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.

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 exploring the local rivers, camping, and exploring the countless trails that surround Darrington.

Emma Nagel, Bookkeeper

Emma is from the Philippines, graduated from the University of the Philippines a long time ago with a BS in Business Administration and Accountancy. When not dealing with numbers, papers, keyboard and the computer,(accounting in short) Emma is smoking meats, cooking, operating a stable of sewing machines and sergers ,sewing blankets, bags and ,once upon a time ,face masks. She can also be found tending chickens,ducks and geese, planting garlic and onions, picking berries raised in a garden or sampling them from the wild.

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.

Gabby Abild, Ecological Restoration Crew

Gabby was born in the Pacific northwest, she has always had a passion for wildlife and the outdoors. She grew up exploring the woods behind her house and enjoying any time spent in the wilderness, looking for rocks, animals and admiring nature! Previously working in the Marine manufacturing field, doing electrical and quality inspection, GPI has been a phenomenal change for Gabby to be able to work outside, breath fresh air and work in beautiful areas! She loves learning more about conservation, wildlife, and the impact that GPI makes locally and ecologically. In her freetime she enjoys being in nature, painting at the beach, special effects makeup and finding cool rocks!nd out

Bayley Boyd, Ecological Restoration Crew

A long time resident of Washington, Bayley has lived and worked in many cities across the state, big and small, but has found a home within Darrington and GPI. With no previous outdoor experience, she has grown a strong sense of self and belonging within our outdoor crew. Outside of work, she enjoys playing video games, baking delicious treats, and spending quality time with her dog, Yuki.

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.

Siobhan Connolly, Programs Coordinator

Born and raised in Maine, Siobhan attended college at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. They have worked for many years in the outdoors, from working as a camp counselor for years, to being a trail work Field Team Leader with the Maine Conservation Corps, to joining Glacier Peak Institute last year as an AmeriCorps Educational Instructor. Siobhan has now moved to Darrington, joined GPI full-time, and is excited to continue synthesizing their passion for working with children, serving local communities, and strengthening bonds between people and the environment. When not working, Siobhan enjoys writing poems, playing their mouth harp, and hanging out while exploring the outdoors.

Gillian Bradley, AmeriCorps Outdoor Education Instructor

Gillian grew up in Upstate New York and attended Utica University where she graduated with a degree in Animal Behavior and a minor in Psychology. She previously served for the Student Conservation Association in Denali National Park where she educated and connected visitors with the vast, beautiful land. She has enjoyed working with the youth previously as a substitute teacher and swim instructor, and is looking forward to being able to help create fun and memorable adventures for kids with GPI. In her free time, she enjoys backpacking with friends, swimming, and reading in the sun.

Claire Snedegar, AmeriCorps Outdoor Education Instructor

Claire is originally from Chicago, Illinois and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2024 with a Bachelors in Psychology. She’s excited to share her passion for outdoor recreation and biology with the community. In her free time she enjoys hiking, backpacking, bouldering, and crocheting.

Alex Lowery, AmeriCorps Outdoor Education Instructor

Alex grew up in rural Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a degree in environmental science. He is passionate about environmental policy, water resources, and rare plant conservation. While in school, he worked with the EPA, studying how environmental contaminants impact local bird populations. Through GPI, Alex hopes to inspire youth to take an active interest in their local ecology. During his free time, you can find him bird watching, hiking, or at home working on his tomato soup recipe.

Lily Tade, AmeriCorps Outdoor Education Instructor

Lily has relocated to Darrington from Indianapolis, Indiana, where she has spent the last several years working as an early childhood educator and a visual art instructor. She graduated from IU Herron School of Art and Design in 2017 with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Sculpture and a minor in Psychology. She is excited to combine her experience in art education with her passion for nature and outdoor recreation. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, painting, playing guitar, and hanging out with her cats, Fig and Grammaw.

Justene Angeles,
Trailhead Ambassador Program Coordinator

Born and raised in Darrington, Justene graduated High School in 2012 and began working for the Ashe family at the Darrington IGA where she advanced in her positions, eventually becoming a Department Manager until 2017. In 2014, the Darrington IGA was one of the main hubs during the Oso Slide; the experiences from the slide taught Justene to “make/do something today because tomorrow is unknown.” Justene also excelled in her duties in the banking industry and working with HR/benefits teams as an insurance agent after achieving her WA state Life & Health licenses. Justene enjoys the outdoors with friends and family such as wheeling, riding quads, shooting, fishing, horseback riding, camping, and much more. She loves teaching her children the enjoyment, safety, and importance of outdoor activities as her papa Bum Bryson had taught her. Through her diverse background and experiences, Justene is excited to bring her knowledge to GPI as the TrailHead Ambassador Program Coordinator.

Maia Inniss, Darrington Collaborative Coordinator

Maia moved to WA to attend Eastern Washington University, and never looked back. Majoring in environmental science with an emphasis in Biology, she found passion in restoration and environmental stewardship. Maia and her family moved to Darrington at the start of 2023, and have happily found their place in the community. Glacier Peak Institute plays a large role in the Darrington Collaborative, by being the fiscal sponsor for Maia’s position as coordinator. Through GPI, Maia is able to find fulfillment in working to create a better environment, in and out of the forest, for future generations.

Board of Directors