Team Members
Oak Rankin, Executive Director
Oak has dedicated his professional career to helping institutions create meaningful outcomes in education and environmental stewardship. He has over 10 years of supervisory experience overseeing staff, interns, graduate students, recent college graduates, and volunteers, and has led teams for the University of Arizona, Seeds of Compassion, The Wilderness School and Wild Rivers Expeditions. Additionally, he has hands-on professional experience in our natural world working for the North Cascades National Park as a biology technician, logger, emergency forest firefighter and as a naturalist river guide. As a Fulbright scholar, he launched a new English teaching program in a remote part of Brazil.
Ginger Castleberry, Director of Special initiatives
Ginger has worked with GPI since 2015. Her vast experience in project coordination and operations management have been essential to GPI and a valued resource to our team. She chairs our Finance and Facilities committees and leads the development and implementation of the GPI Strategic Plan. She worked previously as a stage manager specializing in opera, including 5 years at Seattle Opera. Ginger is from Darrington and holds a BA from the University of Washington and a MFA in Management and Producing from California Institute of the Arts.
Marlena White, Outdoor Workforce Manager
A Wisconsin native, Marlena has lived in Concrete for the past 5 years and has worked in both the Darrington and Concrete communities in that time. She's spent her career working in environmental sustainability and public health in various capacities, most recently focusing on youth substance abuse prevention in Concrete. She's excited to bring her diverse background to GPI as the Outdoor Workforce Manager. In her free time, Marlena enjoys getting outside with her friends and family, and referencing things she heard in a podcast in casual conversation.
Scott Rossiter, Development Director
Born in the Pacific Northwest, Scott discovered a love for the outdoors and fishing through scouting and on summer camping trips in the north cascades with family. He previously worked as an Executive Director of a food bank and as a Development Director for non-profits focused on affordable housing, animal welfare, and outdoor experiences for under-served youth and adults with developmental disabilities. Scott loves to connect individuals, families, and organizations with opportunities to create life-changing impact through generosity. Scott enjoys acting in community theater, ferry rides in the San Juan Islands, and day trips to explore the beauty of the northwest. He holds a BA in Speech and Interpersonal Communication from Central Washington University.
Shaylah Niemi, HR/Project Coordinator
Shaylah Niemi came to Darrington in 2011 to serve the community as a first responder. She responded to the Oso Slide in 2014 and is a CPR/First Aid instructor. Shaylah has joined GPI as the HR Project Coordinator, having an established connection with the community and an understanding of how GPI positively impacts the youth and the town of Darrington. In her spare time, Shaylah enjoys spending her free time exploring the local rivers, camping, and exploring the countless trails that surround Darrington.
Melissa Kaiser, Bookkeeper
Melissa was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She raised her children fishing, camping, hiking and exploring all the beautiful, vast wilderness that Washington has to offer. Her career has consisted of Accounting and Office Management for local businesses and nonprofits over the past 25 years. She is excited to bring her financial background, passion for nonprofit work and love of the outdoors to GPI as our Bookkeeper. Melissa's hobbies include photography, gardening and traveling with her husband.
Matt Apuzzo, Outdoor Curriculum Education Manager
Matt grew up in Boston, graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in secondary education and has dedicated his life to working with kids. Over the past 12+ years he has worked as a classroom teacher, environmental educator, camps director/coordinator, coach and guide throughout the country. He is excited to bring his background and experiences to GPI to create meaningful, fun and transformative experiences for the region's kids. In his free time, Matt enjoys getting outside exploring with his dog, cooking/grilling and getting a little too competitive playing Scrabble.
Dylan Wilkerson, Ecological Restoration Crew Lead
Dylan was raised in Southern Oregon. He grew up in the rural outskirts of town. He could be found spending time in the mountains and rivers that surrounded the place he called home. Having a background in structure and wildland firefighting ,he is always looking to lend a helping hand. In his youth he was involved in 4-h for 9 years which led to a passion for agriculture and being a positive part of his community. Life brought him to Washington and a new place to call home. GPI has given Dylan an outlet again to be a part of a great community and put his skills to work for a positive and inspiring mission. In his free time, Dylan likes exploring the outdoors with his wife and dog Tikka.
Kezar Berger, AmeriCorps Outdoor Education Instructor
Kezar grew up in Vermont and attended Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina. He graduated with a degree in Outdoor Leadership and a degree in Environmental Education. He has previously served with Aemricorps as an Environmental Educator with Northwoods Stewardship Center in rural Vermont, and has several years of experience running outdoor programs through different summer camps in the northeast. In his free time, Kezar enjoys soccer, ping pong, and climbing trees.
Imani Webster, AmeriCorps Outdoor Education Instructor
Imani Webster is from Portsmouth, Virginia. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2022 with a BA in Political Science and a minor in Russian. She has worked as a substitute in Virginia in the past two years and enjoys working with youth. Her hobbies include art, reading, and walking.
Siobhan Connolly, AmeriCorps Outdoor Education Instructor
Born and raised in Maine, Siobhan attended college at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. They have previously served as an Americorps Field Team Leader in the Maine Conservation Corps, as well as having worked for several years as a summer camp counselor in the Maine woods. In joining the Glacier Peak Institute, Siobhan is excited to synthesize their passion for working with children, serving local communities, and strengthening bonds between people and the environment. In their free time, Siobhan enjoys quality time with friends and family, watching movies, and exploring the outdoors.
Board of Directors
Garret Gladsjo, PE
President, GPI Board of Directors
Principal Engineer, proHNS LLC.
Daniel Rankin
Director, GPI Board of Directors
Mayor, Town of Darrington
Samantha Chang
Director, GPI Board of Directors
Silviculturist, USDA Forest Service (Retired)
North Puget Sound Chapter Chair, Society of American Foresters
Anthony Gromko
Director, GPI Board of Directors
Director, Washington State University Extension Snohomish County
Anjolene Ngari
Director, GPI Board of Directors
Collaborative Forestry Manager, Hampton Lumber
Marree Perrault
Director, GPI Board of Directors
Darrington Prevention, Intervention, and Community Coalition Coordinator, North Counties Family Services