Board of Trustees

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Jenny Hutchinson, President
​Jenny Hutchinson has been a board member since 2014 and is currently employed as a Botanist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Arcata and formerly worked for the California Department of Transportation and Green Diamond Resource Company. A two-time graduate of Humboldt State University, Jenny holds degrees in Wildlife Management and Biology and also volunteers with the North Coast Chapter of the California Native Plant Society and Companion Animal Foundation. When she is not volunteering, Jenny enjoys spending time with her pets, gardening, hiking, reading, and spreading enthusiasm for native plants. "My family instilled in me a deep connection to the natural world and my uncle, in particular, inspired me to actively participate in land conservation at the local level. TCLT was a natural fit and the active role that this board shares routinely affirms my personal drive to give back to the community and champion protection of our awe-inspiring coastline."

Richard Johnson, Vice President
As a 16-year resident of the Trinidad area, Richard enjoys spending time on the local beaches and trails. When not volunteering for TCLT, Richard and his wife Cindy enjoy traveling, and spending time with their local family and friends.  Richard also volunteers for other non-profit organizations and agencies.  In his spare time, Richard enjoys music and being outdoors as much as possible. “One of the great opportunities of my time in Trinidad has been working with TCLT. Helping to preserve and maintain this incredibly beautiful area has been a highlight of my experience here. I lived most of my adult life along the Southern California coast, and when the opportunity arose to leave the aerospace industry, the pristine coastline of the Trinidad area was the logical choice.”

Matthew Marshall, Treasurer
Matthew is the Executive Director of the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, a joint powers agency of Humboldt County local governments dedicated to implementing sustainable energy initiatives in the region.  A graduate of Humboldt State University, Matthew serves on the board of directors of several local non-profits, including the Trinidad Museum Society, the Redwood Parks Conservancy, the Eureka Chamber of Commerce, and the Humboldt Folklife Society.  He plays the bagpipes with the Humboldt Highlanders Pipe Band and is an Assistant Chief of the Westhaven Volunteer Fire Department. 

​Don Allan, Secretary
Don has lived in the Trinidad area since 1983, drawn here by the beauty of the coast line, the climate, the quaint charm of the town, and the many opportunities for outdoor adventures. His interests include backpacking, kayaking, photography, playing music, and walking from his house to the many amazing beaches. "I spent most of my career working in salmon restoration and trail building and the Trinidad coast line has been the perfect place for me to pursue my interests in trail building and studying natural processes. I have been a board member of the Trinidad Coastal Land Trust since 2004 and have been impressed by the caliber of our holdings, board members, volunteers, and more recently our paid staff. I embrace the TCLT mission and enjoy talking to the public about our mission and our projects, past and present."

Charles Netzow
Charles is a retired builder and has spent the last twenty years enjoying the outdoors, beaches, rivers, and trails around the Trinidad area.  He particularly enjoy helping maintain our TCLT trails to the local beaches and then making sure to walk them. The sights, smells, and sounds he experiences on his daily walks never cease to amaze him and he is grateful to have found a way to give back to the community by serving on our board of trustees.  

Diana Smeloff
Diana has lived in Trinidad since 2015, and she volunteers with multiple organizations including Seawood Estate Mutual Water Co, (Treasurer), Trinidad Coastal Land Trust (Fundraising & Outreach), and Richmond Rosie the Riveter/WWII National Historical Park (Docent and Spanish Translator). Following 31 years of State civil service, Diana retired in 2012 as a Tax Administrator from the Bay Area Collection Office. Prior, Diana gained expertise in workforce development programs, marketing, event planning and fundraising throughout her career with New York not-for-profits (1997-2001) and State of California (1985-2001) holding positions such as Programs Director for SER of Westchester, Inc., Assistant Director for TEC Brooklyn, and Project Manager/Sr. Program Analyst, Marketing Coordinator & Legislative Analyst, and State Job Training Coordinating Council (Governor appointed). Diana’s hobbies include kayaking, hiking, traveling, photography, and reading.

Bryce Kenny
​​Bryce is a former Mayor of Trinidad and a semi-retired attorney. He moved to Humboldt County in 1974 to attend Humboldt State University, and decided to stay. He settled in Trinidad because of the spectacular natural scenery and small town ambiance. His hobbies include surfing, so he has always appreciated TCLT’s role in facilitating access to Moonstone Beach. He also enjoys many other outdoor recreation activities that are easily accessible in Humboldt County. He is involved in the Land Trust because of its bedrock role in providing access to and protecting the priceless coastal resources that abound in the Trinidad area. He is married to Gail Kenny, and they raised two children in Trinidad, Reed and Heather, who are now pursuing master’s degrees at Cal Poly, and William and Mary, in Virginia.

