ADMINISTRATION

STEVE HARVEY
Director

Steve Harvey has been with the COG since starting as a planner in 1978, becoming the director in 1986. He enjoys the challenge of identifying and advancing regional issues and marshalling resources to address those needs.

As the director, Steve oversees the day-to-day operation of the agency; from the management of work program tasks and coordination of committee and board meetings to handling of personnel matters, monthly finances, budgets and duties. He works with the COG Executive Committee to craft policies, recommendations and procedures acted upon by the full COG board. He then is responsible for carrying out those policies and procedures under the direction of the board.

He helps develop positions on state and federal issues assisting the COG chair and other board members in delivering “the message” to area legislators and Congressional officials and staff. In addition, Steve represents the board and region on a number of local, state and bi-state committees and groups, advancing what’s important for our region and monitoring issues that may affect COG members.

Mr. Harvey facilitates monthly information forums of local elected and staff officials in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties. These forums bring participants together to share what’s going on within their jurisdictions, and address topics of concern in order to pursue possible regional solutions.

During his directorship, Steve has been involved with…

• Feasibility studies to replace or rehabilitate the Lewis and Clark Bridge.
• Re-building the I-5/SR432/Talley Way interchange.
• Prioritizing industrial development properties in the Longview-Kelso-Kalama urban area.
• Examining options for siting a regional fire and emergency services training facility.
• Advocating for the establishment of a Washington State University branch campus in or as close to Cowlitz County as possible.
• Establishing the Cowlitz County Family Network.
• Forming the Cowlitz Substance Abuse Coalition as a viable, effective education and prevention organization in the community.
• Establishing and staffing the Cowlitz-Lewis Economic Development District.
• Forming and facilitating the Washington Community Economic Revitalization Team (WACERT) for Cowlitz County which has yielded millions of dollars in state and federal funds for a wide array of public infrastructure and economic diversification projects.
• Leading the effort to establish and organize the Southwest Regional Transportation Planning Organization (SWRTPO) through collaboration with units of local government in the Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pacific and Wahkiakum counties.

Steve has bachelor degrees in environmental planning from Western Washington University and business administration from the University of New Hampshire.

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PLANNING STAFF

JUSTIN ERICKSON
Senior Planner

Justin Erickson is an Senior Planner with the CWCOG. At present, he primarily works with the City of Kalama where he serves as their City Planner and with the City of Woodland where he works on a variety of current and long-range planning projects. In addition, Justin is the Executive Officer of the Cowlitz County Boundary Review Board where he provides staff support related to annexations. He is also actively involved with park and recreation planning for member jurisdictions.

Since his arrival at the CWCOG in 2004, Justin has been the lead staff person on a variety of projects including the Kalama Comprehensive Plan, Woodland Comprehensive Plan, Castle Rock Park and Recreation Plan and the Woodland Park and Recreation Plan.

Justin’s educational background includes BA and MS degrees from Central Washington University with major course work in geography, land use planning, and natural and cultural resource management. Prior to working at the CWCOG, Justin was an Assistant Planner with Island County, Washington. As a graduate student, Justin contributed to watershed planning efforts in north-central Washington, conducting research on land use and irrigation.

Justin’s experience and education make him a valuable member of the CWCOG team. He can assist member jurisdictions in many different areas including: project management, meeting facilitation, technical review of development projects, code revisions, comprehensive plan preparation, park and recreation planning, grant writing, SEPA compliance, annexation, Growth Management Act (GMA) planning, critical areas permit review and code preparation, shoreline development issues, watershed planning, quantitative analysis and community surveys (including online surveys).

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THOMAS (T.J.) KEIRAN
Senior Planner

A recent addition to the COG team, T.J. works on long-range and current planning projects, environmental reports and GIS analysis. As the City Planner for the City of Castle Rock and Cathlamet, he guides applicants and projects through the regulatory approval process, including comprehensive plan amendments, rezones, and annexations, site plan review, SEPA reviews, conditional use permits, and variances. He processes land use applications, manages the review of plans and exhibits, coordinates neighborhood meetings, and facilitates at public hearings.

T.J. Keiran has provided professional planning services to clients in both Arizona and Washington for the past five years. With his background in both technical analysis and meeting facilitation, T.J. is an effective problem-solver and relationship-builder. He graduated from Central Washington University with a BA in Geography specializing in Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and also possesses an AAS in Natural Resource Management. Finally, T.J. has a passion for the planning process and encourages public participation to build consensus.

