Our Staff
Sara Barth, Executive Director
Email Sara, (650) 949-1453 x201
Sara Barth joined Sempervirens Fund in 2016 after 12 years working in leadership positions at The Wilderness Society (TWS), most recently as Senior Regional Director for the Pacific and Southeast regions. Sara oversaw TWS efforts to protect wildlands around the country, including successfully preserving over 1 million acres of federal land in California, and she completed a major climate adaptation project for the organization. Prior to TWS, Sara served as an environmental advisor to U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer in Washington, D.C. Her other professional experience includes working for the National Wildlife Federation and the World Wildlife Fund on U.S. land and wildlife policy. Sara holds a B.A. in Biopsychology from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment.
Michael Kawalek, Deputy Director
Email Michael, (650) 949-1453 x209
Michael Kawalek joined Sempervirens Fund in 2013, and he currently serves as Deputy Director. He began his nonprofit career over three decades ago and has worked at several well-known Bay Area organizations, including KQED and the San Francisco Zoo. He served on the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Golden Gate Chapter Board of Directors for two years, driven by the desire to educate new development professionals about the importance of ethical fundraising practices. In his current capacity at Sempervirens Fund, he is responsible for overseeing daily operations, including fundraising, finance, human resources, and technology. He is a Bay Area native, loves areas with streams and waterfalls, and is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Laura McLendon, Director of Land Conservation
Email Laura, (650) 949-1453 x206
Laura McLendon is the Director of Land Conservation at Sempervirens Fund. She joined Sempervirens in 2006, and has spent the majority of her career working on land conservation projects that protect and restore redwood forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains. As Director of Land Conservation, Laura oversees all land acquisition and strategic conservation projects, as well as the stewardship and care of all of Sempervirens’ properties and conservation easements. Previously, Laura worked at The International Ecotourism Society in Washington, D.C., and in the environmental education department of the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens. Laura holds a B.A. in Human Biology and M.A. in Anthropological Sciences with concentrations in environmental science, policy, and resource management from Stanford University. Laura is a native Californian, professional visual artist, and currently resides in San Francisco, California.
Julie Seelen, CFRE, Chief of Philanthropy
Email Julie, (650) 949-1453 x212
Julie Seelen joined Sempervirens Fund in 2018 as Associate Director of Philanthropic Engagement. She comes to Sempervirens Fund with more than a decade of experience working locally in the land trust community, including many years as the Development Director for Save Mount Diablo. More recently she was with California Trout and The Fund for People in Parks. She serves on the Board of Directors for Las Trampas–an organization supporting adults with developmental disabilities–and holds an active CFRE fundraising credential. In her spare time, she wanders in Redwood Regional Park and is looking forward to explore the trails among the redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Julie has a Master’s degree in Architecture and Building Construction from the University of Technology in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
Matt Shaffer, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Email Matthew, (650) 949-1453 x217
Matt Shaffer joined Sempervirens Fund in 2020. For more than two decades Matt has worked with national and local nonprofits and foundations to advance brand, marketing, and communications strategies, and align and improve organizational priorities and health. Most recently he has served as Director of Marketing for The Trust for Public Land, Senior Brand Strategist with Mission Minded, and Vice President of Marketing for the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation. He is non-native to California, but has been a low-impact invasive resident in San Francisco and Marin County since 1996. He earned his Masters from San Francisco State University.
Rachel Dann, Director of Government Relations
Email Rachel, (650) 949-1453 x226
Rachel Dann joined Sempervirens Fund in 2023 as their Director of Government Relations after over 20 years as an aide and key advisor to elected officials in Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay Area. Rachel worked for Congressmembers Sam Farr and Jimmy Panetta and served sixteen years with the Third District Supervisor’s office in Santa Cruz County as Analyst for Supervisor Neal Coonerty and Chief of Staff for Supervisor Ryan Coonerty. She was appointed to the Santa Cruz County Planning Commission in 2007 and served the commission until 2022. While with the Third District, Rachel worked on land use and policy issues, most notably as a key liaison between the north coast community and government during the National Monument designation for the Cotoni-Coast Dairies property. Rachel received a B.A. in History from UC Berkeley and an M.A. in History from UCSC and serves as a Board member for the Santa Cruz Symphony. Rachel lives in Santa Cruz and loves hiking in the redwoods and walking on the beach, sometimes on the same day.
