Wallowa Resources Staff
Amy Busch
Amy is an education specialist for the Youth Stewardship Education Program for Wallowa Resources-Wallowa Mountain Institute. She received her bachelor of science in environmental studies at University of California, Santa Barbara then later continued her education at Southern Oregon University where she obtained a master’s of science in environmental education and a certificate in nonprofit management. Amy started her professional career as an Americorps member working on salmon and watershed issues in North California and got her feet wet in education working at a residential camp on Catalina Island. She has worked for several other nonprofits managing education programs and as a park ranger for the National Park Service. Outside of work, you will find her not sitting still. She will either be running, biking, fly fishing, or backpacking in the summer, and backcountry skiing in the winter.
Holly Akenson
Holly Akenson is the Director of the Wallowa Mountain Institute. She coordinates research and education programs for Wallowa Resources. Holly graduated with honors from Eastern Oregon University with a BS in Biology and a BS in Education. She received a Masters in Wildlife Resources from University of Idaho. Holly previously worked for University of Idaho for 13 years as Manager/Scientist of Taylor Wilderness Research Station where she developed and coordinated field programs for university students and conducted carnivore and bighorn sheep research and long term monitoring in the Idaho wilderness. Prior to that, Holly had a wildlife consulting business in Northeast Oregon working with state and federal agencies and private landowners on wildlife and natural resources projects. Holly is a Certified Wildlife Biologist. Holly’s personal interests are oriented toward wild places: nature photography, mule pack trips & backpacking, wilderness big game hunting, and international adventures.
Joni Maasdam
Joni Maasdam, Office Assistant. Joni Maasdam joined the Wallowa Resources staff in October 2010. She brings with her 15 years of experience in office administration. Joni was raised in Heppner, OR and attended BMCC. After college she married Mark, a lifetime Wallowa County resident, and has been in Wallowa County for the past 24 years. “I am excited to work with such a dynamic group of people”. Joni enjoys camping and taking adventures on their Harley.
Kathy Reynolds
Kathy is the Finance/Human Resource Manager for Wallowa Resources and also serves as the Treasurer to the Corporation. Kathy is responsible for all financial records for the Corporation and its subsidiary companies. Kathy moved to Wallowa County in 1999 from Salem, Oregon. She has vast experience in the accounting/payroll field. She worked for Payless NW Corporate offices for 15 years as Payroll Manager, worked for Morrow Snowboards as their Human Resource Director and has worked for Manufacturing Companies, and Construction companies as Finance Controller. Kathy is a member of the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce and served as that Board’s Secretary/Treasurer for 2 years. She was the parade chairman for the Hells Canyon Mule Days Parade for 3 years and she is involved in the community. Kathy loves the outdoors and Wallowa County…she is passionate about the organization and her role in blending the needs of the land and the community.
Kyle Couch
Kyle Couch is Wallowa Resources’ Watershed Stewardship Program Officer. Kyle was raised in Joseph in a logging family, attended Joseph High School where he won State wrestling honors, and has worked extensively in the forestry industry. His background includes field implementation work in Forest Stand Exams, Forest inventory, logging, truck driving, and fighting fire with the Union Hotshots. Kyle received his Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resources with an emphasis in Forest Ecosystems from Oregon State University. An avid outdoorsman, Kyle enjoys hunting, fishing, horn hunting, and many other adventure pursuits.
Mark Porter
Mark Porter coordinates Wallowa Resources Lower Grande Ronde Noxious Weed Program -- a cooperative effort of Wallowa Resources, the Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, several state agencies and numerous private landowners in the Lower Grande Ronde River corridor. The program treats weeds across public property and private ownership boundaries. Mark earned a B.S. in wildlife biology from Oregon State University. He has extensive field experience in northeast Oregon ranging from cattle ranching to backcountry trail work to stream surveying. Mark currenly serves on the Oregon Invasive Species Council. In his free time, Mark coaches a local youth soccer team.
Nils Christoffersen
Nils currently serves as Executive Director for Wallowa Resources. He has a Bachelors in Economics from Williams College (honors in Environmental Economics), and a Masters in Forestry from Oxford University. His work experience includes 6 years in Eastern and Southern Africa on forestry and wildlife management issues, with an emphasis on community based natural resource management. Previously, Mr. Christoffersen has served as Executive Director for the US Office of Africa Resources Trust, Regional program Coordinator for the IUCN Regional Office in Southern Africa (Zimbabwe), Training Officer for Wildlife Division in Tanzania, and Field Supervisor for Forestry Department in Botswana. Other work includes policy work with the European Commission on matters related to CITES and natural resource management, and short term field work in Australia (livestock), UK (forestry), Norway (forestry and fishing), and Israel (agriculture).
Myron Kirkpatrick
Myron Kirkpatrick, Chief Financial Officer. Myron Kirkpatrick joined Wallowa Resources Community Solutions, Inc. as Program Manager in September 2010 before being promoted to Chief Financial Officer. Myron spent the previous 10 years as Wallowa County Business Facilitator, helping entrepreneurs start new businesses. Prior to that he worked in the retail industry included accounting and information systems positions with Federated Department Stores and CFO at Costco Wholesale and other emerging growth companies. Myron and his wife own a local small business, Timber Bronze, Inc. In his “spare time” he enjoys camping and hiking throughout the west.
Sarah Ketchum
Sarah is Wallowa Resource’s Weed Programs Specialist. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Anderson University in Indiana. While in college, she took courses at the Au Sable Institute’s Great Lakes campus. Following graduation, she returned to Au Sable as Program Assistant. In 2004 Sarah entered graduate school at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana where she researched the response of sulfur cinquefoil to grazing at the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range in northeast Oregon. In 2007 she received her Master’s Degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Science and returned to Oregon to manage noxious weeds. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys hiking/camping, volleyball and reading.
Wallowa Resources Board of Directors
CHAIR
James Henson, Rancher/Retired University Professor, Enterprise, Oregon
VICE-CHAIR
Joe McCormack, Nez Perce Tribe Fisheries Biologist, Joseph, Oregon
BOARD
Kelly Birkmaier, Rangeland Ecologist/Rancher, Enterprise, Oregon
Gail Hammack, Retired Corporate Manager/Landowner, Lostine, Oregon
Mike Hayward, County Commissioner/Forester, Joseph, Oregon
Doug McDaniel, Rancher/Landowner, Lostine, Oregon
Liza Nichols, Rancher/Landowner, Enterprise, Oregon
Larry Nall, Forester/Stewardship Contractor, Joseph, Oregon
David Schmidt, Bussiness Owner, Joseph, Oregon
Brad Stephens, Physician/Landowner, Joseph, Oregon
Jim Zacharias, Sawmill Owner/Logger, Joseph, Oregon