Board of Trustees

Richard Strom

President

“I think we are put on this earth to contribute something of value. The amazingly high quality work of the MLT in preservation, stewardship, recreation and habitat restoration is of inestimable value to all and I am proud to be able to do my small part to further these goals.”

Richard describes himself as a recovering attorney. In his career he worked for county, state and the federal government as well as large and small law firms. His longest job was as a corporate attorney in the telecommunications field. As part of this job, he was responsible for land use and environmental issues nationally. His interest in environmental and land use goes back even further to when he co-authored an agricultural preservation law in Maryland that buffered against extreme development pressures.

After “retiring” from law to move to Mendocino by purchasing a bed and breakfast, Richard became active in the tourism industry. He worked for Visit Mendocino County and the North Coast Tourism Council for over ten years, promoting the entire northern coast both domestically and internationally. 

Richard is passionate about the healing power of nature and is proud to be associated with an organization which pulls way beyond its weight in preserving, conserving, protecting and enhancing our natural environment.

Richard Shoemaker

Vice President

“As someone who has worked and recreated outdoors most of my life, the Land Trust’s work is very close to my heart.  Developing hiking trails, habitat restoration, preserving natural places while creating access to them for people to enjoy are all part of MLT’s land stewardship for future generations. I am honored to be part of this organization.

Richard is a SoCal native who visited Mendocino County in 1979 and never went back. He lives in Fort Bragg with his life partner, Linda. They have five children, all in their twenties and two grandchildren. Richard was City Manager of Point Arena and serves on the Mendocino County Retirement Board.  His professional experience includes accounting, construction management, graphic design, education and facilitation.  He operated a landscape contracting business for 27 years and has worked as a political campaign organizer. For eight years, he was the Executive Director of the Alex Rorabaugh Recreation Center where he was instrumental in establishing the financial cooperation of the City, School District, County to complete the ARRC, his proudest professional achievement. He served as a Mendocino County Supervisor and Ukiah City Council member and has served on numerous local, regional and statewide policy boards. For recreation he enjoys hiking, sailing, kayaking, biking, camping, skiing and Ultimate Frisbee. He loves the ocean, a good debate and spending time with his family.

John Swartley

“When I first saw the California coast in 1971, I figured there couldn’t be a more beautiful place on Earth.  That opinion hasn’t changed after all these years. I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to help the Land Trust preserve the shore, forests and rivers for generations to come.”

Born and raised in Michigan, John moved to California in 1983.  He retired in 2014 after spending more than 40 years in journalism, including 30 years as an editor at the San Jose Mercury News.  John has volunteered with the Midpeninsula Open Space District in the Bay Area, the Point Lobos Foundation in Carmel and Save Our Shores in Santa Cruz, as well as the Mendocino Land Trust.  He, his wife Debbie, and their three sons vacationed near Fort Bragg for many summers beginning in 1991; John and Debbie purchased a home there in the spring of 2015.  John enjoys hiking, jazz, soccer, doing beach cleanups and spending time with his family.

Ken Flannell

Treasurer

Ken moved to Mendocino in 2005 with his wife Denise. They were drawn to the natural beauty of the area after living in San Diego and Cambria, CA. He is happiest when outdoors and loves to hike, mountain bike, surf, kayak, ski, golf and play softball.  Ken started backpacking with his Dad at a young age, taking many week-long trips in the California Sierra. Their adventures culminated in an 8-day hike below the rim in the Grand Canyon when the Senior Mr. Flannell was 85.  Ken considers land preservation to be the most important responsibility each generation owes the next, and the Mendocino Land Trust plays an important role in meeting that mission.

Ken worked as a computer programmer, developing systems for the U.S. Navy for ten years. In 1994 he founded an investment advisory, managing stock and bond portfolios for clients until retiring in 2020.  Since moving to Mendocino, Ken has helped manage the non-profit water company in his neighborhood, serving as vice president, president and currently, treasurer.  He looks forward to bringing his energy and diversity of experience and interests in support of the many missions of the Mendocino Land Trust.

Lorrie Lagasse

Secretary

“It brings me great joy to be part of an organization that is conserving local lands for the betterment of all living things.  I hope to use my experience as a teacher and ranger to encourage others to become involved in the land trust.”

Lorrie Lagasse has been spending time in the woods since she was a child in New York state.  After receiving a degree in forestry from Virginia Tech she moved to California to work for the forest service.  She went back to school at Cal Poly to learn how to teach which landed her jobs in the elementary school and also environmental education camps. Summers were spent working for national parks like Sequoia and Lassen as a ranger.  Here on the Mendocino Coast she docents for the state parks, particularly MacKerricher State Park.

