An image that captures the beauty and the soul of the Gaviota Coast conveys a powerful message that this landscape is worth protecting. We're inviting everyone to send us their best original photographs of the Gaviota Coast during the month […]
Peter is Chairman of the Apollo Group and a co-founder and Chairman of CallWave, Inc. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from UCSB and his MBA from the University of Phoenix.
Nate has been intimately involved in various tech businesses and wants to give back. He is dedicated to building, leading, and scaling companies, organizations, and solutions that help address the climate crisis, advance circularity or promote conservation.
A 6th generation steward of the Orella Ranch in Gaviota, Guner has been a GCC board member for more than 13 years and served on the Gaviota Planning Advisory Committee. He and his family run Gaviota Givings, an agricultural business.
Kathy grew up in Southern California and was a city planner in Orange County. She then moved to Washington DC and managed programs at the EPA, Office of Coastal Zone Management in NOAA, and Department of the Interior, where she was Director of International Affairs for 20 years. She retired to Santa Barbara in 2012.
Greg earned his first “paycheck” at age 10 by diving for coins in the emerald waters of Catalina Island. He moved from Redondo Beach to attend UCSB in 1970 and stayed. GCC provides him the perfect opportunity to give back so others might experience the beautiful environment that he knows daily.
Michelle brings a unique lens as a locally-raised, young immigrant from the Philippines, more than a decade of environmental education experience in the museum setting, and extensive volunteer work as a leader in other environmental organizations. She works on environment-related policy and local issues in the California State Legislature.
Phil discovered the Gaviota Coast as a student at UCSB and was captivated by it. It is his intention that his grandchildren can experience our coastal lands as he was privileged to do. He joined the boar adt GCC in 1998 and was president for two years. He recently retired from financial consulting.
Mike has worked in business and environmental management over the last 35 years in federal, state, and local government agencies. He also established an internal sustainability program at Patagonia. A partner at Brown Wilmanns Environmental, LLC, he has been involved for nearly four decades in community work, including Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, SBCAN, and the Environmental Defense Center.
Steve Forsell has lived in Santa Barbara since 1968 where he attended UCSB. He owned a successful Santa Barbara real estate appraisal company for 30 years in Santa Barbara and is now retired. After being introduced to GCC, he became a board member in 2011. He is currently the President of GCC and Chair of the Outreach Committee. He previously served as Vice President.
A native Southern Californian, Donna grew up appreciating the importance of public beach and coastal access. A retired Orthopaedic Physician’s Assistant, she is a Montecito Planning Commissioner and volunteers with the Naples Coalition, the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County and the Sierra Club.
Greg joined the GCC board in 2020, having served on the Naples Coalition for several years. As Fisheries Program Manager at the Ocean Conservancy, he is responsible for ecosystem protection in Southern California. Previously, he was Community Affairs Director for the Environmental Defense Center, where he mobilized the community on coastal protections.
Trained as an early childhood educator at UCSB, Janet taught at Goleta Head Start before becoming Director of the Cornelia Moore Foundation, which focused on early childhood dental care and hygiene. She later joined a small local importing company supporting Zapotec weavers. In 2007, after volunteering for the Naples Coalition, she became Administrator for the Coalition and for Gaviota Coast Conservancy.
Josie Gonella joined the Gaviota Coast Conservancy in 2024, bringing experience in project coordination and a passion for environmental protection. A Santa Barbara native, Josie grew up exploring the Gaviota Coast and has cherished the beauty and outdoor adventure the Gaviota Coast has to offer ever since. She earned her degree in Political Science from the University of San Diego, where she focused her senior thesis on the intersection of corporate interests and environmental conservation. Josie has worked with three different startups, including a tech company where she honed her project management skills. Her background gives her the adaptability to thrive in dynamic environments and a strong belief in finding sustainable solutions that support both innovation and conservation.
Ingrid “Allie” Cole is GCC's Educational Programs Manager, bringing a rare blend of marine science insight, environmental data expertise, and event management skills to the team.
A Santa Barbara native, Allie grew up exploring the very bluffs and tidepools GCC now protects, sparking a lifelong commitment to coastal stewardship. She earned her B.A. in Marine Science from Boston University, completing an honors thesis on larval-fish distributions in the Phoenix Islands. She returned to Santa Barbara to pursue a Master of Environmental Data Science from UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, where she focused on utilizing advanced analytics and GIS to address conservation challenges.
Jesse Sleamaker is a systems-minded strategist with a background in landscape architecture, environmental policy, and mission-driven leadership. As Interim Operations Director at Gaviota Coast Conservancy, he helps align day-to-day operations with long-term conservation goals—supporting everything from watershed restoration and public engagement to fundraising, events, and internal systems.
Jesse holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Washington and an MPhil in Geography from the University of Cambridge. His research has focused on sustainable urban development and conservation.
At GCC, Jesse brings a deep respect for place and a practical, interdisciplinary approach to stewarding Rancho Tajiguas and the broader Gaviota Coast.
Before joining GCC’s staff in November 2023, Ana served as legal counsel for GCC, working on myriad efforts to protect the Gaviota Coast dating back to 2007. She came to Santa Barbara County to attend UCSB in 1998, pursuing dual degrees in biology and philosophy. After a 3-year stint in San Francisco to earn her law degree from UC Law SF (formerly UC Hastings), Ana put down roots in West Goleta, where she and her family can enjoy all that the Gaviota Coast has to offer.
Doug Kern brings more than three decades of conservation leadership to his role as Executive Director of the Gaviota Coast Conservancy. With a deep commitment to land stewardship and a collaborative approach to conservation, Doug feels honored to help safeguard one of California’s most iconic coastal landscapes.
Before joining GCC, Doug served as Director of Conservation for the Mendocino Land Trust, where he led projects to restore salmon-bearing streams, manage old-growth redwood forests, and improve public access across hundreds of acres of protected land. He worked hand-in-hand with landowners and local communities to conserve working lands, monitor conservation easements, and implement regenerative land management practices.
Earlier in his career, Doug served as Executive Director of the Urban Watershed Project at the Presidio of San Francisco, where he integrated ecological restoration with public education and access in a major urban national park.
Today, Doug is leading GCC through a pivotal moment in its history, guiding the transformation of Rancho Tajiguas—a newly protected 3,272-acre property—into a model for conservation, education, and community-based stewardship. Grateful for the opportunity to serve this extraordinary coastline, Doug remains focused on fostering partnerships, restoring ecosystems, and protecting the Gaviota Coast for generations to come.
