A veteran journalist, Jenn directs the development of Western Water news, the Layperson’s Guide series on key water topics, the Foundation’s Colorado River project, poster maps and tours, and various workshops and conferences. She oversees the Water Leaders program and leads fund-raising, external communications, and website and social media efforts.
In December 2016, she led an international journalism workshop on water issues for UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Held in Tehran, the workshop included participants from Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Oman and Malaysia. You can read her blog about the experience here.
For much of her career, Jenn was an award-winning journalist who covered water issues across California and the West along with renewable energy, endangered species, public lands and other natural resources.
Doug serves as the primary editor of the Foundation’s publications, including Western Water news, the series of Laypersons Guides on key water topics, maps and other products, and handles much of the social media efforts.
A veteran journalist, Doug is an award-winning editor and reporter who has worked for several California newspapers, including the Fresno Bee. He has covered an array of topics, including water, the environment and health care.
Brian works with a dedicated team of workshop facilitators to provide engaging, hands–on Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) professional development trainings for educators who teach K-12 across California.
Brian coordinates supplies and support to assist facilitators in organizing workshops, writes the California Project WET newsletter to provide guidance for educators in using Project WET activities that engage students in current water issues and topics. He personally leads a number of workshops each year.
Kasey works on various projects such as fundraising, tracking and managing contributions, event logistics, venue contracting and presentation set-up. He also serves as the Foundation representative for trade shows, and coordinator of the one-year Water Leaders program and for the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Nick works as a member of the Foundation’s events team focusing on one of its most popular programs – water tours. He plans, coordinates and implements these tours of key water regions and topics across California and the Southwest, bringing attendees up close to dams and other water infrastructure, wildlife areas, farms and other sites involved in water.
Melinda heads up a team at the Foundation that focuses on workshops, conferences, tours and other face-to-face educational endeavors. She joined the Foundation in early 2018.
For the past 15 years, Melinda has led educational and outreach programs focused on sustainable water resources management. From a watershed-wide program in northeast Los Angeles to hands-on mulching workshops in Sonoma County, her projects stemmed from partnerships with local and regional governments, community organizations and the public.
Vanessa coordinates Foundation tours and events, assists with special projects, and proofs the Foundation’s publications and marketing materials before they go to press.
Before joining the Foundation in 2016, she was a freelance writer with patch.com, where she covered Northern California happenings in Elk Grove, Carmichael, Rosemont and Fair Oaks.
Prior to that, Vanessa spent nearly eight years at Sacramento Media LLC, formerly Sacramento Magazines Corporation, as the editorial assistant/receptionist.
Gary writes articles for Western Water and updates titles in the Layperson’s Guide series on key water topics as well as entries in Aquapedia. He joined the Foundation in 2001 after a four-year stint covering water quality for the weekly newsletter Inside Cal/EPA, a national publication.
Prior to that, he worked as a reporter for The Sacramento Bee/Neighbors section. Gary graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with a bachelor’s degree in history.
Beth works on fundraising activities, develops and manages grant proposals and programs, and oversees the Foundation’s planned giving program.
Before joining the Foundation in 2007, she was a program officer at CaliforniaVolunteers (formerly California Service Corps) where she oversaw federal AmeriCorps grants to community-based education programs and served as a communications associate.
Patty oversees the Foundation’s online shopping cart, making sure people get their water maps and other products from the Foundation. She keeps our office humming along, ordering supplies and answering the phone more than anybody else so you are likely to get her on the other end of the phone.
