Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute
Welcome to the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute's website!   Celebrating seventeen years of 'connecting people, place and community'.
Our main program areas include Watershed Restoration, Environmental Education, Transportation, Community Food Systems, and Energy.  Check them out!
Find out about upcoming events, links to useful websites, local issues, and answers to some of your pressing questions.
Vist the issues and events surrounding some special places around the palouse...
Make a donation, become a PCEI member, sign up to volunteer, or learn about fellow supporters of this rapidly growing organization! Learn about our history, download and read our past newsletters, and find out about possible internships or job openings. Get directions to our office, or contact our board or staff members.
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How to Contact Us

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Board of Directors

Our Staff



Consider Joining PCEI's Board
If you think you would like to work with this great bunch of folks, then consider joining the PCEI Board of Directors. You can download the PCEI Board job description and the application form. Fill out the form and mail it to PCEI, PO Box 8596, Moscow ID 83843.

PCEI Board Job Description (pdf 188k)
PCEI Board Nomination Application Form.pdf (pdf 88k)

The Board makes nominations from submitted applications, and the PCEI membership votes on the candidates at our Annual Membership Meeting.


John Thielbahr, President
  • John and his wife Sonia Hussa have been PCEI members since 1992
  • 25 Years of Private Sector experience in Corporate Finance, Business Consulting, Professional Development Education and Training, Economic Development, and Non-Profit Management.
  • 8 years as Director of WSU's Conferences and Professional Programs, managing the development and delivery of statewide and national educational programs showcasing WSU's scholarship and research, and assisting non-WSU constituencies such as corporations, government agencies and non-profits with professional training and development, including on-line educational programs and certificate programs.
  • Manage a staff of 10 program managers and coordinators located in Pullman (head office) and Puyallup.
  • MBA from Thunderbird (American Graduate School of International Management).
  • Bachelor's Degree in International Relations from Stanford University.
  • United States Navy Supply Corps Officer during Viet Nam War.
    Email John

  • Renee McNally, Vice President
    Renee is a second grade school teacher at Lena Whitmore elementary in Moscow where she is working extensively with PCEI's education program staff. Renee has had a long history with PCEI. In 1993 Renee received an Ag Options mini-grant for the Shop Smart Tours conducted in area. She was hired in 1994 as PCEI's Wellhead Protection Volunteer Coordinator to help educate people about groundwater protection on the Palouse. Renee was on the board of directors in 2002 and 2003, and just recently rejoined the board in 2005. The Idaho Environmental Education Association selected Renee as the Idaho Environmental Educator of year award in 2004. Renee also received the Science Teacher of the Year 2005 for Region 2 of Idaho. Congratulations, Renee!
    Email Renee

    Paige Buehler, Treasurer
    As a child in Beaverton, Oregon Paige grew up with recycling as a "way of life" since bottles and cans were worth money! Her main environmental interests lie in recycling and transportation issues.

    Her not-for-profit experience includes:
  • Moscow Parent-Toddler Cooperative: Board President 2003-2005, Director 2005-2007
  • Albuquerque Women's Soccer League (900+ members): President 1998-2000
  • Inland NW Masters Swimming (200+ members): Registrar, current

    Prior to becoming a full-time mom, she worked at Intel Corporation during the "Technology '90s" in corporate finance and fixed asset accounting in Hillsboro, Oregon and Rio Rancho, New Mexico. She also has a BA in Latin American Studies from the College of William & Mary (which some day she may actually put into use!)
    E-mail Paige

  • Tenley Burke, Secretary
    Tenley received her B.A. from UCLA in Geography/Ecosystems in 1990 and her M.S. in Forest Resources from Oregon State University in 1998. Her main work experience has been with the Forest Service and in deli management. Since moving to Moscow in 1998 she has directed the Moscow Parent-Toddler Co-op and served on the Board at Moscow Day School. Her main focus is raising two boys, Cullen (6) and Mason (4). She sees serving on the PCEI Board as a wonderful opportunity to help the Palouse community and its sustainability.
    Email Tenley