Beryl Anderson, Digital Content Director
Beryl Anderson officially joined Sempervirens Fund in 2023 but has enjoyed consulting with the team to help share the inspiring successes our supporters make possible since 2019. After climbing in the Santa Cruz Mountains during her youth, she studied Communications at Humboldt State University to stay near the redwoods. Since then, Beryl has gained nearly 20 years of marketing and communications experience but has dedicated the majority of her career to protecting natural lands with non-profit organizations including Save Mount Diablo and Tri-Valley Conservancy. She is thrilled to help preserve the majestic redwoods and hopes to help more people to connect with and protect the diverse habitats of the Santa Cruz Mountains for wildlife and future generations.
Robbie Brown, Community Engagement Manager
Email Robbie, (650) 472-9647
Robbie Brown joined Sempervirens in 2024 as the Community Engagement Manager. He has a background in community building, social causes, and climate action. His work has involved collaborating with communities and institutions to promote sustainable practices in the San Francisco Bay Area. During his time with nonprofits, he has played a key role in shaping new programs, fostering volunteer initiatives, and planning sustainability-focused events. Robbie Brown holds a B.A. in Philosophy from California State University of Long Beach and has completed graduate-level coursework in Animal and Environmental Ethics at San Francisco State University. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring California’s stunning landscapes and working on his nature-themed food blog, The Climate Foodie.
Ann Blanchard, Manager of Annual Philanthropic Giving
Email Ann, (650) 949-1453 x205
Ann Blanchard joined Sempervirens in 2012. Ann has more than 10 years in non-profit service working in the social services field assisting adults with developmental disabilities. A Bay Area native who grew up camping at our local state parks, she holds a B.A. in Art History from the University of California, Davis and a B.F.A. in Visual Communications and Graphic Design from the International Academy of Design and Technology, Sacramento.
Melisa Cambron Perez, Field Operations Manager
Email Melisa, (650) 949-1453 x220
Melisa joined Sempervirens Fund in 2021 as the Field Operations Manager. She holds a B.A. in Biology from Lake Forest College in Illinois and is currently an M.S. candidate at the University of San Francisco for Environmental Management. Passionate about working outdoors, Melisa has extensive experience with habitat restoration, community engagement, and vegetation management across the Bay Area. An avid backpacker and lover of sunsets, she spends her free time planning hiking adventures throughout the west coast.
Ori Faigon, Donor Services Coordinator
Email Ori, (650) 949-1453 x210
Ori Faigon joined Sempervirens Fund in 2022 as the Donor Services Coordinator. He is a Bay Area native and grew up hiking through the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Prior to Sempervirens Fund, Ori was an Outdoor Educator, leading students through the forest, inspiring a connection with nature, and teaching them about their local ecology and human impact. In his free time, he enjoys writing stories, playing music, and adventuring with his dog. He graduated from UC San Diego with a B.A. in Communications.
Erin Fariss, Gift Processor
Email Erin, (650) 949-1453 x214
Erin Fariss joined Sempervirens in 2022 as the part-time Gift Processor. Erin has over 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector, managing gift processing and coordinating various database and fundraising projects. A Bay Area native, Erin's passion for nature conservation grew from an early age exploring the local parks with her family. Erin holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Biology from The University of California at Santa Cruz. In her free time, Erin enjoys hiking the local parks of the Bay Area and beyond.
