Executive Director/interim Board President

Elyse is an artist, activist and change-maker. She sees her role in the world as bringing people and concepts together, inspiring connections to nature, its beauty and wisdom and clearing the clutter to get to what’s real, simple and beneficial for all life to thrive. Her zero waste journey began with a gray whale encounter and a promise to protect its ocean home and by extension the planetary ecosystem. She believes in starting where you are, focusing on what can be done locally and sharing leadership as we all have something to learn.

Tera Lessard is a conservationist who advocates for minimizing waste through repairing, upcycling, circular economies, and composting. She is the founder of Beargrass Mending, a repair studio and learning community, as well as a Master Composter and active volunteer in the Spokane community. Tera earned a bachelor's degree in sociology (2002) and a master's degree in leadership (2005). In her past life, she served in academia in various leadership roles while running side-gigs as a professional organizer and a wellness coach.

Shenandoah has been interested in environmental issues since childhood. She holds a Bachelor's degree in biology from environmentally progressive Humboldt State University. While working on her Masters in Conservation Biology at the University of Hawaii, she volunteered for monthly garbage clean ups at “Trash Beach” on the south end of the Big Island and was horrified to see first hand the volume of plastic pollution in our oceans. She is passionate about making the world a better place for wildlife and future generations. She enjoys hiking, birdwatching, gardening, cooking, and preserving seasonal produce.

Joining the Board of Directors at Spokane Zero Waste, Rebecca brings a fresh perspective to the table. Her experience in the tech environment equips her with a strategic mindset and a proficiency in navigating complex systems—skills that are invaluable in steering the organization toward innovative solutions. Her commitment to continuous learning extends to understanding the unique challenges faced by the nonprofit sector, and she is eager to contribute her technical skills to drive positive change for Spokane Zero Waste’s mission.

Pam a dedicated volunteer for Spokane Zero Waste organization. She is deeply passionate about environmental sustainability and believes in taking action to reduce waste and protect the planet for future generations. She works with our Woven Program.

Coming Soon!