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Staff

Marin Agricultural Land Trust
Post Office Box 809
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
415-663-1158
415-663-1099 fax
farmland@malt.org
Robert Berner, Executive Director
415-663-1158, ext. 301
rberner@malt.org
Bob Berner has led Marin Agricultural Land Trust as its Executive Director since 1984. He is a founding member and current co-chair of the California Council of Land Trusts and a member of the steering committee of the Bay Area Open Space Council. Before joining MALT, Bob was Executive Director of The Foundation for San Francisco's Architectural Heritage and prior to that, he was Vice-President, Finance, of The Nature Conservancy. He holds degrees from Duke University (L.L.B., 1965) and Wharton Graduate Division, University of Pennsylvania (M.B.A., 1971).
Kristine Ball, Director of Development
415-663-1158, ext. 318
kball@malt.org
Kristine joined MALT in 2007 and oversees its development program that includes capital, annual and planned giving. Prior to joining MALT she served in the development department for the Branson School in the Town of Ross and served as a Vice President in the investment banking area of Bank of America. She has formed several book groups and from this experience founded a resource Web site. She holds an MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth College and a bachelor’s in English Literature from Williams College.
Kelly Brown, Major Gifts Officer
415-663-1158, ext. 308
kbrown@malt.org
Kelly joined MALT in 2007 and is responsible for major donor stewardship and events as well the planned giving program. Prior to joining MALT, she worked in membership and marketing for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. She has volunteered for a number of organizations including the Ross Valley Mothers Club Board and Pixie Park Advisory Board. She recently co-chaired her class reunion campaign at the University of California Berkeley, the most successful 15-year reunion campaign in the university’s history. She earned a bachelor’s from the University of California at Berkeley
Sandy Dierks, Educator-Coordinator Farm Field Studies Program
415-663-1158, ext. 320
sdierks@malt.org
Sandra joined MALT in 2006 and is responsible for working with teachers, school children and parents in the Bay Area to visit Marin’s working farms and ranches to learn where their food is grown. She and her husband have owned a certified organic farm since 1976 in Bolinas called Paradise Valley Produce. Prior to joining MALT, she worked at the Bolinas-Stinson School as an educator for 27 years and before that designed clothing in Los Angeles. She holds a bachelor’s in Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts.
Helen Ferlino, Accounting Associate
415-663-1158, ext. 316
hferlino@malt.org
Helen joined MALT in 2008 and is responsible for the day-to-day accounting for the organization as well as supporting departments with organization, programs and budgets. Prior to joining MALT she served as a bookkeeper for more than a decade. Helen is the Treasurer for the San Geronimo Community Center and for LEAP, an organization that raises funds for the Lagunitas School District. She earned a bachelor’s in Human Development from the University of California at Davis and has received professional training in accounting from the College of Marin and the University of California at Berkeley Extension.
Lynn Figone, Administrative Assistant
415-663-1158, ext. 300
lfigone@malt.org
Lynn joined MALT in 2010 and is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the office. She currently serves as the State President Elect for California Women for Agriculture, a 5,000-member advocacy and education organization that promotes the importance of agriculture to consumers and legislators. Prior to joining MALT, Lynn worked for the Lake County Farm Bureau and Groth Vineyards & Winery. She is a graduate of the Syngenta Crop Science Leadership Training program and attended Santa Rosa Junior College with focus on Agriculture Communications.
William Hart, Stewardship Associate
415-663-1158, ext. 313
whart@malt.org
William joined MALT in 2011 and is responsible for the annual monitoring of agricultural easements. Prior to joining MALT he worked in various capacities for the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Marin Resources Conservation District, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the Friends of the Urban Forest. He also served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Guatemala. William earned a bachelor’s in Soil Science from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and a master’s from the Hutchins Institute for Public Policy Studies & Community Studies at Sonoma State University.
Christine Harvey, Database Manager
415-663-1158, ext. 309
charvey@malt.org
Christine joined MALT in 2008 and is responsible for managing membership databases and preparing reports and analyses on all aspects of membership and development. Prior to joining MALT she served as the Database Manager for the Marin Community Health Foundation, which raised money for both Marin General Hospital and Novato Community Hospital. Christine holds an associate’s degree in Social Science from the College of Marin and a bachelor’s in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University.
