Presenters:

Josh Cerra, Environmental Designer/Senior Ecologist, Herrera Environmental Consultants

Dan Kent, Salmon Safe Executive Director, Stewardship Partners

Moderator:

Ellen Southard, Salmon Safe Outreach Coordinator, Stewardship Partners

The presentation will introduce Salmon-Safe certification and share program successes throughout the Cascadia region with high profile landowners ranging from REI and Nike to University of Washington and many of the region’s acclaimed wineries. These examples will look at how private and public sector land owners have adopted environmentally innovative management practices that contribute to the health of the bioregion.  Several case studies include major sites within three of Portland’s five EcoDistricts.   This certification provides the necessary incentives to engage landowners in implementing rigorous stormwater and site management practices that address the need for healthy habitat in both rural and urban settings.  

This session is appropriate for any participant be it designer, jurisdictional decision makers and developers.

Presenter Bios

Josh Cerra
Environmental Designer/Senior Ecologist, Herrera Environmental Consultants. Josh
was a wildlife biologist and landscape ecologist for the United States Bureau of Land
Management and other public agencies for over ten years. In 2001, he entered the private
sector, focusing his work on urban ecological design, restoration and conservation planning, and
habitat quality management. In 2008 he joined Herrera, where he is currently working on large
infrastructural projects that incorporate urban‐ecological thinking into planning and site
development. Josh is the primary author of Salmon‐Safe’s Residential Development and Golf
Course Certification Standards, and is the Certification Team Leader for these programs.

Ellen Southard
Ellen Southard is the Salmon Safe Outreach Coordinator for Stewardship Partners, a Seattle
based non‐profit advising land owners on low impact development and environmental
preservation. Ellen has 20 years experience working with engineers, architects and planners in
the Northwest. With a background in teaching, history and multi cultural program planning she
has focused her career on providing consultation for sustainable infrastructure, low impact
development, and best management practices. She is currently leading Salmon Safe’s efforts in
developing new municipal wide programs for Salmon Safe certification. In 2008 she was
featured in Sustainable Industries Journal June Issue of Top Green Executives.

Dan Kent
Dan Kent is Salmon-Safe's executive director. Dan led the development of Salmon-Safe at Pacific Rivers Council from 1995 to 2001 and also served as that organization's communications director for five years.  Since 2005, Dan has led Salmon-Safe’s urban initiative at more than 20 high profile projects ranging from the Nike World Headquarters Campus, South Waterfront, and Toyota at the Port of Portland to University of Washington and REI’s Puget Sound operations  Dan serves on the boards of Wild Farm Alliance and Cork Forest Conservation Alliance.