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2008 Washington Civil Rights Committee
Meet the Washington State Civil Right committee.
They have prepared their biographies for you and welcome any questions or concerns.
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Civil Rights Committee Biographies
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Eileen Jackson
Chair |
My name is Eileen Jackson, and I’m the latest State Office Representative to the Washington State Civil Rights Advisory Committee (CRAC). My function on
the committee is to provide input and advise on matters affecting the employment and advancement of minorities and/or under-represented groups in Washington State, help in the development and implementation of
specific CRAC goals, and to represent and serve as a communicate link between State Office employees and the Civil Rights Advisory Committee. If you are a State Office employee and have issues or concerns you
would like to have the Civil Rights Advisory Committee address, please feel free to let me know! I have been with Washington State NRCS for 11 ½ years, first as a clerk on the
Spokane State Office Soil Survey Staff, then as a member of the Human Resources staff. I volunteered for the Civil Rights Advisory Committee because I wanted to learn more about the Committee’s function and
purpose, and to help assist other employees in understanding that function and purpose as well. I look forward to representing the State Office and hope that by the end of my term of service on the Committee
State Office employees will have a better understanding of what the Civil Rights Advisory Committee does, how the Committee can assist them with their issues and concerns, and how they can help the Committee
make improvements to the Civil Rights program in Washington State and nationally. |
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Kelley
Paup-Lefferts |
My name is
Kelley Paup-Lefferts and I am the American Indian/Alaskan Native Special
Emphasis Program Manager on the Washington State Civil Rights Advisory Committee
(CRAC). Being part of CRAC I can help NRCS Washington strive for a workplace
that is inclusive of all and respectful of the differences that each of us
brings to our respective position that strengthens our team. I believe that
everyone has the responsibility to prevent discrimination in the workplace, as
well as society as a whole.
Currently I am the MLRA Project Leader for
the Soil Survey Program at the Zillah MLRA Soil Survey office. I am a graduate
of Oregon State University and begun my soil survey career in Oregon. In my
spare time I play with two wonderful kids. |
Amanda Ettestad |
My name is Amanda Ettestad and I am the Washington State NRCS Federal Women’s Program Manager (FWPM). My role as the Federal Women’s Program Manager is
to analyze policies, practices and procedures which may present barriers to the hiring and advancement of women employees and advise management on these subjects. As a federally employed woman, I have a great
appreciation for what the Equal Employment Opportunity Program and the Federal Women’s Program have accomplished to date. Serving as the FWPM is my way to celebrate the success of these programs and to make
certain that women continue to be free from sexual discrimination. Currently I work as a soil conservationist in the Zillah Field Office. I am
originally from Oregon and have degrees from Oregon State University. I have worked for the federal government for more than 5 years. |
Clea Rome |
My name is Clea Rome and I am the West Area Representative for the Washington State NRCS Civil Rights Advisory Committee. As a
new employee to NRCS, I am happy to be able to contribute to the important work being done by the Civil Rights Committee, as well as gain exposure to the wider aspects of NRCS operations. My goal is to promote
inclusive and non-discriminatory working conditions and ensure that civil rights issues and concerns are being addressed for both employees and clients of our agency.
I am the RC&D Coordinator for the North Olympic Peninsula area. I started working for NRCS in January of 2008. Prior to this position, I worked in the private sector for a non-motorized transportation planning
firm and most recently, for a conservation district as an urban conservation planner. I am privileged to be able to represent the West Area on the Civil Rights Advisory Committee. |
Rick Beck |
My name is Rick Beck and I am the Central Area Representative for the Washington State NRCS Civil Rights Advisory Committee. I’ve always had an
interest in civil rights and am a member of the American Indian/Alaska Natives Employees Association. I appreciate this opportunity to join the Civil Rights Advisory Committee because NRCS has served me well
in my career and I wanted to give something back in return. My goal is to ensure the civil rights needs of the Central Area NRCS employees and our customers are represented well at the state level. I am the Soil Conservation Technician in the Prosser Field Office. I started my career with the SCS (Soil Conservation Service) in the Prosser Field Office
15 years ago. |
Chandra Neils |
My name is Chandra Neils. I’m pleased to be the representative for the East Area. I have always had an interest in civil rights and am
excited to participate as a member of the Civil Rights Advisory Committee for Washington State.
