Board

Dr. Brian Naasz

Chair

Brian is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Pacific Lutheran University where he teaches Environmental and Analytical Chemistry. Prior to this, he worked in a variety of research, management, and business development roles in the specialty chemical industry. He has a BS in Chemistry from Seattle University and a PhD in Physical Chemistry and Catalysis from the University of California, Berkeley. He joined the Earth Ministry Board in January 2005. Brian also serves on the board of the Peace Community Center in Tacoma, Washington. His church home is Agnus Dei Lutheran church in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Rev. Hunt Priest

Vice Chair

The Rev. Hunt Priest joined the board in 2010. Hunt is the Rector (Sr. Pastor) of Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Mercer Island. Prior to moving to the Seattle area, he was on staff of the Episcopal Church in Newnan, Ga. Before attending seminary and becoming ordained at age 40, Hunt was as a copywriter for an Atlanta advertising agency and delta.com. He's the father of 10-year old Will – who is a founding member of the Kids' Green Team at Emmanuel – and has been married to Lisa Lee Priest for 15 years. The strange confluence of surname and vocation is complicated by the fact that his mother's maiden name was Bishop.

Rebecca Cate

Secretary

Rebecca Cate was welcomed onto the board in 2010. As mother, wife, homemaker and sometimes attorney, she is an active member of Bethany United Church of Christ in Seattle. Rebecca graduated from the Willamette University School of Law and then spent 8 years as a criminal defense attorney with the Seattle-King County Public Defender Association. Since joining Bethany UCC in 2001, Rebecca has served on several ministry teams and co-founded Bethany’s Sacred Earth Ministry Team. Through Rebecca’s leadership Bethany has partnered with Earth Ministry and become a Greening Congregation. Rebecca loves to garden, sew, bake, hike/backpack, cross-country ski, listen to classical music and make annual pilgrimages to Holden Village with her husband and two children.

Dr. Kevin O’Brien

Treasurer

Kevin joined the Earth Ministry board in 2008. He is an Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics at Pacific Lutheran University, and also teaches in the International Honors and Environmental Studies Programs.  He has an M.A. in theology from Union Theological Seminary in New York and a Ph.D. in Christian Social Ethics from Emory University in Atlanta.  Kevin's teaching and research focus on the interconnections between human ethics and environmental concerns, scientific data and moral commitments, religious commitments and social justice. His wife, Mary, teaches elementary school.

Kerri Cechovic

Kerri joined the Earth Ministry board in 2008. Her day job is the Outreach Director of Washington Environmental Council, which includes implementing grassroots organizing strategies for legislative policy efforts and campaigns. Kerri originally hails from Montana, where she conducted grassroots organizing and community outreach efforts for numerous state and local political campaigns. Kerri also served as an Americorps VISTA for the Western Montana Chapter for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. She received her Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Montana in 2002. Thanks to her time in Montana, Kerri developed a love for the outdoors and spent many summer weekends camping with her entire family. Now she enjoys hiking and exploring Washington's gorgeous mountains and forests.

 
Mikaila Gawryn

Mikaila Gawryn was honored to join the Earth Ministry Board in 2010 after volunteering and working with the organization for over five years. With a degree in Environmental Studies from Seattle University, Mikaila has focused on the connection between food production, environmental care and social justice. As a staff member at Earth Ministry she contributed to publications, administrative work and public speaking. Since graduating she has worked in small scale food production and she currently works in food service gaining a better understanding of how  small business concerns play a role in global food justice relationships. Mikaila is currently applying to graduate programs and hopes to work on international agriculture and justice issues in the future.

Frederica (Freddie) Helmiere

Freddie joined the board in 2011. She moved to Seattle in 2010 after receiving a MAR at Yale Divinity School and a MESc at the Forestry & Environmental Studies School at Yale. There she studied environmental ethics, eco-justice, and international development, and spent a summer interning with Interfaith Power & Light in San Francisco. Freddie is a founding board member of the Lwala Community Alliance, an organization working on capacity-building in a small village in Western Kenya. She currently researching and writing material for Cynthia Moe-Lobeda's forthcoming book, Ethics for the "Un-creators": Morality in the Face of Systemic Evil and teaches Environmental Writing and Research methods at University of Washington. Freddie lives with her husband, John in Columbia City and is a member of Valley & Mountain Fellowship in Rainier Valley.

Maryfrances Lignana

Maryfrances was elected to Earth Ministry's Board of Directors in December 2001 and served as Chair of the Board from 2006-2009. A recent alum of Microsoft, she has over 30 years experience in marketing, customer information oversight, and project management. A founding member of the Spiritus Dei congregation of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion, she is working to integrate creation care into the liturgical and social justice life of the community.

John A. McCoy

Earth Ministry's newest board member, John McCoy, joined the board in 2011. A retired communications professional, he most recently served as chief communications officer for the Christian humanitarian organization, World Vision International. Prior to World Vision, he was the public affairs director of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle, the vice president for communications at Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, and an editor and reporter at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. He is the author of a book on prison life and numerous stories and articles. A member of St. John Vianney Church on Vashon Island, John is also a gardener, beekeeper and poultry farmer. He and his wife, Karen, have three adult children.

Tim Nuse

Tim Nuse joined the board in 2010. As the Retail Energy Manager for Recreational Equipment, Inc, he implements programs to make REI stores more efficient and sustainable through energy retrofits, green power purchases, and solar generation. Prior to REI, Tim worked on environmental programs for Starbucks Coffee Company, including efforts to conserve energy and water and reduce waste. Tim collaborated with colleagues at Starbucks to found Partners for Sustainable Living, an organization that educates and inspires people to live more sustainable lifestyles. Outside of work, Tim volunteers his time as Chair of the 34th Legislative District Democrats focusing on empowering citizens to pass progressive legislation and elect effective leaders. In his spare time, Tim enjoys relaxing with friends and family, exploring the great outdoors, and is an avid sports enthusiast.

Joelle Robinson

Joelle Robinson currently is the Field Director at Climate Solutions, which covers the Northwest states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.  Prior to that she was the Regional Outreach Coordinator of National Wildlife Federation (NWF), where she focused on mobilizing hunters, anglers and concerned citizens around solutions to global warming. And before NWF, she was the NW Climate Connections Coordinator at Climate Solutions serving as the Field Assistant for the successful Clean Cars campaign and Field Director of the Renewable Fuel Standard which passed in April 2006. She previously served on the board of Solar Washington and the Sierra Club Executive Committee. Her faith background includes church attendance across multiple denominations as well as "outdoor church." Joelle joined the Earth Ministry board in 2004 and climbed Mount Baker that summer to raise $3,000 for Earth Ministry.

Sr. Jo Ann Showalter, SP

Environment has been a life long passion and interest for Jo Ann. She has been on various committees including the Reclaiming Earth Committee for Mother Joseph Province and the Sustainability subcommittee for UNANIMA, an NGO representing more than 16,000 women religious and having UN status. Last year, she was able to attend the 17th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development at the United Nations. Jo Ann graduated from St. Mary of the Woods College with a MA in Earth Literacy. She is about to begin a new ministry as a member of the Provincial Council of the Sisters of Providence.