Board Member Recruitment!
Apply here to become a Board Member with Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods
Stewards seeks board members who bring a depth of experience and perspective from a broad range of disciplines, including finance, community advocacy, communications, fundraising, education and nonprofit leadership. The Board of Directors works closely with the Executive Director to address our strategic direction and financial health, make policy and operational decisions, as well as help identify resources needed to carry out our mission and fulfill our vision.
Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods mission is to protect the natural and cultural resources of Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, Austin Creek State Recreation Area, and Sonoma Coast State Park through volunteerism, environmental education, and stewardship for generations to come. Our vision is a vibrant, diverse community of people, programs, and partnerships that ensures the resilience of the lands and waters sustaining all living things.
Board members commit to attending monthly board meetings and at least one monthly committee meeting. If you are interested in exploring this opportunity, you are encouraged to contact Board President David Berman at [email protected]. Before deciding to apply, candidates are welcome to attend at least one board meeting, which typically take place on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 4:00pm-5:30pm. The application for board membership is available here.
Board Members
DAVID BERMAN President
David currently works for Sonoma Water as an educator. He lives in Western Sonoma County. He has been a science educator and wilderness guide for over 40 years. He has been involved with salmonid restoration and outdoor education for 33 years in Western Sonoma County. David spent 27 years teaching wilderness first aid, CPR, and first aid for the American Red Cross. David co-teaches the California Naturalist Certification Program for the UC Cooperative Extension. David worked at Stewards as the program director from 2012 to 2015. David loves nature photography and wandering in the outdoors.
Committees: Programs Committee
Residence: Occidental
CATHY JOHNSON Treasurer/Vice President
Cathy joined the Stewards team in 2021. Cathy is a professional scientist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For over 20 years she has conducted numerous research and investigation projects on the fate and transport of pesticides and their effects on wildlife. As a contaminant’s specialist, she has worked on many contaminants and oil spills and several fires. After having worked these types of disasters and restoring the aftermath, she has a deep appreciation for land stewardship. She is on national committees that deal with climate change, adaptation, and mitigation for wildlife species especially butterflies.
Cathy loves being outside and playing in nature – sea to summit and everywhere in between. She is also a RYT-500 yoga teacher and enjoys sharing the practice by leading hiking and yoga events, yoga at the park, and retreats. She has her UC Naturalist and UC Climate Stewards certifications.
Although Cathy resides in Auburn, she spends a great deal of time at the Sonoma Coast.
Committees: Programs
Residence: Auburn
LAURIE PROTHRO Secretary
After having lived in the hills above the Russian River for nearly four decades, with Armstrong Redwoods her backyard, Laurie joined the Stewards board in the summer of 2022. A former journalist, editor, and recently-retired children’s librarian, she brings a strong sense of community and a broad network of connections to the organization. She has previously served on two other local non-profit boards, including River to Coast Children’s Services, and is passionate about environmental education and preservation at a grassroots level.
Committees: Programs Committee
Residence: Guerneville
TONY COHEN Director
Tony Cohen is a retired lawyer whose practice focused on protecting and advancing the sovereign powers of Native American Tribes. One of the main skills that practice involved is keeping in mind the different interests and perspectives of interacting persons and groups and using attentive communications methods to ensure that what is said always takes into consideration the perspective of the listener. That skill will be helpful in assisting Stewards in communicating with others, including State Parks, environmental organizations, landowners, and state, county, federal, and Tribal governments. As his educational focus before practicing law was anthropology, he also brings useful perspectives to the Board about tribal cultural resources and their potential presence in the areas worked in by Stewards, potentially helping Steward’s positive interaction with local Tribes and tribal organizations.
Committees: Programs
Residence: Sebastopol
DEVIN MC CONNELL Director
Devin McConnell is a marketing and sustainability professional based in Northern California. With a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from San José State University, earned in 2010, Devin has built a career rooted in advancing sustainable practices and fostering positive change within tourism and hospitality.
