Casey Sixkiller
Director
Washington State Department of Ecology

Casey Sixkiller was appointed by Governor Bob Ferguson as the 14th Director of the Washington State Department of Ecology. With more than two decades of experience in federal, Tribal, regional, and local government, Casey brings a deep commitment to environmental stewardship and practical, results-driven leadership.

Before joining Ecology, Casey served as Regional Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 10, where he led efforts to protect human health and the environment across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and 271 Tribal nations. His work focused on scaling climate solutions, modernizing water infrastructure, and advancing environmental justice.

An enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Casey was born and raised in Washington. He grew up in Seattle and spent time in central Washington, where his grandfather previously worked as a chemist at the Hanford Site and later for an agricultural business in Yakima. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and a proud father of three.

At his core, Casey believes in the power of collaboration and action. Whether sitting with communities facing contaminated water, working with farmers and Tribes to protect vital resources, or shaping policy to ensure a cleaner future, he is driven by the belief that we must leave the world better for the next generation.

Michelle Roos
Executive Director
Environmental Protection Network

A View from the Other Washington: Update on Federal Grants

Michelle Roos (she/her) has over 25 years of experience in project management, grassroots organizing, and environmental protection, and has served as the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Network (EPN) since 2018. EPN has a small staff and over 650 EPA alumni across the country volunteering their time to protect the integrity of EPA, human health, and the environment. Michelle helped launch EPN’s capacity-building pro bono technical assistance work in 2021, which has provided 1:1 assistance to over 2000 under-resourced community groups; nonprofit organizations; and state, local, tribal government agencies. EPN also tracks national policy issues, helps to defend the civil service, educates Congress, and is a resource to press.

Speakers:

Michael Echanove
Former City of Palouse Mayor and CERB Chairman

Doug Willcox
Former Chairman of City of Palouse
Washington Brownfields Advisory Committee

Moderated by:

Sarah Sieloff
Urban Planner and Senior Client Account Manager
Haley & Aldrich

Breaking the Cycle of Disrepair: The Power of Partnerships in Revitalization

As brownfielders, if something is broken, neglected, or contributing to blight in our community, we’re committed to finding a way to clean it up, improve it, or eliminate it altogether. The goal is to make what was once “ugly” into an asset—transforming neglected spaces into vibrant, attractive areas that invite private enterprise and tourism back into town.

We also know that revitalization is more of a process than an end state, and the first step toward revitalization is breaking the cycle of disrepair. Michael Echanove, former Mayor of the City of Palouse and current Washington Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) Chair, and Doug Willcox, former Chairman of Palouse’s Brownfields Advisory Committee, will reflect on Palouse’s  firsthand experience turning blight around using brownfield redevelopment tools and funding. They will offer reflections about revitalization lessons learned from local experience and statewide work, cautionary tales, and key tactics and strategies for redevelopment success.

Michael Echanove is a former City of Palouse Mayor and Councilmember, serving from 1994 through 2019. During his tenure in City Hall he gained a lifetime of real world experiences in rural economic and community development, including that of a derelict, mostly abandoned, eyesore Brownfields site. Michael is an appointed member and current chair of the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB), an independent board within the Dept. of Commerce, Olympia,WA. He retired from Washington State University, Pullman campus after 39 years as a Systems Programmer on an IBM mainframe. Michael holds a B.S. in Business from the University of Idaho and together with his wife Paula have 3 grown children and a gaggle of grandchildren.

Doug Willcox is a renaissance man: a retired construction manager, engineer, public water system manager, and farmer. He chaired the City of Palouse, Washington’s Brownfields Advisory Committee while it was assessing, remediating, and preparing the former Palouse Producers’ site for redevelopment. Doug currently lives in Spokane, and grew up on a farm near Palouse. He is a proud Cougar, having earned his Bachelor’s in civil engineering from Washington State University.

Unpacking the Secrets to Brownfields Success – Workforce, Funding, Programs, and Inspiring Stories

The closing session combines a series of panelist conversations with participation from the audience using real-time polling. You will hear perspectives on the future of Brownfields from a variety of practitioners at different stages of their careers through a series of short video clips. During this final hour of the conference, we will cover 3 current issues that are influencing the future of Brownfields in the Northwest.

Derek Forseth (Moderator)
Chief Executive Officer
Alta Science & Engineering, Inc.

Teri Stripes
Economic Development Specialist
Spokane Valley

Ali Furmall
LHG, Brownfields Program Lead
Washington State Department of Ecology

Adam Smith
Project Manager & Real Estate Development
Port of Sunnyside

Tour 1: Former Boise Cascade Mill Site & Former City of Yakima Landfill Site

From Timber to Transformation: Reimagining the Boise Cascade Mill Site

Description: Once the heart of Yakima’s timber industry, the former Boise Cascade Mill Site is now a focal point of regional redevelopment. This 200-acre brownfield, located along the Yakima River, tells the story of economic transition, environmental remediation, and visionary planning.

Join this tour to explore how city leaders, community partners, and private stakeholders are working to turn this industrial legacy into a vibrant mixed-use development. Learn about the site’s environmental cleanup efforts and vision for future use.

Tour 2: Chuck Austin Place

From Contaminated Grounds to Community Hub: The Story of Chuck Austin Place

Description: Once the site of the former United States Marine Corp Armory, Chuck Austin Place now stands as a powerful example of transformation and resilience in Yakima. Named in honor of local veteran and community leader Chuck Austin, this former brownfield site has been remediated and repurposed into a thriving housing and service center for veterans and their families.

This tour offers a unique opportunity to see how environmental challenges were overcome to meet community needs. Explore how the site was cleaned up, redeveloped, and designed to foster healing, stability, and connection. You’ll also hear from local partners about the impact of this project and what it took to bring this vision to life.

Join us for a welcome reception at Single Hill Brewing Co., right in the heart of downtown Yakima! Beer enthusiasts will enjoy a diverse selection of 24 beers on tap. If you’re in the mood for something different, Single Hill offers a rotating variety of draft ciders and seltzers, wine by the glass, and non-alcoholic beverages. Additionally, there will be a variety of delicious food options to savor. Special thanks to Yellow Jacket Drilling Services, LLC for sponsoring this event.