Dirk Charley, Tribal Liaison for the Dunlap Band of Mono Indians Tribe

Dirk Charley currently serves as a Tribal Liaison for the Dunlap Band of Mono Indians Tribe and has been a Tribal Council member since 1996. Dirk is also a member of the North Fork Mono Tribe’s Cultural Resource Team specializing in cultural monitoring, cultural burning, oak tree monitoring and meadow restoration practices and techniques at various traditional cultural landscapes/areas of tribal importance. Dirk has 13 years of wildland firefighting experience; served as a Supervisory Forestry Technician for the Horseshoe Meadow Hotshot crew, and in other leadership roles with the Sierra and Arrowhead Hotshot crews.

Luis Cruz, Community Navigator, Hispanic Access Foundation

Luis is part of the Community Navigator team at Hispanic Access Foundation where he helps Latino serving community organizations gain access to the resources available to them through our partners at the US Forest Service. He received his undergraduate degree in biological sciences and his masters in conservation biology both from the University of Rhode Island. Following graduate school. Luis worked for three years as an environmental scientist at a wastewater treatment plant in Rhode Island.

Now living in Marina California, you can find him volunteering at the Monterey Bay Aquarium talking about the ocean with anyone willing to listen.

Tanya Diamond, Ecologist, Pathways for Wildlife

Pathways for Wildlife is a research organization developed by Wildlife Ecologist Tanya Diamond, and Wildlife Researcher Ahíga Snyder. Pathways for Wildlife works with various land trusts, conservation organizations, and transportation agencies to identify important wildlife and habitat linkages for land conservation efforts by conducting wildlife connectivity surveys. Results from these surveys are used to develop wildlife connectivity enhancement recommendations. Data collection used to develop wildlife connectivity plans include data from field cameras, roadkill surveys, tracking data, GIS habitat suitability modeling, and GIS wildlife corridor and linkage analyses.

Pathways for Wildlife works with Caltrans and city transportation authorities to implement connectivity designs along highways, such as installing wildlife overpasses and culverts as wildlife crossing structures. Several projects have resulted in significant funding for land conservation to protect critical wildlife linkages that animals have been documented using to travel through in various landscapes.

Herman Fillmore, Culture/Language Resources Director, Washoe Tribe of NV and CA

Herman Fillmore is the Culture/Language Resources Director for the Washoe Tribe of NV and CA. He is a graduate from the University of New Mexico where he received his BA in Native American Studies. Herman is primarily tasked with the renewal, revitalization and reclamation of Washoe Language and Culture but joins us here today to talk welcome and introduce us to the homelands of the Washoe Tribe of NV and CA.

Jeff Gabriel, Executive Director, Sierra Forever

Jeff Gabriel is the executive director of Sierra Forever (formerly Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association). In his current position, he is responsible for all aspects of the organization from long-range planning, budgeting, daily operation, supervision of personnel, marketing, and public speaking to working closely with the organization’s official public land agency partners (Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management).

Gabriel was born and raised in Topeka, Kansas and has a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife biology and political science from Kansas State University. He also has a master’s degree in Public Administration with a specialization in agricultural policy from Kansas State University. Is a National Association for Interpretation certified Interpretive Guide and certified Interpretive Guide Trainer.

Jenny Hatch, Executive Director at Sierra Nevada Alliance

Jenny Hatch has been leading conservation work, in collaboration with diverse partners, for over twenty five years. Raised in the Sierra, Jenny earned a B.A. in Conservation Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno, in 2001. While in college, Jenny served two terms with AmeriCorps. Her career background includes work in watershed restoration, fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology, horticulture as a Master Gardener, initiating the Aquatic Invasive Species prevention and control program for Lake Tahoe, working with recreational interests, policy and advocacy. Jenny balances her leadership role at the Alliance with mothering three children and many community volunteer commitments. Her hobbies include painting, yoga, playing and seeing live music with her husband, biking, trail running, skiing, traveling, and naturalist foraging and learning.

