Cowiche Canyon Conservancy Names New Executive Director

We are pleased to announce Elizabeth (Betsy) Bloomfield as our new Executive Director.  Bloomfield has been Eastern Washington Forests Program Director for the Nature Conservancy.  She will move from that position to become half-time executive director of CCC beginning mid-December, 2009. Bloomfield holds a Master of Science degree in Natural Resource Management from Central Washington University.  She was regional lands agent with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and was project coordinator for Mission Creek Restoration Project.  She says, "I'm delighted to become Cowiche Canyon Conservancy's new Executive Director.  I have lived in Yakima since 2000 and in the region since 1992.  I love what our community has to offer, and the incredible value and beauty the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy brings to our community's quality of life.  I'm thrilled to be part of celebrating 25 years as an organization and I look forward to helping lead CCC into the next 25 years". 

Colleda Dolinski

Assisting Bloomfield is Colleda Dolinski (shown here with Rolli), who began working part-time at CCC in October, 2009. Dolinksi holds an undergraduate degree with a science emphasis from Western Washington University.  She has work experiences in office technology, environmental project coordination and marketing. Together this permanent staff team, along with the Board of Directors, will lead ongoing conservation, recreation and education programs which have expanded significantly in recent years. 

The interim staff team--Barb Smith Gilbert, who began by working on strategic planning in 2008, and Cecilia Vogt, who has served as temporary executive director since April--will be changing roles as they return as enthusiastic CCC volunteers to assist efforts on regional environmental education and trails as well as CCC 25th anniversary celebrations.