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MELISSA TAYLOR
Senior Planner

Melissa hit the ground running and hasn’t stopped since joining the COG team in 2001! Highly motivated to put her expertise to work within her community, she brings over 25 years of planning and community development experience; 15 of those in a management capacity.

Having graduated from Clemson University, South Carolina, with high honors and a Bachelors of Science degree in Community and Rural Development, Ms. Taylor went on to expand her experiences in municipal, county, and educational agencies in Georgia, South Carolina, and Washington State. She combines her extensive experience, education, progressive attitude and tenacity for research to meet and exceed the needs of projects and clients.

Melissa’s experience and team-minded work ethic contributes confidence and energy to the CWCOG planning team. Her knowledge and experience in the following areas are a bonus to any project she undertakes:

• Current Planning - Code & environmental compliance; site plan review
• Long Range Planning – Comprehensive plans, including growth management compliance
• Special Plans – Crisis response, communications, historic preservation, consolidated Housing and Community Development Plans
• Intergovernmental Relations – Local liaison with state and regional entities; annexation task force; established county/city planning division
• Project Management – Oversight responsibility for management of various community improvement projects
• Grantsmanship –Proven record for securing grants for community development projects, arts and historic preservation, economic development, infrastructure, parks and trails, education, urban forestry, and other community needs.
• Communications – Produces newsletters and audio-visual presentations targeted to internal and external audiences
• Administration – Administration of grants, projects and day-to-day programs

Major accomplishments to date include:

• Administration of $2.5 million annual CDBG entitlement program for the City of Columbia, South Carolina; management of an additional $7 million in community improvement projects, eliminating a 36-month backlog.
• Established joint city/county planning program in Cobb County, Georgia—the fastest growing county in the nation, at that time.
• Coordinated city and county Growth Management act comprehensive planning efforts for Mason County and Shelton, Washington; established an historic preservation program for City of Shelton.
• Assisted with successful passage of school bond issue for Castle Rock School District; two previous efforts had failed to secure voter approval.
• Key player in securing $1.1 million for Castle Rock Riverfront Trail and Castle Rock Recreational Complex.

Melissa is currently working on the county’s Ten Year Homeless Plan, a countywide Housing Needs Assessment, and an overhaul of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for Lewis and Cowlitz counties. She is also the point of contact for census and other data requests, as well as for regional housing and community development activities.

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DAVID BARIA
Part-Time Senior Planner

David Baria works as the COG’s part-time Economic Development Planner, under the auspices of the Cowlitz-Lewis Economic Development District, a federally designated and funded partnership between the two counties. Based out of Lewis County Economic Development Council, David assists local businesses and potential entrepreneurs with a diverse array of business operation and improvement measures. If he’s not providing direct assistance, he’s steering individuals to a variety of resources that may be able to help business owners and employers in Lewis County.

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DON MATHISON
Part-Time Senior Planner

Don Mathison serves the Council of Governments on special projects as they arise, especially in the area of community planning and development. Don’s in-depth experience goes back to the early 1970s when he joined this agency, then known as the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Regional Planning Commission.

Mr. Mathison has extensive local planning work, having served as planners for Wahkiakum County, Kalama, Woodland, Kelso and finally Castle Rock. He developed the first Wahkiakum and Cowlitz County Shoreline Management Master Programs and Woodland’s comprehensive plan. With the aid of federal funds he applied for, Don conducted criminal and juvenile justice planning for the Cowlitz and Wahkiakum County courts, sheriff’s offices and police departments of all area cities. Many of the programs started then are still in place today. Don created the Wahkiakum County Historical Buildings Inventory, qualifying the county for grant funds for the preservation of historical properties. He then followed this up with a similar inventory for Cowlitz County.

Don crafted the region’s first park and recreation plan, involving the all cities, counties, port districts and others. Displaying his versatility, he worked with the Columbia River Estuary Study Task Force (CREST), a bi-state (Washington and Oregon) tri-county (Wahkiakum, Pacific and Clatsop) planning effort designed to provide land development controls to ensure the long-term productivity of the estuary.

As Kelso city planner, Don updated the Kelso zoning and subdivision codes. He demonstrated his keen ability to work with a diverse array of project proponents and communicate effectively with the city planning commission and council. Don turned over a solid foundation for planning to Kelso’s first full time planner in the early 90s.

