To read an article about our current Board of Trustees, click here. (Also includes a list of our Advisors.)

John Gilchrist — President
John is an environmental scientist and the owner of John Gilchrist & Associates, which emphasizes watershed management, biology, wetland restoration and erosion control. Previously a principal with Habitat Restoration Group and the former Chief Environmental Planner for Santa Cruz County, John is also co-author of a college text, Geologic Hazards, Resources & Environmental Planning.

Cindy R. Rubin — Vice President
Cindy has worked for over 30 years as a public affairs professional in government and in the high technology industry.  She spent most of her private sector career managing IBM’s California advocacy program and the company’s government and community relations program in Silicon Valley.  She has experience in managing corporate local, state and federal government affairs programs, as well as community relations programs, with particular emphasis on environmental philanthropy. Cindy currently heads her own public affairs consulting business. 

Cindy’s volunteer work has included 22 years on the board of Committee for Green Foothills and approximately 10 years on the board of Greenbelt Alliance.  In addition to her board position with the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, she currently participates as a board member for the NOVA Workforce Investment Board.

Lloyd Williams — Secretary
Lloyd, a senior partner in the law firm of Bosso, Williams, Sachs, Atack, Gallagher & Sanford, has been practicing law in Santa Cruz County since 1967, specializing in real estate law with an emphasis in land use and transactions. He is a former board member of the Schools Plus Foundation and the Youth Resource Bank. In addition to the Land Trust, he has provided real estate legal services to various local nonprofits, including the Homeless Services Center, the Homeless Garden Project, Hospice and Dientes.

Melody Sharp — Treasurer
Melody is a website designer and has had her own firm since 1996. She is the author of Getting On Top, a self-help book on career development and is a former business columnist for Shape magazine.  Prior to moving to Santa Cruz in 1981, she was a magazine editor in Los Angeles for several national publications. Her other volunteer work is as a board member for Volunteer Centers of Santa Cruz County, and she is a past board president of the both the Land Trust and Volunteer Centers.

Katherine Beiers
Katherine is retired from UCSC where she was a librarian for 25 years, then retired from the Santa Cruz City Council in 2000, after also serving as Mayor 1995 and 1999.  Katherine has served on many boards in the Santa Cruz community most recently the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County and a long time board member of the Homeless Service Center. 

Val Cole
Information to come...

Harriet Deck
Harriet is a real estate broker and owner of Schooner Realty in Santa Cruz. She is a tireless supporter of public historical and art institutions low-income housing, and homeless services. A former Woman of the Year in Santa Cruz County, she is a board member of Friends of Long Marine Lab and a trustee of the UCSC Foundation.

Cathleen Eckhardt
Information to come...

Bernie Goldner
Bernie began his professional career as a research microbiologist and then made a mid-career change by earning a doctorate in environmental sciences at UCLA. He retired six years ago after working 24 years as head of the Environmental Unit of the Santa Clara Valley Water District. There he specialized in compliance with environmental law and regulations and ecological restoration of natural habitats. He has served as the Fifth District representative on the Santa Cruz County Public Health Commission for the last six years.

Ron Hirsch
Ron is a real estate broker and owner of Hirsch & Associates, which specializes in the sale, exchange and leasing of income property. While serving previously as a senior research analyst with the Employment Development Department, Ron developed a labor market information system that remains in use.

Larry Perlin
Larry is a consulting civil engineer and the former City Manager for the City of Saratoga. He has also served as the Director of Parks and Public Works for the Town of Los Gatos, and Director of Public Works/City Engineer for the Cities of Capitola and Saratoga. A 22-year resident of Santa Cruz County, Larry has additional government experience with the City of Palo Alto and County of Monterey.

Jim Rider
Jim is a grower of organic apples and cut flowers in South County. He is a board member of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau and a member of Action Pajaro Valley.

Suzanne Sheuerman
Suzanne Sheuerman is a Financial Advisor with Smith Barney in San Jose, California.  Suzanne specializes in Wealth Management for high net worth individuals, foundations, endowments, non-profits, institutions, and business owners.  She has been selected to represent Smith Barney as one of 88 “Green” Advisors from over 17,000 advisors nationwide.

Prior to her career in financial advisory Suzanne was President and CEO of ExTerra Credit Recovery, Inc.  Suzanne founded ExTerra in 1997 and grew the firm to $500 million in managed assets in a three-year period.  She has also served as Senior Vice President, Managing Director at Household International.  Additionally, Suzanne sat on the Philanthropic Committee for Household as well as the Audit Committee for the Board of Directors.

Suzanne was twice awarded “Mentor of the Year” awards for her work in identifying and developing talent.  Ms. Sheuerman received her Masters Degree in Management from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.  She sits on two non-profit boards in her community.

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