Our Board of Directors
Jeff Lambert
President
I have been an outdoor enthusiast since I was a kid. I taught nature at a Boy Scout camp for four years and have degrees in environmental science and engineering. My conservation advocacy started with a leadership role in the successful 1997 Conservation Futures campaign. Since then I have served on nonprofit Boards, WA NOVA Committee, Wild Washington Campaign and most recently as Exec. Director of the Dishman Hills Conservancy. I encouraged Diana Roberts start the Friends of the Bluff and live nearby. The Bluff is a conservation and recreation asset and I hope we can continue to acquire, protect and steward this area.
Greg MacDonald
Vice President & Secretary
The Bluff has been my friend since I moved to Spokane in 1999, and has provided me with countless meditative walks, amazing encounters with animals and plants, lessons in geology, delightful hikes with friends and exciting mountain bike adventures. As a Pediatric Neurologist, I am especially cognizant of the benefits of the outdoors for our children (and ourselves). The Bluff lets us celebrate nature’s inclusivity, diversity and healing qualities. Wanting to repay some of the benefits I’ve received from this amazing resource, I joined the Board of Directors of Friends of the Bluff in 2022 and currently serve as its vice-president. I look forward to meeting you on the trails, at our volunteer activities and community events. I’d love to hear your Bluff stories!
Kathryn Phillips
Treasurer
I am new to Spokane and was looking for a volunteer opportunity that would give back to my new community and work with my schedule. I love being outdoors and was pleased to discover the Bluff so close to my home. I attended some of the Friends of the Bluff activities with my brother and was impressed with the passion of this group. I lived many years in a Texas State Park where I often engaged with volunteers and park visitors. As a Friends of the Bluff board member and membership coordinator, I look forward to working with new and existing Friend’s of the Bluff.
Laura Ackerman
Events
I have worked professionally and in a volunteer capacity as an environmental and neighborhood activist and organizer for 30 years. Living west of Highway 195, I see the Bluff from a bottom-up point of view, literally, and in a conservation-minded way. I think the two sides of the highway need to be connected, literally and in a conservation and community-oriented style. I plan to work on that during my time on the board, while promoting the Bluff and Latah Creek as natural areas in the same habitat.
Mark Turner
Board Member At Large
Staff
Dee and Trevor Finchamp met in graphic design classes while attending Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. They married a few years later, moved to Spokane in 2015, and formed a business together, Karma Cultivate, that provides creative services to non-profit organizations. Since then, their work has played a significant role in the growth of dozens of local nonprofits.
They spent their first 3 years with Friends of the Bluff serving on the board as volunteers, but moved into staff positions after their terms ended in 2023.