Marian King, Board Chair, At-Large
Cassandra Kroto, Board Vice-Chair, Tyonek Native Corportation
Andrea Jacuk, Board Treasurer-Secretary. At-Large
Judd Standifer, Board Director, Native Village of Tyonek
Brandy Standifer, Board Director, Native Village of Tyonek
Michael Braun, Board Director, Tyonek Native Corporation
Robert Stephan Sr., Board Director, At-Large
Board Chair,
At-Large Seat
Years on Board: 9
email@address.com
Board Vice-Chair, Tyonek Native Corporation Seat
Years on Board: 6
email@address.com
Board Treasurer-Secretary,
At-Large Seat
Years on Board: 5
email@address.com
Board Director,
Native Village of Tyonek Seat
Years on Board: 3
email@address.com
Board Director,
Native Village of Tyonek Seat
Years on Board: 1
email@address.com
Board Director, Tyonek Native Corporation Seat
Years on Board: 2
email@address.com
Board Director,
At-Large Seat
Years on Board: 10
email@address.com
Executive Director
Dr. Stuart is an experienced nonprofit executive with more than 14 years of leadership roles in science education, conservation, and nonprofit management. She came to TTCD after serving as a Director at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, and previously held leadership positions at the Pratt Museum in Homer and at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. A life-long Alaskan, Dr. Stuart earned her Doctorate of Education from the University of Missouri, with an emphasis on sustainability, social justice, and participatory methods in natural resource management.
"My work has focused on fostering pro-conservation identity and behavior, with an understanding that effective conservation policies must be community based”, says Dr. Stuart. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to advance TTCD’s mission to collaboratively manage the district’s natural resources for the benefit of the people who depend upon and steward them."
Habitat Programs Director
Nicole rejoined TTCD in 2024 with 10 years of experience in salmon habitat monitoring and restoration, invasive species management, grant management, and program development. Nicole is passionate about conserving the diverse habitats and ways of living that provided the foundation of her childhood in Southcentral Alaska.
Nicole is honored to help continue the important work of the Tyonek Tribal Conservation District Habitat Restoration Program with the many partners that have made the successes possible. Nicole began developing TTCD’s invasive species programs in 2014 and TTCD is now a significant leader of invasive species management in Upper Cook Inlet. Nicole is the coordinator of the Mat Su Elodea Task Force, has coauthored invasive northern pike research, coordinated the removal of over 7,500 pike from subsistence population rearing habitats, and has served on the board of directors of the Alaska Invasive Species Partnership for 6 years.
Nicole looks forward to continuing work on fish passage improvements, watershed monitoring, fish population monitoring, and much more with the amazing TTCD team. In her free time, Nicole can be found gardening, hiking, boating, playing music, or pampering her chickens with her family of four.
Sr. Manager Food & Agriculture
Cayley joined TTCD in the spring of 2023 as the Tyonek Grown Programs Manager. Along with nearly 10 years of farming experience, her academic background spans environmental science, circumpolar food systems, cold climate agriculture, climate change, policy, and sustainability planning. She holds a master’s degree that focuses on policy solutions at the intersection of food systems, equity, and climate change.
Cayley came to TTCD after managing sustainable agriculture research grants across the Western region and supporting the development of a regenerative agriculture and fire/ forest resilience professional development program at UC Berkeley. She has farmed across Alaska, California, and New Zealand but says that “none of those experiences compare to the sense of community that Tyonek has created around the Tyonek Garden through continued community engagement and youth leadership.”
“I am constantly challenged and motivated by my work with TTCD and the Tyonek Grown Program. Right now I’m looking forward to another year of growing at the garden with our youth interns and am excited about the development of many other projects that Tyonek Grown is undertaking!”
Outreach Manager
Arlo is TTCD's Outreach Manager. They lead our Youth and Education program, helping to develop and implement place-based, STEM educational programs at the Tebughna School as well as outreach and communications efforts for the organization. Arlo brings a unique blend of experience in storytelling, farming, food security, and climate research. Before joining TTCD, Arlo worked as a farmer in Connecticut, where they cultivated a deep interest in food security and sovereignty, eventually deciding to take a year off from college to support their community by working at a local food pantry. They developed a passion for conservation work during their time as a Coro Fellow in San Francisco, where they worked at The Nature Conservancy, studying the impact of dams on salmon runs as part of the California Water Program. Most recently, they worked at the Rocky Mountain Institute, driving research and storytelling in global sustainability. Born and raised in Southern California, they are now proud to call Anchorage home.
“I’m grateful to support the mission of community-driven conservation and to collaborate with the Tebughna School as an educator. With a background in farming and food systems, I’m eager to help develop a curriculum that’s engaging, relevant, and rooted in the everyday experiences of students in Tyonek.”
Grants and Projects Coordinator
In the fall of 2024, Erica Lujan joined the TTCD team as the Grants and Projects Coordinator. Erica focused her BA and MA on social sciences, and has spent her career working across Alaska, researching the health impacts of climate change at UAA, collecting subsistence harvest survey data with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and facilitating climate adaptation plans at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.
