20 THE HERALD BUSINESS JOURNAL
MAY 2018
Veterans gain experience on eco-friendly projects
MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH
By Rikki King
Internships
Herald Writer
Are you a veteran interested in conservation? For internship information, contact Kim Pham at kim@dva.wa.gov.
This October 2017 article has been updated and is being republished in recognition of Military Appreciation Month.
ulations to Emerging leaders :
IAN TERRY / Herald file
Taylor Pesce installs a rain barrel at Experience Momentum in Lynnwood last fall. Pesce works with other veterans in a group that completes projects for the Snohomish Conservation District.
Thank you to our military personnel and their family for their sacrifice while serving our country so we can continue to exercise our freedom.
EVERETT — Chris Rodriguez was used to working on a team in all kinds of weather. Rodriguez, 38, of Everett, served six years with the U.S. Marine Corps. His time in the military left him with health challenges that limited his career options. Then he joined a crew on the Washington Conservation Corps, which partners with the publicly funded Snohomish Conservation District. Derek Hann, a design engineer with the district, noticed that Rodriguez and another veteran excelled at the work. The focus is on eco-friendly projects that retain and filter stormwater, such as rain gardens and rain barrels. In some cases,
local governments or private property owners pay for the materials, and the crews provide labor. “It’s a lot of digging,” Hann said. “It’s a lot of earth work. It’s a lot of pipe work.” It took Hann a couple of years to turn his idea into action. He helped the district launch a Veteran Conservation Corps crew through the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. The crew members are interns with monthly stipends starting at $2,000. The funding comes from district revenues, including those related to stormwater projects, grants, and significant support
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