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.
Program Managers
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.
Teri Engbring, Volunteer and Education Coordinator
Teri joined Solano Land Trust in April 2007 after serving in a similar position with the Yolo Basin Foundation and California Fish and Game at Yolo Wildlife Area for seven years. She will recruit, train and coordinate new volunteers for Lynch Canyon and other Solano Land Trust facilities, and support ongoing volunteer efforts at Rush Ranch and Jepson Prairie. Teri has worked in policy, planning, public relations, and administrative positions with all levels of public and private sectors from Washington, D.C. to Seattle, as well as in Micronesia. Her bachelor's degree is in urban planning, with strong personal priorities in natural resources and environmental education.
Natalie DuMont, Volunteer and Education 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 and Education Coordinator, Natalie builds and maintains partnerships in environmental education, and supports over 300 skilled and dedicated volunteers who are the life blood of Solano Land Trust.
Sue Wickham, Project Coordinator
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.
Jessie Olson, Restoration Planner
Jessie joined Solano Land Trust in April 2008 to coordinate and create an updated Master Plan and new Restoration Plan for Rush Ranch. Prior to joining Solano Land Trust, Jessie worked in three other restoration-planning positions in the Bay Area over the past 5 years. Most recently she worked at the Sonoma Ecology Center designing, implementing, and monitoring restoration projects in Sonoma Creek Watershed. Jessie also helped protect and restore habitat in the East Bay with the California Native Plant Society and restore habitat for the mission blue butterfly at Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Hailing from Wisconsin, she earned her bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Audrey Kitzes joined Solano Land Trust in October of 2008. She manages the land transaction program and works with landowners to protect natural resources through conservation easements and fee-title property acquisition. Prior to joining Solano Land Trust, Audrey managed the applications program at Global Footprint Network and worked as a consultant with GreenOrder, Inc. in New York City. As a National Network for Environmental Management Studies research fellow with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, she studied wetland indicators, and has worked with East Bay Municipal Utility District to monitor vegetation and grazing on watershed lands. She holds a master’s degree in science from Bard College's Center for Environmental Policy and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Mills College.
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.
Nick Meckler, Field Steward
Nick joined Solano Land Trust in March 2008 as our first full-time Field Steward and first occupant of our new Field Steward residence. His duties include maintaining the Rush Ranch public facilities so the public can enjoy a safe, clean, and friendly open space. Nick is a big part of the stewardship team on all the Solano Land Trust properties. He assists with weed control and other projects that are part of taking care of the land, protecting natural resources and providing access to the public. Nick grew up on a farm in north central Washington State where he learned to love the land. He has lived in this area since 2001. Nicks first love is fishing, and he wanders all over the bay area exploring new fishing holes.
Finance and Administration
Anne DeLozier, Administrative Assistant
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. Her hobbies include yoga and hiking with her dog Griffin.
Greg Peterson, Development Director
Before joining Solano Land Trust, Greg was in corporate field sales and management for 25 years. He is very interested in environmental issues and local land use, and is excited to be joining the Solano Land Trust team as development director. Greg brings to us a business perspective. A native Californian, he spent 12 years on the East Coast before happily coming back and settling in Fairfield. He has a bachelor's degree in marketing from California State University, Sacramento, and attended George Mason University post grad. His hobbies include hiking, biking, photography and percussion. He is a member of Solano Pandemonium steel drum band.