Point Lobos Foundation Staff
Steffanie Gamecho, Executive Director
Steffanie comes to the Point Lobos Foundation with over 20 years of private sector experience in strategy, business development, and
marketing. She has a passion for service, business complexities, and nature. Most recently, she has dedicated herself to nonprofit strategy, business consulting, and grant writing within the environmental conservation sector. Consulting work led Steffanie to her role as the ParkIT! Project Director where she collaborates closely with partners at California State Parks.Steffanie holds a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from San Jose State University. Involved in philanthropy and volunteering for her entire life, Steffanie currently serves as Secretary and Officer of the Board of Hope, Horses & Kids and served on the Community Foundation for Monterey County’s Community Impact Grant Review Subcommittee.
Tracy Gillette-Ricci, Development Director
Tracy is a graduate of Florida State University and started her career in Social Services. She grew up on the West Coast of Florida and has a deep love of marine areas and a passion to help preserve and protect natural resources. After moving to California in 1999, she discovered the Monterey Peninsula and in 2005 made it her home. She joined the Point Lobos Foundation staff in 2012 and has spent the last several years dedicated to supporting and furthering the organization’s mission. Contact Tracy at 866-338-7227 extension 107 or tracy@pointlobos.org.
Caitlin McMillen, Finance Specialist
Caitlin is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and has worked as a project coordinator for interior design firms on the Monterey Peninsula for the past 10 years; managing the budget, procurement, and coordination of both high-end residential and hospitality projects throughout California. Caitlin lives in Monterey with her husband, son, and daughter. Contact Caitlin at 866-338-7227 extension 103 or accountspayable@pointlobos.org.
Reg Henry, Point Lobos Magazine Editor
Reg is a former editor of The Herald who had a 45-year career in journalism and in retirement still writes a nationally syndicated column for the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Post-Gazette. Reg grew up in Australia, where he started as a cub reporter for the Courier-Mail in Brisbane. He then moved to England and worked at The Times of London. Next, a move to Pittsburgh to join the Post-Gazette. Reg was the Herald editor from 1988 to 1993. He was the Post-Gazette’s deputy editorial page editor when he retired from full-time journalism at the end of 2014. He moved back to this area in March 2015 and is now a Point Lobos docent and member of the foundation. Reg can be reached at regwriter43@gmail.com.
PLF Board of Directors
Betty Maurutto, President
My last 70 plus years have been full of adventure, love, career pursuits and travel. As a native Californian, I was born and raised in southern California. After graduating from UCLA, my career as an educator began in Fountain Valley, CA and then continued in the 80’s as an elementary principal in Anaheim. After completing my doctorate at USC, I enjoyed training school administrators with the California School Leadership Academy. Now retired, my husband, Michael, and I love living in Carmel with its natural beauty and peacefulness. Each wrinkle alongside my eyes is from the laughter and joy that I have had over the years. I look forward to creating new wrinkles of time as I try new things, explore new territories and experience the positive surprises and opportunities of each day. I am honored to be a part of the amazing Docent Organization and Point Lobos Foundation Board.
Carol Rossi, Vice President
With deep family roots in Santa Cruz, Carol has spent many summers around the Monterey Bay area. Carol enjoyed a professional career in sales and raised her family in the Bay Area. She has volunteered with many organizations over the past twenty years and especially enjoyed her time as a Girl Scout Nature Camp leader. Carol is now in Pacific Grove and is interested in sharing the beauty and promoting stewardship of Point Lobos.
Karin Stratton, Secretary
A collaborative leader, Karin has worked for nearly three decades in the non-profit sector, including San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park, the New England Aquarium in Boston, and most recently in support of sustainability initiatives and conservation partnerships at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Karin is passionate about habitat and resource management, species conservation, and affecting positive change for the natural world. She is an avid native plant gardener, ocean advocate, and overall outdoor enthusiast. Her love of nature and wild places started at a very young age with countless visits to local parks and summer trips to the Jersey shore and her grandparent’s farm in Maine. She is a graduate of Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where she studied Biology and Environmental Studies, a springboard for her career path and passions. Late winter and early spring are her favorite seasons to hike Point Lobos because the native Ceanothus (California lilac) blooms are in full force providing a sea of periwinkle blossoms along many of the trails – a beautiful sight to see! It is truly Karin’s honor to serve her community through the Point Lobos Foundation.
Holly Carlin, Treasurer
Holly retired as a CPA at the end of 2018 after 35 years in practice. The last 17 years she had her own practice where she specialized in nonprofit accounting for the last 10 years. She is a 5th generation Californian. Her grandparents lived in Carmel Valley and one of the family’s favorite places for picnics was Point Lobos. The Monterey Peninsula was a second home for her so she followed her parents to the peninsula in 1986 where she raised her son in Pacific Grove. Being newly retired, Holly looks forward to spending more time with her grandson in the bay area, working with the PLF and spending more time outside and with family and friends.