"I am driven by connecting people, communities and agencies in conversations about the unique impacts of climate-driven ecosystem change in Tyonek, helping to ensure community resilience and further community-driven conservation priorities."
Conservation Biologist
New to TTCD in 2023, Andy has worked on salmon and invasive species issues around Cook Inlet since 2014. He lives in Kenai with his wife, two kids, and a whole lot of pets. Andy’s education and career has been primarily focused on moose and salmon, which his family also relies on for most of their meals. Andy is excited to be able to put his passion for subsistence and healthy habitats to work for TTCD!
Lead Conservation Technician
Olivia joined Tyonek Tribal Conservation District in the spring of 2024 as a Conservation Technician. She’s a lifelong Alaskan who has spent much of her time working and playing in the Cook Inlet area. Since completing her B.S. in Biology with an emphasis in Marine Science, she has contributed to a variety of field biology projects across the Pacific Northwest and is glad to have settled back in Alaska. From her past work in water quality, fisheries, owl research, and beluga whale monitoring, Olivia’s passions lie in biological fieldwork and connecting with the land she resides on. Olivia looks forward to continuing to work with TTCD’s teams and stakeholders towards a conserved, monitored, and sustained district.
“I’m honored to continue to contribute to TTCD and the Habitat Monitoring and Rehabilitation program’s projects. I can’t wait to get back into the field in the coming season to keep building an understanding of the district's habitats and conservation needs.”
Administrative Assistant
Charlsie joined TTCD in 2023 as our part-time Administrative Assistant after retiring from a 30-year career in public service. She is a lifelong Alaskan that enjoys spending time with her family and many pets, flower gardening, and birdwatching.
Community Agriculture Technician
Emma joined the TTCD team in the Spring of 2025 as the Community Agriculture Technician for the Tyonek Grown program! She assists the farm in its seasonal production, works closely with the youth interns to ensure and support a fruitful harvest for the Tyonek community, and supports hydroponics production at the Tebughna School. She brings a passion for Alaska’s food security and a love for the outdoors and food of all kinds!
Emma grew up in Alaska and comes from a background in food management. She has worked alongside many farms in Alaska and has advocated for local and small food producers throughout the state. Before working with TTCD, she was the general manager and food purchaser for a small local grocery store called Blue Market AK in the heart of Spenard, dealing regularly with the obstacles our unique food system faces, and seeking to address them in resourceful and collaborative ways.
“The opportunity to connect with others through growing food and building community rooted in food sovereignty is deeply meaningful to me. It’s a privilege to work with the Native Village of Tyonek to support and expand local food access, and to engage with youth in building lifelong skills.”
Food Distribution Corodinator
Crystal Jones, working under the Tyonek Grown program, coordinates closely with NVT and community stakeholders to implement multiple food access programs in Tyonek. Crystal oversees food distributions for the Tyonek Gather pilot project, funded by the USDAs Local Food Purchasing Assistance Plus (LFPA+) program. She also manages Tyonek's Food Cellar and supports the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), as well as the Elder's Food Box program.
TTCD became the first Tribal Conservation District in Alaska and the thirty-first in the nation through a mutual agreement between the Native Village of Tyonek (NVT), Tyonek Native Corporation (TNC) and the United States Department of Agriculture.
First Natural Resource Technician was hired September 2011
First fish barrier culvert replaced in 202. Thirteen barriers were replaced between 2012-2024, for a total of 60.2 upstream miles and 500 lake acres of salmon habitat restored.
TTCD began working with the Native Village of Tyonek to develop an agricultural program aimed at enhancing food security and providing fresh organic vegetables to community members.
TTCD partnered with the Native Village of Tyonek (NVT) IGAP department to assist with planning to guide Tyonek decision making and future conservation and environmental projects.
A full-time Conservation Project Manager and a Program Assistant were hired.
The Tyonek Garden was expanded with the addition of two NRCS-funded high tunnels, a water tower, and a storage shed.
TTCD began coordinating regular visits to Tebughna School, incorporating youth education into all conservation projects, such as the salmon life cycle, watershed ecology, plant anatomy, soil health, and gardening.
This plan guides TTCD’s monitoring and restoration efforts in collaboration with landowners and partners to protect the natural resources within the Tyonek Area Watershed.
The Tyonek Grown program underwent evaluation and business planning in effort to improve operations and data tracking.
TTCD partnered with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Native Village of Tyonek to form an Invasive Pike Partnership, and played a leading role in establishing the Mat-Su Elodea Task Force.
The pandemic led to significant staff turnover and programmatic challenges.
TTCD hired a new executive director, as well as six new full-time staff members and underwent a Strategic Planning Retreat with the TTCD Board.
To be completed in 2024-2025. See Climate Resilience Planning page for more information.
To be completed in 2025.
