Jonathan Paklaian

Executive Director

For over ten years, Jonathan has conducted fieldwork and managed environmental resource projects across the western U.S. This interdisciplinary experience includes working for multiple consulting firms and NGOs, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the USGS. Jonathan is excited to continue his collaborative work in the Arkansas Basin, where he hopes to facilitate meaningful, watershed-wide projects for the communities and ecosystems of the region.

In his free time, Jonathan can often be found exploring public lands, fishing, hunting, backpacking, cycling, or relaxing with some fiction. He holds an M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Northern Arizona University.

Andy Lerch

Director of Forestry

Andy uses forestry techniques for forest and ecosystem restoration to help create forests that are resilient to wildfire, climate change, and outbreaks of insects and disease.  He comes to ARWC as Lead Forester from Oregon, where he worked on collaborative forest restoration projects that engaged federal, local, and nonprofit partners to develop and implement landscape-scale projects to reduce the threat of severe wildfire and provide protection for communities and watersheds. Andy is excited to work with ARWC on forest treatments that promote watershed function throughout the Arkansas River Basin. Andy earned a Bachelor Degree in Forestry from the University of Missouri and Master Degrees in Forestry and Entomology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Margaret Strozyk

Fuels Mitigation Specialist

Margaret is our Mitigation Specialist serving the central Ark Basin (Fremont, Custer, Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las Animas Counties). She conducts wildfire risk assessments for subdivisions and large landowners and coordinates on our green forest mitigation with our partners and volunteers. Margaret has 12 years of experience in fire and ems with volunteer and non-profit organizations. She is taking on a preventative and protective role for ARWC. Margaret has a passion for teaching and helping community members learn how to protect their homes from fire and the devastating aftermath.  Margaret is a Paramedic/Wildland & Structural Firefighter/Rope Rescue Technician trained in Search and Rescue who serves as a Combat Engineer/Medic in the National Guard and a Licensed USCG Captain. She also helps Merchant Marines navigate USCG Licensing and Renewals. In her off time, Margaret loves spending time with her family, visiting hot springs, riding motorcycles with her husband, shooting at the archery range, enjoying snow sports and exploring the geological wonders of Colorado.

Theresa Springer

Recovery Coordinator

Theresa brings more than 20 years of on-the-ground experience with post-fire flood recovery to ARWC. Her knowledge, expertise and sincere passion for helping communities who have been affected by fire and flood allow her to provide quick, precise, compassionate recommendations to landowners and communities reeling from the impacts wildfire, helping them prepare for and respond to subsequent flooding. Through the Coalition for the Upper South Platte, Theresa worked on post-fire recovery for the Hayman Fire, Waldo Canyon Fire, Hayden Pass Fire, Beulah Hill Fire, Junkins Fire and Spring Creek Fire.