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Symposium introduction by Brett Mills.
Below you will find speaker bios and can click on presentation photos to view PDF presentations by Symposium Topic:
- Keynote: The Northern San Jacinto Valley and its importance to regional connectivity of wildlands
- Topic 1: A sample of the amazing biodiversity and opportunities for connecting with nature
- Topic 2: Cultural/community diversity and challenges from land conversion
- Topic 3: Strategic planning and collaboration
Keynote Speaker
TRISH SMITH
Senior Ecologist
The Nature Conservancy
Trish Smith is a Senior Ecologist with The Nature Conservancy’s Wildlife Corridors and Crossings Program in California. Trish has been with TNC for over 30 years, and her conservation work has focused on preserve management, regional wildlife and habitat monitoring, land protection, and habitat connectivity. Her careful monitoring of restoration and land management experiments has helped to improve planning and implementation.
Topic 1: What Is So Special About The San Jacinto River Valley?
ANA SAWYER
Natural Resources Specialist
Riverside County Parks
Ana Sawyer is a Natural Resources Specialist with Riverside County Parks. Their unit manages the 50,000 acres of Conserved Lands under the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan, or MSHCP for short, that are owned and/or managed by the Regional Conservation Authority. Before working as a Natural Resources Specialist, she was a Biologist with the Western Riverside County MSHCP Biological Monitoring Program, where she conducted rare species and habitat surveys. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with an emphasis in Ecosystem Ecology and Management.
TONY METCALF
Board of Directors, San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society
Biology Professor, California State University, San Bernardino
Tony completed his Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution at the University of California Riverside. He then joined the faculty at California State University, San Bernardino. He is a past President and current member of the Board of Directors for the San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society. He also serves as current President of the Meadowlark Land Trust. Tony is a longtime naturalist who has birded the Northern San Jacinto Valley for over 40 years.
PHILLP HARVEY
State Park Interpreter
Lake Perris State Recreation Area
Phil is the front-line Person at the Ya’i Heki’ Regional Indian Museum, Lake Perris State Recreation Area. He does the school and public programs and is an expert on the museum and Lake Perris.
SCOTT SEWELL
Senior Wildlife Habitat Supervisor
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Scott Sewell has been with CDFW for 26 years. He started as a scientific aid doing inland fisheries, upland game management and hunter education. He progressed through the ranks including being a Fish and Wildlife Technician, Wildlife Habitat Assistant, Wildlife Habitat Supervisor 1, Wildlife Habitat Supervisor 2 and now is the Senior Wildlife Habitat Supervisor for staffed lands in region 6. Scott’s background in wildlife management includes upland game, waterfowl, native plant species, wetland habitat designs and construction, grant management and public use supervision.
Topic 2: Unique Culture, Community, and Challenges
DR. ROY B. MASON
Professor- Biology, Environmental and GIS Sciences
Chair, Geospatial Information Science
President, Board of Directors, San Jacinto Basin RCD
I teach a variety of biology, environmental sciences and geospatial information classes on three of the campuses of Mt. San Jacinto College. I have been teaching at a college or university level since the beginning of time (well maybe not quite that long, although my students tell me I am as old as dirt).
I completed a B.A. degree at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and my M.S. and Ph.D. degrees at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. I am a population and community biologist with a special interest in animal behavior and population genetics. I have conducted research in many different environments from the Colorado Rocky Mountains to Alaska as well as in Europe, Thailand, and Japan. I am a specialist in winter resource habitat allocation. I received numerous National Science Foundation, ATEEP Fellowships to study environmental issues including urban and agricultural pollution including how it affects water resources. I recently studied fossil fuel production and distribution in Alaska and took two MSJC students with me to Denmark to study alternative energy sources in agricultural applications.
In graduate school I continued my field ecology studies in a variety of ecosystems, but I added another aspect, aerial photography. Of course, now this is all done with satellite images, very sophisticated software (ArcGIS Pro) and most recently sUAS (drone) digital imagery. I am a commercial sUAS (drone) pilot and teach numerous courses in the use of drone technologies in the study of environmental issues.
