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.
Galen Boydston
San Juan Crew Lead
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 2 children in Friday Harbor.
Wyatt Broadaway
Orcas Crew Lead
ISA Certified Arborist
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A recent addition to the San Juan Islands, Wyatt brings an experiential background as varied as the places he’s called home. From farming, gardening in North Carolina, to timber framing in Montana, to stage work, bartending and selling Christmas trees in New York City, this Texan finds happiness through physical exertion in nature.
Lindsay Watkins
Forester, Consulting Arborist, & Communications Manager
M.S., University of Vermont Field Naturalist Program; B.S. Natural Resources, Cornell University; ISA Certified Arborist
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Lindsay joined Rain Shadow in early 2020 after relocating to Orcas Island from New England, where she spent nearly 15 years learning and teaching about the ecology of northeastern forests and mountains. She has worked as a land steward for the Nature Conservancy, a backcountry and wilderness ranger for the US Forest Service, a ski patroller at Wildcat Mountain (NH), and as an outdoor and environmental educator and program manager for the Appalachian Mountain Club. Lindsay spends her free time mountain biking, backpacking, paddleboarding, and snowboarding.
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.
Zack 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.
Luke Hudson
Tree Technician
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Luke joined Rain Shadow in the fall of 2021 and is excited to grow his skills as a tree care groundie and climber. He grew up in Washington and has a wide range of background experience from working as a barista, a sawyer, a general contractor, and as a crew member and supervisor with the Washington Conservation Corps.
Michael Umble
Tree Technician
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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.
David Jen
Tree Technician
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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.
Kelly Eckman
Tree Technician & Assistant Natural Resources Planner
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Kelly grew up in Pennsylvania and recently moved to Orcas with her partner and their two dogs, Mickey and Bailey. She is an enthusiast of all things outdoors, and especially loves long-distance backpacking. Kelly’s work experience includes primitive trail building, wilderness therapy, and working with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). She is excited to learn and grow as an arborist with the RSC team!
Aiden Artz
Tree Technician
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Coming Soon
Victor Hartney
Tree Technician
ISA Certified Arborist
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Coming Soon
Seth Ybarra
Sawmill Operator
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Coming Soon
Dylan Johnson
General Administrator
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Coming Soon