Chair: George N. Somero

A native Minnesotan, George N. Somero received his Bachelor’s degree from Carleton College and his Ph.D. from Stanford University. He served on the faculties of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Oregon State University before joining the Stanford faculty in 1995. He served as Director of Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Station and currently serves as a Professor in Marine Sciences. His research interests center on the effects of environmental factors such as temperature on marine organisms. He currently divides his research efforts between rocky intertidal ecosystems in Central California and the ice-cold waters of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica, the site of his doctoral studies 40 years ago. George serves on several boards, including those of the journal Science, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), and the Company of Biologists in Cambridge, UK. George and his wife, Dr. Amy Anderson, reside in Carmel Valley.

Vice Chair: Roz Fisher

Born and raised in Honolulu, Roz Fisher attended Smith College, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. She settled on the San Francisco Peninsula and worked for IBM Corporation, providing technical marketing support to clients in Silicon Valley. In 1981, she began employment with Visa International in San Mateo, holding various management positions in software development, computer and network operations, and customer support. Roz and her husband Howard purchased a second home at Carmel Valley Ranch in 1998, then moved to the area permanently when construction began on their new home at the Santa Lucia Preserve. Among the first full-time residents of The Preserve, Roz and Howard have two adult sons, Joshua and Nathaniel.

Secretary: Linda Charles

Linda Charles was born in Pensacola, Florida, traveling the country as her father followed his Navy career. She graduated from Florida State University with a Master’s degree in Math Education.

Linda moved to southern California to teach elementary school and soon became involved with staff development. She later moved to Palo Alto to work with an educational publishing company and pursued this career for the next 30 years as an editor, writer, speaker, manager and executive. Linda retired in 2002 and moved to Carmel with her husband Randy. Linda loves to hike the beautiful hills and valleys of the Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur and enjoys supporting the important mission of the Land Trust.

Treasurer: Phil Wilhelm

Phil Wilhelm was born and raised in Chicago where he co-founded Huron Partners, Inc., an investment holding company with concentrations in commercial real estate and operating companies. He graduated from Duke University with a Bachelors degree and earned his MBA at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

In 1980, Phil became an owner and Managing General Partner of the Highlands Inn directing its re-development. He subsequently became an owner of several Monterey Peninsula hotel properties. He is Board President of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Monterey County and his recreational interests include golf, travel, biking and hiking. Phil and his wife Carol now reside in Carmel Valley and have two adult children, Phillip Jr. and Julia.

Trustee: Ian Arnoff

Ian Arnoff grew up in McCrory, Arkansas, a small rural farming community between Memphis and Little Rock. He was educated at Vanderbilt, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, and at Harvard, earning an MBA in Finance and Economics. After serving in the Air Force Reserves, Ian worked for 14 years for First Tennessee, a large regional bank in Memphis. In 1978 he became Chief Financial Officer for First Commerce Corp in New Orleans. He was promoted to President/CEO in 1983, serving in that post until First Commerce was sold to Bank One in 1999. In 2000, Ian moved to Carmel, where his primary civic activities relate to public education reform and health care. He has three grown children.

Trustee: David Bates

David Bates was born and raised on the Monterey Peninsula. He graduated from Princeton University with a degree in History. David attended Stanford Law School where he received his Law degree and continued at Stanford Graduate School of Business to receive his MBA. He went on to work in the realm of finance on the east coast and later in San Francisco. David then returned to the Peninsula, where he was the President of Robert Talbott, Inc. David served as Chairman of the Aguajito/Hidden Hills Advisory Committee to the Monterey County Planning Department from 1987 to 1998. He was Chairman of the Board of the Community Hospital Foundation from 1991 to 1997, is on the Board of the Cypress Fire Protection District, and is Treasurer of the Monterey Pine Forest Watch. David has two grown children and lives in Jacks Peak.

Trustee: Demi Briscoe

Demi Briscoe was raised on the Monterey Peninsula, attending local schools and forming friendships that have lasted into adulthood. She and her friends spent many blissful hours showing their horses at the Carmel Valley Trail and Saddle Club.

Demi has spent her professional career as a banker in Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel, where she has managed branches for First Interstate Bank and First National Bank of Central California. She currently is Vice-President of First National Bank’s Carmel Branch.

Demi stays active in the community by serving on the Board of Directors of Carmel Valley Village Improvement Committee (CVVIC), as well as the Capital Campaign Steering Committee for the Carmel Foundation. Demi and her husband Rich enjoy hiking the trails of Garland Park and other scenic recreational areas in the County. They are avid travelers and particularly enjoy exploring the U.S. Southwest.