More recently, Don plowed untested ground with the creation of critical areas ordinances for the cities of Castle Rock and Kalama, incorporating new techniques into local subdivision and zoning codes.

Don graduated from Eastern Washington University with a degree in Physical Geography and a minor in Geology.

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JENNIFER KEENE
Assistant Planner

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TRANSPORTATION STAFF

ROSEMARY BRINSON SIIPOLA
Transportation Planner/Program Manager

The Council of Governments’ transportation department is led by Rosemary Siipola. As Senior Transportation Planner and Program Manager, she oversees a wide array of planning initiatives for the Longview-Kelso-Rainier Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Planning Organization (SWRTPO). The RTPO covers five county planning programs in Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pacific and Wahkiakum counties. While planning is seen as a necessary, cooperative and coordinated process among the area jurisdictions, Rosemary helps move the plans from the drawing board to reality.

Rosemary has 17 years experience as a transportation planner, 12 of which has been with the Council of Governments. She is responsible for completing the annual Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), overseeing the urban and RTPO area annual Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and other federal and state-mandated planning activities. Related activities include liaison with the Washington State Department of Transportation, our state and federal legislative delegation and their staff, and leading planning activities covering a wide range of network improvements, from widening Interstate 5 through Lewis County to the development of the Lewis and Clark Discovery Trail in Pacific County. Within the MPO area, the COG spearheaded the development of an access management ordinance, completed the transportation element of the Longview Comprehensive Plan and steered the accomplishment of a modified access decision report for the SR 432/I-5/Talley Way interchange. Over the past 12 years, CWCOG has been responsible for over $2 million in long-range planning activities throughout the MPO and SWRTPO areas.

Ms. Siipola’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University and a master’s in planning from the University of Virginia.

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JERRY SORRELL
Transportation Planner/Program Manager

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AMY HAMLIN
Transportation Assistant Planner

Amy Hamlin is the Council of Governments’ assistant transportation planner for the five-county southwest Washington planning area. In addition, as one of two staff working with the geographic information systems (GIS), Ms. Hamlin creates and updates maps, provides geospatial, and census data for a variety of community and public agency stakeholders, as well as, technical services to other COGl employees.

After graduating from Western Washington University’s Huxley College of the Environment, Amy worked in Alaska and Washington in research capacities for public and non-profit natural resource management organizations, such as Snohomish County Surface Water Management Division and The Nature Conservancy. As a master’s candidate at Central Washington University, she performed contract GIS work with several Washington counties and cities to update shoreline master plans, and provided ecosystem monitoring services in the Wapato Reach of the Yakima River.

Her technical skills notwithstanding, Ms. Hamlin uses her analytical, detail-oriented working style to approach complicated problems in highly political contexts. Her enthusiasm and personable nature lend a human touch to any project. As a fully involved community member, Ms. Hamlin serves as a volunteer board member on the Cowlitz County Community Network and provides volunteer services for a variety of community-based organizations.

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COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION STAFF

BRIAN McCRADY
Drug-Free Communities Coordinator/CSAC Coordinator

Brian joined the Council of Governments in 2001 as the Drug-Free Communities Coordinator. He came highly qualified having worked with children and families in several capacities for over 15 years. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Western Washington University, and was certified as a Prevention Professional through the Prevention Specialist Certification Board of Washington.
Brian is also a certified Trainer of Strengthening Families Facilitators for the 10-14 year old program. Since then…..

• In 2002, Brian implemented the Teen Mentor Program in Cowlitz County. Currently the program is in five of the six school districts in the county with over 85 teen to youth matches.
• His coordination and leadership of the Strengthening Families program has delivered 16 successful programs throughout the county with over 130 families graduating.
• As part of the steering committee, Brian has helped to design and implement three annual Youth Leadership Academys with 47 youth completing the week long course.
• As the CSAC Interim Coordinator, Brian has focused on Reducing Underage Drinking campaign in Cowlitz County by educating the general public through media ads, public presentations and collaborating with the Washington State Liquor Control board to perform alcohol compliance checks.

