Our Staff

mhendricks at sblandtrust dot org

Meredith’s family history in ranching dates to the late 1800s in Goleta and informed much of her work in conservation nonprofit leadership for the last 20 years in northern California. Her career has focused on permanently conserving land for future generations and developing public open space in the San Francisco Bay Area, including 7 years as the Director of Land Programs at the nationally accredited land trust, Save Mount Diablo. Meredith holds a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology from UC Davis and a master’s degree in Environmental Business Relations from San Francisco State University.

Among Meredith’s most important career accomplishments is the creation of the Dr. Mary Bowerman Science and Research Program, providing small grants, especially to students, for research projects on Save Mount Diablo’s properties and protected land network in the Bay Area. She also successfully worked on the expansion of the regional Marsh Creek Trail network and was instrumental in protecting the last 95 acres of the historic Anderson Ranch from subdivision, ensuring the property’s long-term preservation.

cbenavidez at sblandtrust dot org

A 6th-generation Santa Barbara native, CJ has lived in Santa Maria since 2018 with her partner and their four beloved cats (and proudly embraces the title of “crazy cat lady”). She brings experience in digital marketing, project coordination, and data strategy—and is excited to support the Land Trust’s mission by strengthening relationships with donors and community partners.

Outside of work, CJ enjoys gardening, reading, and birding along the Central Coast. She considers connecting with nature a meaningful part of her spiritual practice and hopes her work will help others experience that same sense of connection. Passionate about building relationships through kindness and clarity, CJ is proud to help protect the lands her family has called home for generations.

jbowlin at sblandtrust dot org

With over 20 years of experience in nonprofit events, fundraising, program management, and volunteer engagement, John Bowlin brings a wealth of expertise to the Land Trust team. He previously served as the Volunteer Coordinator at Pacific Pride Foundation before advancing to the role of Associate Director, Volunteer & Development Programs at PATH. Having grown up on a farm in central California, John's work ethic was shaped by his time in 4-H, and his passion for the land was nurtured by years spent exploring the Sierra wilderness on horseback. He deeply values the dedication of those who step up to support their communities and is eager to expand our impact across the county, with a special focus on northern areas.

vbrooks at sblandtrust dot org

Vanessa received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Service from Azusa Pacific University and has worked in the non-profit world for nearly 15 years. Although new to the environmental field, her passion in non-profit work has remained the same: partnering with local communities to make a sustainable and positive impact. Vanessa’s love of nature and the outdoors inspires her work in preserving the beauty of Santa Barbara County. In her spare time, you can find her roller skating, cooking, or trolling local nurseries for new houseplants.

lchan at sblandtrust dot org

Leslie is the Land Programs Director, a brand-new role at the Land Trust focusing on community outreach, program development, and project planning. Recently, Leslie was the visitation manager for the Dangermond Preserve at The Nature Conservancy. As the Land Programs Director, Leslie will help the Land Trust engage more folks with our important work through community outreach programs including Land Trust Treks.

Her background in community engagement and conservation planning will be instrumental in the establishment of a north county preserve and furthering the Land Trust’s strategic plan and Conservation Blueprint.

jgrennan at sblandtrust dot org

James received a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation Administration with a concentration in Parks and Recreation from California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo. From there he started his career with California State Parks as a State Park Ranger. After 26 years working for State Parks, he retired as a Superintendent III.

James was born and raised in Santa Maria, attending elementary, high school, and community college. State Parks allowed him to move throughout the state, but eventually made his way back to Santa Maria. James is looking forward to preserving the County’s natural and cultural resources, along with creating opportunities for outdoor recreation.

dgullett at sblandtrust dot org

Daniel joined the Land Trust in August 2025 after 20 years in local government planning. As Principal Planner for the City of Santa Barbara, he led long-range initiatives on housing, climate resilience, and open space preservation. Earlier in his career, as a Transportation Planner, he championed multimodal access and stronger city connections.

His love of landscapes began in childhood along the Illinois River and deepened while working summers for the NPS in Tuolumne Meadows. Daniel holds a Master’s in Environmental Science & Management from UCSB’s Bren School, focusing on public environmental management, and a Bachelor’s in Biophysics from the University of Illinois.

