Who We Are - PropagationNation

We love big trees—and the planet.

We are connecting people with coast redwoods and giant sequoias in the Pacific Northwest, assisting migration of these magnificent trees for climate adaptation and enhancing our region's resilience and natural beauty.

PropagationNation was founded by three Boeing retirees in 2019. Since then, we’ve facilitated the planting of thousands of coast redwood and giant sequoia saplings in more than 70 communities across 10 different Washington counties.

But we’re ready to do more—much more.

PropagationNation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our directors are unpaid.

Every dollar raised goes to furthering our mission.

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Philip Stielstra

President and Co-founder

BIO

Philip Stielstra

Philip fell in love with trees as a child—he would climb the lilac trees that lined his family’s property, moving from one to the next without touching the ground, feeling as if he was above the world.

His appreciation only grew as he moved into adulthood. While living and working in one of Oregon’s national forests, he marveled at the seedlings that would sprout and grow quickly in the middle of acreage that had been clear-cut. After moving back to his home state, he started a business using oak to stop erosion on the shores of Lake Michigan. And while preparing to retire in Seattle following 15 years at Boeing, Philip became a Seattle Tree Ambassador—providing community education, leading Tree Walks, and more.

This lifelong relationship with trees—and a connection with David Milarch of the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive, a Michigan nonprofit that is cloning the largest, oldest trees on the planet—served as the genesis for PropagationNation.

“I’m smitten by these trees,” Philip says. “They just won’t let go of me.”

Bob Bashor

Co-founder and Board Member

BIO

Bob Bashor

Bob knows what the rest of us know: our planet is troubled by warming that results from the burning of fossil fuels. Many species of plants are very troubled. Indeed, many large native-to-the-northwest trees that collect and recycle the carbon resulting from fossil fuel use are increasingly troubled. Research has informed Bob that Coast Redwoods and Giant Sequoias are champions of collecting and recycling carbon and do already prosper in our northwest forests.

Bob’s work for forty years in The Boeing Company and private practice has been in organization development, which are activities based on valid information, free and informed choice, and methods that build internal commitment to planned change. The work of PropagationNation calls on this experience.

The trout in the Yakima River know Bob well, and he’s pretty sure there is some way to combine organization development and fly fishing, but he hasn’t quite found it yet.

Fred Korn

Co-founder and Board Member

BIO

Fred Korn

Fred was twelve when he first encountered giant sequoias, which were hard for him to even comprehend. “They were like majestic life forms seemingly from another realm,” he says.

While Fred grew up to become an analytic philosopher and a business consultant, those sequoias and their coastal redwood cousins remained magical to him. Perhaps the most magical thing is something we can’t even see—they are the best in the world at removing carbon from the atmosphere, and by extension, fighting the increase in global temperatures that threatens the planet.

Fred co-founded PropagationNation because he understands that while the magic of these trees might be invisible to the eye, what they do is quite tangible when it comes to climate change. To play an even bigger role in forests across the Northwest, they need our help.

Bob Barnes

Director of Operations

Liv Haltermon

Communications Specialist

BIO

Liv Haltermon

Liv Haltermon moved to Washington state after graduating from the Ohio State University with a degree in Environmental Science and a focus on ecosystem restoration. After spending some time during the pandemic trying to understand how to make the world a better place, they found PropagationNation and have been hooked on Big Trees ever since. Liv is happy to be able to combine their love of people with their love of nature as one of PropagationNation's communications specialists and is excited to see Redwoods and Sequoias become an ecosystem staple in the Northwest!

When not working, Liv spends time taking their dog on ridiculously long walks, writing music, studying astrology, and connecting with their friends.

Caroline Slagle

Team Lead / GIS Analyst

BIO

Caroline Slagle

Caroline Slagle excitedly began their work with PropagationNation in 2022. Growing up climbing maple trees in Pennsylvania, Caroline has since developed an admiration for the magnificent redwoods of the West Coast. She believes their unparalleled carbon sequestration and suitability to the warming Pacific Northwest climate offers a forward-looking approach to climate adaptive restoration in our region.

With a B.A. in English and International Development from Tulane University, candidacy in the Master’s of Environmental Studies program at The Evergreen State College, and experience in youth development and community organizing, Caroline utilizes their mixed skillset in support of the assisted migration of redwoods to Washington State for a more resilient future.

Shaina Thompson

Customer Support Coordinator

BIO

Shaina Thompson

Growing up in the PNW, Shaina has always loved being outside, climbing up and around trees. Her passion for nature led her to the Evergreen State College, where she achieved candidacy in the Master of Environmental Studies program.

Prior to this role with PropagationNation, Shaina was the Director of Business Operations at N2Growth, a professional services firm. She started off her career at the United States Air Force Academy, where she majored in English literature. Upon graduation, she was commissioned as a Personnel officer and served for seven years before returning to civilian life. Shaina brings a wealth of government and private sector experience to the PropagationNation, and she is an enthusiastic advocate for environmental action!

Ted Lagreid

Advisor, Sales and Marketing

Jon Stielstra

Advisor

BIO

Jon Stielstra

Jon Stielstra has been a Certified Public Accountant and enterprise software consultant in Wisconsin until retiring in 2019. He is currently active volunteering in three non-profit organizations as an executive team member.

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Interested in leaving a lasting legacy?

PropagationNation is fueled by a passion for trees and a commitment to simple actions that will help heal the planet.

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