Board of Directors
Michele Barinsky
Michele is a senior corporate and commercial transactions attorney with 15+ years of experience negotiating deals and advising public, private, and non-profit entities. She began her legal career with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Los Angeles and has worked for major platforms and studios across the media, technology, and entertainment industry including Hulu and Paramount Pictures. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School. Michele developed her deep love for nature as a child exploring the Minnesota woodlands and making regular visits to the Minnesota Zoo. Today, Michele lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Nick, and dog, Dakota.
Daniel Gutmann
Originally from Germany, Daniel and his wife moved from Frankfurt to the Bay Area in California. While preparing for the California bar exam, he spent a lot of time hiking through California’s National Parks and fell in love with California’s diverse landscape and wildlife. Daniel is an attorney licensed in California and Germany with experience in corporate law, and mergers and acquisitions. He holds a law degree from Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany and an LL.M. (Masters of Law) in International Business and Economic Law from Georgetown University. In his spare time, he plays basketball and enjoys hiking with his wife and friends.
Keith Hammond
Keith grew up camping and hiking in the National Forests of Southern California and the red rock canyon country of Southern Utah. He graduated with a B.A. in philosophy from Yale University and has split his career between magazine journalism (Mother Jones, Make:) and wilderness conservation (Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, California Wilderness Coalition). A former communications director for CalWild and a dedicated surfer, he is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Make: the nation’s leading DIY technology magazine, and lives with his family in Santa Rosa.
Johnathan Hodge
Johnathan moved to California from the UK in 2012 with his wife. His daughter was born here in the same year. In the UK, he always loved being outside, and what struck him shortly after moving to California, was the sheer scale and majesty of the landscapes. Over the past 11 years, Johnathan and his family have camped up and down the coast, kayaked on lakes and rivers, and hiked in the desert. When not exploring, Johnathan has spent his career in the tech start-up community in various roles helping bring new products to market and scaling organizations – most recently as a CEO and board member.
Bonnie Holman, Secretary
Bonnie manages sustainability certification programs for SCS Global Services where she works with companies (global supply chains) to engage in more environmentally and socially responsible production practices. She holds an M.A. in Environmental Policy from Middlebury College Institute of International Studies. Growing up in the American West, Bonnie fell in love with public lands and wilderness early in life and spends most of her free time backpacking, skiing, running rivers and trails, and photographing California’s wild places. She currently lives in Mammoth Lakes, California where she can easily access Sierra Nevada wilderness.
Wendi Jonassen
Wendi is dedicated to storytelling as a medium of change. She’s spent ten years working on documentaries, producing, directing, scripting, and editing pieces about Keystone pipeline protests, methane leaks, the statewide historic drought, water rights in Northern California, the science behind wildfire weather, and much more. Between freelance, contract, and staffed work, she’s worked with the New Yorker, Wired, National Geographic, the New York Times, Fusion, Gizmodo Media Group, and with many independent filmmakers. In her spare time, you can find her in the mountains, feeding her friends, and playing long, long games of fetch with her BFF on the California coast.
Obi Kaufmann
Artist-naturalist Obi Kaufmann is the author of several San Francisco Chronicle bestselling books, including the California Field Atlas (2017, Heyday). Inspired by decades of activism and exploring the backcountry, Obi’s work blends science and art to tell a new story about our relationship with the local, natural world and the message is resonating with a growing community of fans. Now amassing a reputation for public speaking, Obi routinely presents his work to land trusts and organizations across the state, including giving the keynote at the Water Board of California’s annual symposium 2020 and at the 2020 Wild and Scenic Film Festival, for which he was also this year’s featured artist. With three more books on the way, Obi is excited to bring his passion and work with a team for his CalWild board term for further exploration into the nexus of inclusive activism and long-term, regional conservation and restoration.
