Staff
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Due to the ongoing pandemic, our staff is working a hybrid model of in-home and at-office. Email continues to be the best way to reach staff quickly.
Executive Team
Eamon O’Byrne
Executive Director
(707) 526-6930 x 104
Eamon O’Byrne
Executive Director
A native of Dublin, Ireland, Eamon holds an honors B.A. in English and History from University College, Dublin. Prior to joining the Sonoma Land Trust, Eamon was the director of The Nature Conservancy’s California Islands Program. He led a multi-disciplinary team of scientists, conservation practitioners and partners focused on the ecological restoration and recovery of the Conservancy’s Santa Cruz Island Preserve. Eamon’s nonprofit career began in 2000 with the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association, first as the education program manager and then as executive director. Eamon is an avid sailor and is married to Stephanie Linder, Executive Director of the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society.
Merrill Hallett
Executive Assistant and Board Liaison
(707) 596-6301 x 838
Merrill Hallett
Executive Assistant and Board Liaison
Merrill comes to her position as Executive Assistant and Board Liaison with extensive experience holding leadership roles in operations, fundraising, and partnership development. She began her leadership training in the “outdoor office” as an adventurer, horse packer, and sled-dog handler, and then transitioned to the non-profit sector to advance climate and conservation solutions. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards and excels in building teams and systems. Merrill holds a Certificate in Executive Leadership from Stanford Graduate School of Business, a Masters in Environmental Management from Western Colorado University, and a Bachelor of Art in Anthropology from University of Colorado, Boulder. In addition to Sonoma County, Merrill has roots in the Sierra Foothills, Northern Rockies, and North Channel of Lake Huron. She lives in Santa Rosa with her husband, son, and two very good dogs.
Acquisitions Team
John McCaull
Land Acquisition Director
(707) 526-6930 x 151
John McCaull
Land Acquisition Director
John has lived in Sonoma since 2005 and joined the Land Trust staff in 2013. His primary focus is on protecting and enhancing the invaluable lands and waters of the Sonoma Valley. John has been practicing law in California since 1990, providing legal, real estate and land use planning services, complemented by over 30 years of lobbying and advocacy in Sacramento for clients and environmental organizations. Joining Sonoma Land Trust has given John a chance to apply lessons learned from numerous conservation success stories and bring them home to benefit the community in Sonoma County.
Joseph Kinyon
GIS Manager
(707) 526-6930 x 118
Joseph Kinyon
GIS Manager
Joseph guides the use of maps and computer-based map information to support the many needs of staff and collaborators telling Sonoma Land Trust’s story of landscape or agricultural conservation. He stewards the main components of our geographic information system, which are people, computers, mapping software, methods of cartography and mapping science, and our spatial data library. He is a certified geographic information systems professional (GISP) holding an MS degree in geographic information systems (GIS) from the University of Redlands with over 15 years of GIS work experience.
Communications Team
Gina Fabiano
Director of Marketing & Media Relations
707-526-6930 x 111
Gina Fabiano
Director of Marketing & Media Relations
Entrepreneurial, creative, and strategic, Gina has extensive experience crafting successful marketing, communications, branding, and public/media relations campaigns in a wide array of industries ranging from non-profits to entertainment to Wall Street. Gina is a skilled communicator and strategist who deploys tactics that naturally connect with targeted stakeholders, and she excels at translating complex ideas into relatable stories that reach large and diverse audiences. She believes that relationship building is the key to fostering authentic connections, inspiring positive action, and creating lasting change. A Jersey girl who now calls Petaluma home, Gina is an ardent environmentalist, cyclist, and jazz lover who finds solace and joy in nature’s beauty.
Emily Summerlin
Digital Marketing Manager
(707) 526-6930 x 834
Emily Summerlin
Digital Marketing Manager
Coming to Sonoma Land Trust with almost a decade of nonprofit communications experience, Emily believes that creative, authentic storytelling is key to expanding audiences and driving transformational change. She brings knowledge of strategic campaign design, a commitment to authentic relationship-building, and a deep love of writing and editing to the team. As a lifelong environmentalist, Emily is thrilled to work within her community to champion ecosystem health, conservation, and climate resilience. Emily is an avid reader and a passionate cook and baker and loves to spend as much time as possible exploring the beauty of Sonoma County with her dog.
Community Engagement Team
Neal Ramus
Director of Community Engagement and Education
(707) 526-6930 x 133
Neal Ramus
Director of Community Engagement and Education
Neal leads organizational efforts to broaden audiences, serve community needs, and include a multitude of voices and interests in the work of Sonoma Land Trust. As a born-and-raised Petaluman, Neal has a deep connection with the lands, people and diversity of Sonoma County, which informs his approach and work engaging the community. Neal previously led community program development at the California Academy of Sciences, Petaluma Wildlife Museum and Sonoma State University’s Center for Environmental Inquiry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology, with a minor in paleontology, and a master’s degree in business administration from Sonoma State University.
Mirella Ramos
Bilingual Youth Programs Manager
(707) 526-6930 x 146
Mirella Ramos
Bilingual Youth Programs Manager
At the Land Trust, Mirella’s role is developing and coordinating in- and out-of-school time programs for youth audiences through culturally relevant and accessible programming. They also play a major role in reaching Latine and Spanish-speaking communities through partnerships and collaboration. Mirella is reconnecting to their family’s indigenous roots in El Salvador and is a first generation college graduate with a BA in Mass Communication from Sam Houston State University. Before joining the Land Trust, they worked for trail crews for the California Conservation Corps, National Park Service and Forest Service, most recently at Saguaro National Park where they coordinated field work, environmental education and youth development for Saguaro’s Youth Conservation Corps.
Ingrid Stearns
Public Programs Manager
(707) 526-6930 x 114
Ingrid Stearns
Public Programs Manager
Ingrid designs and manages Sonoma Land Trust’s public programs, which connects people to our diversity of protected lands across a variety of ecosystems. You’ll often see her out on hikes exploring the wildflowers and identifying the native plants on the landscape. A dedicated mother of a young child, Ingrid brings her love of the natural world to her everyday interactions with others. She holds a BA in environmental studies and planning from Sonoma State University and an AS in business from Shasta College.
Kylie Kerr
Youth Programs Assistant
(707)596-6301 x 837
Kylie Kerr
Youth Programs Assistant
Kylie brings a strong science background, passion for the natural world, and diverse array of experience in youth education to her role on the community engagement team. Having held positions as a teaching assistant, research volunteer, and as the youth chair of the Petaluma City Youth Commission, Kylie is deeply rooted in our community. She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Environmental Earth and Soil Sciences, and Marine Sciences, and her knowledge of GIS mapping, data management, and soil testing will enhance the scientific rigor of our Conservation Council program. Kylie has a California State Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, and in her free time, she loves to read, cross-stitch, hike, picnic, and volunteer at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito.
Finance & Administration Team
Joe Rizzo
Director of Finance & Administration
(707) 526-6930 x 107
Joe Rizzo
Director of Finance & Administration
Joe possesses over 25 years’ experience in financial leadership and human resources, including working in nonprofits for the last 10 years. After several years in for-profit businesses, he joined Judevine Center for Autism as chief operating officer in 2004. The organization grew by over 50 percent during his first four years to become the largest provider of Autism services in the Midwest, eventually merging with another organization to form Easter Seals Midwest. He comes to Sonoma Land Trust from Buckelew Programs, a behavioral health services nonprofit. Joe is a resident of Petaluma.
Kirti Bavdekar
Senior Accountant
(707) 526-6930 x 121
Kirti Bavdekar
Senior Accountant
Kirti is responsible for a range of financial and accounting duties that are essential to the maintenance and reliability of our accounting systems. Prior to joining Sonoma Land Trust, she worked with nonprofits in the childcare, mental health and health care industries. She has a master’s degree in accounting and finance, and a diploma in HR management. Kirti is a native of Mumbai, India and has called Santa Rosa home for 15 years. She loves our nature-rich Sonoma County.
Frances Lum
Staff Accountant
(707) 526-6930 x 102
Frances Lum
Staff Accountant
Frances joined the Sonoma Land Trust staff in May 2016. As staff accountant, she supports the finance team by performing bookkeeping duties. Prior to joining the Land Trust, she worked in accounting and human resources for a local community bank. Raised in Santa Rosa, Frances is inspired by the beauty of Sonoma County; she feels fortunate to be involved in supporting the Land Trust’s work in preservation and conservation of land and nature for future generations to enjoy and treasure.
Operations Team
Melissa Frediani
Operations Director
(707) 526-6930 x 141
Melissa Frediani
Operations Director
As the operations director for Sonoma Land Trust, Melissa is the liaison to the board of directors managing various board activities, as well as supporting the work of the management team. Melissa has called Santa Rosa home for over 20 years and her husband comes from multiple generations rooted in Sonoma County. Raising their two teenage children with a solid appreciation for the great outdoors has always been a priority. Prior to working at Sonoma Land Trust, Melissa had a 20-year career in the medical industry in sales, marketing and product development. She is excited to have made a career shift to follow her passion and be involved with an organization that makes a significant positive community impact.
