Staff
Our staff has a wide range of professional experience, including bird conservation science, spatial ecology, habitat delivery, policy, strategic planning and communications, range management, hydrogeology, and contract management.
The IWJV staff works with a diversity of organizations, which include state and federal wildlife agencies, non-profit organizations, private landowners and corporations, among others. Each of our team members is dedicated to the conservation of priority bird habitats through partnership-driven, science-based projects and programs. We bring people and organizations together to leverage technical and financial resources, building our collective capacity to achieve conservation at meaningful scales.
Learn more about our staff and how we can work with you.

Dave Smith
IWJV Coordinator

Ed Contreras
SONEC Conservation Delivery Coordinator

Tina Dennison
Initiative Support and Project Coordinator

Patrick Donnelly
Spatial Ecologist

Emily Downing
Water 4 Communications Specialist

Erica Hansen
Science to Implementation Specialist
Erica joined the IWJV team in May of 2022 as Science to Implementation Specialist. In this role, she supports the conservation delivery community by linking new scientific research with on-the-ground practices and tangible outcomes. She strives to connect partners working at the local and regional level with the best-available tools to help them achieve shared, landscape-scale, conservation goals. Before joining the IWJV, Erica worked as the Land Protection Specialist and Staff Biologist for the Jackson Hole Land Trust. During that time, she had the privilege of partnering with landowners to protect working ranches and other private lands across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Erica is inspired by a vision of resilient, connected landscapes that benefit both people and wildlife and she strives to build strong relationships grounded in trust and respect. She holds a B.S. in Zoology with Honors from Colorado State University, and an M.S. in Wildlife Biology from Utah State University. When she’s not at work, you can find her skiing, birding, trail running, and spending time in the garden or out on the river. Erica currently works from her home office in Victor, Idaho.

Mandi Hirsch
Sagebrush Collaborative Conservation Specialist

Brian McDonald
Operations & Administration Manager
