• Elena Bischak

    Statewide Soil Hub Coordinator & Agriculture Program Manager

    Elena joined the CARCD team in September 2023 as the Statewide Soil Hub Coordinator & Agriculture Program Manager. She will earn her PhD in Environmental Systems from UC Merced in December 2023. Her doctoral work is centered on strategic organic waste recycling to improve carbon and nutrient cycles at the local and global scale, with a particular focus on sustainable sanitation systems. She holds a B.S. in Biology from the College of William & Mary. Elena became interested in climate-smart agriculture during her time as Peace Corps Volunteer in central Senegal. During her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading, playing tennis, and hanging out with her dogs.

  • Sophia Lemmo

    Forest Program Manager

    Sophia has a B.S. in Forestry and Natural Resources from UC Berkeley and has worked as a consulting Registered Professional Forester (RPF) in northern California. Through her work designing and implementing silvicultural prescriptions targeted at a variety of objectives, she became interested in the mechanisms behind sustainable forest perpetuation. Sophia returned to school to receive her Master’s in Forestry at Cal Poly Humboldt. Her thesis focused on forest health in northern California with the goal of enhancing forest management strategies. She is excited to put her prior experience and studies to work, supporting locally lead forest resilience projects. Outside of work, Sophia loves gardening, biking, and going on runs with her dogs.

  • Ryan Reger

    Forest Program Coordinator

    Ryan joined the CARCD team in the spring of 2021 as the new Forest Program Coordinator. Growing up in South Lake Tahoe among beautiful conifers and granite peaks, he developed a deep respect for the natural world and the role that communities play in it. He has a Bachelors in Geography from Humboldt State University, and he is passionate about creating a more inclusive dialogue around conservation. Prior to joining CARCD, Ryan worked as both an Environmental Services Assistant and an Interpretive Specialist for California State Parks, giving him hands-on experience in watershed and trail restoration as well as public outreach and environmental education. In his spare time, he enjoys playing music, climbing, backpacking, and practicing yoga.

  • Sierra Riker

    Forest Project Coordinator

    Sierra started with CARCD in the Fall of 2022 as a Forest Project Coordinator. They graduated in May 2021 with a B.S in Environmental Science, an emphasis in Environmental Management, and a minor in Biology. Through a term with the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership, Sierra acquired diverse skills in watershed restoration and monitoring, post-fire restoration, and grant/program management. They are eager to support RCD’s necessary forestry programs to improve the health of California ecosystems. In their spare time you can find Sierra exploring the local trails or riding their motorcycle.

  • Mary Scheid

    Financial and Administrative Manager

    Mary joined CARCD in the Spring of 2023 as the Financial and Administrative Manager. She has a B.S. in Business/Accounting and over 16 years of accounting experience primarily in the local government sector. Mary has expertise in day-to-day accounting activities, budgeting, contract and grant monitoring, external audit, financial reporting, and leading an accounting team. She is dedicated to conservation of land, water, and wildlife in California and around the planet. She enjoys spending time hiking with her husband and dogs on the local trails in the Sierra Nevada area when she is not working.

  • Emily Smet

    Agriculture and Watershed Project Manager

    Emily Smet joined CARCD in Summer 2022. She earned a B.S. in Environmental Science from UC Davis with an emphasis in Watershed Sciences. As a college student she discovered the importance of environmental conservation, but it was as a habitat restoration intern at the Putah Creek Council that she found her passion for working with RCDs. Emily continues to support the mission of RCDs in developing cutting edge agricultural and water conservation programs. On the weekends she enjoys exploring the urban and natural landscapes California has to offer and trying to find the perfect campsite.

  • Taylor Stubblefield

    Communications Director

    Taylor joined the CARCD team in summer 2022 as the Communications and Outreach Coordinator. She graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a BA in Communication Studies. She primarily focused on interpersonal and small group communication. She has experience in marketing, photography, and events. In summer 2019, Taylor grew a deeper appreciation for the natural world after visiting Yosemite National Park. She has now visited several California National and State Parks where she enjoys hiking and photographing the different landscapes. Taylor hopes to inspire others to explore the great outdoors and participate in volunteer days at local parks, reserves, and recreational areas.

  • Cam Tredennick

    Executive Director

    As a Conservationist, Vice President and Executive Director, Cam has worked with organizations including The Nature Conservancy, River Partners, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Western Rivers Conservancy, and Sequoia Riverlands Trust to achieve conservation throughout California. He’s worked on California’s North Coast with the Yurok Tribe to acquire and develop management of over 47,000 acres of forested land within the Tribes ancestral lands; and he’s collaborated with farmers, agencies and non-profits on conservation and restoration projects throughout the Great Central Valley. Cam’s 28-year career has included law, conservation finance, work with California agencies and conservancies, and cross-organization implementation of projects with Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) implications. He leads CARCD as the Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) we support are being recognized as crucial to California achieving its climate and conservation goals, including 30×30.

  • Nancy Wahl-Scheurich

    Deputy Executive Director/ Program Manager for Pollinator and Wildlife Habitats

    Nancy joined the team in early 2020. She leverages her passion for sustainability and social justice and private sector project management/coordination experience – along with 10 years as an eco-entrepreneur – to get the job done. At CARCD she is focusing on supporting monarch, pollinator, carbon sequestration/wildlife habitat on working lands, and sustainable cannabis projects. Earlier in her career, Nancy held management and executive positions in the software industry, with a focus on international business. While her children were young, she consulted and taught business courses at CSU Monterey Bay. Prior to joining CARCD, Nancy founded a company that manufactured energy efficient lighting products made in the USA from recycled e-waste plastic, and co-founded another dedicated to bringing clean, affordable electricity to un-electrified communities in Africa. She has a BS in Business Administration, a BA in French and Inter-American studies, and an MS in Marketing.  She speaks Spanish, French, and German and is studying Swahili in her spare time. Nancy is a native Californian, currently living in Santa Cruz.

  • Qi(Chi) Zhou

    Program Manager, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

    Qi (pronounced as Chi) joined CARCD in August 2022 and will be collaborating with NRCS and local RCDs to incorporate and implement JEDI principles in their programs. Prior to joining CARCD, Qi has been collaborating with farmers, extension agencies, non-profit organizations and  government agencies on agriculture and environmental issues for over 8 years. Qi has worked as an extension specialist at the University of California Cooperative Extension for 3 years helping socially disadvantaged farmers on many federal, state and county programs. Her goal is to ensure all climate-smart agriculture programs are easily accessible to socially disadvantaged communities, and historically underserved communities will have enough resources to utilize (and benefit from) all programs they are eligible for. Qi received her B.S. degree in Horticulture Science from Hunan Agriculture University, Changsha, China and M.S. degree in Forestry Science from Huazhong Agriculture University, China. She then received her Ph.D. degree in Plant and Environmental Sciences in Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina. Qi speaks Mandarin, English, and some Cantonese, and she enjoys hiking and cooking with her kids when not working.