Currently, Devin serves as the Sustainability and Public Affairs Manager at Visit California, where he champions initiatives to promote responsible travel across the state. Prior to this role, he worked as the Sustainability and Climate Initiatives Manager at Sonoma County Tourism (SCT), where his accomplishments included spearheading programs like the Sonoma County Leave No Trace Coalition, “Rewards For Rubbish” litter reduction program, and “Sonoma County Tourism Cares” volunteer efforts.
Devin has also played a role in broader collaborations, representing SCT as a founding member of Cleaner California Coast, a multi-county alliance dedicated to protecting Northern California’s coastline, and supporting the Russian River Confluence’s “Respect Russian River” initiative. He currently sits on the California Travel Association’s Sustainability and Stewardship Committee, and is proud to serve on the board of directors for Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods.
Committees: Programs, Fundraising
Residence: Santa Rosa
LIZ JACKSON Director
Liz currently works as Associate Sales Director at FRANKIE4 Footwear, where Liz is building the US wholesale business and advancing the company’s B Corp Certification goals. With a background in conservation biology, Liz has spent over 5 years volunteering at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, where she recently expanded her animal care role to include necropsy work. Her experience reflects a deep commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices.
Liz also brings extensive retail and wholesale expertise and resides in Marin County. Outside of work, Liz enjoys exploring the coast through tide pooling and scuba diving, which further connects her passion for conservation.
Committees: Programs
Residence: San Anselmo
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Advisory Board members bring special professional expertise to help Stewards across the breadth of programs, operations and services for which we are responsible.
Gregory Fearon
Overall background/experience: Gregory was elected to the Board in 2010. As a past member of Coastwalk California and Sonoma Coast Surfriders, he brings coastal natural resource knowledge and networking opportunities to the board.
Background/skills/experience related to Advisory Board role:Gregory has extensive fiscal management experience, lives in Santa Rosa, and supports the efforts of others to participate in civic public policy development.
Committees: Executive, Finance, Fundraising
Residence: Santa Rosa
Christopher Szecsey
Advisory Board role: Christopher provides Stewards with guidance and support in nonprofit organizational and programmatic capacity strengthening.
Overall background/experience: Christopher is a consultant, trainer, facilitator, and coach.
He has worked extensively internationally and in the USA, primarily with the nonprofit and public sectors. His professional experience includes:
- 26 years as a consultant, both in the USA, and internationally, with consulting assignments in 50 countries.
- Decades of experience with international nonprofits, including as the Country Director for Save the Children/USA, in Indonesia and the Republic of Kiribati; Project Coordinator with UNDP in Nepal; as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador for 3 years; and as a university student in India and in Yucatan, Mexico.
- BA in Anthropology and Political Philosophy from the University of the Pacific
Pivotal life experiences: Living/studying in India & learning about poverty and disparities; living with Native Americans in the Southwest and learning about racism and disparities in the USA; and working with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers Union for social and economic justice.
Background/skills/experience related to Advisory Board role: During the last 20 years, Christopher has served on four nonprofit boards as a member and as Chair, grounding him well on the important role of nonprofit board governance.
Motivation for serving: Christopher believes the nonprofit sector is critical to supporting our communities and protecting our natural resources. He is pleased to do so and encourages others to do so as well.
Residence: Occidental
Michele Luna
Michele joined Stewards in 1994 when she was hired as the sole employee of the organization. She retired after a 27-year career with the organization at the end of 2021. She was responsible for raising and administering millions of dollars in funding that supported organizational growth and programming for Stewards over the years. She worked with the board of directors to establish one of the first partnership agreements with a non-profit and California State Parks in 2012, whereby Stewards now co-manages both Armstrong Redwoods SNR and Austin Creek SRA. The revitalization of Pond Farm Pottery has been another rewarding project that Michele oversaw during her tenure. In 2022 and 2023, she volunteered as producer of the documentary, Marguerite, from Bauhaus to Pond Farm. She joined the Advisory Board of Stewards early in 2023 and is focusing most of her time on Pond Farm projects, but she is also interested in being helpful to Stewards in whatever way is positively beneficial. She has been a resident of Cazadero for 45 years and she and her husband enjoy spending time with their family and six grandchildren and traveling.