Staff and Board

Josh Laughlin (he/him), Executive Director

Josh was born and raised on sandy Cape Cod. He graduated from the University of Oregon with degrees in Journalism and Environmental Studies in 1998 and worked as an editor of the Earth First! Journal until 2001. Thereafter, he teamed back up with Cascadia Wildlands where he has worn a number of hats for the organization. In 2015 he was hired as Executive Director. When not working to protect and restore the watersheds and species of Cascadia, he enjoys floating down the bioregion’s spectacular rivers, digging in the garden, playing ultimate frisbee, and raising his kiddos. Email Josh: jlaughlin(at)cascwild(dot)org

Grace Brahler (she/her), Wildlands Director

Grace was born and raised in lovely Lawrence, Kansas. She first traveled east to play golf and start studying environmental issues in the Piedmont region of North Carolina before earning her environmental science degree along the Gulf Coast of Texas. To complete her nationwide tour, Grace headed west to earn her law degree with a concentration in environmental and natural resources from the University of Oregon and is now grateful to call Eugene home. She previously worked with the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Center, Western Environmental Law Center, and most recently, has been working on forestry and climate justice issues with Beyond Toxics. When she’s not working on forest and climate defense, you can find Grace at the farmer’s market, searching for the nearest water source, or taking her rescue pup Sylas to explore a new trail. Email Grace: grace(at)cascwild(dot)org

Martha Brinson, Membership & Operations Director

Martha (she/her) spent most of her childhood in Wisconsin ice skating in the winter and swimming in Lake Michigan in the summer. She eventually landed in Florida where she enjoyed going to the beaches and riding her motorcycle. Her soul was hungry for wild places and cooler weather, so she headed west to Oregon and became a volunteer with Cascadia Wildlands and a Master Gardener. When she’s not being an office nerd running reports and researching, you can find her hiking in the forest, bird watching and stomping around in the garden talking to plants! Email Martha: martha(at)cascwild(dot)org

Nick Cady (he/him), Legal Director

Nick grew up in St. Louis, playing in the rivers of the Missouri Ozarks. He attended Truman State University where he received degrees in political and environmental science. Nick then traveled west to attend law school at the University of Oregon. When he is not litigating over irresponsible land management and protections for imperiled species, he can be found paddling, howling at the moon, or playing soccer. Email Nick: nick(at)cascwild(dot)org

Bethany Cotton (she/her), Conservation Director

Bethany’s environmental ethic was born and raised in the wilds of Southern Oregon: she grew up inside what is now the expanded Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. A graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School, Bethany also holds certificates in Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Animal Law. After several years of working in conservation in Colorado, Montana, and Washington D.C., she is happy to be home in Cascadia. In the hours she is not advocating for wildlife and wild places, Bethany can be found growing, cooking and preserving organic food, wildcrafting mushrooms and berries, working on her bird and wildflower ID skills, and exploring wildlands — often with her rescue mutts Gus and Jal (Jalapeño) in tow. Email Bethany: bethany(at)cascwild(dot)org

Madeline Cowen (she/they), Grassroots & Digital Organizer

Madeline hails from the foggy isle of Vashon in the Salish Sea, landing in Eugene to complete their higher education in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and Environmental Studies at the University of Oregon. Since the founding of WildCAT (Cascadia Action Team), they have worked tirelessly to build our field-checking capacity, and to bring our fieldwork into the 21st century — integrating the use of GPS applications on smartphones to record important data in the field. They formerly worked with the regional non-profit Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology and has been a life-long activist, working extensively with community-led organizations centered on Environmental Justice. When not working, you’ll find Madeline wandering through Cascadia, fishing, rafting, surfing, or kayaking with their dog Finn along the way. Email Madeline: madeline(at)cascwild(dot)org

Isa Eisenberg (she/they), Summer Field & Events Coordinator

Isa is from sunny southern California and is happy to be enjoying the Oregon greenery as a current student at the University of Oregon. She is passionate about creating strong communities and positive change with years of involvement in environmental activism and community gardening. She is currently working towards her psychology degree, with minors in environmental studies and science communication. In her free time, Isa enjoys spending time outdoors, doodling, playing with clay and listening to podcasts. Email Isa: summerccoordinator(at)cascwild(dot)org

Board of Directors

Gary Henderson (he/him) — Board Treasurer, Thermofisher

Gary has been part of the Cascadia Bioregion since 1989 and his three children are all Oregonians. Gary has always had a love for wild forest lands. “Our forests are such a treasure and I want to continue to defend our wild spaces and to be part of the change in cultural attitude about where the true value lies in the forests that are part of every one of us.”