Mark Milinkovich
After years of working in high tech, Mark Milinkovich has slowed things down by spending more time enjoying time outdoors with nature and friends. His fondest wish is that the next generation will be able to have the opportunity to experience a connection to the wilds of California from the mountains to the amazing forests, grasslands, coastlands, and waterways. He looks forward to working with the CalWild community to protect and preserve our wild spaces.
Mariana Maguire, Chair
Mariana is a cross-functional professional with over a decade of policy, advocacy, and public affairs experience in government and non-profit, leading high-impact campaigns, programs, and projects. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Mariana served as committee and personal office staff, while leading the Congressional Global Road Safety Caucus and the Bipartisan Working Group on Women’s Issues. She also spearheaded the effort to designate the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, working closely with CalWild as a vital coalition member. Mariana also served as Conservation Lands Foundation’s first Southern California Associate Director for Conservation, and then its first Associate California Program Director. Under her leadership, CLF’s California program built its most inclusive partnerships and cultivated new diverse and nontraditional leaders, achieving significant conservation policy gains and defense across more than 5 million acres of public land. She appreciates CalWild as a scrappy organization with an excellent mission and looks forward to helping them in their consensus-building and legislative efforts.
Annie Nyborg, Treasurer
Annie is the Director of Sustainability for Peak Design, a San Francisco-based product design company. She leads all of the company’s environmental and social initiatives. She was also a founding team member of Climate Neutral, an organization aimed at helping companies measure, reduce, and offset their entire carbon footprint. After spending 15 years in the Bay Area, she moved back home to Ojai with her family where she’s enjoying the slower pace of life and the beautiful trails.
Andrea Osorio 
Andrea is a writer, trail runner, and nonprofit fundraising consultant with a background in international disaster response, climate resilience and workforce development. She is passionate about centering historically excluded voices in the design of programs advancing social and environmental justice.
Sarah Pedersen
Born in San Francisco and raised in the East Bay, Sarah is currently a San Francisco-based consultant helping start-ups develop their Customer Success strategy. For the past 15+ years, she has held leadership roles in Customer Success and Product Marketing at small to medium-sized tech companies. Prior to that, she was a barista, a professional photographer and an active vacation guide in Alaska and the San Juan Islands. She holds a B.A. in Economics from Harvard and an M.B.A. from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. When she’s not working, you can probably find her hiking in Point Reyes, skiing in Tahoe, volunteering with North Beach Citizens or taking photos of local wildlife and landscapes.
Kristin Roscoe
Kristin is originally from the Midwest and moved to California from Washington D.C. after graduating from law school. Kristin’s husband re-introduced her to camping in the Cleveland National Forest and later backpacking throughout the Sierra Nevada. When not gardening or hiking, Kristin works as an attorney for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists where she advises the trade association’s members on their legal and ethical obligations in caring for patients. Kristin brings extensive policy, advocacy, and legal experience stemming from her work for the U.S. House of Representatives, federal and state nonprofit trade associations, and with a Fortune 500 company. Today, Kristin lives with her family in San Diego and looks forward to exploring more of California’s public lands with her son.
Russell Scofield
Russell retired in 2020 as the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Implementation Coordinator for the Desert Renewable Energy and Conservation Plan (DRECP) after 31-years of public service. He previously served in key positions for BLM both in Sacramento and the desert. He also served as the Department of Interior’s Executive Coordinator for the California Desert Managers Group. He is a wildlife biologist and in his free time and enjoys hiking, camping, backpacking, and photography. Russell and his wife have lived in the desert near Joshua Tree since 1993.
Staff
Linda Castro
In 2014, Linda joined CalWild and now serves as our Assistant Policy Director. She is based in Southern California. Linda was a military “brat” who lived in Europe and South America for a significant portion of her childhood before arriving in Texas. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Trinity University in San Antonio, and then moved to California and obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Whittier Law School. She practiced law for years while volunteering her time with and serving on the Board of a Santa Clarita-based non-profit that works to protect and restore wild places and rivers in southern California. Some of Linda’s most significant accomplishments with CalWild include the approval of the DRECP in 2016, the designation of the Mojave Trails National Monument in 2016, and the passage of the John D. Dingell Conservation and Recreation Act of 2019. Linda lives in Southern California and is an avid tent camper, backpacker, and hiker.
