Takshanuk Watershed Council Staff
DEREK POINSETTE
Executive Director
Derek has lived at Mosquito Lake since 2008 and began working at TWC in 2017. He studied Fish and Wildlife Biology at Montana State University, worked on a number of research projects over the years, mostly with birds, sometimes with fish, and two years with Yellowstone National Park bison. Derek's primary motivator at TWC is the need to discover the ways that the human community here in the Chilkat Valley can continue to thrive, while also conserving the near-pristine natural environment with which we have been blessed.
STACIE EVANS
Science Director
For much of her life Stacie traveled, lived, and worked throughout the west in search of an intact ecosystem to call home. In 2012 she discovered the Chilkat Valley and grew roots right away. Stacie earned her Bachelor's of Science in wildlife biology at the University of Montana and has spent nearly every summer in the field since her first job in eighth grade. She studied seabirds in Alaska’s most remote places for six years before unpacking her dry bags to join the TWC team in 2020. She is excited to contribute to more localized conservation efforts and to finally have a garden.
TRACY WIRAK-CASSIDY
Education Coordinator
Tracy Wirak-Cassidy first arrived in Haines on her bicycle during a two month-long bike tour with her sister in 2011. It was love at first sight. After finishing up her teaching position in Montana, she packed her bags and ferried to Haines, making it her home. She has used her degree in Elementary Education and Environmental Studies in both classroom and outdoor settings and is passionate about creating meaningful learning opportunities. She looks forward to working with the community and the TWC team to continue offering place-based educational programs.
CINDY ZULUAGA JIMENEZ
Compost Program Manager
Cindy landed in Alaska in 2016 for a brief stopover and zero plans to stay. Quickly falling in love with the forest and eyeing Haines, she finally made the permanent move in 2019 and settled into Haines life.
Cindy has a background in biology and has extensive experience managing organic farm-to-table gardens and composting efforts. She took over the Haines community composting in 2019, and has dwelled deep into the to the study of soil biology and fungal networks. She is excited to incorporate some of that knowledge into current TWC projects.
Equal Opportunity
The Takshanuk Watershed Council does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring or firing staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors.