Meet the Volunteers

Meet the Volunteers

Thank you to the following hard-working and dedicated volunteers who support ECOSLO all year long!

Terra Bilhorn

(she/hers/her)

Advocacy Committee Member

As a recent graduate of Cal Poly with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management and Protection and minors in Economics and Political Science, Terra is passionate about environmental advocacy. She enjoys making a local difference through the committee.

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Melissa Danehey

(she/her/hers)

Board Member, Fundraising Committee Member

I’ve absolutely loved contributing at a higher level and helping to drive the organization forward. I talk about ECOSLO any chance I get and think the difference to the local community is very impactful.

Chris Hamma

(he/him/his)

SLO Stewards Docent, Cleanups, Creeks to Coast Cleanup, Parks Projects, Urban Tree Planting, Tree Keeper, Urban Tree Committee Member

I have been involved with ECOSLO in not every way possible, but it sometimes feels like it! It's a privilege to be able to share the importance of our beautiful natural SLO County environment with interested residents and visitors!

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Craig Graugnard

(he/him/his)

Advocacy Committee Member, Cleanup Committee Member

After recently moving to SLO, I was looking for a place to volunteer on a regular basis. ECOSLO was a great choice as I can give back to the community through cleanups and environmental advocacy. I have enjoyed the opportunity to learn about the environmental issues that are important to the community and act on them.

Andrew Davies

(he/him/his)

Advocacy Committee Member

I think I have helped my local community in becoming more aware of all of the environmental issues that we are facing today. While SLO County has no megapolis, even smaller cities encounter environmental dilemmas, and I am glad to have helped bring some of these dilemmas to light.

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Janine Butler

(she/her/hers)

Cleanups, Creeks to Coast Cleanup, SLO County Parks Projects, Urban Tree Planting, Committee Member

There have been many different opportunities at ECOSLO. I do enjoy the Creeks to Coast clean up day as I have spent the last few years at Lopez. I really enjoyed helping to coordinate the Afternoon at the Ranch fundraiser. From getting bands, organizing food vendors and working with the winery, it was fun and very rewarding! It is a great feeling when someone stops you and thanks you for your help in the community.

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Vita Miller

(she/her/hers)

Creeks to Coast Cleanup, Urban Tree Committee Member

I have taken part for years in Coastal Cleanups and am now on the Tree Committee. I feel that through our efforts we are engaging communities to do good work, which is always positive and has good results!

Ayla-Louise Mateo

(she/her/hers)

Board Member, Advocacy Committee Member

I became involved with ECOSLO because I wanted to be able to make a difference in the environment of my community. I really enjoy how ECOSLO works to be a voice for the plants, animals, and ecosystems that cannot do that for themselves, and creates a network of environmentally focused groups throughout the County. It is important for ECOSLO to help advocate for important environmental initiatives that other groups throughout the County are doing and contribute to other eco-focused strategies in the community. ECOSLO is instrumental in making a difference!

Catalina Hubbard

(she/her/hers)

Green Business Committee Member

I joined the Green Business Committee to meet new businesses and believe that it is so good for both people and the environment!

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Annie Secrest

(she/her/hers)

Cleanups, Creeks to Coast Cleanup, SLO Stewards Docent

When I first moved to the county a few years ago, I wanted to explore and learn more about the local trails. I saw a posting about the need for new SLO Stewards Docent, and I thought it would be a perfect way to utilize my academic background and show other people how wonderful being in nature is. I've been a docent for over a couple years, and I just love it! When I was leading one of my hikes, a woman was scared to cross a creek from one rock to the next because she had vertigo issues. I ended up lending her my trekking poles, got into the creek, and held her hands as she crossed the creek on the rocks. She made it to the other side without incident and was really grateful for my assistance. It made me really proud to help someone overcome a fear and work as a team.

Nicole Sisneros

(she/her/hers)

Creeks to Coast Cleanup, Board Member

I was looking to get more involved in the community and when I saw ECOSLO was looking for Board Members I jumped at the chance! I’ve had the opportunity to pull pounds of trash off of the beach and my favorite memory is the King’s Tide Cleanup in 2020.