Megan Smithyman

“As an avid hiker and long distance runner, I love to explore and discover beautiful landscapes. In my travels I have hiked across the Grand Canyon, run marathons around Pacific islands, and walked among the Giant Sequoias. And yet, I can think of no other place with the same rugged beauty as Mendocino. This land is truly special and the work of the Mendocino Land Trust helps ensure that everyone has access to these places for many more generations to come.”

Born and raised on a farm in New Jersey, Megan has had a love of the outdoors all her life. After living her dream of working in animation, Megan was ready to leave Los Angeles to find a small town in California to call home. She joined the staff of the Land Trust as the Communications Manager for several years before taking on a new role as a board member. Megan feels honored to support the legacy of the Land Trust and hopes to contribute to the mission of preserving Mendocino County as a place of pristine natural beauty.

Tina Batt

Tina began her conservation career as a founder and volunteer Board member of the Martinez Regional Land Trust. She became the full-time Executive Director, and worked with the Board to change the land trust’s geographical scope and rename it the Muir Heritage Land Trust.. Her degree in creative writing and real estate license helped support both her grant writing and real estate negotiations.

She transitioned from the land trust to a second career in organizational and fund development consulting after attending Harvard Kennedy School’s Mid-Career Masters of Public Administration Program.  Tina consulted with a number of organizations, including the University of California’s Natural Reserve System. She also served for three years as the Land Program Officer at the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation. Tina is the former Board President of the Redwood Coast Land Conservancy, and currently serves on RCLC’s Advisory Board.

Tony Sorace

Born and raised in New York City, Tony developed a love of nature while working summer jobs in the Catskill Mountains during his college years. He moved to Mendocino County in 1977 and has lived in the hills and mountains ever since. Tony’s conservation work began when he initiated the Forsythe Creek Restoration Project at Ridgewood Ranch with Golden Rule Church, restoring over five miles of stream. Since then, Tony has worked on many other conservation projects, protecting thousands of acres. His career as a land and ranch broker allowed him to see most of Mendocino and Humboldt Counties as he helped others fulfill their dreams of rural life. Tony is a Certified Financial Planner with advanced studies in real estate investments and portfolio management.  He and his wife Melodie raised four children and now have five grandchildren. Tony says “My time in Mendocino County has allowed me to embrace the beauty that surrounds us. I see the benefit of preserving wild spaces for future generations.”

Alison Pernell

I was born and raised in Shasta County and was influenced by nature at an early age. As a child I spent many weekends and summers in the Southern Cascades. In college I was deeply impacted by outdoor experiences I had while living and working in Yosemite for a summer. I spent my college years exploring many of the wild places along California’s central coast and studying ecological design and planning. My husband and I moved to Mendocino County in 2003 and its here we are raising our family and enjoying our County’s beautiful mountains, rivers and beaches. 

My early career in non-profit planning focused on working with local and tribal governments to plan trail systems and pedestrian-friendly town centers, and to promote solar power initiatives and non-motorized transportation projects. These days, I am a licensed real estate agent specializing in on- and off-grid properties in rural Mendocino County. I also serve as a Planning Commissioner for Mendocino County’s third district. Land, People, Community – that’s where my heart is.

My husband and I are raising our two girls on an off-grid solar-powered homestead surrounded by diverse forests, seasonal creeks, and open grasslands.  We engage in restorative forestry, watershed restoration, oak release, trail building, and other land stewardship activities. In my spare time I enjoy gardening, hiking, mushroom hunting, farm to table cooking and travel. I’m honored to serve on the board of the Mendocino Land Trust, an organization that is meeting one of the greatest challenges of our time by conserving land, protecting biodiversity, addressing climate change, and ensuring public access to Mendocino County’s unique and beautiful landscapes.

Jeanette Boyer

Jeanette has held a variety of jobs over the years including as an educator, a writer, and
a bookseller. Her published novel, Junkyard Dreams, dealt with the conflict over land
development in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she lived with her now deceased
husband for almost 30 years. Having returned to California in 2013, she is grateful to
belong to a community of people keen on protecting their incredibly beautiful
surroundings.

“The outdoors is where I find solace and renewal. Now more than ever, I believe we
have an obligation to do what we can to preserve our environment for everyone’s
benefit.”