Bio

My passion with this work goes hand in hand with my previous work experience. I’ve spent a decade working in my hometown as a Wildland Firefighter for the City of Santa Fe Fire Department (SFFD). My focus was wildfire and assisting the WUI specialist, but I’ve done many different things from Fire suppression on a hand crew and an engine, to acting as an EMT-I for medical/rescue assignments. Outside of work I have a fitness background Powerlifting in college at NMSU where I have a bachelor’s in communication. I’m also a martial arts practitioner with 16 years of experience. I hope to incorporate all I know with the Guild’s mission.

Rachel Swanwick

Northeast Program Manager

rswanwick@forestguild.org

908-938-0087

Burlington, Vermont

Read Bio

Rachel holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies and International and Global Studies from Brandeis University and an M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Vermont. Her graduate research explored the perceptions of forest stewards from state agencies and Tribal Nations in Maine on climate adaptation and cross-cultural knowledge exchange. Rachel’s professional experience ranges from working as a research associate at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center, scientific program analyst at Keystone Symposia, US Forest Service Ranger and environmental educator. Rachel will support multiple Guild programs in the Northeast, and she is excited to apply her diverse background to this role. In her free time, Rachel enjoys listening to live music, practicing yoga and spending time outdoors.

Shawn Swartz

Southeast Manager

shawn@forestguild.org

Southeast office, North Carolina

Read Bio

Shawn Swartz is a Registered Forester in NC, an SAF Certified Forester, and ISA certified Arborist. He holds an AAS in Forest Management from Haywood Community College and a BS and MNR in Natural Resource Management from Oregon State University. He feels at home working for the Forest Guild because his approach to forest management involves silvicultural methods that mimic historical disturbance regimes and natural ranges of variability. His professional interests include the restoration of forest species including American chestnut, longleaf and shortleaf pine, and eastern hemlock; non-timber forest products such as American ginseng, goldenseal, ramps, tree syrups, and woodland mushrooms; and woody perennial crops such as American hazelnut and pawpaw. When not working, he enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, playing guitar, and riding his motorcycle.

Polly Weigand

Fire Projects Manager

polly@forestguild.org

631-898-6181

Hampton Bays, New York

Read Bio

Polly hails from the Tug Hill Plateau, just west of the Adirondack Mountains of New York and lives on the east end of Long Island where she obtained a master’s degree in urban ecology from Hofstra University; founded (and directs) the Long Island Native Plant Initiative, administers the Long Island Invasive Species Management Area, and most recently served a as Science and Stewardship Program Manager, where she led the development of a Prescribed Fire Program for the Central Pine Barrens Commission.

As a member of the North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange leadership team, Polly helps support increased capacity for science-based wildland fire management by hosting educational programs, developing innovative technical resources, supporting research initiatives and fostering connections between researchers and managers.

Stay Informed

about our recent projects and upcoming events.