Executive Committee Candidate Bios (2015-2016 term)

Executive Committee (2015-2016 term)Two (of our five) Executive Committee Members positions will be elected this December to serve from January 2015 through December 2016. Outgoing Executive Committee Members, Wes Wong and Robin Gyorgyfalvy have served in their leadership roles since January and July 2013, respectively.

See complete Elections info page

ROBIN GYORGYFALVY

Forest Scenic Byways Program Leader & Landscape Architect, Deschutes National Forest, Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District – R6

As a current Executive Committee member, I started APAEA’s very first local HAPA`EA chapter and the HAPA`EA Cross Cultural Awareness Speaker Series to advocate for cultural sensitivity and create a culture of support.  I will continue to be proactive and create opportunities for relevant dialogue, leadership training, effective outreach and mentoring, and positive forums for cultural awareness.  I have strong skills in strategic planning, marketing, leading international teams, community partnerships, public speaking, and grant writing.

NOMINEE’S BIOGRAPHY

Education:

• Mt. Holyoke College, BA – Studio Art/Sculpture
• Dartmouth College, Exchange – Environmental Studies
• University of Oregon, MLA and BLA – Landscape Architecture

Recent Honors and Awards (2013-14):

• National Vice President Candidate, American Society of Landscape Architects
• ASLA Council of Fellows
• American Institute of Architects Retrospective Exhibit – Oregon’s Outstanding 21^st century women landscape architects (3) and architects (4), first women landscape architects and architects
• Special Issue, Women Landscape Architects, Chinese Landscape Architecture Magazine
• National Civil Rights Poster Winner, Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month
• Extra Effort Award, Interpretive Exhibits Design, Egypt’s First Marine Research Visitor Center, FS International Programs

Relevant Experience:

• Acting Deputy Director, Public Affairs & Communications, R-5 Regional Office, Chief’s Review Co-Leader /Communications Team Leader (Detail)
• Scenic Byways & Environmental Design Programs Leader, Deschutes National Forest – Successful Grant Awards, Partnerships, Corridor Management Planning, Interpretive Site Design, Conservation Education
• Author/Illustrator, Award-Winning Book “Legends of the Hawaiian Forest” – Storytelling as a tool to preserve land and culture
• Bend 2030 Community Vision Board of Directors, First Chair
• Newberry National Volcanic Monument Director – Exhibits & Accessible Trail Design, Warm Springs Indian Tribal Partnership
• Public Affairs & Partnerships Staff, Deschutes National Forest (Detail)
• Transportation Research Board, Environmental and Landscape Design Committee – Multi-Modal Transportation & Community Connections

FELICIANA “FELY” SCHAIBLE

LE&I, Idaho Panhandle National Forests – R1

I will try to help in marketing the APAEA not only in Region 1 but nationwide. Our heritage says a lot about us and preserving it is very important in this diverse Forest Service.  Outreaching and recruitment efforts by others are commendable and along that line, I can try to come up with a Newsletter highlighting our mission, goals, and accomplishments, if the committee will allow so.  I can be a mentor if need be.

NOMINEE’S BIOGRAPHY

I was born and raised in the Philippines and came to the United States in May 1982.  My hometown of Naic, Cavite was south of Manila in the Luzon Island.  I am the youngest in a family of seven.  My husband was in the U.S. Navy and California was our home for 14 years.  We moved to Northern Idaho following my husband’s retirement from the Navy.  I worked at Lemoore Naval Air Station at the Chapman College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and then I moved to the Public Affairs Office, started as a clerk and worked my way up to the Deputy Public Affairs Officer/Community Relations Officer and Airshow Marketing Director.

JOAN LOUIE

GIS Analyst, Regional Office – R1

I’m very passionate about the Forest Service and hope to encourage younger APAs to get into this field.  I believe I have unique perspectives as someone who grew up in a diverse urban area and now live in the least racially diverse region of the country.  I have big picture ideas for reaching out to the younger generations of all backgrounds and hope to play an important role in diversity recruitment and retention.

NOMINEE’S BIOGRAPHY

I grew up in Boston, MA and spent much of my time in Boston’s Chinatown.  My “outdoor” experiences included squirrels, raccoons, pigeons and whatever I could glean from books and magazines.  In my last year of high school, I was lucky enough to take an Environmental Sciences class, which ultimately influenced my career path.

I received a bachelor’s in Wildlife Conservation from UMass Amherst and a master’s in Fisheries Science from NC State.  I started with the Forest Service as a fisheries biologist SCEP in 2008.  Currently I am a GIS analyst for the R1 Regional Office, where I work on a variety of collaborative projects in fisheries, wildlife, botany, fire and research.  To further my personal and professional growth, I enroll in leadership classes whenever possible, which have been extremely valuable for me.

I have high hopes for the future of the Forest Service.  I am thankful for those who gave me the chance to get to where I’m at now.  I want to provide those same opportunities for APAs and other students of color, who also come from the inner city and have to play “catch up” when competing with others who grew up in the outdoors.