New Year, New Staff

NNRG welcomes 2025 with two new staff members

As we welcome the new year, NNRG is also welcoming two new staff members who you may see out in the field – Forester Barrett Gray and Program Coordinator Lauren McCaskill. We’re excited to have them onboard!

We checked in with both to get the inside scoop on what drew them to NNRG, what their interests are (Lauren studied community forestry!), and what they do in their spare time (Barrett runs ultramarathons!). Read on to learn more about both new staff members.

Barrett Gray

Forester
Reach Barrett at barrett@nnrg.org

Barrett grew up in Whitefish, MT, where the surrounding landscapes and a high school outdoor science club inspired her to study Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University. Her studies took her to diverse ecosystems, including Panama, Madagascar, and Colorado.

After moving to the Seattle area in 2021 and gaining experience in environmental restoration, Barrett fell in love with the forests of the Pacific Northwest and decided to pursue a career in forestry. She spent a few years working in forest inventory before joining NNRG, where she is excited to combine her forestry experience with her ecology background to work in ecological forest management. Her favorite thing to do in the woods is trail run, and she competes in trail ultramarathons. 

Lauren McCaskill

Program Coordinator
Reach Lauren at lauren@nnrg.org

Lauren grew up in north Texas, where she spent time exploring lakes and forests near the Red River with her family and developed a passion for the outdoors. She graduated from Austin College with her B.A. in international relations and received her M.S. from the College of Forestry at Oregon State University, where she studied community-based forest management.

Before moving to the PNW in 2021, Lauren lived and worked in Jackson, Wyoming, and as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Malaysia. Lauren’s favorite thing to do in the woods is to wander around and look for cool critters!

We asked Barrett and Lauren a few questions to help us get to know them a bit better. Below we share their answers in their own words. 

What drew you to ecological forestry, and what drew you to NNRG?

Barrett
I was first introduced to forestry in high school during a trip with an outdoor science club to an experimental forest. We conducted mini field research projects as part of a GIS course. At the time, I didn’t know I wanted to work in forestry, but the science club sparked an interest in natural resources and led me to pursue a degree in Ecology at Princeton University. After moving to the Seattle area, I fell in love with the forests in western WA and decided I wanted to work in forestry with the hope of making a direct, positive impact on the forest ecosystems of the PNW. Ecological forestry is the perfect fit for me as someone with an ecology background, and I’m happy to have found a position that aligns so well with my passions and values at NNRG.

Lauren
I grew up in Texas, and my family spent a lot of time outside and in the woods. I loved being in the trees, so once I visited and experienced the forests of the PNW, I was hooked! In 2021 I went to Oregon State University for my master’s where I studied community forestry. I knew I wanted to work for an organization whose mission reflected my values and passions, and am thrilled to have found that in NNRG!

What’s the best part of the work you do (either with NNRG or in the field in general)?

Barrett
Developing forest management plans feels like solving a puzzle, and I enjoy the challenge of finding the best solutions. Each forest has a unique story, and my role is to piece together that story and design a management solution to a complex puzzle that balances many objectives.

Lauren
My favorite part of this work is getting to connect with people about the natural spaces that are so special to them.

What are your top three favorite PNW trees/shrubs?

Barrett
It’s hard to pick a favorite, but the Pacific madrone is definitely one of them. It’s a beautiful tree, and its unique bark always stands out in a forest. The subalpine larch is also a favorite of mine with its bright yellow needles that light up the mountains each fall. While technically not a shrub, the maidenhair fern is another favorite PNW plant of mine so I have to mention it. I think its wire-like black stems and unique form are so cool!

Lauren
I love Big Leaf Maples! They create the coolest habitats in their branches—I could spend hours looking at the moss and ferns that grow on them.

I’m also a big fan of Western Hemlock because of the way they grow on nurse logs and stumps.

On the east side of the cascades, my favorite tree is the Aspen. The more I learn about them, the cooler I think they are, and I’ll never get enough of the sound their leaves make in the wind!

Anything else you’d like our members and readers to know?

Barrett
When I’m not working in or thinking about forests, you’ll often find me running on trails through them! Trail running gives me a different perspective and feeling of the landscape than I get while working in the forest, and I love getting the two different experiences in often similar settings.

Lauren
In addition to being outside, I love to sew! My favorite pastime is to work on sewing projects while listening to podcasts and audiobooks. I am always on the lookout for new books, podcasts, and craft stores, so if you have any recommendations, I’d love to hear them!