    Andrew Ackerman, Board Member
    Andrew was raised in rural southern Vermont. His gaze turned west after high school and in 1991 began undergraduate study at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR. After a hiatus travelling the country with the Audubon Expedition, he finished his degree at The Evergreen State College in 1995. Throughout the 90's Andrew was a seasonal employee of the National Parks Service in Washington and Alaska and an outdoor educator. In 1998 he returned to school to pursue a graduate degree in planning from WSU. During his two years in Pullman he became involved in leading stream restoration projects on the Palouse (and first became aware of PCEI). In the summer of 1999 Andrew was selected to particpate in a international environmental exchange program called Tahoe-Baikal Institute and spent half the summer travelling in Siberia. In 2000 Andrew met his now wife Wakana and they moved to California. After 2.5 years in the bay area Wakana was offered a job back at WSU, and realizing that the Palouse was an ideal place to raise a family, jumped at the opportunity to move back. Andrew and Wakana now live with their two daughters Kira and Emma in Moscow. Andrew works as a Planner for the City's Community Development Department. Andrew enjoys hiking, biking, snowboarding, and swimming as well as reading and listening to good music.
    Email Andrew

    David Hoyt, Board Member
    Dave has been a graphic designer and illustrator for 22 years and has worked for Washington State University, as well as Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. He is currently principal of Red Anvil Design Works, producing creative marketing and communications solutions. He has taught college-level coursework and has been a speaker on graphic design issues throughout the Northwest. His volunteer service includes efforts for the Pullman Civic Trust, Whitman County Blue Ribbon Advisory Task Committee, WSU Museum of Art, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and local school levies. He has also served as a mentor, advisor, and presenter for the Pullman public schools. His environmental work began at an early age with 4-H group cleanup projects in and around Wenatchee, Washington. Dave has a BA in Fine Arts from Washington State University, with undergraduate work including minors in Music and Geology. His hobbies include biking, hiking, fly-fishing, kayaking, softball, and gardening. Dave lives in Pullman with his wife Chris and daughter Ariana.
    E-mail David

    Cindi Jette, Board Member
    Cindi lives in Moscow. She is recognized locally as past-President of the Board for Sojourners’ Alliance. Her leadership helped bring stability and vision to their important work for affordable housing. Cindi worked for 10 years in the U.S. Forest Service, was a Technical Writer for the University of Idaho, and most recently was a partner in an engineering consulting business. She is currently serving on Moscow’s Fair & Affordable Housing Commission. She has a self-described passion for housing and the environment. Her other interests include yoga, landscaping, architecture, carpentry and hiking.

    Email Cindi

    Mary Jo Knowles, Board Member

    E-mail Mary Jo

    John Lawrence, Board Member
    John is a professor of Business at the University of Idaho, where he teaches courses in operations management, international business, and strategic management. He is also a member of the core faculty of two interdisciplinary programs at the UI, the Environmental Science program and the American Indian Studies program. Since joining the faculty of the University of Idaho in 1993, John has also taught courses as a visiting professor at universities in Sweden, Spain, Italy, France and New Zealand. John was a member of the team that developed the Sustainable Idaho initiative at the UI, and in early 2007 facilitated a workshop for faculty on integrating sustainability into the curriculum. John has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Palouse Ice Rink Association and was a member of the Moscow Arts Commission. In his spare time, he likes to hike, backpack, bike, canoe and ski with his wife Wendy, his daughter Karen, and his dog, Scout.
    E-mail John
    Volunteer!
    Countless volunteers help with PCEI programs. If you would like to help by becoming a volunteer for PCEI, check out our volunteer page!.


    last update: 2/21/2008

    Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute
    P.O. Box 8596 • Moscow ID 83843 • (208) 882-1444 • info@pcei.orghttp://www.pcei.org