Shirley Laos
Shirley is an enrolled tribal member at Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria, and is of Yurok, Karuk and Chetco descent. She spent her childhood on the Rancheria and continues to reside there, having raised her two children in a cultural environment, she now continues tribal traditions with her five grandchildren. Shirley earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Native American Studies and Elementary Education from Humboldt State University with a minor in Indian Education. She has served 28 years on the Tribal Council in several positions, beginning as Member at Large, advancing to Secretary-Treasurer, and finishing her Council service as Vice-Chair. Shirley currently is employed by the tribe as Governmental Affairs Coordinator as well as representing the tribe in various capacities, including the United Indian Health Services Board of Directors, the West Coast Ocean Alliance, Humboldt State University Native American Advisory Council, and the Bureau of Land Management’s Trinidad Gateway Committee. She also is the current Board President of the Clarke Historical Museum in Eureka, CA and a member of the Board of Directors for Trinidad Coastal Land Trust. As a tribal elder and cultural educator, Shirley coordinates and presents cultural events through school presentations, museum docent tours and youth training programs.

Sherri Provolt
Sherry is a lifelong resident of Trinidad where she still resides with her children and grandchildren. She has thirty years of experience working in rural communities with a focus on education and health. She attended Humboldt State University through the Indian Teacher Education and Personnel Program (ITEPP) obtaining a Master of Arts Degree in Education and a California Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential. She currently works at Humboldt State University in the Early Outreach Program Department providing college and career guidance to high school students. Sherri is also a member of the Yurok Tribe and has served as the Orick Councilmember since 2018. As a Councilmember, she has worked closely with State and National Parks protecting cultural sites and assisting with the development of interpretative centers. She is a gatherer, traditional dress maker, and loves to spend time hiking and traveling. 

​Michelle Forys
Michelle has been a resident of Trinidad since 2003 and has lived in Humboldt County since 1993. A Humboldt State University graduate, with a degree in Wildlife Management Michelle began her career with California State Parks as a Park Aide at Patrick’s Point State Park in 1996. Now an Environmental Scientist, Michelle has developed and manages the Invasive Species Program for the North Coast Redwood District. Michelle enjoys spending time gardening, hiking, and travelling with her husband.     

Not pictured:
Andrew Hagen

Staff

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Executive Director, Carol Vander Meer
Carol Vander Meer has an BA and MS in biology and a broad range of experiences working as a naturalist and in nonprofit management. Her experience includes working as a park ranger at Redwood National Park, Education Director at the HSU Natural History museum, Executive Director of the Friends of the Dunes from 2004 to 2015 and a nonprofit consultant focused on board development, strategic planning and fundraising. Carol lives in Manila along the shores of Humboldt Bay with her husband Steven. When the tide is high, they enjoy paddling the waters of the bay and up into the Mad River Slough.

Senior Project Manager, Ben Morehead​
Ben graduated from Humboldt State in 1996, then again in 1999 with his Masters, fell in love with the landscapes here, and never left. He has worked in the non-profit land trust conservation field for over 20 years and has successfully managed conservation easement and acquisition projects on wild and working landscapes from 5 acres to 8,000 acres. He has been TCLT’s Executive Director since 2016 and was a volunteer board member for ten years prior. Ben lives in Trinidad with his wife Ananda and three kids. He enjoys hiking, surfing, gardening and family time.  

Stewardship Assistant, Tim Haywood
Tim is the creator and co-founder of PacOut Green Team, founder and president of the Humboldt Northcoast Stewardship, a 2018 American Red Cross Northern California Environment Hero, and a 37 year cancer survivor. His primary goal is to bring our local coastline back to its natural state and to keep it that way. As well as to inspire others to do the same, by setting a good example for sustainable living, environment stewardship and by education through community outreach.

Project and Programs Manager Intern, Michelle Kunst
Michelle grew up with a deep connection to California's coastal communities - both human and wild. Michelle is a graduate of Humboldt State University with a degree in Environmental Science and Management, with an emphasis in Interpretation and Education. She's spent several seasons teaching children and adults how to kayak and introducing them to her beloved coastal ecosystems and the critters that call those places their home. She's worked as a naturalist in Kachemak Bay, connecting people to the importance of Alaska's cultural and natural coastal communities. Michelle has also been involved in myriad educational settings in the Humboldt Bay Area; from substitute teaching, to organizing youth aquatic programs and curriculum, as well as facilitating field trips for Friends of the Dunes.