Board of Directors
The Board of Directors governs Placer Land Trust, provides strategic direction, and approves land protection projects. The monthly Board meetings are open to the public and usually take place on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30pm in Auburn. See the Calendar for specific dates.
Officers
Board Members
Fred Yeager, President
Fred was employed by Placer County for 33 years, and he was Director of the Planning Department for 17 of those years. Among many other accomplishments, Fred implemented the award-winning Placer Legacy program for Placer County. In 2005, Fred was awarded the Placer Conservator award for his efforts to improve the quality of life in Placer County through resource conservation. He graduated from U.C. Riverside. He has lived in Auburn since 1978 and retired from Placer County in 2005.
There is a little something for everyone in Placer County, from the Sierra Nevada's to the scenic rivers, blue oak woodlands and agricultural lands. I enjoy working with Placer Land Trust to protect these attributes because the Trust is a very locally driven organization that has a direct impact on our heritage and our future here in Placer County.
Thomas McMahan, Vice President
Tom is a retired employee of Placer County, where he spent 17 of his 25 years with the County as the Director of the Planning Department. Tom also served as LAFCO Executive Officer, and was one of the key proponents of the Foothill Farmers Markets. He graduated from California State University, Fresno, with a BA in Urban Geography, and completed graduate courses at Golden State University. He lives in Auburn.
Protecting open space, and particularly agricultural land, from urban encroachment has always been one of my highest professional and personal priorities. Placer County contains among the greatest geographical diversities of any area in the State, and I wish to contribute to the effort to preserve that richness for current and future generations.
Gregg McKenzie, Treasurer
Gregg is a Partner and Executive Vice President of Restoration Resources and contributes his expertise in restoration, mitigation, environmental permitting, and land acquisition. Restoration Resources is a Rocklin based environmental contractor providing design/build/permitting services for wetlands, endangered species and habitat mitigation. Gregg is a graduate of CSU Chico with a degree in Environmental Geography and Planning. His prior work experience includes assisting Gov. Pete Wilson’s office with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and land use and environmental planning in the Office of Planning and Research. Gregg also serves as a City of Rocklin Planning Commissioner, and as a member of the Placer County Conservation Plan (PCCP) Biologic Working Group. Gregg resides in Rocklin with his wife Tiffany, and their two sons Parker and Mason. Aside from environmental conservation, he is a fly fishing enthusiast.
My interest in the conservation and restoration of our environment began in my early childhood, fishing and hunting in the Sierra’s with my father and grandfather,” said Gregg. “These early experiences peaked my educational interest in the environment and the positive role that we can play in its conservation, as well as the need for restoration resulting from recent and historical impacts.
Larry Welch, Secretary
Larry Welch was the former Vice President of Indirect Procurement for Hewlett Packard before retiring in June 2007. Prior to his role in procurement, Larry held a wide range of management positions within HP's operations, marketing and IT organizations including serving as IT manager and then Site General Manager at HP's Roseville campus. Larry is active in the community. He currently holds the office of Treasurer on the board of Placer Community Foundation and sits on the Executive Committee and Board of Pride Industries, one the largest employer of people with disabilities in the U.S. He was Chairman of Sacramento region's Valley Vision and was a member of the Citizens' Advisory Committee for the Placer County Open Space Initiative.
I have been passionate about preserving open space for my entire life. As a member of the Placer Legacy Citizens Advisory Committee, I developed an even deeper respect for the precious resources that exist across all of Placer County. I look forward to doing everything I can to support the Land Trust in their mission to preserve natural and agricultural lands throughout the county.
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Rich Ferreira
Rich grew up on a 80-acre dairy farm, and – like his parents and grandparents before him – he attended schools in the Lincoln area. He is a graduate of American River College. His father Alex Ferreira was a Placer County Supervisor, and Rich’s family has farmed in the Lincoln area for three generations. Rich owns and operates Side Hill Citrus Farm, growing organic and pesticide-free mandarin and navel oranges on 50-acres. He also owns and operates Circle Welding, fabricating steel to supplement his agricultural income. He lives in Lincoln.
