Archives for “People & Places”
-
Staff Spotlight: Jake Newell, Stewardship Supervisor
February 28, 2024
Jake grew up on the urban edge of Red Bluff, CA on a small suburban street constructed in the dwindling expanse of valley oak savannah. He spent his playtime wandering the savannah, listening to birdsong, watching out for rattlesnakes and …
-
Staff spotlight: Steph Tavares (she/her), Sr. Acquisition Specialist
January 24, 2024
Steph grew up in an agricultural demonstration park in the Salinas Valley, where her dad was a ranger. She has a BA in Global Studies and History from UCSB and a JD and Masters in Environmental Law and Policy from …
-
Staff spotlight: Leslie Lew (she/her), Natural Resources Specialist
December 28, 2023
Prior to joining Ag + Open Space, Leslie was the Chief of the US Fish and Wildlife Service – California\Nevada Wildlife Refuge Planning Office. Leslie has worked in habitat restoration, flood control, trail building, preserve management, and prescribed fire work. …
-
Staff Spotlight: Carrie Johnson, Secretary
November 29, 2023
Meet our secretary Carrie Johnson, who has been with Ag + Open Space for two remarkable decades! With a rich background deeply rooted in agriculture, Carrie spent her early childhood years living with her mom and her maternal grandparents on …
-
Staff Spotlight: Taylor Acosta (she/her), Stewardship Assistant
October 24, 2023
Say hello to our Stewardship Assistant, Taylor Acosta. Taylor was born and raised in Humboldt County and attended Sonoma State University earning a degree in Geology while playing Division II basketball. Following graduation, she moved to Portland where she worked …
-
Staff spotlight: Simon Apostol, Acquisition Assistant
September 26, 2023
Say hello to our newest team member, Simon Apostol. Simon comes to us after working as Natural Area Manager at the Columbia Land Trust in Vancouver, WA. At the land trust, he led several conservation, management, and restoration projects including …
-
Press Release: Ag + Open Space and the City of Cloverdale conserve 209-acre property and set stage for new park
September 25, 2023
SANTA ROSA, CA (September 25, 2023) – In partnership with the City of Cloverdale and the Lyda family, Ag + Open Space is proud to announce the permanent conservation of Soda Springs Ranch Open Space Preserve, a 209-acre property directly …
-
Recovery and resilience at Modini Preserve
September 28, 2022
In October of 2019, the Kincade Fire swept through large swaths of Sonoma County, impacting several Ag + Open Space-conserved properties. In the northeast part of the county, the 3,125-acre Modini Preserve burned in almost its entirety (the only spots …
-
Staff Spotlight: Pierre Ratte, Acquisition Specialist
August 25, 2022
In this month’s Staff Spotlight, we’re tuning in with Pierre Ratte – one of our Acquisition Specialists, and the newest member of the Ag + Open Space team. Before joining us, Pierre earned a Masters in Regional and Environmental Planning …
-
Staff Spotlight: Amy Ricard, Community Resources Manager
May 26, 2022
This month’s Staff Spotlight is on Amy Ricard, who was recently promoted to lead our newly formed Community Resources team! Amy was hired as a Community Relations Specialist in 2014 to oversee community engagement activities, and to develop and execute …