Patricia Hickey, Stewardship Director
415-663-9721
phickey@malt.org
Patricia joined MALT in 2009 and is responsible for working with landowners in the stewardship of MALT protected farmland. She currently sits on the steering committee for the Marin Carbon Project and is an active member of the Tomales Bay Watershed Council and the Marin-Sonoma Weed Management Area Committee. Prior to joining MALT, Patricia served as the Agricultural Program Director for the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District in Sonoma County and as a coastal planner for Rhode Island Sea Grant and Rhode Island Cooperative Extension. Patricia holds a bachelor’s in Politics from the University of California at Santa Cruz and graduate degrees in Environmental Science & Management and Community Planning from the University of Rhode Island.
Deirdre Holbrook, Director of Outreach and Communications
415-663-1158, ext. 315
dholbrook@malt.org
Deirdre joined MALT in 2011 and oversees its public relations, marketing, events, and outreach programs. Prior to joining MALT she worked in nonprofit and business communications for nearly a decade. She served as the Director of Communications for the Peninsula Open Space Trust and as a public relations consultant for Straus Communications. She currently volunteers on the San Francisco Committee of Global Green USA. She holds a bachelor’s in Politics from the University of California at Santa Cruz and master’s in Political Theory and Communications from Northwestern University.
Mia Pelletier, Communications Associate
415-663-1338
mpelletier@malt.org
Mia joined MALT in 2007 and is responsible for maintaining its online presence and for providing support for public relations, marketing, outreach, and events. Previously she served as MALT’s Volunteer Program Manager. Prior to joining MALT she directed the Sustainability Seminar Series for Environmental Forum of Marin and worked as a Water Conservation Specialist for Marin Municipal Water District. Mia holds her bachelor’s in Geography with an emphasis in remote sensing from University of California at Santa Barbara and participated in the Environmental Forum of Marin, Class of XXXlV.
Jeff Stump, Easement Program Director
415-663-1158, ext. 303
jstump@malt.org
Jeff joined MALT in 2006 and is responsible for the acquisition of agricultural conservation easements and public agency fundraising. He has worked in land conservation and policy at the local, state and national level for the past 18 years. Prior to joining MALT, Jeff served as the Vice President and Director of Coastal Programs for the American Land Conservancy and Legislative Coordinator for the California Coastal Commission. He holds a bachelor’s in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning from the University of California at Davis.
Constance Washburn, Director of Outreach
415-663-1338
cwashburn@malt.org
Constance joined MALT in 1995 and is responsible for its education, volunteer and outreach programs. She is currently a member of the Northern California Slow Money Committee and has served on the Marin Food Policy Council, the Marin Food Systems Project, and the Marin Economic Commission. Prior to joining MALT she co-founded the San Geronimo Valley Community Alliance and served as the director of an educational theatre company. She holds a B.A. from Hampshire College and a master’s in Theatre and Education from New York University.
Stacey Witchel, Director of Finance and Administration
415-663-1158, ext. 307
switchel@malt.org
Stacey joined MALT in 2011 and is responsible for managing the financial resources of the organization and overseeing human resources and other office management areas. She has more than 20 years experience in finance and operations for organizations and businesses. Prior to joining MALT she served as the Director of General Accounting Operators for Littler Mendelson, an employment and labor law firm. Stacey holds a bachelor’s in Accounting from Lehigh University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Michael Woolsey, Development Associate
415-663-1158, ext. 306
mwoolsey@malt.org
Michael joined MALT in 2010 and is responsible for coordination of development projects. He has more than a decade of non-profit fundraising experience. Prior to joining MALT he served in the Development Department at the ACLU Foundation of Northern California for 10 years, five of which was as the Campaign Associate for its $25 million Campaign for the Future. Michael holds a bachelor’s in Business and Humanities with a minor in Marketing from Golden Gate University with an emphasis in nonprofit management.