I serve as President of the San Jacinto River Basin Resource Conservation District which coordinates local environmental projects with the Department of Agriculture, National Resource Conservation Service.
MARTIN MARTINEZ
Community Navigator
Hispanic Access Foundation
Martin passionately connects Latino-led, Latino-serving, and tribal communities across the United States to transformative capacity-building programs. With an impressive 19-year journey in advocacy in the non-profit world, he has been a driving force for equitable public land access, leaving an indelible mark in community leadership, nonprofit organization, immigration resources, community outreach, and government affairs.
One of Martin’s notable achievements includes participation of a groundbreaking initiative that increased public land access in underserved Latino communities by 30% at the San Gabriel National Monument, Sand to Snow, Castle Mountain, and Coachella Deserts Monument designation. His strategic approach to community engagement has not only fostered trust but has also resulted in a rise in participation in local faith groups environmental conservation projects.
In addition to his impactful advocacy, Martin brings a unique skill set, including bilingual proficiency and a deep understanding of diverse cultures. His ability to seamlessly bridge cultural gaps has been instrumental in fostering meaningful connections with communities, facilitating smoother collaboration and understanding. He is dedicated to advancing the Hispanic Access Foundation’s mission by applying his expertise in community and network building. His work is not just a profession but a commitment to empowering communities and driving sustainable change. Through his role, Martin continues to contribute to the foundation’s overarching goals of creating a more inclusive and resilient future for all.
Topic 3: Strategic Planning and Collaboration
DAISSY ARTEAGA
Senior District Representative
for Assemblymember Dr. Corey A. Jackson
SDaissy Arteaga oversees key areas such as Business and Economic Development, Water, Environmental, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Transportation. Daissy has a diverse professional background in education, environmental advocacy, and program management. She is dedicated to policy advocacy and community engagement and has expertise in communication, outreach, and research. Daissy Arteaga is a proud alumna of the University of California, Riverside, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science/Public Service and Sociology. Her academic background and experience make her a passionate advocate for the communities she serves.
DR. AARON GABBE
Director of Regional Conservation
Western Riverside Co. Regional Conservation Authority
Aaron Gabbe is the Director of Regional Conservation at the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority, the agency responsible for implementing the Western Riverside County Multi-Species Conservation Plan. Aaron received his PhD from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and master’s degree from the University of Illinois. His research focused on hummingbird pollination systems in the Sierra Nevada and migratory songbird ecology. Aaron likes to spend his free time outside, riding his road bike, birdwatching, and exploring nature.
ELIZABETH PALMER
Easement Program Specialist
Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP- ALE) Program
California Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Elizabeth Palmer, easement program specialist with the California NRCS housed in the Davis, Ca State office is currently focused on the statewide delivery of the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP- ALE) program. She works closely with conservation partners, including land trusts, NGOs, farmers, ranchers, and state and federal resource agencies focused on perpetual protection of agricultural lands. A UC Davis graduate, Elizabeth has worked with CA NRCS for 20 years, previously working in the San Joaquin valley offices as a soil conservationist and biologist.
STEVE HOBBS
Senior Project Manager
The Conservation Fund
California and Hawaii Programs
Prior to 2018, Steve was the principal architect of large-scale conservation efforts in Minnesota, Virginia and Nevada. A hallmark of Steve’s work has been finding conservation solutions that allow for economic development. This entails everything from developing conservation and business strategies for forests and farmland to integrated compensatory mitigation projects.
Over more than 37 years of conservation work, Steve has negotiated the conservation of hundreds of thousands of acres and led public funding initiatives that have generated hundreds of millions of dollars.
Steve holds an M.A. in Ecological Physiology from the University of California, Riverside. Steve’s interests include fishing, bird hunting, baseball and flying.
Thank You to the Symposium Organizers!
San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society
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