Miranda Fry, Manager of Philanthropic Engagement
Email Miranda, (650) 946-1036
Miranda Fry joined Sempervirens in 2023 as the Manager of Philanthropic Engagement. Miranda has more than 10 years in non-profit outdoor education, leadership training, and customer experience. A Sierra Foothills native, she chose to lay roots in the Bay area after receiving her B.F.A. in Studio Practice and Painting at San Jose State University. Passionate about community engagement, sustainability, and the future of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Miranda strives to make outdoor spaces accessible and safe for everyone. An avid backpacker, mountain biker, and rock climber, she spends her free time exploring local trails in Santa Cruz, ocean swimming, and capturing photos of landscapes for painting.
Dave Greenfield, Business Planning Advisor
Email Dave, (650) 946-1414
Dave served as a technology executive at Intel Corporation and Altera Corporation leading teams in strategic operations, supply chain, corporate business development, strategy, product marketing and program management. He serves on the Board of Directors at NorCal SCI, a non-profit supporting the spinal cord injury community in Northern California. Dave received a BS in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College, an MS Electrical Engineering from USC and an MBA from UCLA. He can often be found biking or hiking on local trails.
Holly Grench, Executive Coordinator
Email Holly, (650) 770-7508
Holly Grench originally joined Sempervirens Fund in 2017 as Development Associate. Holly worked for years connecting with donors, helping people honor loved ones with the tribute program, and supporting fundraising efforts. After a brief leave, she rejoined the Sempervirens team as the Executive Coordinator in 2022. She now provides administrative support to the team and coordinates special projects for the organization. Holly first fell in love with California’s redwoods when she backpacked the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail as a teenager. In her free time, she enjoys running, playing piano, horseback riding, and learning new board games. Holly holds a B.A. in American Studies from Stanford University with a focus on nature and the environment in American culture.
Lauren Hofmayer, CFRE, Director, Major Gifts
Email Lauren, (650) 305-3078
Lauren Hofmayer joined Sempervirens Fund in 2023. Lauren has spent over a decade as a fundraiser and educator in California public schools. This experience ignited her passion for preserving our spectacular lands for future generations while making these spaces more welcoming and inclusive for all. Most recently, Lauren was the Director of Individual Philanthropy at 826 Valencia in San Francisco. Fun fact: Lauren began her career as a 3rd-grade teacher in the Santa Cruz Mountains in 2010 (at San Lorenzo Valley Elementary School), delighting in the magic of the redwood forests around Big Basin with her students. Lauren holds a B.A. in Psychology and a Master’s in Elementary Education from Stanford University.
Beatrix Jiménez-Helsley, Natural Resource Manager
Email Beatrix, (650) 949-1453 x216
Beatrix Jiménez-Helsley joined Sempervirens Fund in 2018 as a Land Stewardship Associate. Previously, she worked throughout California in environmental consulting and remediation performing plant and wildlife surveys, habitat restoration, and environmental compliance. Prior to that, she interned at Peninsula Open Space Trust assisting the Land Stewardship team. In her free time, she enjoys botanizing, birding, and hiking at a naturalist pace throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Beatrix holds a B.A. in Biology (CCS) and a minor in Earth Science from UC Santa Barbara.
Amanda Krauss, CFRE, Director of Tribute and Legacy Giving
Email Amanda, (650) 949-1453 x204
Amanda Krauss is a passionate environmentalist and fundraiser, with more than 13 years of nonprofit experience. Amanda leads the Tribute and Legacy Giving programs, working closely with those who want to honor special people and create a legacy for the future of redwoods. She has a CFRE fundraising credential, graduated from UC Davis with a B.A. in Art Studio and Avian Sciences and continues to go birding to gain inspiration for her artwork. Amanda has served on various environmental and visual arts boards throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Christine Larusso, Digital Engagement Manager
Christine Larusso (she/her) joined Sempervirens Fund as the Digital Engagement Manager in 2023. She is a third-generation Los Angeleno with over a decade of experience in audience development and digital engagement within the non-profit sector. Previous employers include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Symphony Space, and, most recently, Daily Kos. In collaboration with poet Rachel Zucker, Christine is the co-founder of Commonplace, a poetry podcast series and affiliated writing school. The organization's mission is to make creative writing education accessible to all, offering classes on a sliding scale basis to ensure inclusivity—no one is turned away for lack of funds. When she's not managing Sempervirens Fund's social media and SMS efforts (yes, she does in fact read all of your text responses to us), she's usually found hiking Runyon Canyon or Griffith Park with her adopted border collie, Cooper.
