Meet Our New Executive Director
The Issaquah Alps Trail Club (IATC) has named longtime Issaquah resident Paul Winterstein as its new Executive Director. Paul takes over for interim Executive Director Hannah Wheeler, who has been keeping the trails open since August 2021 when then Executive Director Lindsay Frickle moved to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
“The Executive Director role at IATC is key in maintaining the infrastructure for the club which enables citizen advocacy and helps us continue to realize the long term vision for the Alps”, said David Dunphy, the IATC Board President. “Lindsay's work over the last several years was critical in propelling the club forward, both engaging young people and building a sustainable foundation in our fundraising. I'm excited for Paul to bring his passion for the landscape and connections to the community and project management skills to continue this work.”
Since 1979, IATC has engaged the public to preserve, protect, and promote the land, wildlife, and trails of the Issaquah Alps for present and future generations. Today it is a leader in the fight to preserve land on Cougar Mt. within the Coal Creek watershed that faces development to the detriment of salmon and wildlife, and is actively working with Weyerhaeuser, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, and the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust on the restoration of trails on Tiger Mt.
“Over time the need for an Executive Director to bring order to our organization became obvious and we hired some great people that brought organization and efficiency to our mission. With Paul we have someone who can continue to move us forward and with his experience in government can step right into working with all our public sector partners. Paul also really ‘knows the ground’ in the Issaquah Alps and thus knows what acquisitions still need to be made to provide habitat, trails and supporting facilities”, said David Kappler, the IATC Vice President for Advocacy and charter member of the club.
“I am thrilled to be working for the land that I know so well and honored to continue the amazing work of so many people. No grassroots organization has punched above its weight to greater effect than IATC has when it comes to securing the open spaces, trails, and quality of outdoor life that we enjoy here in the Cascade foothills. Now my love for the outdoors will feed my daily work energy,” said Paul, a former Issaquah City Councilmember. “The forested trails that so many enjoy today are here because people of vision and determination fought to preserve the land. And the battle continues. As the region grows, pressure to develop is unrelenting and climate change threatens more disruption. But responsible trail users of all types and those who value open space know that we must never stop working for the future of the Issaquah Alps.”