MEET OUR TEAM
Rick Martinson
Executive Director
Rick became Executive Director in 2022 after running a successful landscape and nursery business in Central Oregon for over 20 years. He’s an ecologist by training, but has worked as an archaeologist, botanist and environmental scientist in a variety of regions around the country. Rick holds a PhD in Horticulture from Oregon State University, and his specialty is the adaptive physiology of xerophytic native plants. His diverse background provides the skills, knowledge and on-the-ground experience necessary to support and expand our mission.
rick@worthyenvironmental.org | (541) 647-6970 ext 221
EVAN HEEB
Conservation Coordinator
Evan began his five-year career in restoration ecology at WinterCreek Nursery, where he learned about the natural systems of Central Oregon and the northern Great Basin. He's worked on restoration projects in the high desert, the eastern slopes of the Cascades and Oregon's coastal forests. Growing up in Indiana where less than 5 percent of the state is public land, Evan was moved by the rugged landscapes and endless acres of public land in the Pacific Northwest, lighting his fire to understand the natural world and to protect and restore wild places.
evan@worthyenvironmental.org | (541) 647-6970 ext 220
LISA SANCO
Sustainability Educator
Lisa is our resident gardener, beekeeper and sustainability extraordinaire. She earned degree in Ornamental Horticulture and started her career at the Chicago Botanic Garden before moving to Central Oregon in 2013. She's helped us develop a greener campus with native landscaping & sustainable gardening practices. As a steering committee member for the Pollinator Pathway of Bend and participant in the Oregon Bee Project, she works to educate her community on the importance of ecological landscaping and biodiversity conservation.
lisa@worthyenvironmental.org | (541) 647-6970 ext 220
Madeline Steen
Organic Farm Manager
Maddie has six years of organic farming experience, a degree in Environmental Policy and a certificate in Ecological Horticulture from UCSC. She most recently managed Seed to Table, a small-scale vegetable farm in Sisters, OR, where she learned the ins and outs of growing food in the high desert. Her passion for farming is driven by her love of long days spent outside, good food and the magic of plants and soil. She is dedicated to sustainable land stewardship and its ability to build strong and resilient communities.
maddie@worthyenvironmental.org | (541) 647-6970 ext 220
Kraig Esswein, WinterCreek Nursery Manager | kraig@worthyenvironmental.org | (541) 420-0083
GRANT TANDY
Observatory Director
Our resident "Sky Guy" joined the ranks of Worthy Environmental following a three-year tenure as an astronomical interpreter at the Oregon Observatory. He has been overseeing the coordination and execution of our Hopservatory operations and educational programs since 2017. Grant holds the position of a NASA-JPL Solar System Ambassador and is a prominent member of the Oregon Chapter of the International Dark-Sky Association. He strives to enhance scientific literacy and provide a fresh perspective that expands our understanding of the cosmos.
grant@worthyenvironmental.org | (541) 647-6970 ext 220
Board of Directors