As an ‘army brat’ I was able to live in many different areas of
the country, from Alabama to Alaska. I was fortunate to have exposure to so many different communities as I was growing up. Post military life, my mother accepted a teaching job in an economically challenged
migrant community in California. That’s where I went to high school. I took the scenic route through several community colleges in California and Idaho, before going to the University of Idaho, where I earned
my soil science degree. I am the Area Resource Soil Scientist for the East Area. Prior to this position, I mapped soils in Spokane County, Washington and
Benewah County, Idaho. Please contact me if you have questions, comments, concerns or ideas. |
Pete Bautista |
My name is Peter P. Bautista, currently, I work in Spokane as a design engineer with the Multi State Design Team since May
2007.
I worked for the NRCS agency since 1992. I started my service with NRCS in the Pacific Basin, as an engineer working throughout the Western Pacific. Since then I have held various engineering positions (Design
and Assistant SCE/Specialist) in Arizona, Oregon and currently in Washington State. During a short stint from 2003-2005, I worked as a District Conservationist in Guam, PB.
I am a Pacific Islander from Guam, Marianas Island, born and raised. I graduated from Oregon State University, with a B.S. in Bio-Resources (Ag) Engineering.
I was interested in serving for the CRAC Team in the state of Washington, as the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AA/PI) Special Emphasis Manager, primarily to assist with outreach and recruitment to these
minority groups in the service, as well as in the communities. I see this opportunity as a privilege to assist in working with the Asian and Pacific Islander groups, which I am a part of. |
Ron Joyner |
My participation with the WA-Civil Rights Advisory Committee (CRAC) began in October 2004 as the State Conservationist appointed BEPM. My
responsibilities are to provide leadership and direction for the NRCS-Black Emphasis Program within Washington state; advise and recommend solutions to barriers effecting the employment, promotion, training,
and career enhancements of Black employees and applicants in NRCS; serve as a communication link between employees and the WA-CRAC; support the program objectives of the USDA-NRCS National BEPM; and to provide
civil rights awareness training to all employees. I started my tenure with NRCS in August of 1991. I am currently assigned to the Management
Services Division in the State Office as a Contract Specialist. My interest in civil rights is not confined to my duties and responsibilities as a CRAC member. I aspire to be a proactive advocate for civil
rights for all people throughout the community. I strongly believe, if the tenants of civil rights are respected, embraced, applied, and practice “by all people” “for all people” the environments in which we
work, play and live would be greatly improved. I feel it’s a privileged to participate as an integral part of the WA-CRAC. The diversity and the perspective dynamics of the CRAC as a group are particularly
rewarding as we collectively focus on issues to attract and retain the prospective employees who are currently underrepresented within the Washington state NRCS workforce. I highly recommend that all WA-NRCS
employees consider serving on this committee. Please feel free to contact me with any issues, ideas, suggestions or recommendations for improving the Black Emphasis program. |
Bela Espinoza |
My name is Belarmina Espinoza and my responsibilities are to ensure military veterans and the disabled are provided information and every opportunity to
apply for employment in the federal civil service. Having spent seventeen years in the military, this position has given me the opportunity in assisting my fellow veterans in continuing their federal
employment within the civilian sector. This unique experience has given me an up close look at the federal government’s genuine appreciation for those who have served their country.
I have been working for the federal civil service since December 2003 and with NRCS State office since May 2004 as an Office Automation Assistant. |
Sergio Paredes |
My name is Sergio Paredes and I am the Hispanic Emphasis Program Manager (HEPM) on the Washington State Civil Rights Advisory
Committee (CRAC). My duties as a HEPM are to identify opportunities for current and potential Hispanic employees of NRCS. I also assist with outreach activities to the Hispanic communities so that they may
also have equal access to NRCS programs. I was born and raised in Honduras. I graduated with a BS degree in Agronomy from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de
Honduras. I started my career with NRCS in Yakima, WA four years ago as a soils conservationist. Currently I am the Resource Conservationist in the Goldendale Field Office. I am excited to be part of CRAC;
it gives me the opportunity to serve the Hispanic Community, which I am part of. |
Gus Hughbanks |
WA NRCS State Conservationist
Deputy Equal Opportunity Officer |
Shiraz Vira |
Asst. State Conservationist
Civil Rights Program Manager |
Cheryle Miller |
My role on the Civil Rights Committee is as an Advisor. My role is to advise the committee on issues that may
relate directly to Human Resource issues. I have worked for the Federal Government for 17 years.
I've worked for the Forest Service, Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation and now NRCS for over 2 years. I have worked in Human Resources for all but 2 months of my federal career, have been a Federal Women's
Program manager, assisted with National Civil Rights meetings, and worked on various Civil Rights issues. |
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