Christopher Lopez, Land Stewardship Associate
Christopher Lopez joined Sempervirens Fund in 2023. Born and Raised in San Jose, Christopher spent much of his childhood in and around the Santa Cruz Range. He joins the stewardship team with two and a half years' experience working with the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority's Field Operations team. His passion is finding ways to integrate Traditional Ecological knowledge into land management practices. When he's not rambling through the forest, he enjoys cooking and tending his family garden. He graduated from the University of the Pacific with a B.A in Communications.
Paige Rausser, Senior Project Manager – Land Transactions
Email Paige, (650) 949-1453
Paige Rausser joined Sempervirens Fund in 2012 after nearly 15 years at The Trust for Public Land (TPL). As a Senior Project Manager at TPL, Paige’s projects protected thousands of acres of southern California coastal habitat from Otay Mountain in San Diego, to the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles, to ocean properties in Santa Barbara County. After managing the complex Cahuenga Peak project, which included an international communication and fundraising effort as well as public and private funding, Paige decided it was time to do conservation work closer to home. Growing up in Los Altos, Paige spent her childhood hiking in the Santa Cruz Mountains and hanging out on the beaches. At Sempervirens Fund, Paige works to protect priority properties through fee acquisition, conservation easements and other tools that will most effectively save redwoods for future generations to enjoy. Paige earned her B.S. in Political Economy of Natural Resources from U.C. Berkeley and her M.E.M. from Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
Logan Thompson, Land Transaction Manager
Email Logan, 650-949-1453 x213
Logan Thompson joined Sempervirens Fund in 2023 as the Land Transaction Manager. He holds a M.S. in Environmental Studies from San Jose State University with a focus on resource conservation and environmental sustainability. He is a Santa Cruz native who previously worked as an environmental planner and has over a decade of work experience in the wildlife surveying and environmental conservation fields.
Board of Directors
Peter Staple, President
Former President and CEO of Corium and BioSeek, Inc.; former Executive VP and General Counsel of ALZA Corp. and corporate counsel at Cetus and Chiron. Current board member of biopharmaceutical companies and the non-profit organizations Campaign Legal Center and Issue One; B.A. Stanford University; J.D. Stanford Law School. Resident of Los Altos.
Vishy Venugopalan, Vice President
Vice President, Venture Investing at Citi Ventures; former investment professional at Bessemer Venture Partners and Longworth Venture Partners; former cofounder and head of product at a tech startup; hiking and camping enthusiast; resident of Redwood City.
Evan Siegel, Audit Committee Chair
Senior Vice President of Virtual Channel Sales Strategy at Wells Fargo; strategy and process improvement management consultant at Bain & Company, Computer Sciences Corporation, and Ernst and Young; B.A. Brown University; M.B.A. Stanford School of Business.
Gage Dayton, Secretary
Administrative Director of Natural Reserves & Coordinator of field Studies at the UCSC; Research Affiliate and Program Director of Central Coast Wetland Working Group at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, SJSU; BS Humboldt State University; Ph.D. Texas A&M University.
Juan Benitez
Former President and board member of GoFundMe, CTO of Braintree/Venmo, and GM of Braintree. Prior leadership positions at Yahoo! and various other tech companies. Father of two amazing sons. Passionate cyclist. Delighted to serve on boards of Sempervirens Fund, Climate Ride, and the Silicon Valley Chapter of the Red Cross. BS and MS Carnegie Mellon University. Resident of Los Gatos.
