![\"Bornarth](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Bornarth-8535.jpg\" "\\"Bornarth")
\n\t\n\tEmail Sara<\/a>, (650) 949-1453 x201<\/p>\n Sara Barth joined Sempervirens Fund in 2016 after 12 years working in leadership positions at The Wilderness Society (TWS), most recently as Senior Regional Director for the Pacific and Southeast regions. Sara oversaw TWS efforts to protect wildlands around the country, including successfully preserving over 1 million acres of federal land in California, and she completed a major climate adaptation project for the organization. Prior to TWS, Sara served as an environmental advisor to U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer in Washington, D.C. Her other professional experience includes working for the National Wildlife Federation and the World Wildlife Fund on U.S. land and wildlife policy. Sara holds a B.A. in Biopsychology from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Email David<\/a>, (650) 949-1189<\/p>\n David Cowman joined Sempervirens Fund in 2024 as Director of Land Stewardship. He is a California Registered Professional Forester with a decade of experience in natural resource management in the Santa Cruz Mountains. David has led large-scale restoration and wildfire resiliency projects throughout the region in collaboration with both private and public partners. Before joining Sempervirens, he served as District Forester at the San Mateo Resource Conservation District and worked for five years in the Natural Resource Management program at the Santa Cruz District of California State Parks. David holds a Master of Science degree from San Jose State University, where his research focused on the effects of prescribed fire on old-growth coast redwood ecosystems in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz. At Sempervirens Fund, David leads the land stewardship program, overseeing restoration and management across Sempervirens’ properties and conservation easements.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Email Rachel<\/a>, (650) 949-1453 x226<\/p>\n Rachel Dann joined Sempervirens Fund in 2023 as their Director of Government Relations after over 20 years as an aide and key advisor to elected officials in Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay Area. Rachel worked for Congressmembers Sam Farr and Jimmy Panetta and served sixteen years with the Third District Supervisor’s office in Santa Cruz County as Analyst for Supervisor Neal Coonerty and Chief of Staff for Supervisor Ryan Coonerty. She was appointed to the Santa Cruz County Planning Commission in 2007 and served the commission until 2022. While with the Third District, Rachel worked on land use and policy issues, most notably as a key liaison between the north coast community and government during the National Monument designation for the Cotoni-Coast Dairies property. Rachel received a B.A. in History from UC Berkeley and an M.A. in History from UCSC and serves as a Board member for the Santa Cruz Symphony.\u00a0 Rachel lives in Santa Cruz and loves hiking in the redwoods and walking on the beach, sometimes on the same day.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Email Laura<\/a>, (650) 949-1453 x206<\/p>\n Laura McLendon is the Director of Land Conservation at Sempervirens Fund. She joined Sempervirens in 2006, and has spent the majority of her career working on land conservation projects that protect and restore redwood forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains. As Director of Land Conservation, Laura oversees all land acquisition and strategic conservation projects, as well as the stewardship and care of all of Sempervirens’ properties and conservation easements. Previously, Laura worked at The International Ecotourism Society in Washington, D.C., and in the environmental education department of the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens. Laura holds a B.A. in Human Biology and M.A. in Anthropological Sciences with concentrations in environmental science, policy, and resource management from Stanford University. Laura is a native Californian, professional visual artist, and currently resides in San Francisco, California.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Email Julie<\/a>, (650) 949-1453 x212<\/p>\n Julie Seelen joined Sempervirens Fund in 2018 as Associate Director of Philanthropic Engagement. She comes to Sempervirens Fund with more than a decade of experience working locally in the land trust community, including many years as the Development Director for Save Mount Diablo. More recently she was with California Trout and The Fund for People in Parks. She serves on the Board of Directors for Las Trampas-an organization supporting adults with developmental disabilities-and holds an active CFRE fundraising credential. In her spare time, she wanders in Redwood Regional Park and is looking forward to explore the trails among the redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Julie has a Master’s degree in Architecture and Building Construction from the University of Technology in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Email Matthew<\/a>, (650) 949-1453 x217<\/p>\n Matt Shaffer joined Sempervirens Fund in 2020. For more than two decades Matt has worked with national and local nonprofits and foundations to advance brand, marketing, and communications strategies, and align and improve organizational priorities and health. Most recently he has served as Director of Marketing for The Trust for Public Land, Senior Brand Strategist with Mission Minded, and Vice President of Marketing for the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation. He is non-native to California, but has been a low-impact invasive resident in San Francisco and Marin County since 1996. He earned his Masters from San Francisco State University.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Email Claire<\/a>, (650) 949-1453 x505<\/p>\n Claire SunSpiral joined Sempervirens Fund in 2024 as the Chief Financial Officer. They are a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with more than 20 years of experience working with a wide range of nonprofit organizations in the Bay Area and hold a B.S. in International Economics with a Minor in Accounting from UCLA. Claire has served as an external auditor and finance consultant as well as in leadership positions within organizations, including as the Director of Finance and Administration for Hidden Villa Farm and Wilderness. They are a member of the queer community and volunteer as the Audit Committee Chair of Black Pine Circle School and for political engagement organizations, including the Environmental Voter Project and Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ). The redwood ecosystem holds a special place in their heart, and they can often be found dancing, singing, and playing ukulele among the giants.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Email Ann<\/a>, (650) 949-1453 x205<\/p>\n Ann Blanchard has been with Sempervirens Fund since 2012, bringing more than a decade of nonprofit experience to her work in annual giving and donor engagement. Before joining the organization, she spent over 10 years in the social services sector, caring for adults and seniors with developmental disabilities. A Bay Area native, Ann grew up camping in local state parks, developing a deep appreciation for nature and conservation. She holds a B.A. in Art History from the University of California, Davis and a B.F.A. in Visual Communications and Graphic Design from the International Academy of Design and Technology, Sacramento. At Sempervirens Fund, Ann leads the annual philanthropic giving program, ensuring that donors feel connected, engaged, and inspired by the impact of their support. She is passionate about fostering meaningful donor relationships and growing a community dedicated to protecting redwood forests.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Email Robbie<\/a>, (650) 472-9647<\/p>\n Robbie Brown joined Sempervirens in 2024 as the Community Engagement Manager. He has a background in community building, social causes, and climate action. His work has involved collaborating with communities and institutions to promote sustainable practices in the San Francisco Bay Area. During his time with nonprofits, he has played a key role in shaping new programs, fostering volunteer initiatives, and planning sustainability-focused events. Robbie Brown holds a B.A. in Philosophy from California State University of Long Beach and has completed graduate-level coursework in Animal and Environmental Ethics at San Francisco State University. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring California’s stunning landscapes and working on his nature-themed food blog, The Climate Foodie.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Email Melisa<\/a>, (650) 949-1453 x220<\/p>\n Melisa joined Sempervirens Fund in 2021 as the Field Operations Manager. She holds a B.A. in Biology from Lake Forest College in Illinois and earned her M.S. in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco in 2023, where her research focused on regional recovery efforts following the 2020 CZU wildfire. With nearly a decade of experience working with environmental nonprofit organizations throughout the Bay Area focused on habitat restoration and conservation, Melisa brings a deep commitment to protecting natural landscapes.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Emily Crutcher joined Sempervirens Fund at the start of 2025 as the organization’s first Human Resources Manager. With a Masters in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara and a SHRM-SCP certification, she excels in process improvement, champions diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and believes in building strong partnerships with local communities. Emily started her post-grad career doing violence prevention and victim advocacy work at UC Santa Barbara, then became the founding director of UC Santa Cruz’s Campus Advocacy Resources & Education (CARE) department. She has also served as education director at a Unitarian Universalist church providing comprehensive and LGBTQ-inclusive sex education and held a corporate HR role with a national medical staffing company. Emily grew up in Illinois but now lives in Mill Valley near her parents and sister. She loves being the ‘cool aunt’ to her sister’s twins, finding hidden gems in nature in Marin, and making friends with every dog she meets.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Email Ori<\/a>, (650) 949-1453 x210<\/p>\n Ori Faigon joined Sempervirens Fund in 2022 as the Donor Services Coordinator. He is a Bay Area native and grew up hiking through the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Prior to Sempervirens Fund, Ori was an Outdoor Educator, leading students through the forest, inspiring a connection with nature, and teaching them about their local ecology and human impact. In his free time, he enjoys writing stories, playing music, and adventuring with his dog. He graduated from UC San Diego with a B.A. in Communications.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Email Erin<\/a>, (650) 949-1453 x214<\/p>\n Erin Fariss joined Sempervirens in 2022 as the part-time Gift Processor. Erin has over 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector, managing gift processing and coordinating various database and fundraising projects. A Bay Area native, Erin’s passion for nature conservation grew from an early age exploring the local parks with her family. Erin holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Biology from The University of California at Santa Cruz. In her free time, Erin enjoys hiking the local parks of the Bay Area and beyond.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Email Holly<\/a>, (650) 770-7508<\/p>\n Holly Grench originally joined Sempervirens Fund in 2017 as Development Associate. Holly worked for years connecting with donors, helping people honor loved ones with the tribute program, and supporting fundraising efforts. After a brief leave, she rejoined the Sempervirens team as the Executive Coordinator in 2022. She now provides administrative support to the team and coordinates special projects for the organization. Holly first fell in love with California’s redwoods when she backpacked the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail as a teenager. In her free time, she enjoys running, playing piano, horseback riding, and learning new board games. Holly holds a B.A. in American Studies from Stanford University with a focus on nature and the environment in American culture.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Email Lauren<\/a>, (650) 305-3078<\/p>\n Lauren Hofmayer joined Sempervirens Fund in 2023. Lauren has spent over a decade as a fundraiser and educator in California public schools. This experience ignited her passion for preserving our spectacular lands for future generations while making these spaces more welcoming and inclusive for all. Most recently, Lauren was the Director of Individual Philanthropy at 826 Valencia in San Francisco. Fun fact: Lauren began her career as a 3rd-grade teacher in the Santa Cruz Mountains in 2010 (at San Lorenzo Valley Elementary School), delighting in the magic of the redwood forests around Big Basin with her students. Lauren holds a B.A. in Psychology and a Master’s in Elementary Education from Stanford University.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Email Beatrix<\/a>, (650) 949-1453 x216<\/p>\n Beatrix Jim\u00e9nez-Helsley joined Sempervirens Fund in 2018 as a Land Stewardship Associate. Previously, she worked throughout California in environmental consulting and remediation performing plant and wildlife surveys, habitat restoration, and environmental compliance. Prior to that, she interned at Peninsula Open Space Trust assisting the Land Stewardship team. In her free time, she enjoys botanizing, birding, and hiking at a naturalist pace throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Beatrix holds a B.A. in Biology (CCS) and a minor in Earth Science from UC Santa Barbara.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Email Amanda<\/a>, (650) 949-1453 x204<\/p>\n Amanda Krauss is a passionate environmentalist and fundraiser, with more than 13 years of nonprofit experience. Amanda leads the Tribute and Legacy Giving programs, working closely with those who want to honor special people and create a legacy for the future of redwoods. She has a CFRE fundraising credential, graduated from UC Davis with a B.A. in Art Studio and Avian Sciences and continues to go birding to gain inspiration for her artwork. Amanda has served on various environmental and visual arts boards throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Email Christopher<\/a><\/p>\n Christopher Lopez joined Sempervirens Fund in 2023. Born and Raised in San Jose, Christopher spent much of his childhood in and around the Santa Cruz Range. He joins the stewardship team with two and a half years’ experience working with the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority’s Field Operations team. His passion is finding ways to integrate Traditional Ecological knowledge into land management practices. When he’s not rambling through the forest, he enjoys cooking and tending his family garden. He graduated from the University of the Pacific with a B.A in Communications.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t![\"David](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/20241213_David_Cowman_Portrait-1-by-Orenda-Randuch-scaled.jpg\" "\\"David")
\n\t\n\t\t\tDavid Cowman, Director of Land Stewardship\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Portrait](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_4735-scaled.jpg\" "\\"IMG")
\n\t\n\t\t\tRachel Dann, Director of Government Relations\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"20260222](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/20260222_AdrianFrediani_Randuch-12.jpg\" "\\"20260222")
\n\t\n\t\t\tAdrian Frediani, Director of Land Transactions\t<\/h4>\n\t
\nCurrently serving as the Director of Land Transactions at Sempervirens Fund, Adrian brings a wealth of experience in complex real estate deals, strategic partnerships, and environmental stewardship. Adrian’s career is distinguished by leadership roles in both public and nonprofit sectors. As Prairie Protection Lead at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Adrian developed and implemented real estate strategies for protecting imperiled South Puget Sound prairie wildlife and habitats. Before working in Washington, Adrian spent over a decade with the California Chapter of The Nature Conservancy where she led the real estate strategy for the Frank and Joan Randall Tehachapi Preserve. While at The Nature Conservancy, she also led the Sacramento River Project, implementing large-scale riparian restoration and floodplain protection work. Adrian holds a Master of Science in Rangeland Resources from Humboldt State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a minor in Communications from the University of San Diego.\n\t\t\t\t![\"Laura](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Laura-headshot.jpg\" "\\"Laura")
\n\t\n\t\t\tLaura McLendon, Director of Land Conservation\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Julie](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Julie-headshot.jpg\" "\\"Julie")
\n\t\n\t\t\tJulie Seelen, CFRE, Chief of Philanthropy \t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/matt-shaffer.jpg\" "\\"Matt")
\n\t\n\t\t\tMatt Shaffer (he\/him), Chief Marketing and Communications Officer\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Claire](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/20241213_Claire_SunSpiral_Portrait-1-by-Orenda-Randuch-scaled.jpg\" "\\"Claire")
\n\t\n\t\t\tClaire SunSpiral (they\/she), CPA, Chief Financial Officer\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Ann](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Ann-headshot.jpg\" "\\"Ann")
\n\t\n\t\t\tAnn Blanchard, Director of Annual Philanthropic Giving\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Robbie](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Robbie_Brown_Portrait_by_Randuch-1-scaled.jpg\" "\\"Robbie")
\n\t\n\t\t\tRobbie Brown (he\/him), Community Engagement Manager\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Melisa](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Melisa-Cambron-Perez.jpg\" "\\"Melisa")
\n\t\n\t\t\tMelisa Cambron Perez, Field Operations Manager\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Crutcher](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Crutcher-Emily-redwoods-headshot-scaled.jpg\" "\\"Crutcher")
\n\t\n\t\t\tEmily Crutcher, Human Resources Manager\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Ori](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Ori-Website-Portrait.jpg\" "\\"Ori")
\n\t\n\t\t\tOri Faigon, \u200b\u200bDonor Engagement and Programs Associate\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Bio](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Bio-Photos-scaled.jpg\" "\\"Bio")
\n\t\n\t\t\tErin Fariss, Gift Processor\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Holly](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Holly_SVF-Headshot.jpg\" "\\"Holly")
\n\t\n\t\t\tHolly Grench, Executive Coordinator\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Fatima](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/fatima-habib.jpg\" "\\"Fatima")
\n\t\n\t\t\tFatima Habib, Communications Manager\t<\/h4>\n\t
\nFati joined Sempervirens Fund in 2025, bringing seven years of expertise in climate and health storytelling, science writing, and campaign management. Originally from the Southwest, Fati’s journey to conservation work began at her residing desert landscape, identifying the most temperate local parks to prolong the window of enjoying the outdoors. She found herself exploring why parks were only in specific neighborhoods, how trees helped cool down local areas, and what organizations were supporting these community features. Fati brought this curiosity to her work as a researcher and writer, supporting early-stage and scaling organizations driven by missions to prioritize our health and climate. Within these efforts, she has produced multimedia campaigns, distilled scientific research into digestible formats, and led social media strategy with nonprofits, authors, educators, physicians, and consultants. Her work at Sempervirens will continue to remove barriers from critical conversations impacting the wellbeing of our environment to inspire action. Fati graduated with a B.A. in English from UCLA and went on to complete a Health Sciences program at USC.\n\t\t\t\t![\"Lauren](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Lauren-Hofmayer.jpg\" "\\"Lauren")
\n\t\n\t\t\tLauren Hofmayer (she\/her), CFRE, Director, Major Gifts\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Beatrix](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Beatrix-headshot.jpg\" "\\"Beatrix")
\n\t\n\t\t\tBeatrix Jim\u00e9nez-Helsley (she\/her), Natural Resource Manager\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Amanda](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Amanda-headshot.jpg\" "\\"Amanda")
\n\t\n\t\t\tAmanda Krauss, CFRE, Director of Tribute and Legacy Giving\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Staff](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Staff-Christopher-Lopez-at-Lompico-by-Orenda-Randuch-scaled.jpg\" "\\"Staff")
\n\t\n\t\t\tChristopher Lopez, Land Stewardship Associate\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Violet](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Violet-Nguyen.jpg\" "\\"Violet")
\n\t\n\t\t\tViolet Nguyen, Manager of Philanthropic Engagement\t<\/h4>\n\t
\nViolet joined the Sempervirens Fund in 2025 as the Manager of Philanthropic Engagement. She holds a MA in Sustainable International Development from the Heller School of Social Policy and Management, is a 1st-generation college graduate and 2nd-generation immigrant. Influenced by her early experience at a redwoods science camp, she became deeply passionate about environmental initiatives and climate resilience, bringing a sustainability lens to her work. Violet specializes in fundraising, nonprofit management, and cross sector partnerships. She has previously worked in affordable housing, minority business development, disaster relief, and international development. Outside of work, her hobbies include oil painting, photography\/videography, food and disconnecting in the great outdoors with her dog Nala.\n\t\t\t\t![\"Paige](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Paige-headshot.jpg\" "\\"Paige")
\n\t\n\t\t\tPaige Rausser, Senior Project Manager – Land Transactions\t<\/h4>\n\t
![\"Logan](\"https:\/\/sempervirens.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Logan-Thompson.jpg\" "\\"Logan")
\n\t