Board of Directors
|
bill eckert, chair
Board Chair Bill Eckert is a native Californian who, after earning a BS in Chemistry at Stanford, immediately switched to software development. He founded two high tech companies, the most recent of which develops customer service call center software. Bill is now retired and is an avid hiker and backpacker. He attributes his love of the outdoors to his parents who, very much out of character for them, took their young family on a 2-week backcountry burro trip in the Sierra. Bill lives in Carmel Valley with his wife, Priscilla, who is a long-term guide, mentor and animal care volunteer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. They have two daughters, a school teacher and a nurse midwife. Bill is a past board member and secretary of the Point Lobos Foundation and continues to volunteer with that organization. karen kreiger, Vice-chair
Vice-Chair With over 25 years in book publishing, Karen Kreiger brings a wealth of communications and branding experience. Karen has held senior positions in top companies, including HarperCollins, and she is currently president of Evolve Publishing, a leading non-fiction publisher. A member of the Point Lobos Foundation, Audubon Society, Hawk Mountain, and the California Native Plant Society, Karen is also a wildlife photographer, whose work has appeared in numerous international publications. Karen received her BA from Barnard College and completed her Medical School requirements from Harvard University. jay sinclair, treasurer
Treasurer Jay Sinclair’s introduction to the Monterey Peninsula came while attending basic training at Ft. Ord in 1962. Mississippi-born and Arizona-raised, he fell in love with the Central Coast and vowed to make it his home one day. Thirty years later this became a reality with the purchase of Peninsula Laser Print in Carmel. During those 30 years, Jay earned an accounting degree at Arizona State University and moved to Southern California to begin his career as a CPA with Haskins and Sells. Various positions in the accounting and finance fields led to multiple moves to Woodbridge, CT, Palm Desert, San Diego and Saratoga, CA before finally making it back to the ocean. Always an ardent volunteer, Jay is past President of the Monterey Museum of Art, served as Vice President of Arts Habitat, tax preparer for low-income seniors at Alliance on Aging, and past Treasurer and Board member of Point Lobos Foundation. He is currently a docent at Point Sur Light Station, a volunteer for VNA Hospice, and a 23-year volunteer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Jay and his wife Pat, a Point Lobos docent, enjoy hiking, photographing and relaxing along our beautiful coast, between travel adventures and spending time with their son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren in Lake Oswego, OR. alec arago, secretary
Board Secretary Alec Arago is a Monterey based attorney specializing in land use and real estate law. From 2001 to 2017 he served as the District Director for Congressman Sam Farr and briefly as a Special Assistant to Rep Jimmy Panetta. Prior to 2001, Alec also held legislative staff positions for Congressman Farr and Senator Barbara Boxer in Washington DC. In his Congressional staff work, Alec frequently touched on natural resources and wildlife conservation policy. He even had the opportunity to regularly interface with VWS leadership to support Condor Recovery. Alec lives in Salinas. His son is a High School student and his daughter is studying Marine Biology at UCLA. richard h anderson, phd
Richard Anderson completed his Ph.D. in Romance Linguistics and Language Learning at the University of Washington, Seattle. He retired after 38 years of teaching, which included positions in California, France, American Samoa, and as a Fulbright Professor in Laos. Currently, he sits on the Board of the Arts Council for Monterey County as the immediate Past President, and the Board of the International Language and Culture Foundation in Monterey. He is a long standing member of the National Audubon Society, the Nature Conservatory, Defenders of Wildlife, the Elkhorn Slough Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, and the Wilderness Society among others. He resides in Prunedale with his wife, Sherree, who is retired and enjoys painting local seascapes and landscapes. Amanda Sharp Freedman, DVM
Amanda Sharp Freedman is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine practicing in Pacific Grove California. She earned her degree at UC Davis. Amanda is passionate about animals, wildlife conservation, and youth education for underserved communities. With a background in science, experience in fundraising, and enthusiasm for serving her local community, Amanda also serves on the board of Youth Music Monterey County, and has worked on the Carmel Unified School District Strategic Planning Committee and Community Advisory Committee. Amanda currently volunteers helping provide COVID vaccinations. In her free time, Amanda loves hiking, running, gardening, and playing flute in the Pacific Grove Pops Orchestra. Amanda and her husband Gordon live in Carmel Valley, where they raised their three sons. All three boys spent many happy summers participating in the VWS summer camps. ANA GONZÁLEZ
