Meet Our Team
Specializing in expert tree care, ecologically-based forestry, consulting, and habitat restoration services throughout the San Juan Islands.
Founded in 2005, Rain Shadow Consulting provides an array of tree care, environmental, and forestry services to clients throughout the San Juan Islands and beyond. We are a busy and growing company and we are often looking for talented individuals to join our team.
Carson Sprenger, Director
Forester, Restoration Ecologist, Fire Ecologist
M.S. Forest Ecology, College of Forest Resources, University of Washington; B.S. Environmental Science, The Evergreen State College
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Carson Sprenger is a forester and restoration ecologist with 25 years of experience working in the forests of the San Juan Islands. He has 8 years of experience conducting ecological research and is a local expert on historical fires and pre-contact forest structure. Carson recently taught a Tree Worker Basics class through the San Juan EDC and was elected to the San Juan Conservation District’s board of supervisors in May of 2020. Carson specializes in conservation/forest management planning, forest restoration design, forest inventory, design of fuel reduction treatments, and tree health assessments. With professional experience in rigging, hazard tree removal, and large scale tree thinning, he has a keen understanding of on-the-ground project management.
Jon Stoller
Operations Manager
ISA Certified and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) Arborist
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Jon spent six years as an arborist in Toronto before moving to Orcas Island in March 2022. In addition to climbing trees, he has spent the last three years in management with a focus on sales and operations.
Jon has a bachelor’s degree in English literature, an Ontario College Certificate for arboriculture from Humber College, and is an ISA Certified Arborist. He is an avid reader and musician with a deep passion for the outdoors.
Weston Mueller
Office Manager
B.A. Business & Sustainability, Western Washington University
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Weston grew up in the Bay Area of California, and after 5 years in the Marine Corps he moved to Washington to complete his college education. Before moving to Orcas in November 2023 he worked in the solar industry and executive recruiting. He brings a wide breadth of experience and knowledge to help enhance Rain Shadow and its services. Weston is an avid mountain biker and hiker and enjoys discovering the natural beauty of the PNW.
Galen Boydston
San Juan Crew Lead & Lead Trainer
ISA Certified and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) Arborist
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Galen began working for Rain Shadow soon after he completed his undergraduate degree from The Evergreen State College in 2010. Galen’s passion for arboriculture and outdoor conservation work is drawn from not only his academic work but also from his upbringing on Waldron Island (3rd generation). He has worked on research and fishing boats throughout Puget Sound and Alaska. Galen is an ISA Certified and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) Arborist and lives with his wife Rachel and his 3 children in Friday Harbor.
Kyle O’Kray
Orcas Crew lead
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Growing up in central Wisconsin, Kyle found the world of arboriculture through a close friend who was enrolling in an Urban Forestry program at a local technical college. After Graduating from Mid State Technical College in 2018, he traveled all across the United States working with trees from Pennsylvania to Hawaii. Kyle enjoys hiking camping, basketball, and golf in his free time.
James Karrasch
Shop Manager & Tree Technician
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James grew up on a farm in rural Pennsylvania where he learned many of the skills that he carries with him today. After turning wrenches and fixing equipment on the farm, he went to college where he got into IT and Software Development. While taking a break from his career to bike across the country, he fell in love with the PNW. Now, he is happy to be living here, combining his systematic thinking and his familiarity with a wrench to keep the Rain Shadow fleet up and running.
Michael Umble
Arborist
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Mike comes to Rain Shadow having grown up on Fidalgo Island. After years of working in restaurants he found himself on a backcountry trail crew, which started his passion for arboriculture and working in Washington’s forests. This work has taken him all over the state as a natural resource technician, wildland firefighter, and park ranger. Mike is based on San Juan Island.
Zachary Kostechko
Tree Technician & Equipment Operator
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Zach grew up in Colorado riding dirt bikes and driving the family tractor. He moved to Orcas in 5th grade and graduated from Orcas High School in 2014. Zach enjoys excavation work and operating heavy machinery – excavators, dozers, and backhoes. He has two years of operating experience and enjoys the opportunities at Rain Shadow to learn new skills and work on different jobs each day. In his free time, Zach enjoys being outside and fishing.
David Jen
Certified Arborist
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David joins the Rain Shadow team after two years with the Washington Conservation Corps, where he discovered his interest in forestry and tree care. He grew up in Pennsylvania and went to college in South Carolina, graduating from Clemson University with a degree in wildlife biology. David enjoys playing sports of all kinds, especially basketball and tennis, as well as outdoor activities like hiking and camping.
Thomas Sutton
Arborist
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Thomas began his career in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley at the age of 18. Before that, he worked as a mechanic while attending diesel technology school. However, the onset of COVID-19 led him to the outdoors, where he discovered a passion for trees and environmental conservation. During the winter, Thomas enjoys snowboarding and alpine touring, while summer finds him whitewater rafting and riding dirt bikes. In late 2024, he relocated to Orcas with his cat, Slimjim, embracing the evergreen lifestyle ever since.
Andrew Schlitzer
Arborist
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Andrew spent the majority of his life in various cities across Colorado before earning a bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering from Colorado State University. After several years in the corporate tech industry, he transitioned into arboriculture in 2022—a career shift that quickly became his passion. In the summer of 2024, he relocated to San Juan Island, where he continues to cultivate his expertise. Outside of work, Drew enjoys rock climbing, hiking, reading, and woodworking.
Emmett Pearsons
Yard Manager
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Emmett, a native of Orcas Island, lived all throughout Washington State before returning to Orcas in 2014 to pursue his passion for welding, blacksmithing, and metal fabrication. In 2024, he joined the Rain Shadow team as the Yard Manager for Rain Shadow Consulting and its sister company, Orcas Biomass. In his free time, Emmett enjoys playing video games, tabletop RPGs, and baking
Ryan Uken
Forester & PHC Technician
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Ryan grew up in north Texas but fell in love with the Pacific Northwest after taking a visit to Seattle to tour schools. After a brief career in the Air Force, he got his degree from the University of Washington in Environmental Science. He moved to Orcas Island in May 2024 to get married to his wonderful partner, Jo. Ryan is very excited to be the newest member of the Rain Shadow team and is looking forward to learning everything they have to teach him. He loves hiking and looking at all the beautiful trees throughout the San Juan Islands.
Otto Sprenger
Tree Technician & Equipment Operator
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Otto joined the field crew in June of 2023 though has been around the company for quite a few years. He enjoys operating the tracked chipper as well as ground-based chainsaw work and generally helping out where help is needed. Otto was born in Seattle and moved to Shaw when he was just three months old. Along with the rest of his family, he moved to Orcas in 2012. Otto enjoys mountain biking, fishing, and spending time at the gym.
Jamal
Chief Bark Officer
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Specializes in both tree bark and barking. In his free time Jamal likes to nap on peoples shoulders, and disintegrate dog toys.