Lynn Torbert

(she/her/hers)

Creeks to Coast Cleanup, Board Member, Fundraising Committee Member

I love participating in the beach clean ups. It's so important to keep our beautiful beaches clean for locals, visitors and animals to enjoy. My favorite memory while volunteering with ECOSLO was walking around Avila beach with my mom picking up trash and the amount of people that stopped to thank us for keeping the beach clean.

Dale Stoker

(he/him/his)

SLO Stewards Docent, Cleanups, Creeks to Coast Cleanup, Parks Projects, Urban Tree Planting

I started volunteering with ECOSLO after I attended a few SLO Stewards hikes. I enjoyed learning something new from the docent and being in community with other hikers, so I eventually signed up to become a docent. For the last few years I've been assigned the sites from Cambria to San Simeon to support the site captains. Year after year there are familiar faces at each site, and I can see the impact of our community coming together to remove trash and recyclables off our beaches and roadways.

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Kendall Warther

(she/her/hers)

Advocacy Committee Member

I joined ECOSLO's Advocacy Committee last year. I have enjoyed getting to know the other members of the Advocacy Committee! I hope to make more of a difference once more traction is gained surrounding the nomination of the Chumash Sanctuary for National Marine Sanctuary.

Seth Souza

(he/him/his)

Cleanups, Creeks to Coast Cleanup, SLO Stewards Docent

My favorite memory while volunteering with ECOSLO was being the first group to hike to Waddell Ranch when it opened up with 27 awesome people! Once I was on a SLO Stewards hike (while not leading) and heard other participants talking about me as a quick hiker. They got a good laugh when I surprised them and said hello - we all had such a great hike.

Ed & Kim Gravell

(he/him/his - she/her/hers)

Cleanups

We have been working with ECOSLO for over a year mostly on Beach Cleanups, specifically Pirates Cove. Our favorite part of volunteer cleanup is seeing the amount of trash at the end of the collection knowing that the effort removed it from the habitat and kept it out of the ocean. At the same time we are always amazed at what we find - car parts, grills, golf balls, solar yard lights, road signs just to name a few. We love seeing the difference a cleanup makes! Absolutely! We definitely see the impact of ECOSLO's efforts with cleanup. And that experience led us to Adopt-a-Road for cleanup near our home. We intend to set an example for more of our neighbors to do the same. As the indigenous people have told us and continue to tell us: in order to survive we must be good stewards of our land. That is what we intend to do!

Jessica Baiza

(she/her/hers)

Cleanups, Creeks to Coast Cleanup, Urban Tree Planting, Tree Keeper or Neighborhood Coordinator, Committee Member

Since volunteering with EcoSlo I've had the pleasure of getting to know my community better by planting trees, checking on trees and cleaning up our environment together. Being on the Tree Committee has also been a delight to see the behind the scenes organizing all these wonderful events. My favorite moments are when tree planting. I really get to know my community through great conversations about their lives, perspectives, passions and lessons.

Will Powers

(he/him/his)

Urban Tree Planting

I've been involved with the City Tree Committee for 15 years, advocating for trees. I signed up to water city trees after seeing an ECOSLO notice on a tree by my house and have been happily involved ever since. I feel privileged to be involved in the watering program.

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Marcia Alter

(she/hers/her)

Fundraising Committee Member

In 1997, after reading an ad in New Times, I attended the ECOSLO New Years Eve Celebration "for like minded people." I had a blast and immediately connected with so many people and, I hadn't even moved here yet! Since then I've been a supporter and periodic committee member. My "favorite moment" happens every time I see someone I know thru ECOSLO. We're in the same tribe working toward the same goals. That alone adds to feeling of well-being. I'm a small link in a chain and, yes, over time and with on-going commitment, that chain makes the difference.

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Ryan Heath

(he/him/his)

Cleanups, Creeks to Coast Cleanup

As an owner of a Certified B Corp , 1% for the Planet business member and Slocal since 1990, ECOSLO exudes everything I wish for this county. Recently I have been especially inspired by the passion, compassion and diligence of the younger employees and volunteers. All rockstars!

We’d like to thank the following volunteers who have donated their photography for ECOSLO’s use on this website:

Dylan Epstein

Oliva Sakai

Bill Bradlee

Anna Talken

Hannah Parker

Emma Rillero

Hannah Romano

Heath Hooper