Marimo Berk
Co-Founder of San Jose's Creekside School for children with autism, former high school teacher, triathlete, SF Giants, Golden State Warriors and Arsenal fan. Board member of the Northwest Regional Board of UNICEF USA, UNICEF International Council, The Tech Interactive, Human Rights Watch Silicon Valley Committee, and The Creekside School Board. Resident of Monte Sereno.
Kevin Flynn
Director Product Marketing, Blue Coat Systems; former Senior Marketing Manager, Fortinet, Inc.; former Senior Marketing Manager, Cisco Systems, Inc.; former Product Manager, Apple Computer; member, Steering Committee, Neighbors Against Irresponsible Logging; resident of Los Gatos.
Pamela Koch
Board Member, Coastside State Parks Association; Docent, Ano Nuevo State Park; Board member, Redwood Meadows Ranch Homeowners Association; former Leadership Team, Mid-Peninsula Democratic Volunteer Center; former hospital administrator and health policy analyst; resident of Menlo Park and Bonny Doon.
Brad Lewis
Brad Lewis is the Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Informatica. Prior to this he has been the Managing Director at BlackRock, a former Partner at Fenwick & West LLP, and a federal prosecutor. In addition to Sempervirens Fund, Brad serves as a board member at BSA|The Software Alliance and Berkeley Center for Law & Business. He has a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from U.C. Berkeley Law School.
DANA McRAE
Dana McRae joined Sempervirens Fund's Board of Directors in 2024. An active advocate in the community, she was the Santa Cruz County Counsel (Ret) and is a current member of the 14th District Agricultural Association Board (Santa Cruz County Fair). Dana is an active member of the UC Master Gardener Program. She holds a B.A. from UCLA and a J.D. from UC Law San Francisco. A native of Santa Cruz, Dana is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking and horses.
Michael Watkins
Educator at the local, County of Santa Cruz, and California state level, including most recently as Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools. He served as President of California’s 58 County Superintendents Association and of the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators. He also served on the Task Force that created California’s “Blueprint for Environmental Literacy: Educating Every Student In, About, and For the Environment.”
Jacqueline Wender
Former senior administrator at Stanford and Santa Clara Universities, including serving as Associate Provost, Assistant to the President (Stanford), and Senior Assistant Dean in the Schools of Law and Engineering (Santa Clara). Bay Area native, long-time outdoors enthusiast, and artist. Resident of Menlo Park.
Science Advisory Panel
Gage Dayton, Ph.D., Chair
Natural Reserves Director, UC Santa Cruz
Gage Dayton has served as administrative director of the UCSC Natural Reserves since 2008. The UCSC reserves include Año Nuevo Island Reserve, Fort Ord Natural Reserve, Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve, Younger Lagoon Reserve, and the UCSC Campus Natural Reserve. The NRS is a unique assemblage of protected wildland sites throughout California encompassing more than 756,000 acres and providing undisturbed environments for research and teaching.
Anthony Ambrose, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher, Dawson Lab, UC Berkeley
Anthony Ambrose is broadly interested in understanding interactions between trees and their environment, and how drought and climate change affects forest ecosystems. His current research is focused on examining the effects of climate change on coast redwood and giant sequoia trees in California as part of the Redwoods and Climate Change Initiative and through a collaborative project with scientists from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, U.S. Geological Survey, and Carnegie Airborne Observatory at Stanford.
Emily Burns, Ph.D.
Program Director, Sky Island Alliance
Emily Burns, Ph.D. is the Program Director for Sky Island Alliance in Arizona and northern Mexico. Dr. Burns was formerly the Science Director for Save the Redwoods League in California, where she led the Redwoods and Climate Change Initiative, Redwood Genome Project, multiple conservation planning efforts, and co-founded Redwoods Rising, a public-private partnership to restore more than 70,000 acres of logged coast redwood forest in Redwood National and State Parks.
