PLACER LAND TRUST STAFF
Executive Director: Jeff Darlington
The Placer Land Trust Executive Director is responsible for the management of PLT land protection efforts, including fundraising, membership, acquisitions, outreach, and operations. The Executive Director is a full-time salaried position, reporting to the Board of Directors through the President of the Board.
Jeff was hired as Executive Director of Placer Land Trust in May 2002. He is the first Executive Director of Placer Land Trust, and has dramatically increased the pace of land conservation for the Trust.
Jeff grew up in Auburn, and is the 4th generation of his family to reside in Placer County. His great-grandparents settled in Penryn in the 1920s, and his family has resided in Auburn since then. He lives in Auburn with his wife Christa and their sons Connell and Paul.
Jeff is a graduate of Placer High School and has a BA in History with a Minor in Geography from the University of California, Berkeley. He came to Placer Land Trust from the Mono Lake Committee, a highly successful nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of the Mono Lake Basin in the Eastern Sierras. Prior to that he worked for Electronic Data Systems in Rancho Cordova, First Health Services in Alaska, the California Department of Conservation, and two Northern California outdoor news publications (Western Outdoor News and Fishing & Hunting News) based in Sacramento. He is also a freelance writer, and has been published in several regional and national publications.
"I feel honored to spend my days working to preserve the wonderful landscape of Placer County, a place where I have fond memories of growing up. Many of the places where I used to hike or fish are now sadly diminished, or even paved over. But we have the chance to save this beautiful place by acting now to preserve the natural areas and family farms and ranches that together make this County the best place on earth."
Operations Manager: Jessica Pierce
The Operations Manager is responsible for assisting the Executive Director with the implementation of PLT's programs, as well as the operations and administration of the organization. This is a full-time salaried position, reporting to the Executive Director. Jessica Pierce was hired in June 2005.
Raised in rural Georgetown, Jessica spent over 18 years in the foothills of Placer and El Dorado Counties. During her summer breaks while attending Humboldt State University, where she earned a B.A. in Geography and a minor in Political Science, she worked for the El Dorado National Forest and Blodgett Experimental Forest, a research station managed by UC Berkeley. Jessica has spent the majority of her professional career in non-profit project management, community development, fundraising and grant writing roles, working with youth, and in the public policy arena.
Avid climbers, skiers and kayakers, Jessica and her husband Josh live in Georgetown with their son Wyatt.
"Growing up with the outdoors at my front door, as well as working
in the local forests as a kid, I learned to greatly appreciate open space.
I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with Placer Land Trust
to ensure that conservation and open space remain a balanced focal point
during such a pivotal time of growth and development in Northern California.
I couldn't be happier for the opportunity to balance my professional life
with my love for the outdoors."
Stewardship Assistant
(AmeriCorps Intern): Jeff Ward
For the years 2007, 2008, and 2009, Placer Land Trust has been awarded an AmeriCorps intern to help us with our Stewardship Program. For 2008, Jeff Ward is our intern, working as our Stewardship Assistant.
Jeff Ward is an Environmental Studies graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University, and is one of 27 interns selected by AmeriCorps to conduct environmental education, habitat restoration, and ecological monitoring in the Sierra Nevada region.
"I'm excited to work with Placer Land Trust this year to help the Trust reach its land conservation and restoration goals. This internship is the perfect opportunity to learn the ins and outs of working for a local land trust, and help me along my career path."
Placer Land Trust Office
The Placer Land Trust office is located in Auburn, the county seat of Placer County. Contact information:
Placer Land Trust
11521 Blocker Drive, Suite 100
Auburn, CA 95603
(530) 887-9222
FAX (530) 888-7720
info@placerlandtrust.org
 Placer Land Trust 11521 Blocker Drive, Suite 100 Auburn, CA 95603 (530) 887-9222 info@placerlandtrust.org |