R. Brent Lyles
Executive Director
Brent began his professional journey as a middle-school science and math teacher in rural North Carolina. Since that time, Brent’s career has focused on science education, compassionate and inclusive leadership, and environmental stewardship. He holds master’s degrees in human evolution and nonprofit management, and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). Before relocating to Olympia in 2026 to become the first Executive Director at Olympia Ecosystems, Brent held top positions at several nonprofits in Austin, Texas, and the San Juan Islands, Washington. Most recently, he served as Executive Director at Friends of the San Juans and then as Executive Director at the Mountain Lion Foundation, a national wildlife-advocacy organization. Other past experiences include playing in mediocre rock bands, launching and running a nonprofit consulting business, serving as a founding board member of the American Genre Film Archive, and writing K-12 science textbooks. “While we undoubtedly live in challenging times for conservation work,” he says, “getting to serve an organization that does so much for its local environment and community, every single day, gives me tremendous hope — I can’t imagine working anywhere other than Olympia Ecosystems.”
Daniel Einstein
Land Conservation Director
Daniel Einstein received his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Washington and was an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering at Saint Martin’s University. Prior to his appointment at Saint Martin’s, he worked in research with over 15 years of experience in interdisciplinary teams in the national laboratory system, at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, and at the Cleveland Clinic.
He moved with his wife from Seattle to a farm in Olympia near Woodard Bay in 2000, where they enjoyed watching the great blue herons from the Woodard Bay colony. In 2006, they moved to their current residence in West Olympia, where their daughter was born. From their front porch, they enjoyed watching the West Bay colony during their raucous breeding season, and followed with increasing concern the progressive destruction of their nesting grounds. That concern led to the establishment of the Olympia Coalition for Ecosystems Preservation (now Olympia Ecosystems), focused on protecting, preserving and restoring key ecosystems in Olympia, WA. Daniel acted as Board President of OlyEcosystems from its inception until 2022, when he became the organization’s first Land Conservation Director.
Shane Oprescu
Bookkeeper
Shane Oprescu is passionate about water, the environment, and the mission of Olympia Ecosystems. She brings experience with growing organizations in transition, specifically in the areas of bookkeeping, payroll, scheduling, contracts, advocacy, relationship building, and project management. While we have hired Shane as a bookkeeper, we already know she will benefit the work and mission of our dynamic group in uncountable ways. Shane attended Charles Wright Academy, Linfield College, and The Evergreen State College, where she earned a BA in Community and Health. In her spare time, Shane enjoys open water swimming, gardening, and ceramics.
