VSP is administered by the Washington State Conservation Commission (SCC) with support from the Statewide Advisory Committee (SAC) and Technical Panel (TP).
A joint meeting of the TP and SAC is held quarterly. Have questions about VSP or need assistance? Contact us.
VSP Statewide Advisory Committee
The Statewide Advisory Committee is comprised of representatives of county, agricultural, and environmental organizations, and invited tribal governments. The Committee follows an adopted set of Rules and Procedures.
VSP Statewide Advisory Committee Members | Updated February 2026VSP Statewide Advisory Committee
Ben Buchholz
Farm Owner & Lobbyist
|
Buchholz Farms and Buchholz & Associates
ben@buchholzfarms.com
VSP Statewide Advisory Committee
LaDon Linde
Yakima County Commissioner
|
ladon.linde@co.yakima.wa.us
VSP Statewide Advisory Committee
Brian Muegge
Farm Program Manager
|
Salmon-Safe
brian.muegge@salmonsafe.org
VSP Statewide Advisory Committee
Lisa Olsen
Pacific County Commissioner
|
Pacific County (Non-voting advisor)
lolsen@co.pacific.wa.us
VSP Statewide Advisory Committee
John Stuhlmiller
Executive Director
|
WA State Water Resources Association
jstuhlmiller@wswra.org
VSP Statewide Advisory Committee
David Troutt
Director
|
Department of Natural Resources, Nisqually Indian Tribe
troutt.david@nisqually-nsn.gov
VSP Statewide Advisory Committee
Ron Wesen
Skagit County Commissioner
|
ronw@co.skagit.wa.us
VSP Technical Advisory Panel
The Technical Advisory Panel is comprised of the directors or director designees of the following agencies: the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Ecology, and the Commission. VSP statute is RCW 36.70A.705.
Technical Advisory Panel Members | Updated February 2026VSP Technical Advisory Panel
Teresa Opolka
Wetlands Policy Lead
|
WA State Department of Ecology
topo461@ecy.wa.gov
VSP Technical Advisory Panel
Levi Keesecker
Ecosystems Manager & Science Hub Lead
|
WA State Conservation Commission
lkeesecker@scc.wa.gov
VSP Technical Advisory Panel
Kelly McLain
Legislative Liaison & Policy Advisor
|
WA State Department of Agriculture
kmclain@agr.wa.gov
VSP Technical Advisory Panel
Tom O'Brien
Ecosystem Services, Division Manager
|
WA State Department of Fish and Wildlife
Thomas.Obrien@dfw.wa.gov
VSP Technical Advisory Panel
Support Staff
VSP Technical Advisory Panel Support Staff
Victoria Fischella
VSP Specialist
|
WA State Conservation Commission
vfischella@scc.wa.gov
VSP Technical Advisory Panel Support Staff
Leslie Michel
Soil Scientist
|
WA State Department of Agriculture
lmichel@agr.wa.gov
VSP Technical Advisory Panel Support Staff
Sean Williams
VSP Coordinator
|
WA State Department of Fish and Wildlife
Sean.Williams@dfw.wa.gov
VSP Technical Advisory Panel Support Staff
Chelsea Wilson (Benner)
Shoreline Planner/VSP Coordinator
|
WA State Department of Ecology
Chelsea.Benner@ecy.wa.gov
SCC Staff Supporting VSP
SCC Staff Supporting VSP
Mike Poteet
VSP Coordinator
|
WA State Conservation Commission
mpoteet@scc.wa.gov
SCC Staff Supporting VSP
Nicole Boyes
Contracts Manager
|
WA State Conservation Commission
nboyes@scc.wa.gov
SCC Staff Supporting VSP
Brian Cochrane
Habitat and Monitoring Coordinator
|
WA State Conservation Commission
bcochrane@scc.wa.gov
SCC Staff Supporting VSP
Paige DeChambeau
Communications Director
|
WA State Conservation Commission
pdechambeau@scc.wa.gov
SCC Staff Supporting VSP
Victoria Fischella
VSP Specialist
|
WA State Conservation Commission
vfischella@scc.wa.gov
SCC Staff Supporting VSP
Karla Heinitz
Policy Analyst
|
WA State Conservation Commission
kheinitz@scc.wa.gov
SCC Staff Supporting VSP
Levi Keesecker
Ecosystems Manager & Science Hub Lead
|
WA State Conservation Commission
lkeesecker@scc.wa.gov
SCC Staff Supporting VSP
Alicia McClendon
Administrative Assistant
|
WA State Conservation Commission
amcclendon@scc.wa.gov
SCC Staff Supporting VSP
Alec Sorensen
Contracts Specialist
|
WA State Conservation Commission
asorensen@scc.wa.gov
SCC Staff Supporting VSP
Sarah Wilcox
Strategic Initiatives Manager
|
WA State Conservation Commission
swilcox@scc.wa.gov