Email: lcastro@calwild.org
Steve Evans
Steve Evans has more than 37 years of volunteer and professional experience in the protection of public wild lands, rivers, and other natural resources. Steve worked for Friends of the River for more than 20 years, and because of his work, more than 2,300 miles of streams on federally managed public lands have been identified as candidates for the Wild & Scenic protection, and more than 341 miles of Wild & Scenic Rivers in California are permanently protected. Steve is CalWild’s Wild Rivers Director, where he also served on the Board for more than 20 years. Steve is a published writer (author of Tops Trails Sacramento, Wilderness Press, 2008), an avid hiker, rafter, kayaker, and photographer.
Email: sevans@calwild.org
Julene Freitas
Julene has over 20 years of administration and outreach experience working with many Bay Area non-profits including Restore Hetch Hetchy, California Institute for Community, Art & Nature, the David Brower Center, the Environmental Defense Fund and the Children’s Defense Fund-CA. She is excited to join the CalWild team and apply her broad range of skills, commitment to and passion for the natural world and social justice issues. She holds a degree in Environmental Management and Restoration from Merritt College. She currently volunteers for the Marine Mammal Center and has volunteered for the Gulf of the Farallones Marine Sanctuary, and Inner City Outings (Sierra Club) as a river and cross-country skiing guide. During her free time, she loves adventures, exploring the outdoors and spending time with her two daughters, two dogs and cat, dancing, getting lost in the woods, and swimming in the ocean.
Email: info@calwild.org
Mark Green
Mark Green, Development Director, is an author, activist and longtime nonprofit professional with a track record of success and achievement. A California native, veteran of many weeks of solo backpacking in the Sierras and hundreds of miles of river rafting, he carries a deep passion for the state’s environment. Mark was the founding Executive Director of what became the largest environmental organization on the North Coast, Sonoma County Conservation Action, was named Sonoma County Environmentalist of the Year, and has been recognized by the California State Legislature and by Congress for his conservation efforts. His work has contributed to the protection of many thousands of acres of wild and agricultural lands. He is thrilled to join CalWild’s team and advance its essential mission. He lives in beautiful Sonoma County with his partner in crime, Nemea, and Kiki the Circus Cat.
Email: mgreen@calwild.org
Ryan Henson
Ryan Henson was born to a logging family in Mendocino County. After serving in the Navy, Ryan graduated with honors with a BA in history and political science from the U.C. Davis in 1993. He began volunteering for CalWild while a student and joined its staff in 1994. After directing the first-ever effort to map all of the state’s wilderness-eligible lands, he helped launch a legislative campaign in 2001 to gain permanent protection for these areas. His greatest achievements to date are the approval of the Mendocino National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan in 1995, his leadership of the California Stop the Rider Campaign in 1995-1996, defense of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule in California from 2002-2006, passage of the Big Sur Wilderness and Conservation Act of 2002, revisions of the four Southern California National Forest Plans in 2004, passage of the North Coast wilderness bill in 2006, the Public Land Management Act of 2009, the establishment of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in 2014, the establishment of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in 2015, the designation of the Mojave Trails National Monument in 2016, the approval of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) in 2016, and the passage of the John D. Dingell Conservation and Recreation Act of 2019. Ryan’s work was recognized in Congress in speeches on the House floor and in the documentary film “Forever Wild.” Ryan also received the Gary Pichon Conservation Award from the Sierra Club Motherlode Chapter in 2004, the “Partner of the Year” award from the U.S. Forest Service Region Five in 2010, and the Phil Burton award from CalWild in 2016. Ryan lives in Anderson with his wife, Bonnie.