He is happiest outdoors—bicycling, hiking trails, and exploring beaches. He also loves music and continues to nurture his curiosity through Qigong and somatic therapy.

ehagen at sblandtrust dot org

Originally from the Bay Area, Eden moved to Santa Barbara in 2020 and has since obtained her BS in Ecology from Westmont College. From her experiences working in wildlife rehabilitation to teaching the public about coastal ecosystems at the Natural History Museum, Eden is passionate about showing her community the importance of environmental conservation.

In her free time, you can find her hiking, hanging out with her friends’ cats, or journaling on the beach.

ghallam at sblandtrust dot org

Originally from Nottingham, UK, George joined the Land Trust after relocating from Pismo Beach. He brings more than eight years of digital marketing experience, most recently supporting fundraising and outreach for Central Coast nonprofits, including The Foundation at Hearst Castle, San Luis Obispo Symphony, and Family Care Network. George holds a Master's in Urban Planning from The University of Sheffield, where his passion for environmental conservation first took root. After several years in the digital space, he is excited to return to his original calling: helping protect the landscapes and open spaces that make the Central Coast so special.

George enjoys hiking local trails with his partner, Alayna, and their dog, Norah. A loyal (and long-suffering) Derby County football fan, he’s often up at dawn to cheer them on, win or lose.

volunteer at sblandtrust dot org

Sally works closely with the docents who lead programs for school children and adults at the Arroyo Hondo Preserve. Sally worked at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden for 20 years and is a former Director of Education. She has an M.A. in botany and several teaching credentials. She has taught at Allan Hancock College, in public schools, and classes for the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

Sally enjoys writing and nature photography and occasionally writes articles for local publications. For many years, she and her husband ran a herd of beef cattle on the family ranch located near Lompoc. Currently, she has a small cow herd, a horse, and other animals on her own little ranch.

kkusa at sblandtrust dot org

Originally from New York, Kyle developed a passion for natural history by spending his early years exploring the bays and beaches of Long Island. Sailing, surfing, and fishing established an interest in ecology that would eventually manifest into a vocation. 

In 2017, Kyle relocated to California to work as an AmeriCorps volunteer. In 2022, he graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Environmental Studies. He previously worked for The Nature Conservancy as a conservation steward, and most recently as a research associate for The Great Basin Institute monitoring California Spotted Owls in Sequoia National Forest.

kmorucci at sblandtrust dot org

As the land transaction manager, Kim plays an essential role in planning and managing various aspects of land acquisition efforts, landowner engagement, and grants. Kim brings nearly 20 years of experience in the real estate industry with an emphasis on land acquisition and conservation easement transactions. She worked closely with Save Mount Diablo, an accredited land trust and conservation organization in Northern California.

Recently relocated from the Bay Area, Kim is getting acquainted with her new hometown by exploring Santa Barbara County trails and beaches.

apetro at sblandtrust dot org

Alison holds a dual Masters of Environmental Management and Masters of Forestry from the Nicholas School at Duke University. She previously worked at the Conservation Trust for North Carolina, where she developed a passion for working with landowners and using conservation easements as a tool to protect land. She’s worked in a variety of landscapes over the past ten years-from analyzing salamander habitat in the Southern Appalachians to studying birds in Belize to leading environmental education trips in Marin County, California.

Alison was born in San Francisco and grew up hiking throughout the Coast Range and Sierra Nevada mountains. These trips fueled her love of the outdoors and led her to pursue a career in conservation. Today, she’s excited to be back in California, working to preserve and protect the beautiful landscapes and unique ecosystems of Santa Barbara County.

zrojas at sblandtrust dot org

Originally from Venezuela, Zulima has a degree in engineering. In 2017, she moved to Santa Barbara and decided to pursue her interest in finance and accounting in lieu of engineering. She has a certificate in accounting from Santa Barbara City College and experience managing small businesses. Recently, Zulima volunteered for the United Way preparing tax returns for those needing assistance and greatly enjoys community service and working with numbers. Zulima likes to read, write, and find peaceful places to explore outdoors in her free time.