Trustee: Stephen Schulte

Stephen Schulte comes to the Central Coast from New York City, where he continues in his role as Counsel to Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, a large New York City law firm he co-founded. Stephen earned his undergraduate degree from Brown University and completed his law degree at Columbia University School of Law, where he has been on the adjunct faculty for many years. Stephen’s philanthropic commitments include serving as board member for Cardozo School of Law, Choate Rosemary Hall School, The Innocence Project, and The York School. Stephen and his wife Patsy have three children and five grandchildren. In his free time, Stephen enjoys fly fishing, cooking, hiking, and grandparenting.

Trustee: Lawrence J.  Chazen

Larry Chazen grew up in Iowa. He was educated at the University of Colorado where he earned a B.A. in Accounting and Law degree. His career focus has been as an investment manager and advisor. Larry is both a CPA and a member of the California Bar and, since 1994, has served on the Board of Noble Corporation – a Fortune 500 company. He is an owner of the Carmel Restaurant Group, which includes Grasing’s and Kurt’s Carmel Chop House restaurants. Larry and his wife Cece (who grew up in Pacific Grove) live in Carmel and have three children and two grandchildren. Larry enjoys hiking and travel.

Trustee: Paul Danielson

Paul Danielson served as the Chaplain at All Saints Episcopal Day School for 17 years until his retirement in 2001. He previously spent 15 years as Pastor at the Church of the Good Shepherd, in Corral de Tierra. Currently, he serves as a Chaplain part-time at York School. Paul has a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Princeton, a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and an Anglican Studies certificate from the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

In retirement, Paul has become a volunteer conservationist with the Ventana Wilderness Alliance where he has assisted with site steward protection for the numerous Native American archaeological sites in the region. He has also been tireless in promoting The Big Sur Land Trust and its efforts to protect California’s coastal lands and waters. Paul and his wife Margaret live in Toro Park with their dog, Buddy. They have three grown sons. Father Paul enjoys hiking, backpacking, reading, camping and attending sporting events.

Trustee: Steve Dorrance

Steve Dorrance is an active partner in the Dorrance family ranching operation in Monterey County, first established in 1945. He has a degree in Agricultural Management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and has approximately 20 years of experience with Holistic Management™, a comprehensive framework for managing healthy land. Steve’s interests lie with resource management in the area of wildlife, livestock and the lands that support them. Steve is a native of the Monterey Bay area. He and his wife Leslie have three adult children, Drew, Clifton and Mollie, who were raised on Dorrance Ranch.

Trustee: Scot McKay

Scot McKay was born and raised in Evanston, Illinois. He attended the University Of Iowa, Lake Forest College and Keller Graduate School of Management. Scot is a successful entrepreneur whose business interests include an auto dealership, several restaurants, a real estate development company, a software company, and ventures in China. Most recently, he purchased and renovated the 13-Acre Carmel Valley Athletic Club. Under his ownership, CVAC was voted Outstanding Facility of the Year by the USTA. Scot’s most important “business” is his family of seven children, ages 9 to 24, which he “runs” with Heidi, his wife of 28 years. The McKay Family moved to Carmel permanently in 2003. Scot enjoys automobiles, tennis, golf, hiking, and being at the ocean.

Trustee: Ralph Miljanich

Born in Watsonville, Ralph Miljanich has family ties to the Pajaro Valley and California that date back 100 years. Ralph has a B.S. in Soils Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and an M.B.A. from Oregon State University. Currently, Ralph works as a Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley. Ralph has been involved with non-profit organizations for 25 years and currently serves as the Vice-President of the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, the President of the Regional Water Management Foundation, and the President of the Independence Square Housing Corporation. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Rotary Club of Watsonville. In 2008, Ralph was recognized as a Top 10 Volunteer out of over 40,000 employees worldwide with Morgan Stanley. Ralph lives in Corralitos with his wife, Kerri, and son, Christopher. He enjoys gardening, basketball, music and home re-modeling.

