Board of Directors
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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." |
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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.” |
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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. |
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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." |
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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. |
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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 Council member since 2018. As a Council member, 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. |
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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. |
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Jennifer Savage
Jennifer learned to surf at Camel Rock many, many years ago, and has retained a deep love for the Trinidad area since. She currently works for the California Ocean Protection Council as the agency's policy and communications manager but is best known around Humboldt for her years working as a Humboldt County reporter, radio show host and efforts to promote ocean conservation. She and her husband raised three children in Manila, where they've resided for 19 years. |
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Aiko Michot
Aiko first became involved with TCLT by attending guided walks and participating in the Seabird Community Science Program. These experiences have really opened her eyes to the importance of protecting public access and the unique biodiversity found on the Trinidad coastline. Aiko also serves as a science high school teacher and mindfulness instructor. She is passionate about environmental activism and works enthusiastically with students in developing their voices to advocate for a more sustainable future. During her summers, she enjoys volunteering as a research assistant supporting biologists in the field. |
Not pictured:
Andrew Hagan, Treasurer
Deserie Donae
Andrew Hagan, Treasurer
Deserie Donae
Staff
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Michelle Kunst | Executive Director
Michelle grew up with a deep connection to California's coastal communities - both human and wild. She graduated from Humboldt State University with a degree in Environmental Science and Management, and an emphasis in 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 Alaska, connecting people to 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, and leading field trips for Friends of the Dunes. Michelle started her time with TCLT as an Education Assistant and then as a Programs and Project Manager. |
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Carol Vander Meer | Special Projects Manager
Carol 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. |
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Ben Morehead | Senior Project Manager
Ben graduated from Humboldt State University 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. Ben served as TCLT’s Executive Director from 2016 to 2020 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. |
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Jody Smith | Administrative Manager
Jody grew up on Florida's southeast coast, where she developed a deep love and respect for the ocean. She earned her BA in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz. Jody is currently a graduate student at Cal Poly Humboldt in the Environment & Community program, earning her MA. Her thesis focuses on Indigenous perspective on Kelp forest decline and restoration in Humboldt and Del Norte County. She is passionate about ocean and climate solutions and believes that successful coastal management and climate solutions must be designed alongside historically marginalized groups to create coastal community resilience in the face of climate change. She is excited to be working for an organization focused on giving back to the community and creating inclusive outdoor spaces. She enjoys tide pooling, creating seaweed art, and playing with her dogs at the beach during her spare time. |
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Zoe Ziegler | Coastal Stewardship Coordinator
Zoe grew up in Humboldt and along the Trinidad Coast and is honored to give back to the place that helped shape her stewardship ethic and love for the outdoors. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Environmental Biology and is now pursuing her career in sustainable management of natural and working lands. Since leaving home, she has worked on multiple organic farms and in environmental education, and is gaining experience in fisheries research and management. Now, she brings her passion for uniting communities and nature back to her work with the Trinidad Coastal Land Trust through stewardship of land trust properties, volunteer coordination, and public engagement. When she is not in Trinidad, she is working at DeepSeeded Community Farm or playing in the oceans, forests, and rivers of Northern Humboldt. |
