The Council of Western State Foresters (CWSF) and the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) welcomed two new staff members on Monday, January 14, 2019. Danielle Okst serves as the Associate Policy and Grants Director, and Kelsey Soeth serves as the Associate Communications and Operations Director.  

Danielle Okst comes to CWSF and WFLC having just finished serving as Campaign Director for a Colorado campaign office during the 2018 midterm elections. Prior to that, Danielle worked for Rock the Earth as Regional Education and Outreach Coordinator, for the Americas for Conservation and the Arts (AFC+A) as a Program Director and Development Specialist, and for several law firms where she carried out contracts review and legal research. Danielle received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University at Buffalo and a Juris Doctor (law) degree from the State University of New York, Buffalo Law School. Contact Danielle at dokst@westernforesters.org.

Kelsey Soeth comes to CWSF and WFLC from the One Earth Future Foundation where she served as a Project Specialist focused on international maritime security issues. Prior to that, Kelsey worked for The Protection Project as Editorial Staff and for the Peace Corps as a Schools and Community Resource Volunteer in South Africa. Kelsey received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University at Albany, State University of New York and a Master of Arts in International Law from the Johns Hopkins University, School for Advanced International Studies. Contact Kelsey at ksoeth@westernforesters.org.