Ferris is a 20-year veteran in the environmental and sustainability communities contributing seminal work in areas ranging from wolf restoration and agricultural policy to renewable energy and economic revitalization. He has held senior or CEO positions at the Wildlife Habitat Council, Defenders of Wildlife, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Community Environmental Council, Yestermorrow Design/Build School, and the Center for a New American Dream. He is also an accomplished writer with a book on natural building, numerous scientific and policy documents as well as dozens of opinion pieces in national and regional publications. Ferris holds degrees in environmental studies and biology from the University of California at Santa Cruz and zoology from San Jose State University.

Dr. James is active in teaching, research and medical practice. His interests
focus on health promotion and disease prevention. He is currently the Health
Officer for San Juan County and Health Officer for the Nooksack Indian Nation.
He has been a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington
School of Public Health since 1992. Dr. James also serves on the board of
directors of the Institute for Village Studies and Responsible Development. And
is currently part time also the Executive Director of HonorWorks a foundation
that promotes a healthy society through the work of artists. He also works on the
organizing committee for Whatcom Docs, a group of local physicians that are
working to bring a scientific evaluation of he health impacts of the proposed coal
port and coal trains on our community.

For a decade he was a Primary Investigator for an NIH funded prostate cancer
prevention trial at the St Joseph Hospital Cancer Center. For over a nearly
10 years Dr. James was the medical director of a local community clinic that
provides care to thousands of families on a sliding fee scale. That community
clinic continues to sees over 50,000 visits a year. He was also the Whatcom
County Health Officer for a decade in the 1990’s.

Ross manages Climate Solutions Business Partnership program, which helps build
support in the region’s corporate community for strong climate and energy policy and
private investment in solutions. He is active in promoting good climate and energy
policy on a state and federal level. He recently managed and facilitated Sustainable
Aviation Fuels Northwest, the first stakeholder effort in the nation to point a path to low-
carbon alternatives to power the next generation of flight. He has been selected by
peers as a “Pivotal Leader,” which recognizes a few individuals who have the skills and
experience to drive the region’s clean energy economy.

Ross brings more than 30 years of experience working on public policy and
environmental issues. He was a partner at Preston Gates & Ellis (now K&L Gates)
where he managed the environmental law practice and represented a wide range
of public and private clients. He was recognized as a “Superlawyer” in the areas of
Environmental, Transportation, and Public law. He also served on the management
team for an agency working to build urban mass transit. A Northwest native, Ross is
a graduate of Pomona College and University of Washington School of Law. He is
passionate about hiking, skiing, and traveling.

As a senior advisor for Climate Solutions, Ross is closely engaged with local groups
opposing the Gateway Pacific coal export terminal at Cherry Point. His background in
environmental law, coupled with his understanding of the economic issues, make him a
key contributor to the environmental leadership in developing effective strategies for a
sensible resolution to the conflict.

Jean is an associate professor in the Environmental Studies department of Huxley College, where she teaches courses in land use and environmental law and policy. She has a B.A. degree in government (St. Lawrence University), a Master’s degree in Urban Design and Regional Planning (University of Edinburgh), and a law degree (Harvard Law School).