Board of Directors

Roger Essick, President
Avocado grower and Orchard Manager
Roger Essick, an Ojai resident and avocado and citrus farmer for 36 years, will return to the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy Board of Directors after a year off.  Roger served as board President during his previous term and has a long history with the OVLC after having served several times on the board since the beginning days.  Roger has enjoyed raising his family of two grown children and four grandchildren in the Ojai Valley and looks forward to helping to preserve Ojai’s natural places for generations to come.  He lives on the east end of Ojai on a large avocado ranch with his wife Pat, a Topa Topa school teacher, who shares his love for the Ojai Valley.

 Mary Bergen, Director
Mary first came to Ojai in 1957 when her parents bought a ranch on Creek Road. She learned to love the land by exploring the hills and canyons on horse and on foot. After graduating from high school, she became a marine biologist and worked as for the California State Lands Commission and the Department of Fish and Game, studying the effects of man’s activities on the ocean. In 2000, Mary moved back to the ranch in Ojai and permanently set down roots. She is very happy managing the avocado orchard and continuing to explore the beauty of the valley with her two horses and two dogs.

Stefanie Coeler, Secretary
Retired business executive, equestrian
Having been interested in the protection of environmental resources all her life and an active OVLC member and volunteer for the past six years, it was natural for Stefanie to join the board. If you have been at OVLC events, you have likely enjoyed some of Stefanie’s creativity and dedication. Born and raised in Germany, she came to Ojai to be with her sweetheart Willi, an airline pilot, now her husband. Stefanie brings two valuable assets to the OVLC, a degree and career in business and a passion for the outdoors. She especially loves riding her horse and hiking on the Ventura River Preserve which she is lucky enough to call her “back yard” as an Oso Road resident. She has been instrumental in watching over the VRP on our behalf.

 Margot Griswold, Director
Senior Restoration Ecologist, NewFields Agricultural & Environmental Resources
Margot is a resident of the Upper Ojai Valley since 2003. She has a background in farming from the Central Valley of California, and currently works as a plant ecologist specializing in native habitat restoration. She is past president for SERCAL (California Society for Ecological Restoration) and currently serves on the board of Los Angeles Audubon where she directs local science education projects. She is also a member of the Los Angeles County Environmental Review Board. She is dedicated to ecological education and land conservation.

Cari Guerrero, Treasurer
Branch Manager, Rabobank
An Ojai native, Cari was born at the Ojai hospital, back when they were still delivering babies! Growing up in Meiners Oaks, she and her sister found refuge on the Ojai Meadows Preserve long before it was preserved, and now has come full circle, by joining the OVLC board. She now plays on the meadow with her 3 year old daughter Lilly when she isn’t busy working or playing an important role in finance management on the OVLC board. I am so thrilled to be a part of OVLC and look forward sharing my appreciation for Ojai.” She is also a member of the Ojai Rotary Club and a board member of Food for Thought.

Brian Holly, Director
Conservation Biologist, BioResource Consultants, Inc.
A third generation Ojai resident, Brian is a conservation biologist with BioResource Consultants, an environmental consulting firm based in Ojai.  Brian brings extensive experience in ecology, wildlife biology, ecosystem management, environmental policy and natural resource planning.  For over ten years, Brian has been working on ecological restoration projects in the Ojai watershed and other southern California watersheds.  He also serves as an active member of the Ventura County Search and Rescue Team-Upper Ojai.  Brian and his wife Camille spend much of their free time rock climbing, backpacking, fly fishing and mountain biking throughout the Sierra range and western United States.  Brian has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science-Conservation Biology from the UC Santa Cruz and will defend his Master’s thesis in Ecosystem Science and Conservation at Duke University in the spring of 2011.   

Allan Jacobs, Director
CPA and Attorney, Waite, Jacobs and Atkinson, Attorneys at Law
A former OVLC board member, CPA and Attorney is returning to our board. We are pleased to welcome him back as he is such an asset to the OVLC. Allan and his wife Janet have lived in Ojai for 10 years though his family settled here in the 1930’s. Allan attended Monica Ros, San Antonio School, and Nordhoff. He and Janet have 3 grown children. Allan is an avid hiker and fisherman, Peace Corps volunteer, Eagle Scout and dedicated Ojai Rotarian.

Don Reed, Director
Retired teacher and headmaster.
Don initially taught in New England but moved to Ojai with his family in 1970 to The Thacher School.  At Thacher he taught physics and astronomy, served in several administrative positions, coached gymkhana, and lead back trips in the Sespe backcountry. Don left Thacher in 1985 and became headmaster at four independent schools during the next twenty-one years, one each in Illinois, California, Colorado and Virginia. In 2008 he and his wife Susan fulfilled a life-long dream to return to Ojai for their retirement.  Don maintains his interest in education and board governance by serving as treasurer of the Monica Ros School and chair of the scholarship committee of the Board of Directors for the Rotary Club of Ojai Educational Foundation.

Cricket Twichell, Director
Retired Administrator
A natural to serve on the board, having lived in the Ojai Valley since 1969, Cricket moved here from the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts when her husband was hired by The Thacher School. A full-time Mom until 1977, she began working in Admissions for the Thacher School and worked in the Development office as well as taught study skills, until retiring in 1996. Often found wandering around the Ojai hills, she is interested in wildflowers and native plants and enjoys giving nature hikes. She’s also hooked on Ojai history, giving talks about the colorful characters and events which have influenced Ojai’s past. She is honored to have been asked to join the OVLC board, and “humbled to serve amongst such a great group of people”.
 
Nathan Wallace, Director
Nathan Wallace moved to Ojai in 1992 and has lived here since, with the exception of a short stint in San Antonio and San Diego. He works for a financial consultant based out of Malibu. Nathan is an avid hiker, skier, camper and enjoys anything in the outdoors. He spends the majority of his time with his wife Rebecca and very young son, Archer.  He also makes sure to spend time with family including his mother, aunt and uncle and his little sister who all live in Ojai.

Barbara Washburn, Director
We welcome Barbara Washburn back to the Board of Directors in 2011.  A new England transplant, Barbara moved to Los Angeles 22 years ago. As she became aware of the rapid development up and down the California coast, she developed a passion for land preservation. She and her husband Deric, moved to Ojai in 1998 drawn by the unspoiled beauty of the valley. Barbara immediately became involved with the Land Conservancy as a volunteer and joined the OVLC board of Directors the first time in 2004.  Barbara is the Chair of the OVLC docent group and can often be spotted walking her leashed Standard Poodle, Charley, on the Ojai Meadows Preserve.

Deborah Whorf, Director
Engineering Manager, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
Deborah is a converted transplant from the east coast who has happily adapted and totally immersed herself in the Ojai community and culture. She came to Ojai in 1998 to assist with the completion of the Ojai Valley Inn’s new spa and went on to become the Project Coordinator for the Inn’s vast $90M Renovation.  Deborah is currently the Engineering Manager overseeing general maintenance, processes and projects at the Inn.  You can spot her on most weekends enjoying her horse, Winston, riding throughout the Ventura River Preserve. In addition, Deborah and her husband, Bill, enjoy traveling throughout California whenever they can find free time as well as an occasional visit back to the east coast to visit family.