Don Blohowiak, Docent Administrator
Don serves the Point Lobos docent corps as the Docent Administrator (DA). Previously, he was Deputy Docent Administrator (DDA). Before making the Monterey Peninsula his home, Don was an executive in the Fortune 500, high-tech start-ups, nonprofits, and higher education in New York City; Detroit; Denver; Milwaukee; Princeton; Irvine; and Washington, DC. The author of several business books, Don holds a Masters in Organizational Systems, and a PhD in Human Development. He has consulted for many leading organizations, from the Sisters of Charity to the US Marine Corps to FedEx, Walmart, United Airlines, and many others. Don is an avid nature photographer.
Tyler Eberly
Tyler Eberly is a student and volunteer with extensive volunteer experience throughout the U.S. and internationally. He has served many organizations, including the Ronald Mcdonald House, Habitat for Humanity, North Druid Hills Homeless Shelter and the YMCA. Tyler has served on the Central Coast YMCA Board of Directors since 2020, leading a successful fundraising campaign as the campaign chair. Tyler has assisted the YMCA’s community support efforts to make a deeper impact in local communities.
Tyler has had leadership experience in retail and has worked in retail for several years. He is also a student, pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting at California State University-Monterey Bay. After graduation, Tyler will sit for the CPA exam to become a California Certified Public Accountant.
Tyler values kindness and generosity. “Kindness is free”, and he recognizes the immense impact a small act of kindness can have. He loves all living things and has a special appreciation for any kind of life in this world. Tyler loves nature and the outdoors. He also values perspective and diversity of thought.
Tyler has lived in different countries around the world, including Costa Rica and England. These experiences have given Tyler a multicultural perspective, and he is able to speak English and is conversational in Spanish. Tyler lives in Seaside, California where he enjoys spending time with his wife and three dogs, listening to music, and watching films. Tyler also spends his time having dinner with his family and stargazing.
Sarah Hardgrave
Sarah has over twenty years of local government, non-profit and water resources management consulting experience in Monterey County. She currently serves as Deputy General Manager with the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA). Sarah lives in Pacific Grove with her husband and enjoys the beauty of our coastline as often as possible.
Ann Pendleton
Growing up in the San Francisco East Bay, Ann was afforded the opportunity to be active in hiking, biking, and later golfing and scuba diving. After completing her education in Physical Education at San Francisco State University, Ann managed a racquetball club, then transitioned to working in the family printing business, and later worked as a sales representative in the packaging industry. Her love of outdoor activities led she and her husband to participate in Bikecentennial ’76, an event that took them across the United States on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail. A decade later they would spend 7 months biking in New Zealand and Australia. Ann’s love of nature brought her to the Point Lobos Docent Corps where she shares her interest in native plants and animals, both on land and in the sea.
Paul Reps
Paul became a Point Lobos docent after his retirement. He feels a responsibility to welcome and share PLSNR with visitors from around the world. Before retirement he enjoyed a career as a Silicon Valley executive, responsible for building and managing sales and management teams globally for start-up companies involved in computing, telecommunications, and internet technologies. Paul and his wife are active with animal and wildlife related organizations. You will see many of Paul’s stunning photography in PLF material and displayed in the community.
Ruth Rodriguez
Ruth is a lifetime resident of Monterey County and a CSUMB alumnus. She is currently the Manager for Community Services at CHISPA (Community Housing Improvements Systems and Planning Association) the largest nonprofit affordable Housing Developer in Monterey County. Ruth has previously served on the GRID Alternatives Board of Directors and also served as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Greenfield from 2007 through 2010. She is a 2012 LEAD Alumni (Leadership Education and Development). Ruth has a long history of participation with community groups and activities focused on community, health, education, and equity. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, the outdoors, and serving her community.
News
Point Lobos Summer Adventures: Registration opens Friday, March 22
The Point Lobos Summer Adventures program is an outdoor day camp for kids and teenagers. There are three sessions. Two, 2-week, M-F camps for ages 8-12 and one, 1-week, M-F camp for ages 13-15. Register [...]
Happy Birthday PLF
On February 7, 1979, articles of incorporation were filed to the Point Lobos Natural History Association, which is now known as the Point Lobos Foundation. The history of the organization dates back to 1978 as [...]
2023 Monterey County Gives!
November 9, 2023 – December 31, 2023 Monterey County Gives! is an annual end-of-year giving campaign to encourage support for local non-profits. It is an initiative of the Monterey County Weekly, in partnership with the Community [...]