Annya Maskey
Operations Manager
707-526-6930 x154
Annya Maskey
Operations Manager
Annya has called Sonoma County home for over 20 years. For more than 10 years she worked on small farms in northern Santa Rosa and Dry Creek Valley, as well as many years’ experience applying that knowledge in local farm to table restaurants. Prior to SLT, she was the executive assistant to the Executive Director of a fair housing organization. She is passionate about mitigating climate change with a social justice lens and conserving the beauty of our local ecosystems. She spends her time raising her daughter, gardening and painting.
Philanthropy Team
Shannon Nichols
Director of Philanthropy
(707) 526-6930 x 140
Shannon Nichols
Director of Philanthropy
As director of philanthropy, Shannon helps people further their values by contributing to the work of Sonoma Land Trust. She has more than 20 years of fundraising experience and has led annual and major gift campaigns benefiting land preservation and conservation, social change grant-making and higher education. Shannon moved to California in 2008 from her home state of Maine, where she first fell in love with wild and quiet places. She now lives in Windsor and enjoys spending time with her family and keeping up with the hummingbirds who visit her feeders.
Natasha Bacci
Donor Relations Manager
(707) 526-6930 x 130
Natasha Bacci
Donor Relations Manager
In her role, Natasha engages supporters and friends of Sonoma Land Trust with our work, either through events and communications or out on the land. Prior to Sonoma Land Trust, Natasha worked at The Trust for Public Land where she helped manage the California advisory board and the national organization’s statewide fundraising program for protecting land and creating parks. As a native of Sonoma County, she is excited to be bringing her experience back to her local community and helping the region become more resilient to the changing climate. In her free time, Natasha enjoys sailing, standup paddle-boarding, hiking, traveling and visiting all the beautiful places Sonoma County has to offer.
Melissa Bennett
Development Program Manager
(707) 526-6930 x 108
Melissa Bennett
Development Program Manager
As development program manager, Melissa is responsible for growing and sustaining Sonoma Land Trust’s membership program. She brings almost a decade of experience working in development at environmental nonprofits in the Bay Area, including the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Melissa is a Sonoma County native, having grown up in Bodega Bay, and is thrilled to be back working to support this area and the community that she loves. In her spare time, you’ll find her exploring the outdoors — hiking and camping, gardening and visiting with friends and family.
Shawnalee Pusey
CRM Database Administrator
(707) 526-6930 x 832
Shawnalee Pusey
CRM Database Administrator
Shawnalee brings more than 15 years of development systems and operations experience to Sonoma Land Trust. She excels at creating and executing successful fundraising campaigns, implementing tools to improve operations, and revamping supporter cultivation and stewardship programs. With extensive knowledge and mastery of content management systems, she has brought her best practices and sophisticated reporting experience from her previous employment in the higher education, healthcare and social service sectors. Shawnalee supports several organizations whose mission is to address children’s needs, including housing and food insecurity. She enjoys live music, tennis, gardening, traveling, and spending time with her “little” through the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.
Melissa “Shay” Lozano
Philanthropy Operations Associate
(707) 526-6930 x 835
Melissa “Shay” Lozano
Philanthropy Operations Associate
Shay comes to Sonoma Land Trust with a wide range of experience, including nonprofit program management, environmental restoration, land conservation planning, field data collection, and community health work. She was born and raised in Sonoma County and is excited to be working to support projects in her own backyard. A recent UC Davis grad with a BS in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning, Shay bring data analysis, organization, and collaboration skills to her role on the philanthropy team. Along with her passion for natural resource conservation, Shay loves sewing, knitting, and taking walks with her dog.
Public Policy and Funding Team
Ariana Rickard
Public Policy and Funding Program Manager
(707) 526-6930 x 153
Ariana Rickard
Public Policy and Funding Program Manager
Ariana works with state and federal agencies and legislators to ensure that the Land Trust’s programs and projects receive adequate funding and support. Ariana has worked for several federal government agencies, including the Peace Corps in Ecuador, and numerous environmental nonprofits, such as Audubon California and the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture. She earned her BA from Harvard College in Environmental Science and Public Policy and her MS from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with a focus on Ecology. In 2020, she co-founded the Bay Area chapter of Environmental Professionals of Color to increase equity, diversity and inclusion within the Bay Area’s environmental community.
