Spring Brings New Growth at The Conservancy

Spring Brings New Growth at The Conservancy

April 21, 2023

Please join us in welcoming new staff members to the SLC team! 

Breanna Rodgers, Restoration Manager

Breanna leads restoration efforts on The Preserve, assists with biological monitoring, and manages fuel reduction and prescribed fire projects. Breanna earned her B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from UC Santa Cruz, where she led forest ecology research crews to inventory and monitor mixed forest ecosystems, completed a thesis modeling forest succession following rapid dieback of and madrone and tanoak trees in the Santa Cruz mountains, and developed horticultural and greenhouse experience working at the UCSC Arboretum and Botanical Garden. After college, Breanna worked as an Americorps member for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Maui, where she managed a habitat restoration program on 80 acres following wildfire to reintroduce native lowland dryland vegetation to the refuge. She also managed the refuge greenhouse, producing over 8,000 plants for restoration per year. At California State Parks, she gained experience in wildlife biology, restoration, and weed management in the San Luis Obispo Coast District. Throughout her time working in California and Hawaii, Breanna has also taken on several part-time jobs at organic and regenerative agriculture farms where she could form close relationships to the land and the community. In her free time, Breanna loves cooking, playing music and making ceramics.

Nicole Roy, Finance & Administration Coordinator

Nicole assists with the coordination and organization of the conservancy’s daily operations. She has lived in Mexico City, Marin County, Connecticut, San Diego, and currently resides here in Carmel. She went to college for graphic design and marketing in San Diego and has over 20 years of combined experience in office management, administration, property management, public relations, and human resources. Nicole truly enjoys helping others and is passionate about conserving the environment and wildlife within it. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys photography, art, hiking, gardening, kayaking, snorkeling, traveling, and camping. She also loves floral and landscape design, decorating, volunteering, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Sarah Jeffries, Stewardship Associate

Sarah is responsible for conducting construction site visits and assisting with scientific research on The Preserve. She was previously an editor for the Journal of Phycology and worked for the Bureau of Land Management on the Fort Ord National Monument, where she spearheaded a field project assessing the efficacy of the habitat restoration program and mentored undergraduates in native plant identification and field research methods. Originally from Minnesota, Sarah was drawn to the Monterey Bay by her love of the land and sea and has been here for over 15 years. As an undergraduate at CSU Monterey Bay in Marine and Coastal Ecology, Sarah’s interest in terrestrial and marine plants began first with an internship with the National Park service at Santa Monica Mountains NRA and then an undergraduate research position focused on seaweed at Moss Landing Marine Labs. MLML became her home away from home for the next decade, where she earned her masters’ degree in the Phycology Lab, worked for a wetland plant propagation and restoration program, and participated in countless research dives. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys reading a book with a good cup of tea, and exploring the many trails of Fort Ord – her favorite hiking spot on the peninsula. She has also traveled widely with her family.

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