Kim Hyland (she/her) — Board Secretary, Windermere Real Estate

Kim has been in Eugene since 1995, finding her way here from Cape Cod and the Boston area. Kim has been a local Realtor since 2004 and spends as much down time as possible exploring Oregon’s mountainous and coastal beauty. While hiking and biking are high on her list, her true passion is swimming. There is nothing like appreciating the splendor of Waldo Lake while crossing it in a wetsuit. Kim joined the Board in January of 2020 after many years of volunteering with and supporting Cascadia Wildlands.

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Daniel Kruse (he/him) — Board President, Law Offices of Daniel R. Kruse

Dan Kruse is an attorney in Eugene, Oregon specializing in environmental law and criminal law. Originally from New York, Dan studied music at Temple University in Philadelphia before moving to Eugene in 2003 to attend law school at the University of Oregon. Dan worked for Cascadia Wildlands as a law clerk from 2004 to 2006, and then as Legal Director from 2006 to 2011. Now in private practice, Dan continues to represent Cascadia Wildlands in several cases, including cases to protect wolves, marbled murrelets, and the Elliott State Forest. Dan lives in Eugene with his wife and two rascally children. Their favorite family camping spot is at Twin Lakes in the Umpqua National Forest.  

Jonathan Leong (he/him) — Aumakua Capital Management

Jonathan is an Oregon native, born and raised in the beautiful Willamette Valley. He is a Charter Financial Analyst and has earned his Masters in Finance at Claremont McKenna College, and received his B.S. from Harvey Mudd College, where he double majored in molecular biology and economics. He has spent his career building asset management firms in Hawaii, Los Angeles and Hong Kong. He finally returned to Oregon, where he spends most of his time operating his own firm, Aumakua Capital Management. When he is not working with his team, he spends his time teaching the next generation at Oregon State University, getting tossed off his surfboard somewhere in the ocean, or enjoying the amazing outdoors.  

Dan Snyder (he/him) — Public Justice

Dan graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law in 2010 and has been practicing public interest environmental law ever since. He enforces our nation’s environmental laws against polluters, representing the interests of individuals, local grassroots organizations, and national non-profits. His practice involves actions under the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Comprehensive Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. Dan is also an experienced public records attorney, litigating Freedom of Information Act lawsuits across the country. When not in the office, Dan enjoys a round of disc golf, a trip to the river, or watching his beloved Ducks. He and his wife, Kirsten, are the proud parents of three kids.

Interns

2024 Summer Legal Interns

With the generous backing of the Evergreen Hill Education Fund of Oregon Community Foundation, we welcome our summer law clerks and are excited about helping build the next generation of public interest environmental attorneys.

Aidan Bassett (he/they)

Aidan was born in Eugene, Oregon, and they spent much of their childhood on the banks of the Metolius, the McKenzie, and the Columbia; hiking the North and South Cascades; and spending time with family up and down the Willamette Valley. Aidan also grew up in Washington and Massachusetts and studied economics at UC Berkeley before returning home to Eugene. Aidan is a rising 3L at Georgetown University Law Center, where he serves as Managing Editor of the Georgetown Environmental Law Review, founded the Georgetown chapter of Law Students for Climate Accountability, and studies climate, energy, and environmental policy. When not helping Cascadia Wildlands to protect the beauty and integrity of the rich ecosystems in which he grew up, Aidan can be found running trails, hiking, biking, and volunteering in Eugene’s vibrant queer community.

Dana McHenry (she/her)

Dana was born in San Diego but grew up in South Texas and Virginia. In Virginia, she regularly went hiking and camping with her father in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She visited family in Oregon every summer, which is where her love of the outdoors grew. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, Dana moved out west to Cottage Grove, Oregon. She spent nine years in the agriculture industry before returning to school to study law at the University of Oregon. Dana continues to hike, camp, and backpack as much as she can. Dana is an avid gardener and owns a quarter acre plot with her husband and two cats where they utilize every part to grow food, herbs, and flowers. In law school, she is a board member on the Oregon Law Review and will be a fellow for the Environmental & Natural Resources Center her 3L year. After graduating, Dana hopes to remain in the area and to find work that benefits her community.

Hayden Wyatt (he/him)

Hayden grew up following his mountain guide parents over the ridges of the Teton and Wasatch Ranges. His family made a yearly migration between Utah and Wyoming following seasonal work. He graduated from Quest University Canada in 2020 with a Bachelors of Arts and Sciences with a focus on political ecology. Hayden is currently a law student at Lewis and Clark focused on public lands conservation. When he has spare time from the busy life of being a student, Hayden enjoys rock climbing and long backcountry adventures.