Darryl Lucien, External Relations and Development Advisor, 40 Acre Conservation League

Darryl Lucien serves as an external relations and development advisor at 40 Acre Conservation League, assisting the organization in developing its public sector fundraising strategies, partnerships, and public access planning. Lucien brings 15 years of experience leveraging government relations, coalition building, and land use planning. His experience has included guiding over 60 bills to be signed into law, facilitating the approval of numerous urban renewal projects, and raising more than $70 million in direct legislative earmarks for clients. Lucien has represented some of the most politically besieged industries and professions in politics helping clients navigate disadvantageous terrain with tactical superiority. Lucien is an emerging nature lover with a growing passion for understanding how to facilitate relationship-building with nature. Lucien is a graduate of CSU Long Beach in political science and attended Pierce Community College and Long Beach City College.

Maria Mircheva, Executive Director, Sugar Pine Foundation

Maria Mircheva has been the Executive Director of the Sugar Pine Foundation since July 2007. She first volunteered for the Sugar Pine Foundation during the 2006 field season, and took over the day to day operations of the organization after the Angora Fire in 2007. Maria holds a Masters in Environmental Science and Management, with a focus on Conservation Policy, from UC Santa Barbara. Her undergraduate degree is in Business Economics, and she worked as a business consultant in the Silicon Valley before discovering her passion for environmental work. Maria currently juggles the demands of being a mom with those of the organization and her need to play outside as much as possible!

Ryn Muat, Communications & Community Outreach Manager, Visit Lake Tahoe

Ryn Muat is the Communications & Community Outreach Manager for Visit Lake Tahoe, and the Co-Chair of the Destination Stewardship Council's Stewardship Action Committee. A lifelong environmental advocate, she is passionate about LTVA's mission of leading the industry in sustainable tourism practices. Her connection to Tahoe runs deep as she's been visiting here her whole life and is a seven-year resident of South Lake Tahoe. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and operations, she has a unique lens into the issues that destinations are faced with today and the tension between resident and visitor needs. She appreciates the challenge of finding common ground on complex topics.

Nettie Pardue, Managing Director, Destination Stewardship Council Tahoe

Nettie Pardue brings local knowledge and a vested interest in Tahoe to the Managing Director role of the Destination Stewardship Council. With an extensive background as a nonprofit executive, most recently for Outward Bound California, Pardue is skilled at leading and facilitating teams and groups through strategic planning, change management, fundraising, risk management, conflict resolution and program implementation. She has developed international programs in seven countries and worked in outdoor recreation for over 25 years, giving her a deep understanding of the need to collaborate with multiple user groups while protecting natural resources.

Sierra Riker, Forestry Project Manager, CARCD

Sierra started with CARCD in the Fall of 2022 as a Forestry Project Coordinator. They graduated in May 2021 with a B.S in Environmental Science, an emphasis in Environmental Management, and a minor in Biology. Through a term with the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership Program, Sierra acquired diverse skills in watershed restoration and monitoring, post-fire restoration, and grant/program management. Now Forestry Project Manager at CARCD, they support RCD’s necessary forestry programs to improve the health of California ecosystems. In their spare time you can find Sierra exploring the local trails or riding their motorcycle.

Adi Sadeh, Fungal Collector, Fungal Diversity Survey (FUNDIS)

Adi is a fungal collector for the Fungal Diversity Survey and has cultivated fungi for several years. She is dedicated to fungal conservation in the Sierras and advocates for the significant impact fungi have on our planet. With a background in social and environmental justice, Adi is committed to community building and the intersection of environmental science and social justice in conservation efforts ~ https://fundis.org/ ~

Lakpa Sherpa, Founder/Engineer, EcoFireBuster

Lakpa Sherpa is the founder/Engineer of EcoFireBuster, a sustainable fire suppression startup focused on reducing wildfire risks through innovative, non-toxic, and biodegradable solutions. EcoFireBuster is PFAS-free, ammonium salt (fertilizer) free, and SAP-free, making it a safer choice for both communities and the environment. With a background in engineering, Lakpa’s work blends materials science & chemistry with practical applications to protect communities, critical infrastructure, and ecosystems.

John Wentworth, CEO, Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Foundation

John is Chairman and CEO of the Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Foundation (MLTPA) and is also a member of the Town Council of the Town of Mammoth Lakes. In a prior life, John worked in the motion picture industry, where his credits include Co-Producer of “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me” and “Mulholland Drive”, directed by David Lynch.