Email: Email: rhenson@calwild.org
Andrea Iniguez
Andrea Iniguez was born in Jalisco, Mexico and immigrated to Southern California with her family at the age of two. Now a resident of California for over 27 years, she joins the CalWild team as our Riverside County Public Lands Fellow through the Wyss Fellows Program. Andrea became an active member of her community at an early age. In college, for instance, she successfully organized multiple fundraisers, food drives, and volunteer groupsfor Skid Row (a historically disadvantaged neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles). She received her B.A. in Political Science, with an emphasis on Global Politics, from California State University, Long Beach. Following her graduation from CSULB, she was offered a management position with Nationwide Theatres Corporation which she accepted. Andrea was inspired to transition into a career in public lands advocacy by her love of California’s natural landscape and a profound sense of responsibility to the success of her community. She feels motivated when she is able to collaborate with others to make a positive change, so she is thrilled to work with Riverside community leaders and members to protect California’s beautiful and diverse public lands. In her spare time, Andrea is an aspiring beekeeper and enjoys spending time outdoors. She is an active member of the Los Angeles Beekeepers Association. A non-profit organization dedicated to educating the general public on the importance of honeybees in our lives. Some of her favorite outdoor activities include hiking, camping, snorkeling, and stargazing with close family and friends.
Email: ainiguez@calwild.org
Chris Morrill
Chris Morrill, Executive Director, brings to CalWild years of international and domestic experience as an organizer, political strategist, and communications expert. Prior to working with CalWild and The Next Generation, he held policy and political roles with the California League of Conservation Voters and Save the Children. He previously served as CalWild’s Communications Director for two years and improved engagement with our supporters, including managing social media campaigns and re-starting our monthly newsletter. Through Chris’ leadership, the organization has continued to increase our online advocacy work and effectiveness and has also been one of the driving forces in building CalWild’s defensive work challenging the extreme measures coming from the Trump administration and Congress. Chris received a B.A. in Communications from Santa Clara University and an M.A. in International Relations and Economics from Johns Hopkins. Currently, Chris resides in Oakland with his wife, Kate, seven-year-old son, Caleb, and four-year-old daughter, Audrey. His favorite outdoor activities include hiking and camping in the Northern Sierras and the northwest coast where he has lots of extended family.
Email: cmorrill@calwild.org
Hayley Paronish
A native of west central Pennsylvania, turned transplant to Donner Summit, CA, Hayley is CalWild’s Engagement Manager. She graduated from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2013 with a Communications Media degree, and in the years to follow, made her move out west to pursue her love of recreating, hiking, and snowboarding on big mountain terrain. With over 7 years of marketing and graphic design experience, and some additional volunteer work in the non-profit space, she’s excited to bring her creativity and love of the outdoors to tell the great work of CalWild. In her spare time, she enjoys riding her mountain bike, camping, and just spending time outdoors.
Email: hparonish@calwild.org
André Sanchez
Growing up in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, André was raised in the agriculturally fueled town of Madera, CA. A community where working the land was the norm and recreating in nature seemed foreign to most members of his community. Fortunately for André, one of his uncles enabled opportunities for André and his immediate family to experience nature, ultimately instilling a passion for ecosystem restoration and conservation. After receiving a B.S. in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology from UC Davis in 2014, André went on to work for several state and federal agencies, including conducting aquatic restoration in Yosemite National Park, which was one of the most influential places visited in his formative childhood years. After gaining perspective from his work experiences, André returned to academia to pursue an M.S. in Natural Resources at Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt). André is additionally deeply involved with Latino Outdoors, a latine/x-led organization that connects and engages leaders and community members in the outdoor, conservation, and nature movement. Previously serving as CalWild’s first San Joaquin Valley Organizer, he now serves as the Community Engagement & Conservation Policy Manager. André is excited to see public lands advocated for and protected, especially those that inspired him and provide ecosystem services for his community, as well as being excited to be part of the movement for Justice, Equity, Access, and Inclusivity. André resides in the Central Valley and loves to recreate outdoors via a number of activities, particularly in or near water, and simply observing the raw beauty that nature delivers.
Email: asanchez@calwild.org