drothman at sblandtrust dot org

Devin’s lifelong passion for natural spaces has guided his work in land stewardship, ecological research, and environmental education from the midwestern US to New Zealand. He holds a Masters of Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School at University of California, Santa Barbara where he specialized in conservation planning. He comes to the Land Trust after spending the last three years working on community resilience and conservation in the Santa Barbara region at LegacyWorks Group. He is an avid hiker and naturalist, spending much of his time exploring trails across the County and getting acquainted with the unique landscape. At the Land Trust, Devin puts his passion to work for the landscapes and community of Santa Barbra County.

gspencer at sblandtrust dot org

From growing up in Ventura County and making Santa Barbara home, Gavin has cherished the vast beauty of grasslands, craggy sandstone peaks, and briny ocean air their whole life. His love of the region’s natural ecology has led him to work previously for the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden as well as Grounded Land Works, a local landscaping firm specializing in native plant installation. In his downtime, he loves surfing, cooking for friends, and hosting creative writing groups. Gavin is thrilled to work at Arroyo Hondo where he can continue the work of land stewardship while working for better recreational land access for all of Santa Barbara County.

vstowers at sblandtrust dot org

Vanessa grew up in Guadalupe, CA, and is deeply rooted in Santa Barbara County, proudly representing a lineage spanning three generations in area. She has fervently served the community at local organizations such as the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara and various roles at UC Santa Barbara. With a bachelor’s degree in Communications from San Jose State University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach, Vanessa combines her education with hands-on experience in the nonprofit sector. Her passion for community service is matched only by her profound appreciation for the Santa Barbara County landscape.

While residing in Santa Barbara with her husband and two dogs, Vanessa remains connected to the Santa Maria Valley. She enjoys spending her free time with friends and family at the local beaches, wineries, and restaurants in all corners of the county.

sulu at sblandtrust dot org

Sue moved to Santa Barbara 18 years ago. She has quite a diverse work background. Most recently, Sue has worked many years in Office Management and Project Coordination roles. She is happy to be working with The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County and is eager to learn more about the land that she’s been hiking in for so many years.

In her free time, she loves to hike (especially any trails with natural water), visit the beach, go to the gym, and play pickleball.

arroyohondo at sblandtrust dot org

John has a great deal of experience when it comes to managing visitor activities and being responsible for overseeing business planning. John has a degree in Business Administration from California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, California and experience as a Production manager which comes in handy for scheduling and managing large groups of people. In addition to working at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, John has three associate degrees from Santa Barbara City College in Nursery Production and Operations, Landscape Contracting, and Landscape Irrigation and owns his own California native plant nursery, Santa Barbara Natives, since 2003. 

Jennifer is a very social person who has had experience as an event coordinator for Hind, an athletic apparel company in San Luis Obispo, California where she managed and scheduled public events and trade shows. Jennifer is a Registered Nurse who has been working at Cottage Hospital since 2003. She is also a devoted trail runner and explores Arroyo Hondo daily. 

John and Jennifer have been managing the Arroyo Hondo Preserve since 2005.

dwirt at sblandtrust dot org

Dave began his career as an auditor and tax accountant and brings a wealth of experience in accounting, corporate financial planning, analysis, and operations, having worked for both non-profit and for-profit entities. He has a BA in Accounting from Washington State University.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Dave moved to Ventura County in 2022 and enjoys hiking, skiing, and golf.

priparetti at sblandtrust dot org

Patrick's family roots in Santa Barbara reach back to the early 1900s, and that connection to the Central Coast deeply shapes his approach to land stewardship. His work is grounded in the belief that caring for land is a practice shaped by the community, respect for the land, humility in the face of complex living systems, practical skill, and long-term dedication. He was drawn to this organization because of its strong commitment to preserving the unique character and significance of these places, while fostering meaningful, enduring relationships with the communities connected to them.

With more than 15 years of experience, including 11 years leading the Big Sur Land Trust's stewardship team, Patrick has worked at the intersection of preserve stewardship, habitat restoration, public access, and more. As Land Stewardship Director, Patrick brings a field-tested, thoughtful, and collaborative approach to supporting healthy landscapes, resilient stewardship programs, and meaningful connections between people and place.

Outside of work, he enjoys exploring and adventuring in wild places, surfing, leatherworking, ceramics, and spending time with family.