Ric Brewer, Community Relations and Events Manager
In this new year, please join us in welcoming three new full-time staff members to Jefferson Land Trust: Ric Brewer, Community Relations and Events Manager; Eloise Steere, Development Assistant; and Cristina Villalobos, Office and Preserve Assistant.
Ric Brewer grew up in Jefferson County and has worked at several iconic Pacific Northwest institutions including Seattle Symphony, Woodland Park Zoo, and Bartell Drugs in roles focusing on event production, community development and engagement, communications, public relations, and wildlife conservation management.
In his role as Community Relations and Events Manager, Ric looks forward to expanding relationships between the organization and members of our community through events and programs that build a strong and invested base of community support for our mission.
“I’m impressed by the incredible engagement the community has with Jefferson Land Trust. Preserving our natural heritage is a shared goal. Having grown up in Jefferson County, I’m pleased to be able to return here and help the Land Trust further engage the community in helping to protect our farms, fish, forests, and working lands.”
In his free time, Ric enjoys taking care of his 10-acre property in Quilcene, part of which is wild and part which is cultivated with fruit and nut trees and berries; raising escargot snails; and hiking the nearby trails with his bulldog, Alder (already a popular guest star at staff Zoom meetings).
Eloise Steere, Development Assistant
Eloise Steere joins the Land Trust team as our new Development Assistant. She will support the Development team in record keeping, outreach, and assistance with the Land Trust’s donor relations activities.
Eloise grew up in Portland, spending much of her childhood clamming, crabbing, and fishing on the Oregon Coast with her family. She graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A. degree in Environmental Policy and a minor in Economics. Throughout college, Eloise worked for the B-Corp and 1% for the Planet company Sea Witch Botanicals, and assisted with their mission of keeping toxins and pollutants out of the world’s waterways. Eloise has been working with nonprofits and NGOs for the past six years, and hopes to bring her unique experience in both business and environmental studies to the table in her work with us.
“I’m so honored to join the wonderful conservation professionals here at Jefferson Land Trust. This team truly has a remarkable impact on the communities across the county. The farms, fish, and forests for which this region is famous would not be the same without this dedication and expertise.”
In her free time, Eloise loves to do yoga and pilates, eat at local restaurants, and work on arts and crafts projects.
Cristina Villalobos, Office and Preserve Assistant
Cristina Villalobos recently joined the Land Trust as our Office and Preserve Assistant. In this role, she splits her time between administrative support at our Uptown Port Townsend office and stewardship support across our 26 nature preserves.
With an M.S. in marine and estuarine science from Western Washington University, Cristina has maintained a professional focus on marine science and environmental education. Prior to joining the Land Trust, she worked as an environmental educator with the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education in Philadelphia, and Nature’s Classroom Institute at their Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, and California locations. A native of the central California region, Cristina has lived in and explored Western Washington on and off for the past 10 years, and she’s excited to continue working to promote community environmental education and conservation in her new role.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to join the Land Trust team and contribute to our mission of protecting open spaces and working lands for wildlife and the community as a whole, and I look forward to connecting with local lands and community members.”
During her free time, you may spot Cristina cycling around the area on her trusty 1980s Trek road bike.