Trustee: Bob Sayre

Bob Sayre, a Big Sur resident and landowner for nine years, serves on the boards of the Monterey Fire Safe Council, the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Coastlands Mutual Water Company. He is a also a member of the Friends of the Library and the Big Sur Grange, where he helps publish the Grange newspaper The Big Sur Roundup. Bob has a sincere interest in research associated with Sudden Oak Death and attends many seminars on this important subject. Bob is a retired businessman from the San Francisco Bay area. For 20 years, he was Vice-President, Western Area Sales and Service, for the Bell & Howell Company’s Micrographics Division. He has experience in sales management and training, market research and forecasting, and policy and procedure planning. Bob graduated from Duke University in 1959 and attended graduate school at New York University. In the early 60s, he served in the U. S. Navy as a commissioned officer aboard the fleet oiler USS Hassayampa. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Bob married Lynda Youngberg in 1971. Together they have raised three children and are very proud of their six grandchildren.

Trustee: Nick Wheeler

Nick Wheeler began his career in commercial photography in 1969 in San Francisco after graduating with a B.A. in Architecture from Stanford University. In 1971, he moved to Massachusetts where he resided for the next 33 years. His career focus has been architectural photography, including a book with Doris Cole, Architecture of the Boston Public Schools. His work has been published in most major architectural magazines worldwide and he was the recipient of the American Institute of Architects Honor Award for career achievement. Nick has published an extensive photographic exploration of the Badlands of North America and his work has been the subject of one-man shows in Washington, D.C. and Boston. Nick and his wife Whiteley returned to California in 2004 and they currently reside within the Santa Lucia Preserve.

Trustee: Blanca Zarazúa

Blanca Zarazúa maintains her own law practice in Monterey County, California. Blanca has been in practice since 1987 when she began working as Associate Tax Counsel with Bank of America in San Francisco, California; she is currently a Certified Tax Specialist. Prior to joining Bank of America, Blanca worked as a law clerk with the California Supreme Court in San Francisco. While still a student, she worked for the Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and Goodrich, Little, Riquelme & Asociados, a Mexico City law firm.

Blanca has involved herself in a wide variety of professional and community activities. She has served as Legal Counsel and President & CEO for the Monterey County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and is currently Chair of this organization. Blanca is a member of the California Bar Association and the California State Bar Tax Section. She has served on the boards of The Big Sur Land Trust; the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley; Monterey Institute of International Studies; Northern California Public Broadcasting; Chartwell School; the Girl Scouts of America; and Meals on Wheels.

In 2003 Blanca was appointed by Mexico’s former President Vicente Fox to serve as Honorary Consul of Mexico for Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. She also serves on the international board of advisors for the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Blanca is a graduate of Pitzer College of the Claremont Colleges with a degree in foreign languages. She earned an MBA from UC Berkeley; a JD from Santa Clara University; and an LLM from Golden Gate University. She has completed studies in Oxford, England, Rome, Italy and Guadalajara, Mexico.

Blanca was born at the original Carmel location of Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. Her father worked as foreman of the historic Odello Ranch in Carmel. As a child, Blanca resided in one of the small red houses along Highway One that still stands today.

Trustee: Judy  Sulsona

Judy Sulsona was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Judy attended the University of Puerto Rico and graduated with a degree in Political Science, and minors in Economics and Spanish Literature. She participated in a two-year graduate program at the Universidad Autónoma Nacional de México (UNAM), with a focus on Geopolitical Studies and the Law of the Sea. Judy retired from her position as Executive Vice President of the Community Foundation for Monterey County in 2009, but has continued to consult with the Foundation and other nonprofit and public agencies in organizational and community capacity building and planning.

Judy has lived in Carmel Valley for twenty-seven years with her husband Bill Rawson. Both are avid readers and love music and traveling, particularly in open spaces and wilderness areas. She has served on a wide range of nonprofit Boards over the past 15 years.

Trustee: Judy Logan

Judy Logan grew up in West Los Angeles and attended the University of California at Berkeley for two years. After marrying her husband Gary, relocating to Palo Alto and having three sons, Judy returned to school and completed her B.A. at San Francisco University. Judy has been involved in education and environmental issues most of her adult life. She worked as a pre school and parent education teacher in Palo Alto and Cupertino.

Judy and Gary moved to Carmel from Portola Valley in 1999. Judy recently stepped down from the Carmel Foundation Board of Directors after six years of service to the community. During her tenure Judy served as Chair, Vice-Chair of Development and Vice-Chair of Governance and participated in the Carmel Foundation’s capital campaign to rebuild Trevvett Court for affordable senior housing.

Judy and Gary have been married for over 53 years and in addition to their sons, they have three daughter-in-laws and six grandchildren. Judy enjoys travel, hiking, golf, pilates, yoga and reading. Judy and Gary participate in the many cultural opportunities found in Monterey County, including the Jazz and Bach Festivals.