Anthony Cupaiuolo, Executive Director, Tahoe Backcountry Alliance

Anthony is Executive Director for the Tahoe Backcountry Alliance and owner of First Tracks Productions, where his outdoor passions often intersect with advocacy and stewardship through projects for the National Forest Foundation, Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association and Sugar Pine Foundation among others. You may not recognize Anthony on the trail, but you’ll likely recognize his pup, Emmie. That’s ok. He’s used to playing second fiddle to her.

Madeline Drake, Assistant Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat, CNRA

Madeline was appointed by Governor Newsom to serve as the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Assistant Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat in September 2022. In this role, she advises and coordinates with external stakeholders and CNRA’s 26 distinct departments, conservancies, and commissions to implement California’s 30x30 strategy to conserve 30% of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030. Madeline received her Bachelor of Science in Marine Science from the University of South Carolina, and Master of Science in Animal Biology from the University of California, Davis. When not working, she enjoys exploring nature with family and friends through hiking and scuba diving.

Megan Fiske, California Stewardship Manager for Winter Wildlands Alliance

Megan is the California Stewardship Manager for Winter Wildlands Alliance and works as a Winter Backcountry Ambassador on the Stanislaus NF in the winter. She was born and raised in the Sierra Nevada, where she enjoys splitboarding, climbing, backpacking and wildlife photography. She earned her B.S. in Wildlife Management and Conservation from Cal Poly Humboldt and has been working in the Sierra Nevada for over 15 years.

Mari Galloway, California Director, Wildlands Network

As California Program Director of Wildlands Network, Mari leads initiatives to enhance wildlife connectivity and protect core habitats statewide. Combining her policy expertise with a deep passion for California's ecology, she strategically links partners, resources, and information to catalyze data-driven efforts to reconnect ecosystems at a landscape scale. Mari’s work coordinating wildlife crossings, advancing innovative research, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders is critical to informing policy solutions and addressing systemic barriers. She received her BS in environmental science at Cal Poly Humboldt and her law degree at the University of Oregon.

Hailey Hawkins, Strategic Partnerships Manager, League to Save Lake Tahoe

Hailey has over a decade of experience working in environmental conservation, specializing in policy, relationship building, strategic partnerships, public speaking, and communications. As the League to Save Lake Tahoe’s Strategic Partnerships Manager, she collaborates with value-aligned businesses, organizations, and government entities to protect the health of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Hailey is passionate about building relationships and working in collaboration with a diversity of stakeholders to Keep Tahoe Blue. She knows that tackling Lake Tahoe’s biggest threats – climate change, invasive species, and pollution – means bringing the community together. Learn more at keeptahoeblue.org.

Dean Lyons, Fungal Collector, Fungal Diversity Survey (FUNDIS)

Dean is a botanist and mycologist who is enamored with the Sierra Nevada ecoregion. His work focuses on understanding fungal diversity in California through community science and DNA sequencing efforts. He is also deeply curious about ecology, which has driven a lifelong desire to further understand and be in good relation with the ecosystems he interacts with. He seeks to use the tools of photography and filmmaking to make science engaging, accessible and beautiful.

Dr. Beth Middleton, Professor of Native American Studies, UC Davis

Dr. Beth Rose Middleton Manning (Afro-Caribbean, Eastern European) is a Professor of Native American Studies at UC Davis. She was born and raised in the central Sierra foothills, Miwok country. Her collaborative social science research and teaching centers Indigenous and rural environmental justice and envisions reparative environmental policy. She studies the colonial impacts of water infrastructure and policy, the application of environmental laws and processes for protection of cultural places and lifeways in the US and Caribbean, inclusive and sustainable economic development, methods of assessing and addressing environmental health impacts, and partnerships for climate adaptation led by Native nations and communities. She has published articles on Indigenous environmental justice, environmental/tribal law, history and environmental policy, and two books with University of Arizona Press, Trust in the Land: New Directions in Tribal Conservation (2011), and Upstream: Trust Lands and Power on the Feather River (2018)

Victoria Ortiz, Community Engagement Manager, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

Victoria Ortiz hails from Los Angeles, where she began a lifetime love affair with the outdoors. After graduating from UCLA with a B.A. in Geography, she evolved from an outdoor guide and environmental educator to a bilingual communications specialist. In her current role as the Community Engagement Manager for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency she is responsible for community relations and promoting Agency programs. Victoria believes that one of the most important ways to promote our planet’s long-term environmental well-being is through targeted and effective outreach to businesses, the public, and policy makers, along with collaboration with like‐minded entities.

