CITIZENS FOR A HEALTHY BAY

Leslie Ann Rose, Senior Policy Analyst/ Acting Director
Leslie Ann takes the lead for issue review and policy development for CHB, and is “at-the-table” for the Commencement Bay community relative to the Superfund Cleanup of the Commencement Bay Superfund problem area and many other issues and concerns. Leslie Ann is CHB’s representative on a number of special projects and technical workgroups, both locally and regionally. Prior to joining CHB in 1998, Leslie Ann worked as a field technical consultant primarily focused in the watershed areas of timber, fish and wildlife and landscape ecology. Her work at CHB has earned her invitations to address national conferences and several awards, including the Citizen Excellence in Community Involvement Award received for the US EPA in September 2002.

Jeff Barney, Bay Patrol Director
Jeff Barney was raised in Browns Point on the shores of Commencement Bay. After
graduating from Stadium High School, he moved to Montana, were he attended the University
of Montana’s School of Forestry and Conservation, obtaining a BS in Recreation
Resource Management. Jeff spent seven years working in the outdoors for the US
Forest Service in Wilderness Management and the National Parks Service. Jeff has enjoyed
being a Lead Instructor for NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) teaching sea
kayaking, whitewater canoe/rafting, climbing, mountain travel and backpacking. During his
time with NOLS, he has instructed courses in Alaska, the Yukon Territory, the Pacific
Northwest and the Indian Himalayans. Jeff returned to the Pacific Northwest, where he has
worked for the last four years in various areas of Marina Management on the Foss Waterway.
With over 25 years of boating experience and a childhood on the bay, he is a great addition to the team at Citizens for a Healthy Bay. Jeff enjoys all outdoor activities, including
boating, fishing and crabbing. He lives with his wife, Kristin
and new baby boy, McKinley, in Gig Harbor.

Jeanine Riss, Restoration Program Manager & Volunteer Coordinator
Originally from the Midwest, Jeanine grew up in California and graduated from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. Soon after graduation she moved to western Washington to pursue a culinary career. After working for several years as a head chef, she chose to pursue her life-long interest of the environment and animals and decided to go back to school.
Jeanine received an Associate of Arts & Sciences at Tacoma Community College while training as a veterinary nurse. She then enrolled in University of Washington Tacoma’s certificate program in restoration ecology and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies. While studying restoration ecology at UWT, she worked on a year long restoration project at Tacoma Community College. She assisted in restoring a natural area which will be used as a living classroom for TCC students. While working at the site, Jeanine instructed several of TCC’s environmental science classes on the importance of restoring and maintaining a habitat and its original ecosystem functions. Jeanine spends her free time rescuing/fostering cats and kittens, cooking a making jewelry. She looks forward to meeting you at the many restoration events throughout the year.

Carrie Hernandez, Administrative Assistant
As a child Carrie grew up in an agricultural community in Nebraska. Her interest in protecting and preserving water quality came from years of observing how chemicals and fertilizers can affect local water systems. After serving seven years in the United States Army, Carrie decided to finish her higher education. She obtained an Associates of Arts and Sciences degree from Pierce College and is currently attending University of Washington, Tacoma in pursuit of a BS in Environmental Science. Carrie joined CHB in August 2007working as an administrative assistant. Since that time, Carrie has been involved in various programs at CHB, gaining experience in the environmental arena and helping with the protection and restoration of Commencement Bay and its surrounding watersheds.