STAFF
Suzanne Harkness
Director
Suzanne Harkness brings her passion for birds and birding to TBA and has recently become appointed as our full-time Director. Suzanne previously worked as our Development & Community Engagement Manager. She has been an active member of the organization for many years, leading bird walks, stafffing events, and contributing her skills in photography and graphic design.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in marine biology from The Evergreen State College, while working part of that time as a bio-technician at The Seattle Aquarium with the tufted puffins and other alcids. After college she began working for NOAA at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory in Seattle, doing humpback whale photo-identification research. Five years and two kids later, she decided to change careers to stay closer to home, and used her love of art to become a graphic designer. She worked in design and marketing for 20+ years before coming to TBA where she join her love of birds with creating education and conservation materials and talking with others in the community.
Her "spark bird" is the ruddy duck; she helped care for a pair of them during her time at The Seattle Aquarium. She is excited to share the vision and mission of the organization with the community and engage others as they discover their own spark for nature and wildlife.
Contact: sharkness@tahomabirdalliance.org • 253-565-9278
Zephyra (Zeph) Burt
She/Her
Programs Coordinator
Zephyra is a graduate of Evergreen State College, where she studied environmental science with a focus on watershed health and Pacific Northwest ecology. Born in Tacoma and a lifelong resident of Washington, Dash Point State Park first inspired her interest in nature.
While pursuing her degree, Zeph volunteered with the Center for Natural Lands Management doing prairie restoration, and later worked as a seasonal forestry ecologist and GIS mapper for the Green Seattle Partnership, making plant and tree species surveys and mapping restoration efforts in Seattle area parks and greenbelts.
Zephyra believes that equitable access to sustainably maintained parks and natural areas is a vital part of public health and increases engagement with local and global environmental issues. Zeph is excited to work with an organization that recognizes the importance of conservation and nature education both in and out of cities.
In her free time Zeph enjoys hiking, backpacking, cooking, making art, and gardening at Franklin Park Community Garden.
Contact: zburt@tahomabirdalliance.org • 253-565-9278
BOARD of DIRECTORS
Sally Larson
Board President
Education Committee Chair
Sally has been a long-standing member since 1996. She serves as the President of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Thelma Gilmur Education Committee. Sally’s strong interest and advocacy for healthy native plant habitats led her to form the habitat stewardship group at Thelma Gilmur Park in Fircrest, named the “Gilmur Grubbers.” She also offers an online class, Native Trees and Shrubs: The food they provide to birds, which identifies and discusses key native species to plant and keep in your yard in order to attract birds and pollinators.
Sally says of her Tahoma Bird Alliance experience, “It has given me many opportunities to learn, to have fun, to meet new people, and to really make a difference in the quest to help to preserve the natural environment.”
Bruce Morse
Vice President
Conservation Committee Chair
Bruce retired to Gig Harbor from Denver, Colorado in 2020 and has been active on the Conservation front ever since. He has been involved in preserving the natural beauty of Burley Lagoon and Puget Sound, and he most recently helping to spearhead an effort to appeal an Environmental Impact Statement.
Since moving the PNW, Bruce volunteers with the following organizations and projects:
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Washington Department of Natural Resource’s Eelgrass Restoration and Monitoring program
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Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Mussel Toxicology study
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Pierce County Oyster Restoration project
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Hood Canal Environmental Council Board
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Key Peninsula-Gig Harbor-Island (KGI) Watershed Council Co-Chairperson
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Gig Harbor History Museum Researcher and Archivist
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Burley Lagoon Heritage Alliance
Bruce received a MS and Ph.D. in Forest Entomology from the University of Minnesota. His professional career focused on developing software products and delivering solutions that integrated spatial and database technologies across markets, including government, utilities, telecommunications, and aviation. Known for his ability to collaborate and turn around large, complex programs and organizations, Bruce has continued to apply these skills in his retirement.
Bruce brings extensive experience and analytical ability to this role and an enthusiasm for conservation and the natural world. He and his wife, Beth, live on Burley Lagoon and have two married daughters, Jessica in Boise, and Sarah in Portland.
Jenny Edbom
Secretary
Jenny is working on her degree in Chemical Engineering. Born in Sweden, she spent summers on the Stockholm outskirts sailing, swimming, and playing in the forest, experiences that fostered her deep connection with nature. She is passionate about conservation and preservation, and both she and her husband, David Meyer, have volunteered at the Seattle Aquarium educating the public about water conservation.
David Meyer
Treasurer
David has a degree in computer engineering and grew up on a farm in the Midwest surrounded by nature. He spent time trekking in the forest, canoeing, and visiting national parks with his family. He moved to the PNW for the fantastic juxtaposition of urban and natural environments.
Lalenia Maria
Member at Large
A Colorado native, Lalenia (Lanes) is a military retiree who fell in love with the Pacific Northwest while serving in the Army at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Inspired to contribute to the health of the park where she walks her dogs and enjoys birds and the natural environment, Lalenia regularly volunteers in Fort Steilacoom Park as a habitat steward. This resolve led her to join Tahoma Bird Alliance as a volunteer with the Membership Committee as the Speaker Series Chair. She earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree through Saint Martin’s University and is committed to using her skills and experience to contribute to sustaining the value and benefits of a crucial organization such as Tahoma Bird Alliance and a prospering community. She served as Treasurer for 5 years.
Dennis Townsend
Member at Large
Past President
Dennis is a long time member of Tahoma Bird Alliance. He worked in telecommunications as a technician and operations manager, and has served on many state and local boards for labor and education. He and his wife Dona have been active with our Education and Conservation Committees for many years.
Eric Seibel
Member at Large
Eric received the Distinguished Service Award from the board in 2023.
He has significant media and communications expertise and is currently a Producer with the Woodstock Media Group, producing commercials and introducing new innovations to streamline the organization. He has also served as a Social Media Manager, Webcast Manager, TV Director, and Video Editor. Eric also operates his own production company which offers a variety of services including audio and sound engineering and media production.
Daniel Cuevas
Member at Large
Originally from the Texas Hill Country, I fell in love with wildlife and nature through camping, observing snakes in my backyard and trekking through the desert. My passion for birds and conservation took fruit while obtaining my B.S. in Biology. I worked as an Aquatic Environmental Scientist for the City of Austin and as Manager for the National Domestic Violence Hotline before being drawn by the allure of Washington's forests and mountains. I completed my Masters of Environmental Studies at The Evergreen State college where my research focused on habitat preferences of the Oregon Vesper Sparrow in highly fragmented grassland landscapes. My personal and professional aspirations are to foster inclusive communities where people of all backgrounds can access the benefits of nature while ensuring conservation and sustainability of those habitats and wildlife.