MEET THE BOARD
BOARD MEMBERS
SANDY BUECHLEY
PRESIDENT
A long-time Ojai civic and environmental leader, Sandy recently retired as Business Intelligence Manager after a 37-year tenure with Patagonia.
LARRY BECKETT
VICE PRESIDENT
As a retired school psychologist and avid horse lover, Larry is passionate about a wide range of environmental issues.
MARY BERGEN
SECRETARY
Mary is a longtime Ojai Valley equestrian, avocado rancher, and advocate of healthy watersheds. She is also a retired marine biologist who has worked for California Department of Fish & Game.
LAURA S. CIONTEA
CPA - TREASURER
Laura works in the audit and accounting practice of Damitz, Brooks, Nightingale, Turner & Morrisset. She joined the firm in 1997 and has over 30 years of experience in public accounting. Her principal areas of practice are accounting and auditing with special emphasis in nonprofit organizations, manufacturing, and benefit plans.
BECKY BECKETT
Becky grew up in Ojai, riding her horse on the trails before becoming a science teacher at Nordhoff H.S. for 14 years and principal at Chaparral H.S. for 5 years. She developed the Ojai Valley Unified School District’s Environmental Field Studies program, helped found the Health Science Academy, and started a native plant garden. Becky now works part time as a teacher for Valley Oak Charter.
BILL BROTHERS
Bill is a former teacher in an environmental education private school, as well as a retired businessman and a lifelong animal welfare advocate. His special interests in the Ojai Valley include land preservation, and trail building and maintenance.
MICHELLE HENSON
Michelle is a banking and loan expert, having recently retired as Vice President and Senior Commercial Loan Officer at Bank of the Sierra. Michelle has extensive experience working with youth and Rotary.
BILL SLAUGHTER
Founding partner of the firm, Slaughter, Reagan & Cole, LLP, and trial attorney for 30 years, Bill has served on the boards of Ventura County Sheriff’s Foundation, Notes for Notes, Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce, Santa Paula Boys and Girls Club, and Sisar Water Company. A lifelong climber and outdoor sports enthusiast, Bill has served since the mid-1980s as a member and Captain of the Upper Ojai Search and Rescue Team (part of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department) through which he manages search and rescue activities in Ventura County and across California.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
BRET BRADIGAN
ROB BROKAW
JAMES E. CLARK II
NED CLARK
STEFANIE COELER
WILLI COELER
DIANE CROSS
GREG LEPINE
JIM LITTLE
PATRICK LOUGHMAN
WILLIAM SHANBROM ALICIA STRATTON
TONY THACHER
DAVID VADNAIS
ALLAN J. WEST