Who should attend?
Participants in the program come from natural resource agencies, tribes, and NGOs from across the West with emphasis in the Pacific Northwest. Many participants are approaching mid-career and have managed specific initiatives, sub-programs, and projects.
Fresh insights and skills gained through the Executive Seminar Program help participants build their leadership portfolios and prepare for agency- and organization-wide leadership roles. Past ESP alums have gone on to senior and regional leadership roles, including agency directors, policy advisors, and program managers.
Here's a link for more information about program content.
What do participants say about the program?
"ESP was one of the most rewarding training experiences I have ever participated in. It challenged my assumptions about leadership in public service and helped me identify goals for improvement as well as cultivate leadership skills in my staff. I learned the value of establishing relationships and maintaining communication with stakeholders and others because they had direct ramifications on the success of natural resources outcomes. ESP provided me with the opportunity to meet and develop long-lasting friendships with other natural resource agencies, whom I will continue to learn from and seek partnerships."
"There is tremendous value ESP brings through the selected case studies, the participants, and the reflections. Thinking about the issues and the intersection of the collective knowledge and experiences is invaluable. ESP allowed us to learn through that sharing."
Registration & Cost
- Registration: Open through August 31, 2025
- Program Cost: $11,200 for the full program or $4,500 per individual case. Both include the Capstone at no additional cost.
Past and Current Participating Organizations
- Bonneville Power Administration
- Bureau of Land Management
- Bureau of Reclamation
- Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District
- Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
- Columbia Slough Watershed Council
- Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
- Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
- Environmental Protection Agency
- International Paper Company
- Hancock and Lone Rock Timber Companies, Montana State Forester Office
- National Marine Fisheries Service
- National Park Service
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Oregon Department of Forestry
- Oregon Forest Industries Council
- Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board
- Port of Portland
- Portland Water Bureau
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
- U.S. Forest Service
- Washington Department of Ecology
- Washington Department of Natural Resources
- Willamette Partnership
Executive Seminar Program Faculty & Staff
Elizabeth Holmes Gaar, Program Director
Elizabeth leads the Executive Seminar Program in Natural Resources Leadership, bringing over 42 years of public service. She began her career as a District Fisheries Biologist with the U.S. Forest Service on the Siuslaw and Mt. Hood National Forests and joined NOAA Fisheries, where she served for over 35 years. Her field work inspired her to earn a Juris Doctorate from the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark Law School. At NOAA, her leadership roles included Chief of Endangered Species in the Pacific Northwest and Assistant Regional Administrator for Habitat Conservation West Coast-wide. She led Endangered Species Act salmon and steelhead recovery planning for the Columbia Basin, Oregon Coast, and Puget Sound, with a strong emphasis on locally-led solutions and on Tribal partnerships honoring Treaty and Trust responsibilities. She also facilitated NOAA’s Emerging Leaders Development Program. Elizabeth serves on the Mt. Adams Institute Board, which serves veterans, placing them in natural resources internships, and also provides opportunities for connecting people of all ages with nature through science, education and outdoor experiences.
elizabg@pdx.edu | 503-341-4019 for program questions and general questions
Paul Manson, Academic Lead
Paul is a Research Professor with the PSU Center for Public Service. For the past decade, he has combined his research interests in environmental policy with education and pedagogical skills to provide training for natural resource professionals across the US. Paul’s research focuses on public opinion and governance challenges around critical issues facing the West, including wildfire, disaster resilience, and coastal and marine management. Paul is committed to a co-production model of training - a model that recognizes the power of academic research and practitioner experience to create opportunities for innovation. Paul holds a PhD in public policy and affairs and a Master of Public Administration from PSU.
mansonp@pdx.edu
Brandon Kurtz, Program Administrator
Brandon is the Professional Programs Administrator at PSU’s Center for Public Service. He supports various programs, such as the US Army Corps of Engineers Leadership Development Program, the Executive Seminar Program in Natural Resources Leadership, and the NOAA Fisheries Emerging Leaders Development Program. He earned his Master of Education degree from Marylhurst University in 2011.
brandonk@pdx.edu | (503) 725-5190 for program details, logistics questions, and general questions
Dr. Craig Shinn, ESP Emeritus
shinnc@pdx.edu
Social Media
instagram.com/psu_esp