Jim Branham & Bob Kingman – 2019 Placer Conservators
Each year, Placer Land Trust (PLT) presents the Placer Conservator Award to exceptional members of the community who support the mission of PLT and contribute to conservation and the quality of life in Placer County. It is truly an honor to present this year’s award to both Jim Branham and Bob Kingman, who have each spent over 30 years working to protect our natural resources in California.
Jim and Bob were both hired in the early stages of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC), and helped to form it into the well-respected organization it is today. They led the SNC through nearly 30 conservation projects in Placer County, and were instrumental in helping protect and enhance several PLT preserves, such as the Canyon View Preserve. Together, they initiated and supported projects that reduced fuel loads in California forests, removed hazardous materials and invasive species from waterways, created and improved outdoor recreation opportunities, educated and trained new conservation leaders, and more—making the Sierra a healthier place where all living things can thrive.
Jim was hired by SNC in 2005 as their first Executive Officer. Prior to that, he had an extensive career shaping and implementing environmental policies in both the public and private sector. Jim has served as the Chief Deputy Director at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Undersecretary of the California Resources Agency, and the Undersecretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, just to name a few positions. He retired from SNC in 2018.
Bob was hired by SNC in 2006 as a manager, then as the Assistant Executive Officer. Prior to that, Bob worked at the California Tahoe Conservancy for 20 years, where he oversaw the development of multiple public beach access projects and several miles of bike trails. Bob has also served as an advisor to the California Greenways Conference Foundation, the Pacific Lands and Stewardship Council, and California Watchable Wildlife. He retired from SNC in 2019.
Jim and Bob share PLT’s vision of a healthier region where all living things can thrive. We know that all who live and play in the Sierra, as well as those living downstream, will continue to benefit from Jim and Bob’s efforts for generations to come.
“Working with the land trust community in the Sierra Nevada has been very rewarding. Placer Land Trust is a shining example of the great work being done around the region for future generations. It is a true honor to receive this award.” – Jim Branham and Bob Kingman
Gary & Shannon Wells – Volunteers of the Year
We are honored to present our 2019 Volunteer of the Year award to Gary and Shannon Wells. Gary and Shannon are long-time Placer Land Trust members, and first started volunteering in 2006. They joined the hike docent team in 2016, introducing hundreds of community members to our beautiful preserves over the years. They have also played important roles in several of our fundraising campaigns and events. In addition, Gary serves as a member of our Community Council, helping to amplify Placer Land Trust’s voice and keep conservation at the forefront in our region. Gary and Shannon are both educators, and have been inspiring the next generation to love and care for the natural world for decades. When not working or volunteering, Gary and Shannon can be found outdoors hiking, running, backpacking, birding…you get the picture!
“The conservation practices of Placer Land Trust are vital to the protection of the unique natural landscapes of Placer County, such as the beautiful oak woodlands and vernal pools. We love learning about and exploring these areas, and it’s an honor to be able to share that knowledge and wonder with others. Come take a hike with us!”
Jan Foster & Ray Valone – Land Stewards of the Year
We are thrilled to honor Jan Foster and Ray Valone as our 2019 Land Stewards of the Year. Jan and Ray became Placer Land Trust members a few years after moving to Auburn, and started volunteering as hike docents in 2017. In addition to sharing the beauty of our preserves with the public, they each took on their own land stewardship projects to help our staff team care for the lands they love. Jan has taken on the back-breaking work of eradicating invasive blackberries near their home at our Stagecoach Preserve. As part of her California Naturalist Certification Program, she also developed a plant identification guide for visitors to use at our Canyon View preserve. Ray monitors 10 bluebird boxes on our Big Hill preserves, making sure they are in safe working order, tracking the number of birds that have hatched and fledged from this blue oak woodland habitat, and sharing beautiful pictures of the bluebirds with our members. Jan and Ray both enjoy hiking, traveling, and spending time helping others learn about and experience the nature world.
“We love that PLT has preserved so much land, ensuring green spaces and habitat in Placer County.”
Randol White – Emcee
Randol White is an award winning, accomplished, and well-rounded broadcast journalist with more than two decades of radio, television, web and print experience. He is a Northern California native with a lifelong connection to the Sacramento and Reno/Tahoe areas, with family members in Lincoln.Prior to coming to Capital Public Radio, Randol was the first-ever news director at KCBX Public Radio on California’s Central Coast. He spearheaded a newsroom from the ground up, based on NPR-style reporting guidelines blended with a strong focus on the issues and topics important to his local audience. During his tenure, Randol won the prestigious first-place Public Radio News Directors Incorporated (PRNDI) Award for his creative writing and use of sound. Randol currently anchors All Things Considered, NPR’s daily afternoon news program that offers an in-depth presentation of the day’s news, with some of the nation’s best reporting, commentary, and analysis.
Secretary Wade Crowfoot – Speaker
Wade Crowfoot was appointed California Secretary for Natural Resources by Governor Gavin Newsom in January 2019. As Secretary, Crowfoot oversees an agency of 19,000 employees charged with protecting and managing California’s diverse resources. This includes stewarding the state’s forests and natural lands, rivers and waterways, coast and ocean, fish and wildlife, and energy development. As a member of the Governor’s cabinet, he advises the Governor on natural resources and environmental issues.
Crowfoot brings over two decades of public policy and environmental leadership to the office, with expertise in water, fisheries, climate and sustainability issues. He most recently served as chief executive officer of the Water Foundation, a nonprofit philanthropy that builds shared water solutions for communities, economy, and the environment across the American West. In that role, he developed innovative partnerships among a broad range of partners including agricultural leaders and environmental conservation groups.
Crowfoot believes effective management of California’s resources allows communities and natural places to thrive and the economy to grow. This includes strengthening the connection between Californians and natural resources by expanding access to parks and natural places. Crowfoot is also prioritizing building California’s resilience to growing challenges from climate-driven threats, including drought, wildfire, flooding and sea-level rise.
Keith McLane – Auctioneer
Keith L. McLane, BAS, is one of the country’s preeminent fundraising auctioneers and special appeal/fund-a-need experts. Since 1995, he has specialized in organizing and conducting charity and fundraising auctions for schools, charitable organizations, and nonprofit groups from Honolulu to New York City. Never the shy one, Keith has become well-known for his fun and entertaining auctioneering style that frequently takes him out from behind the podium and deep into the audience! Keith holds an MBA from The UCLA Anderson School of Management and is a graduate of the world-famous Missouri Auction School, which Newsweek magazine dubs “The Harvard of Auctioneering.” He is also one of only a small number of auctioneers in the country–and only 20 auctioneers in California–to have achieved the National Auctioneers Association’s prestigious Benefit Auction Specialist (BAS) designation.