Cody Reed, Senior Meadow Ecologist, Point Blue Conservation Science

Cody Reed is a Senior Meadow Ecologist at Point Blue Conservation Science where she conducts research and outreach to support restoration and conservation of Sierra Nevada meadows. In this position she works closely with land managers and restoration practitioners to increase our understanding of these keystone ecosystems and identify management activities that enhance the ecological benefits they provide. Prior to joining Point Blue, Cody completed her Ph.D. and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her research focused on understanding the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance and restoration on soil carbon sequestration and loss in Sierra Nevada Meadows.

Wendy Schneider, Executive Director, Friends of the Inyo

Wendy has undertaken a number of different professional endeavors over the course of her career, including working on Capitol Hill, fundraising and practicing law. Thrilled to now be able to call herself a conservation professional, she has been leading Friends of the Inyo since 2017. When not working to protect the lands of Payahuunadu, she enjoys spending time with her family and adventuring in the big mountains.

Allison Silverstein, Community Organizer, Sierra Watch

Allison is a mountaineer, friendly face, and community organizer living in Truckee, California. After studying Environmental Science, she moved to Tahoe to do a summer of environmental work in Olympic Valley, and eventually joined Sierra Watch. Prior to her Field Organizer role, Allison had; worked and lived in the Northern Brooks Range to study the impacts of climate change with the University of Alaska Anchorage, been a sailing and surfing instructor in San Diego, tutored sociology, and organized her university rugby team. Allison moved to Truckee to do environmental work in Olympic Valley, and has found that work at Sierra Watch.

Paula Smith, Deputy Probation Officer, Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California

Paula Smith is an enrolled member of the Walker River Paiute Tribe of Schurz and is the Deputy Probation Officer for the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. Paula has created a Sports, Culture and Outdoor Expedition Program that is considered exemplary by OJJDP Tribal Youth Programs (TYP). This program defers youth from formal court proceedings whenever possible and creates programs for disadvantaged youth and at-risk youth towards broader perspectives and self-discovery through adventures in the outdoors. Paula sits on several Coalitions representing Nevada Tribes and she was named the 2014 American Indian Youth Services Role Model of the Year by the Nevada State Indian Commission. Paula was also the first Native American appointed to the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice (FACJJ) giving a first of its kind opportunity to represent Native American youths at a National level. Paula is dedicated to strengthening Nevada Tribal communities to create new standards of excellence and creating outdoor stewardship and honor our culture.

Craig Thomas, Director, The Fire Restoration Group

Craig is a 44-year resident of the Sierra Nevada foothills north of Placerville. His educational background is in cultural ecology, which is the study of the ecological, economic, social and spiritual relationship of people to their landscapes. He helped co-author the California Strategic Plan for Expanding Use of Beneficial Fire in 2022 and recently served 18-months on the National Wildfire Mitigation and Management Commission as a fire policy delegate with 50 other members, completing the mandated Report to Congress titled–ON FIRE. He is Director of the Fire Restoration Group.

Gregory Stangl, CEO, Phoenix Energy

Gregory Stangl is CEO of Phoenix Energy, one of California’s leading developers and operators of community BECCS (Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage) plants.  

Mr. Stangl has been working in the energy and sustainability field since 1999 when he led the buyout and subsequent turnaround of Energy Investors, a firm dedicated to improving air quality in Europe by replacing coal furnaces and improving facility energy efficiency.  Developments in Europe led the business into advanced biomass gasification, biochar and the voluntary carbon credit market (VCM), and in 2007 Phoenix Energy was created to focus on the U.S. market for community BECCS.  In addition to development, Mr. Stangl brings extensive expertise in project and corporate finance, which provides Phoenix a competitive edge in bringing projects to fruition. 

Additional Presenters: