Staff
Executive Director
Nicole Byrd, Executive Director
Nicole joined SLT in the fall of 2008 with a solid background in nonprofit management, leadership, fundraising, and community building. Prior to joining SLT, Nicole served as the Solano-Napa field representative for Greenbelt Alliance where she played a critical role in establishing an open space district in Napa County and in advocating for strong agriculture, open space and habitat protections during the Solano County general plan update process. In addition to her coalition building skills, she has a record of raising funds, awareness, and enthusiasm. Nicole also worked for five years as a program manager and marketing specialist at The Federal Technology Center, a nonprofit that promotes economic development by creating bridges between the government and the private sector. She earned a bachelor´s degree in conservation biology from UC Davis, and a master´s in business from Capella University.
development, communications and Administration
deanna mott, associate director
Deanna joined Solano Land Trust in November 2010. She manages the Community Outreach and Education Program, plus the Administration and Fundraising functions for Solano Land Trust. Deanna has over 20 years combined experience between both military and corporate settings and specialized in human resources, project management, and program development. She has a proven history of developing cohesive relationships that bring varying ideas together to reach common goals, as well as creating new programs and process improvement. Deanna was born and raised in Iowa surrounded by farmland, and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Northern Iowa, and a Master of Business Administration from National University.
Natalie DuMont, Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator
Natalie joined Solano Land Trust in 2010. She grew up in Solano County and earned a bachelor's degree in human biology and a master's degree in earth systems from Stanford University. She has taught environmental education to all ages through Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, Stanford Sierra Camp, and Stanford Travel. Her previous employers include Stanford University, Greenbelt Alliance, and Google. As the Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator, Natalie builds and maintains partnerships with the community, promotes environmental education, and supports over 300 skilled and dedicated volunteers who are the life blood of Solano Land Trust.
Anne DeLozier, Office Manager
Anne joined Solano Land Trust in March 2009 as a volunteer, and in August joined the SLT staff as administrative assistant. Before moving to California, she spent fourteen years in the design side of the book publishing industry, most recently as part of the management team of a small company located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Anne has a bachelor’s degree in English from Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. When she moved to California in March 2007 she immediately fell in love with the California landscape and lifestyle.
Stewardship & Transactions
Janet Mackey, Conservation Director
Janet joined Solano Land Trust in August 2011. She is responsible for managing the Transactions Program, including acquisitions of easements and fee title purchases. She also manages the Stewardship Program, including stewardship of SLT’s lands and easements. Janet gained experience in business transactions working on mergers and acquisitions for a Fortune 500 company for 12 years. She then switched careers, returning to graduate school in conservation biology, to focus on land conservation. She has analyzed state and federal funding programs and policies relating to land protection and spending trends. Janet has a bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago, a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and a Master of Science in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology from the University of Maryland
Ben Wallace, Conservation Project Manager
Ben joined Solano Land Trust in 2005. He oversees strategies and programs to conserve, manage and restore habitat on Solano Land Trust properties. Prior to coming to SLT, Ben directed conservation education projects at the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, served as project manager at the California Wilderness Coalition, and worked with the US Forest Service and environmental consulting firms in Oregon and Alaska on forestry, fisheries and stream survey projects. He holds a bachelor's degree from Reed College in Oregon where he specialized in population and conservation biology and public policy.
Sue Wickham, Project manager
Sue joined the Solano Land Trust staff in June 2005 to coordinate the resource management plan for the Sky Valley-Cordelia Hills Open Space. She will continue with work on these ranches in 2007 and assist with grant writing. Prior to working at Solano Land Trust, Sue worked as an educational consultant for the City of Benicia and Benicia school system, doing environmental education and science classes. As a professional geologist, she also worked as a consultant for more than 15 years on hazard assessments, groundwater contamination and similarly exciting projects. Originally from the East Coast, Sue has both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in geology, and a California teaching credential.
Tracy Ellison, Conservation Project Coordinator
Tracy Ellison is the newest member of the Solano Land Trust staff. She comes to us from the Suisun Valley Fund, a program working toward the sustainability and profitability of agriculture in Suisun Valley. For the last 6 years she has supported and worked alongside the landowners and growers as their Ag Ambassador. As Ag Ambassador, she worked to advance the awareness of local produce, wine, olive oil and other value added Ag products. She supported and built strong lines of communication between landowners, growers and the outside community. Tracy grew-up in rural Fresno County, as a daughter of an Ag teacher she was involved in 4-H and FFA, raised and showed livestock, participated in public speaking and leadership opportunities.
Field
Ken Poerner, Land Steward
Ken joined Solano Land Trust in 1998 and now has overall responsibility for stewardship and public access activities on all Solano Land Trust properties. A retired flight engineer instructor at Travis Air Force Base, Ken is also active with the Napa-Solano Chapter of the National Audubon Society and the Jepson Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. He holds an Associate of Arts in business from Solano Community College, a Bachelor of Arts in natural sciences and mathematics from Thomas Edison State College and a post-graduate certificate in land use and environmental planning from UC Davis Extension.
Robert Garcia, Field Steward
Robert was hired in February 2011 to support field operations on all our properties. Rob grew up in Dixon and has lived there for the last ten years managing his own custom metal fabrication shop after several other career ventures throughout the west. In the past, Rob has worked as a horse wrangler/ guide, assistant ranch-manager, rodeo bullfighter, and was the co-manager/producer of a wild-west show. Rob also managed to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for four years and earned a Bachelor of Science with a major in Animal Science and minor in Ag Business. Rob’s great talent is his dry jokes that Ken has to put up with.
Monatte McGee, Rush Ranch Steward
Monatte was hired in November 2010 to support use of all Rush Ranch facilities by the general public, visiting scientists, and other user groups. She was introduced to Rush Ranch through volunteering for Access Adventure. She has become a valued and important part of that organization, which led to her joining the Solano Land Trust staff. She is proud of her work with the people of No Barriers and their contribution to the beauty of our wonderful Native Plant Garden at Rush Ranch. Her great talent is using her vivacious personality to get others to help with all the tasks around the ranch.