about SAMARA GROUP
Samara Group was founded in 2015 to enhance environmental projects using collaboration and communication. Since then, Samara Group has grown sustainably, but remains a small and nimble firm supported by a network of businesses for subcontracting to provide exceptional work products. Samara's mission is to help propel scientific projects that serve our diverse community.
Oregon Certified as a women-owned, disadvantaged, emerging small business (WBE / DBE / ESB #10398)
Washington certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE # D2F0027136)
Federally certified as a women-owned business (WOSB)
Our Work
Director
Leslie Bliss-Ketchum
Leslie is a wildlife ecologist who has been actively monitoring and researching the impacts of the built environment on habitat connectivity, assessing mitigation efforts and developing connectivity assessments. She recognizes that environmental issues are complex and require effective communication. Leslie completed her Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Portland State University in 2019 where her research focused primarily on issues of urban wildlife and roads as barriers to wildlife movement.
Leslie leads wildlife monitoring projects and supports habitat connectivity efforts both in the Portland metro region and statewide. Leslie is the Past-President of the Oregon Chapter of The Wildlife Society, current board member of the Urban Wildlife Working Group and former Conservation Affairs Representative for the Northwest Section of The Wildlife Society. She is also an adjunct faculty at Portland State University teaching courses in field methods in wildlife science and urban ecology.
Education
PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
Ph.D., School of the Environment, 2019
PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
B.S., Environmental Science, 2007
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & COMMITTEES
Regional Habitat Connectivity Working Group, Portland Metro, Oregon – Steering Committee Member, Science Committee Lead (2017–Present)
Oregon Habitat Connectivity Consortium – Founding Member (2017–Present)
Urban Wildlife Working Group, The Wildlife Society–Board Member (2012–2019), Treasurer/Secretary (2019-2021)
The Wildlife Society (parent organization), Oregon Chapter, and Northwest Section – Member (2009–Present)
President (2012–2015) & Vice President (2010-2012) Oregon Chapter
Society for Northwest Vertebrate Biology–Member (2010–Present)
Ecological Society of America–Member (2012–Present)
ODOT Technical Advisory Committee for US-97, Lava Butte Wildlife Crossing, Bend, OR–Member (2011–2012)
Staff
Marie Hepner
Senior Project Administrator — Marie brings a wide set of skills to the Samara team, including research, technical writing, stakeholder communications & tracking, wildlife monitoring, and communication product development. Highly focused and inquisitive, Marie is skilled at organizing complex information, asking key questions, and keeping projects on track. Some of the projects that Marie has worked on include the Urban Biodiversity Inventory Framework, Oregon Invasive Species Council, Wilsonville Wildlife Monitoring, Oregon's Readiness and Response Plan for Emerald Ash Borer, Coastal Tailed Frog Monitoring, International Urban Wildlife Conference, and Oregon Connectivity Assessment & Mapping Project. Additionally, Marie plays an important role in supporting Samara’s business operations. Marie was born and raised in SW Portland. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, rockhounding, working on DIY home updates, and spending time with her husband and daughter.
Education
PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Science, Environmental Sciences, Biology Minor, 2016
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & COMMITTEES
International Urban Wildlife Conference
Portland Host Committee Assistant Chair, 2019
Fiona Smeaton
Project Associate — Fiona is highly motivated and passionate about urban conservation and science communication. She is skilled in detail oriented scientific writing and analysis as well as communicating findings to a public audience. Additionally, she has experience in Pacific Northwest ecology with an emphasis on promoting native biodiversity within the city of Portland. Fiona has always been intrigued with the interconnected world between plants and animals and focused her graduate research on urban insect pollinators and identifying management strategies through habitat monitoring and restoration planning. She brings this knowledge, positivity and a hard work ethic to the Samara team. In her free time she enjoys hiking in the woods with her dog and gardening.
Education
Portland State University
Professional Science Masters, Environmental Science and Management, 2020
University of Arizona
Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Studies, 2015
ROBYN DRAHEIM
Project Specialist — Robyn brings more than 20 years of experience with aquatic invasive species to Samara Group’s team. With a background in invasive species ecology as well as natural resource management and policy, Robyn's work experience spans surveys for and identification of aquatic invaders, the development of outreach and awareness tools for the general public, and collaboration on state and national species management plan development and implementation. Although classically trained in marine biology, Robyn has long since expanded her love of all things wet and muddy to include freshwater and terrestrial habitats.
Education
University of Washington
Master of Marine Affairs, 1999
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Master of Science, Marine Science, 1998
University of California
Bachelor of Science, Biology, 1994
Sandra Jacobson
Wildlife Biologist & Transportation Ecologist — Sandra brings her expertise from a 36-year career as a Wildlife Biologist for the USDA Forest Service. Most recently, she worked for the Pacific Southwest Research Station, Davis, California, and has worked on several National Forests at different levels. For the last two decades, she has served as the US Forest Service’s national and international subject matter expert for transportation ecology, assisting public land managers in identifying and mitigating impacts to wildlife from highways on over two dozen public land units. Through the research branch of the Forest Service, she facilitated research on highway projects and has authored several publications on transportation ecology topics. Through her experience assisting federal, state and local entities in planning and implementing wildlife-friendly highway projects, she has developed effective in-person and online training for natural resource and transportation professionals in the US and abroad. In her spare time, Sandra has other interests besides reducing roadkill. They include Argentine tango dancing, learning Spanish, and birding. She’s also certified as a personal trainer and nutrition coach, and a licensed private pilot.
Education
HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY
M.S. Natural Resources / Wildlife
HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY
B.A. Zoology
OUR NETWORK
Samara Group often works closely with a network of small business and larger companies to meet our clients’ needs. Learn more about who we work with and how they’re exceptional in their fields at the link below.