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SHANNON LENHARD
Cowlitz Meth Action Team Coordinator/Youth Commission

Shannon Lenhard joined the Council of Governments in 2000 as part of the community mobilization team guided by the Cowlitz Substance Abuse Coalition. As the Coordinator of the Cowlitz Meth Action Team, Ms. Lenhard is responsible for mobilizing area volunteers and agencies in an effort to educate the community on the effects that drug use has on the individual, families, and the region. She has been an integral part of the creation of the Washington Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, a chapter of the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, and works relentlessly to create community awareness and support of the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.

Ms. Lenhard has over 10 years experience in drug and alcohol prevention and treatment and uses this experience to motivate our community to make positive changes for a safer and healthier Cowlitz County.

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BETTY ENGLEMAN
Program Assistant

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GIS STAFF

THOMAS (T.J.) KEIRAN
Senior Planner/GIS Contact

A recent addition to the COG team, T.J. works on long-range and current planning projects, environmental reports and GIS analysis. As the City Planner for the City of Castle Rock and Cathlamet, he guides applicants and projects through the regulatory approval process, including comprehensive plan amendments, rezones, and annexations, site plan review, SEPA reviews, conditional use permits, and variances. He processes land use applications, manages the review of plans and exhibits, coordinates neighborhood meetings, and facilitates at public hearings.

T.J. Keiran has provided professional planning services to clients in both Arizona and Washington for the past five years. With his background in both technical analysis and meeting facilitation, T.J. is an effective problem-solver and relationship-builder. He graduated from Central Washington University with a BA in Geography specializing in Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and also possesses an AAS in Natural Resource Management. Finally, T.J. has a passion for the planning process and encourages public participation to build consensus.

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ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT STAFF

NANCY HARRIS
Administrative Secretary

Nancy Harris has been with the Council of Governments for 16 years. She began her career with the COG as the receptionist in 1990 where she quickly moved to secretary. Nancy has fulfilled the position of administrative secretary since 2000. Born and raised in the local area, she possesses an exceptional knowledge of the people, history and dynamics of our region that is quite the asset to the COG team.

Nancy attended Lower Columbia College after high school, completing several secretarial / computer classes since. Prior to working for the Council of Governments, Ms. Harris worked with the Cowlitz County Auditor’s Office for two years, and part-time in the Elections and Purchasing departments as needed. This experience along with part-time employment with Kelso School District as an office assistant, gave Ms. Harris a familiarity of governmental business that is very helpful when working with the diverse governmental agencies with which the COG is associated.

Ms. Harris serves as the administrative assistant to the Director of the COG and secretary to the CWCOG board. She is responsible for supervising clerical staff, working closely with COG staff and member entities, preparing contracts, amendments, monthly newsletter and coordinating the annual banquet. Ms. Harris manages the office and the day-to-day work and other administrative duties.

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Ms. Kelley brought 28 plus years of clerical experience when she joined the Council of Governments’ team. Her educational work history in both Michigan and Florida has provided her with the adaptability, experience and fortitude to work with the many personalities and agencies associated with the COG. Bonnie’s personable demeanor and friendly voice is the first thing one hears upon calling the Council of Governments. She serves as secretary for both the Council of Governments and Cowlitz County Boundary Review Board.

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ANISA KISAMORE
Finance & Local Systems Administrator

With more than 20 years education and experience in administrative support, Anisa found her niche when former employer Kelso School District put her accounting education, organization and problem solving skills, and eye for detail to work in their business department. While employed by Kelso Schools, Anisa continued her education through the Washington Association of School Business Officials in governmental accounting and grant management.

Hired by the COG in 1999 to oversee accounts payable and receivable, manage payroll and numerous grants, and support the budget process, her position quickly expanded when her diverse background in computers was put to use supervising a rewrite of the agency’s accounting program. She has been managing the COG’s finances and IT systems ever since - tackling the two diverse functions daily.

In her time at COG, Anisa has implemented a new accounting system compatible with the category 2 BARS manual, participated in seven successful state audits, built a reserve fund of $70,000, implemented a networked computer system and subsequent upgrade, and is currently writing an extensive finance policy and procedures manual for the agency.

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MIASHA WEBBER
Finance Assistant

Miasha Webber became a part of the Council of Governments team in 2004. A long-term resident of the Longview-Kelso area, her background includes bookkeeping, accounting, cash management, automotive and engineering drafting. As the Council of Governments’ Finance Assistant, her duties include accounts payable, accounts receivable and a diverse spectrum of special projects. Ms. Webber recently finished her Associates Degree from Lower Columbia College along with a transfer degree targeted for Washington State University.

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