The Foundation
Staff
Executive Director
David Bannister joined the Board of Directors of the Foundation in 2004 and by August of 2009 had served as Board President, Vice President and Secretary. At that time the Board requested that David take the open position of Executive Director and he joined the Foundation staff in August 2009. David has a long history of business management and consulting as well as a long history of serving as a volunteer on environmental organizations. As Chair of the Sonoma Group of the Sierra Club he led the successful collaborative campaign with the grape growing industry and environmental community that resulted in the Vineyard Erosion Control Ordinance. David has an MBA from the University of Kansas.
Conservation Science Program Manager
Hattie Brown joined the Foundation staff in October 2008. She first came to Sonoma County to apprentice as a farmer at Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm. Hattie's interests include soil-water-plant interactions as well as community gardening projects and has experience in agricultural and rangeland research. Hattie holds a Master’s degree in Soil Science from UC Davis and a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Reed College.
Director of Education Programs
Christine Fontaine has been striving to connect people to nature since 1995. She has a BA in Sociology with a minor in Physical Science from Sonoma State University and a Multiple-Subject elementary school teaching credential from Dominican University. In addition to working in the formal education field, she has a background in business administration, management, and environmental education, serving as a naturalist docent at Bouverie Preserve since 1996. Her work and volunteer experience naturally led to the non-profit field, serving as the Education Programs Coordinator for Point Reyes National Seashore Association, then as Point Reyes Field Seminars Director from 2001-07. In 2006 she began volunteering for the Laguna Foundation on the Education Program Committee and joined the staff in 2007.
Restoration Program Manager
John Guardino joined the Foundation staff in June 2011. He has a broad range of experience and expertise in the areas of resource management planning, restoration ecology, regulatory policy analysis & development, land conservation, biological research and agricultural production. John holds a Master of Science degree in Plant Pathology from Penn State University and has worked throughout Sonoma County on a wide variety of natural resource management projects.
Administrative Director
Maggie Hart joined the Foundation staff in July 2005. Her background in nonprofit administration includes working for the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, San Francisco's Friends of the Urban Forest and Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center. Maggie holds an undergraduate degree in Ecology from Evergreen State University.
Membership Assistant
Nancy Hauptmann joined the Foundation staff in September 2009. She holds a bachelors degree in secondary education mathematics and is retired from a 25 year career in Information Systems management and as a project leader.
Restoration Assistant
Jesse James Heiny joined the Foundation staff in April 2009. Before his current position, he worked as our restoration field technician and prior to that he interned while pursuing graduate school, truly making him a grass roots employee. Jesse has a wide array of skills that help him maintain our ten thousand plus native plants and continuously growing acreages. His past endeavors include land management roles with Davey Resource Group (CA) and green building and project management for Blue Ridge Energy Systems and Beyond Green LLC (NC). He holds a degree in Urban Sustainability from The Evergreen State University.