Ana González was born and raised in the Salinas Valley by farm working parents. She completed her bachelor's degree from Stanford University and later obtained her masters from Golden Gate University. Ana currently serves as the Director for Adult Education and Workforce Development for Hartnell Community College. Prior to Hartnell, Ana has worked at CSU Monterey Bay and First 5 Monterey County. Ana is married and has three children and loves to spend time outdoors camping, hiking and gardening with her family. She is excited about joining the board and supporting VWS's mission to provide public outreach and education to inspire the next generation of wildlife stewards. Mason Mallory
Mason Mallory grew up on his family’s fourth generation cattle ranch in southern Monterey County, where his love of the outdoors was deeply embedded in his daily life. In 2012, Mason completed his bachelor's degree from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. He currently works for Farm Credit West in Templeton, CA as a Chattel Evaluator. Mason also manages his family’s rotational cow-calf operation and serves as Vice President of the Monterey County Cattlemen’s Association. Mason presently lives in Monterey County with his wife, Haley. In his free time, Mason enjoys camping, fishing and spending as much time as he can in the outdoors. dave parker
Dave Parker has deep roots to the Monterey Peninsula as his family has lived in Carmel continuously since their arrival in 1870. He has enjoyed a successful career in Hawaii, California and Switzerland as an investment manager helping clients manage their wealth. Wherever he has lived he has actively volunteered his time and expertise to various health, arts, community and environmentally oriented non-profit groups and has participated on many non-profit boards. Most recently he was chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sunset Center in Carmel, and remains on the Pacific Grove Public Library Foundation Board and Point Lobos Foundation’s Investment Committee. Dave and his wife enjoy travelling, reading spending as much time outdoors as possible and sharing their never ending love and respect for all animals. Their son Jack is in college and they live with their five dogs and cats in Pebble Beach. CESAR VELÁZQUEZ
Cesar Velázquez is a Monterey Peninsula local who originally grew up in Soledad to farm working parents. Working in the celery fields throughout Monterey County gave him the motivation to pursue a college degree. He is now the Director of TRIO Upward Bound Programs at Hartnell College. Cesar is deeply connected to Spanish speaking communities in Monterey County and has had the privilege of working with low income and first-generation youth for the past 23 years. His expertise in cultural awareness education, youth empowerment and student development skills are invaluable to the educational efforts of the Ventana Wildlife Society youth outreach programs. In his free time, Cesar shares his knowledge with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County where he presents workshops about college awareness. Cesar also enjoys history, arts and culture of indigenous people of the Americas, Dia de los Muertos art, golfing, and playing guitar. mark osterkamp
Mark Osterkamp of Osterkamp Farms, is a 45 year veteran of farming in Imperial Valley, CA. Since the founding of Osterkamp farms in 1946, Mark and his family have supported land preservation, water conservation and wildlife protection in Southern California. Mark brings a wealth of knowledge in land management, finance and real estate to the Ventana Wildlife Society board. He has previously volunteered as the Chairman of Farm Water Conservation Advisory for the Imperial County Farm Bureau and worked on the audit committee in a directorship position for Farm Credit West Bank. Mark lives and works in Imperial Valley with his wife Marcy. In his spare time Mark enjoys being in the outdoors hiking, golfing, fishing, flying and scuba diving. amedee brickey
Amedee Brickey is a recent retiree of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with 35 years of experience in wildlife conservation work. As the former Condor coordinator and Manager of the Migratory Birds Program for USFWS, Pacific Southwest Region, Amedee brings a vast wealth of knowledge to the condor recovery efforts here on the central coast. Her experience in conservation science, public relations, strategic planning and insight into the workings of the government sector, are an invaluable asset to the recovery, conservation and educational goals of Ventana Wildlife Society. Amedee lives and works in Fair Oaks, CA where she enjoys making jewelry and spending time in the outdoors with her family hiking, bird watching and kayaking. board emeritus
William R Hearst III Venture Capital and Philanthropy consulting veterinarian
Amy Wells DVM, Carmel Valley legal counsel
Brian Call Fenton & Keller Attorneys at Law Martin Bern FMunger, Tolles & Olson Attorneys at Law |
