STAFF
|
TRINA HINESER - Executive Director
(Joined Land Trust August 2019) Trina holds a Bachelor of Science in Ornamental Horticulture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and has lived with her husband in San Martin for two decades. From 2014-2019, Trina was President of the San Martin Neighborhood Alliance (SMNA). During her time with SMNA, Trina bridged the gap between the County of Santa Clara and the San Martin community by finding common ground to resolve community issues. She implemented quarterly community meetings as a platform for residents to hear from officials representing Santa Clara County, CalFire, the California Highway Patrol, and the Sheriff’s Office, which created a venue for San Martin residents to discuss topics that affect rural integrity. In 2015, Trina was appointed to the San Martin Planning Advisory Committee (SMPAC) to provide land use recommendations to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. In 2019, Trina was elected as SMPAC Chairman and will serve in that position for the next several years. Trina writes columns for the local paper (Gilroy and Morgan Hill Life), helped create the San Martin Chamber of Commerce, and is a graduate of the 2017-2018 Community Advocates Leadership Academy (CALA) hosted by Green Foothills. Trina’s joys include her stepdaughter, pets, and garden. |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
TOM FISCHER - Board Chair 2023
(Joined Board November 2021) Tom has been a Gilroy resident since 1977 and grew up working in his uncle’s apricot and prune orchards during the long hot summers. He found his way into the plumbing industry 35 years ago. He started out as an apprentice and worked up to a project manager and estimator. While in the plumbing industry, he served 14 years as a Trustee for the Plumbers Pension Fund. In 2008, he retired and became involved in serving his community. Several of Tom's positions in public service include being a:
|
|
KEVIN O’DAY - Board Member - Served as Board Chair from 2017-2022 (Joined Board May 2013) Kevin received a Bachelor of Science degree in Crop Science and Fruit Science from Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from San Jose State University. He began his career with the County of Santa Clara in 1984 as an Agricultural Biologist after working as an Agricultural Inspector for the California Department of Food & Agriculture and as ranch manager for a commercial fruit grower in southern Santa Clara County. In 2012, he retired from the County as Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management, where his responsibilities included County Agricultural Commissioner, Sealer of Weights & Measures, Animal Care and Control, Weed Abatement, Integrated Waste Management, the Department of Environmental Health, and the Vector Control District. Kevin continues to operate a small farm in San Jose's Almaden Valley where he produces grain hay and beef cattle. |
|
KEN SCHREIBER - Board Treasurer
(Joined Board January 2015) Ken has been a land use planner since 1970 and was Palo Alto’s Director of Planning and Community Environment from 1981 to 1998. Ken was active in regional transportation issues including serving as a founding member of the Santa Clara County Congestion Management Agency Technical Advisory Committee. A private consultant since early 2000, Ken performs land use, transportation, and environmental work for public sector clients. From late 2004 to early 2013, Mr. Schreiber served as Program Manager for development of the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan, which covers approximately 500,000 acres in Santa Clara County. The Plan addresses species protection, habitat enhancement, and regulatory permitting for 18 threatened and endangered species in Santa Clara County. From early 2013 through June 2014, Mr. Schreiber was Interim Executive Officer of the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency, a newly created six-agency joint power authority established to implement the Habitat Plan. |
|
DARRYL BOYD - Board Member (Joined Board February 2020) A native of rural Nebraska and descendant of early prairie settlers, Darryl is excited to serve on the board of an organization dedicated to land conservation and preservation. Darryl received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from the University of Nebraska. He began his planning career with the Northeast Counties of Oklahoma Economic Development District as the Planner-in-Charge for a rural seven county sub-state planning district. He returned to a small Nebraska town to work in the family-owned grocery store alongside his dad in the meat market. Later, Darryl moved to California to attend San José State University for a Master of Urban Planning degree. In 1986, Darryl joined the City of San José Planning Department. During his time with the City he worked in land development, particularly in the Coyote Valley. He spent over 10 years as the City’s Project Manager for the preparation of the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan. He retired as a Principal Planner in 2011. In 2012, he became a part-time planning consultant with the Metropolitan Planning Group and is currently on assignment with the County of San Benito Resource Management Agency. Darryl previously served on the Board of Directors for the Preservation Action Council of San José for six years in the role of Treasurer and Secretary. He and his wife Pamela have lived in Morgan Hill since 1989. |
|
DANA WOLFE - Board Secretary (Joined Board April 2021) Dana is a resident of Gilroy. She is a Teacher at East Gilroy Title I Middle School and comes to the Land Trust with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies, a minor in Spanish and multiple CLAD teaching credentials. She has participated on other boards in our area including holding the position of Secretary on the Gilroy Teachers Association from 2017-2021, President for the Gilroy High School FFA Boosters from 2017-2021, and as Secretary for Gilroy Growing Smarter as of 2018. Dana is enthusiastic about the preservation of farmland and Open Space, which is critical to ensure clean air, food security, and the replenishment of ground water supply. She acknowledges development is inevitable, but believes a balance needs to be maintained. Dana has the ability to work well with other board members, she is a good listener, and she always carefully considers all sides of an issue to ensure the best possilbe outcome. Clear, simple and to the point...her favorite quote is, “No Farms - No Food”. |
|
PETER VAN DYKE - Board Member
(Joined Board August 2022) A fourth generation Santa Clara Valley farmer and orchardist; Peter, has two sons in their mid to late thirties who are likely to take over stewardship of the family land in the future. His family converted to organic farming in 1986 and have been a certified organic grower by the California Commission of Organic Farmers for over 36 years and his farm currently grows fruits, nuts, produce, dry fruits and vegetables. Peter is a genuine outdoorsman, he has spent most of his life surfing, fishing, hunting, biking, hiking, and of course farming. He is a musician at heart and enjoys playing his guitar. He is also known to rescue animals and find loving homes for them. Peter currently serves his community and is the President of the Loma Prieta Resource Conservation District Board of Directors, and also is the Vice Chair of the Santa Clara Valley Water District Agriculture Water Advisory Committee. His interest in the Land Trust is to help with saving agriculture, restoring habitat, and saving what is left of the once highly productive Santa Clara Valley. He sees importance in educating others about agriculture, open space, and ecology. In 2020, Peter and his family placed a conservation easement on their family farm thru selling the development rights of their 108-acre parcel at the base of the Diablo Range. His families love of the land was to find a way for it never to fall prey to development or parceling. Peter is able to share his personal experience of the process of protecting farmland with a conservation easement and the subsequent sale of development rights of his land. He believes there is a spiritual component to farmland that money can’t buy and which most people can’t understand. As a Land Trust Board Member, Peter intends to carry his passion for land stewardship forward and share that with others. |
|
LOVEPREETE KAUR - Board Member
Joined Board March 2023 BIO COMING SOON! |