The amount of change to the rural landscape of Placer County has been staggering over the past 50 years and the rate of development, especially in my neck of the woods, continues to concern me. I feel strongly that if action is not taken now to preserve some of what’s left that makes this County so special, it will be too late. Placer Land Trust is committed to the permanent preservation of our rural landscapes, and I’m proud to be a part of that effort.
Robert J. Gilliom
Bob is a hydrologist and senior project manager with the U.S. Geological Survey, specializing in studies of stream and ground water quality. He earned his MS degree in Hydrology from the University of Washington and a BS degree from Huxley College of Environmental Studies at Western Washington University. Bob is a former President of Placer Land Trust. He lives in Auburn.
Placer County is an exceptional place to live, with a diverse and remarkable natural environment stretching from the Central Valley to the crest of the Sierra Nevada. Yet the pressures of population growth and land development increasingly threaten the environmental quality that brought many of us here. As a long-time resident of Auburn and the region, I want to help permanently preserve the most critical undeveloped lands through cooperative partnerships among the community and land owners.
Jim Haagen-Smit
Jim lives on five pastoral acres in Newcastle, attending to a testy little fruit orchard. He is a member of the local CSA, The Natural Trading Company, an avid cyclist (on and off the pavement), and recently retired from Hewlett-Packard after 25 years as a Software Engineer. He has actively helped improve access to and management of Placer County’s resources for over 20 years working with diverse groups to achieve collaborative solutions. He is President of board of directors of the California Bicycle Coalition, on the Bureau of Land Management Resource Advisory Committee, and Placer County Trails Forum.
Enjoying and protecting the outdoors is a major part of my life. Placer County is a special place – I’ve hiked and ridden bicycles all over Placer County and realized that many might not be around for future generations to enjoy without the help of Placer Land Trust and programs like Placer Legacy. I’m honored to be able to help in this protection and increase public access to trails by serving on the Board of Placer Land Trust.
Mehrey Vaghti
Mehrey is an independent consultant in the field of vegetation ecology. She is currently involved in salmonid and riparian restoration projects in the San Joaquin River watershed. She is a graduate of UC Davis with a BS in Environmental Biology & Management and a MS in Ecology. She has been involved in the study and mapping of California vegetation, from the coast to the mountains, for 13 years. She lives with her family in Auburn.
The town I grew up in has retained its rural character and agricultural heritage because of dedicated land owners and conservation easements. When I went out into the world and experienced large-scale development I was shocked. I am a true believer in the conservation of open space and agricultural vitality as key elements to societal health. I thoroughly enjoy working with the dedicated folks at PLT to give a little back.
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Skip Outman
Skip is a Realtor with
Windermere Real Estate, specializing in large open space and ranch properties. He is a graduate of the California State University at Hayward with a degree in Social Science and Physical Education. He is a member of the California Farm Bureau, Texas Longhorn Breeders Association, National Cutting Horse Association, American Quarter Horse Association, and Nancy's Running Club. He is a former school teacher and is active in local endurance running. He has resided in Placer County since 1968, and now lives in Auburn.
All of us living in Placer County should be grateful for our surroundings. The opportunities are endless for outdoor recreation and there are few places in the world that match our environment. Our county has a rich history of agricultural excellence ranging from rice to beef production. I'd like to do all I can to help preserve what we have for future generations and I feel honored to be able to assist in Placer Land Trust's effort.
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Board Committees
The Board of Directors oversees the following Committees that help Placer Land Trust operate effectively: Audit, Board Development, Budget & Finance, Bylaws & Procedures, Fundraising, Project Selection, and Stewardship. These Committees are chaired by Directors, but our supporters may apply to serve on most committees.
To inquire about joining a committee, or for more information about the Board of Directors, please contact the Board of Directors at board@placerlandtrust.org.