IATC Welcomes New Board Members
By Kira Telgen, IATC Program and Volunteer Coordinator
Issaquah Alps Trails Club is excited to welcome three new members to its board this year: Dan Hintz, Ellie Place, and Hannah Wheeler.
Dan Hintz
After several years of volunteering and partnering with IATC, Dan joined as a board member in 2025. As part of his position as the urban forest supervisor with the City of Issaquah, Dan works closely with IATC on projects like the Miyawaki Forest, wildlife coexistence education, and Green Issaquah restoration sites IATC has adopted across the city. Prior to his role as urban forest supervisor, Dan was the restoration projects manager with the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust from 2016 to 2023. During that time, Dan moved to Issaquah and developed a deep love and appreciation for the Issaquah Alps! That passion is for both the landscape and the people who have cared for and conserved it. While Dan loves the forested foothills, some of his favorite places and projects are along Issaquah Creek.
Dan grew up outside of Chicago and attended the University of Wisconsin (Go Badgers!), where he studied economics and environmental sciences before moving to Seattle to serve with EarthCorps in 2010. He finished his Master of Environmental Horticulture degree at the University of Washington in 2016. He also has a certificate in Wetland Science and Management from UW and is a certified arborist. In his spare time, Dan enjoys hiking (you can find him regularly on Tradition Plateau), playing guitar, going to shows, collecting baseball cards, and lounging with his cat Fern.
Ellie Place
Ellie is a trail stewardship professional dedicated to connecting communities to the outdoors through volunteer programs and sustainable recreation. She currently manages a nationwide trail maintenance program for the American Hiking Society, collaborating with public land agencies and leading volunteer engagement, leadership development, and conservation initiatives. Ellie holds dual degrees in Geological Sciences and Hispanic Studies from Brown University and a Master’s in Tourism Management from Colorado State University, focusing on sustainable recreation, natural resource management, and public land use policy. But more importantly, Ellie grew up in the foothills of the Central Cascades and is a proud Issaquah High School alum. The Issaquah Alps are an incredibly special place to her, and she is dedicated to protecting them for future generations.
Hannah Wheeler CAIN
Hannah has been involved with the IATC since 2018, when she first joined the board. Since then, she has worked with the club in a variety of capacities, including writing articles for the Alpiner, supporting the advocacy committee, and serving as the interim executive director in 2021. Professionally, Hannah is a marketing coordinator at Parametrix and a passionate writer advocating for accessible, sustainable cities and public lands through effective communications. She graduated from the University of Washington with a Master of Communications in Communities and Networks in 2021 and lives in Seattle’s Roosevelt neighborhood.