Meet Your Newest Land Bank Commissioners

This year, your Land Bank welcomes two new volunteer commissioners, Mary Gropp and Chris Guidotti.

We are lucky to live in a community enriched with members possessing a diverse array of backgrounds, viewpoints, and skills. We eagerly anticipate the guidance and input of our two newest volunteers!

Mary Gropp
Mary first moved to Orcas with her family in 1972 and has called the island home in the years since. Mary and her husband built their home on Orcas Island where they raised their two sons. In addition to working for 20 years in Orcas public schools, Mary helped grow the Orcas Island Youth Conservation Corps and the Orcas Elementary Outdoor Experience program. An avid outdoorswoman, she has hiked over 5000 miles of long-distance trails including the Pacific Northwest Trail and Continental Divide Trail and traveled over 5000 miles by rowboat and kayak along the coastlines of British Columbia, SE Alaska, Newfoundland and Labrador. Her passion for the natural world also extends to native plants, bees, and birds. She currently studies native bees through the Washington State Bee Atlas program and has participated in the Puget Sound Seabird Survey for seven years. Her dedication to birds has taken her as far as Midway Atoll to support the breeding albatross census. A longtime Land Bank volunteer, Mary is honored to serve the lands, waters, and people of the San Juans as a Land Bank Commissioner.

Chris Guidotti
Chris’ professional life has centered around public land management and stewardship. As a former Park Ranger and Area Manager, Chris has worked in over 40 parks and brings a keen understanding of the challenges related to managing and stewarding public lands. His relationship with the Land Bank dates to the early 1990’s when, during his tenure at WA State Parks, he collaborated with the Land Bank to manage the newly acquired Westside Preserve. Over the years, Chris has developed a deep appreciation for the work the Land Bank does and feels incredibly lucky to have such a great organization here in the San Juan Islands. He looks forward to helping guide the important and challenging work the Land Bank implements.