Stewardship Team
Kyle Pinjuv
Acting Stewardship Director | Conservation Easement Program Manager
(707) 526-6930 x 123
Kyle Pinjuv
Acting Stewardship Director | Conservation Easement Program Manager
As conservation easement program manager, Kyle works closely with colleagues, landowners and partners to manage Sonoma Land Trust’s conservation easement properties. He was raised in Reno, Nevada and then moved to Washington State where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental studies at The Evergreen State College. His graduate studies led him to work in a variety of locations, including Washington, Alaska, New Mexico and Maine, before returning to the West Coast to work for the Land Trust in 2015. Kyle enjoys exploring and photographing the landscapes and wildlife of each area he’s called home.
Chris Carlson
Sonoma Valley Stewardship Program Manager
(707) 526-6930 x 120
Chris Carlson
Sonoma Valley Stewardship Program Manager
Chris manages Sonoma Valley preserves and leads SLTs effort to live with wildfire, keeping forests and communities safe. Chris joined the land trust in 2022, after working as a restoration project manager in the Sacramento delta region. He has worked across the western US monitoring and studying natural resources, including wildfire response to thinning in the Sierra Nevada. When he isn’t gardening or mushroom hunting, Chris stays busy chasing young twin boys and exploring the biodiversity of Sonoma County with his partner. Chris has a BA in geography from the University of Oregon, and an MS in Forestry from the University of Montana.
Shanti Edwards
Stewardship Senior Project Manager
(707) 526-6930 x 116
Shanti Edwards
Stewardship Senior Project Manager
Shanti Edwards manages Sonoma Land Trust’s coastal preserves. Current land management projects involve collaborations with partner groups, agricultural producers, private foundations, neighbors and volunteers to implement a variety of natural resource management, infrastructure maintenance, recreation planning and community engagement activities. Shanti graduated from Sonoma State University with a BA in environmental studies. Born and raised in Northern California, she has lived in Sonoma County for over 20 years. When she’s not busy stewarding our iconic coastal properties, she enjoys time with her lively preschool-age boy and the rich experiences that family life entails.
Melina Hammar
Stewardship Senior Project Manager
(707) 526-6930 x 115
Melina Hammar
Stewardship Senior Project Manager
Melina manages Sonoma Land Trust’s preserves in the Russian River watershed. Her love of the outdoors and the critters that inhabit it led her to pursue a career in conservation. Prior to joining the Land Trust, Melina worked for the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation + Open Space District. She holds a BA in environmental studies and planning, with a minor in biology, from Sonoma State University and an AS in natural science from Santa Rosa Junior College. In her free time, Melina enjoys experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, tending to her garden and exploring new places.
Julian Meisler
Baylands Program Manager
(707) 526-6930 x 109
Julian Meisler
Baylands Program Manager
Julian focuses on conservation of the Baylands region of southern Sonoma County. He is particularly interested in understanding and connecting tidal and upland landscapes to accommodate future sea level rise — work that enables him to work with many partners in conservation, transportation, agriculture and more. Julian lives in Santa Rosa with his family and, when not at work, he loves to ride, hike, ski and surf as much as possible. Julian holds a BS degree from Colorado State University and an MS degree from the University of Vermont.
Joe Plaugher
Stewardship Project Manager
(707) 526-6930 x 152
Joe Plaugher
Stewardship Project Manager
A West Sonoma County native who grew up among the redwoods, Joe stewards our Sonoma Valley preserves and serves as coordinator for the Sonoma Valley Wildlands Collaborative. Joe has a bachelor’s in political science from Pacific University, is working towards a Natural Resources Management certificate and is an active volunteer in support of ecologically beneficial prescribed fire with the Good Fire Alliance. Prior to joining the Land Trust, he worked in political campaigns and public policy, most recently as a field representative for Rep. Mike Thompson. Joe has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, worked as a whitewater rafting guide, is an avid cyclist and is happiest sleeping out under the stars.
Tom Tolliver
Stewardship Project Manager
(707) 526-6930 x 148
Tom Tolliver
Stewardship Project Manager
Tom’s early interest in all things outdoors led him to start his college education in the natural sciences and then meander over to the social sciences to earn a sociology degree at Cal State Long Beach. His nonprofit administration work was in youth development, but, later, he found greater satisfaction in construction and project management. That, coupled with a deep interest in wildlife and their habitats, led him to work for many years as an independent contractor completing numerous projects for Sonoma Land Trust. Today, he’s helping to rebuild the infrastructure on Sonoma Land Trust’s burned preserves.