Philippe S. Cohen, Ph.D.
Former Executive Director, Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, Stanford University
Philippe S. Cohen is chair of the Science Advisory Panel. He served as executive director of Stanford University’s Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve from 1993 to 2016. He is the former Resident Director, Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert Research Center, University of California; board member, Organization of Biological Field Stations; resident of Menlo Park.
David L. Freyberg, Ph.D.
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Stanford University
A hydrologist and water resources specialist, Dr. Freyberg studies reservoir sedimentation and hydrology, hydrologic ecosystem services, summer drying of Pacific coast intermittent streams, tropical rainfall and throughfall, surface water-ground water interactions, especially in reservoir/sediment systems, and scaling and spatial distribution of recycled water systems.
Alan E. Launer, Ph.D.
Land Use & Environmental Planning, Stanford University
Alan Launer was associated with Stanford professor Paul Ehrlich’s research group, the Center for Conservation Biology, in the late 1970s to early 1980s and again from 1988 to 2006. While with that research group, Dr. Launer worked on multiple projects generally focused on the population biology and conservation of butterflies and plants across the western United States. Since the mid-1990s Alan has worked with Stanford University on designing and implementing the University’s conservation planning efforts, including being part of the team that developed the Stanford Habitat Conservation Plan. His current research activities focus primarily on the conservation biology of organisms inhabiting human-modified landscapes, particularly with respect to conservation planning on the 8,180 acres of Stanford’s main campus. Other topics of field research include: the ecology and conservation of biotic diversity restricted to the serpentine soil-based grasslands of the San Francisco Bay area; land use and conservation planning for the coastal grasslands and scrub of central California; and land use planning and endangered species preservation in the north Livermore Valley (Alameda County, CA).
Virginia Matzek, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Santa Clara University
Virginia Matzek is a restoration ecologist whose research focuses on the provision of ecosystem services and preservation of natural capital. Her recent work involves quantifying the carbon sequestration that comes from restoring riparian areas and Mediterranean oak woodlands, as a strategy for decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. She is also interested in deepening connections between academic researchers and local land stewards by integrating monitoring, research, and student experiential learning.
Lisa Micheli, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Pepperwood Foundation
Dr. Lisa Micheli has more than 25 years’ experience applying her technical, policy, and fundraising expertise to the design and implementation of ecological restoration, research and education programs. She completed her graduate studies at UC Berkeley as a NASA Earth Systems Research Fellow in 2000 and now focuses her research on relationships between watershed health and biodiversity. She is the co-chair of the Terrestrial Biodiversity Climate Change Collaborative (TBC3), a Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Bay Area climate adaptation research initiative. She joined Sonoma County’s Pepperwood Foundation in October of 2009 as its premiere Executive Director.
Scott Stephens, Ph.D.
Professor of Fire Sciences, UC Berkeley
Scott Stephens is interested in the interactions of wildland fire and ecosystems. This includes how prehistoric fires once interacted with ecosystems, how current wildland fires are affecting ecosystems, and how future fires, changing climates, and management may change this interaction. He is also interested in fire policy and how it can be improved to meet the challenges of the next decades, both in the U.S. and internationally.
Chris Wilmers, Ph.D.
Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, UC Santa Cruz
Chris Wilmers’ research is focused on the impacts of land use change and global warming on wildlife communities. He and his lab use a combination of in depth field work, cutting edge technology and mathematical models to discover how humans shape and change wildlife communities over time. While his work is global in scope, his labs work is currently focused on studying carnivore communities in California and Africa. Since 2008, he has led the Santa Cruz Puma Project focused on understanding how humans influence the ecology, conservation and management of mountain lions (or pumas) in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Founding Directors
- Andrew P. Hill
- George C. Collins
- Howard J. King
- Claude A. “Tony” Look
- Dorothy Varian