BOARD & STAFF CHANGES
We have some transitions on the OVLC Board to share. Stepping into the role of Board President is Stefanie Coeler, who has been a dedicated board member and active supporter of OVLC for many years. Stefanie, a retired business executive and passionate equestrian, has been involved in environmental conservation throughout her life. Born and raised in Germany, she moved to Ojai to be with her sweetheart, Willi—now her husband. Stefanie brings two valuable strengths to OVLC: a career background in business and a deep love for the outdoors. She especially enjoys horseback riding and hiking at the Ventura River Preserve, which she is lucky to call her backyard. She has been instrumental in watching over the VRP on our behalf. With her leadership, we look forward to continuing our mission with the same dedication and vision that have long defined OVLC.
As we welcome Stefanie as President, we also extend our heartfelt gratitude to Roger Essick, who is terming off as Board President. Roger has served on the board since the dawn of time, and his dedication to OVLC has left a lasting impact. While he may be stepping down from this role, we know this won’t be the last we see of him!
With Stefanie moving into the President’s role, Sarah Sheshunoff will be taking over as Board Secretary. Sarah has been deeply involved with OVLC for years, particularly in helping Tania Parker bring Mountainfilm on Tour to Ojai as a fundraiser. Originally from San Diego, she spent twelve years in Alaska before moving to Ojai with her husband and two boys. An attorney by training, Sarah has clerked for both the Superior and Appellate Courts of Alaska and practiced criminal defense for seven years. In Ojai, she has been active in her children’s school, numerous local nonprofits, and, of course, OVLC. When she’s not busy helping to protect and restore Ojai’s open spaces, you can find her hiking, running, camping, and enjoying the outdoors as much as possible. Please join us in thanking Roger for his years of leadership and in welcoming Stefanie and Sarah into their new roles!
Farewell to Dan Pizano, Operations Director
This past fall, we said goodbye to Dan Pizano as he set off for Italy to pursue his dream of flying commercially in Switzerland. Before joining OVLC, Dan had already taken an adventurous path—working in Silicon Valley startups, studying astrophysics, and moving abroad to pursue a career in aviation and international disaster relief. Dan first connected with OVLC as a volunteer before the Thomas Fire. After the fire, he put his ultra-running endurance and technical expertise to work, mapping and documenting our trails and infrastructure. In late 2019, he officially joined as Operations Director, guiding us through a rigorous reaccreditation process and modernizing our cyber and office security. A dedicated problem solver with a deep love for the outdoors, Dan’s passion for protecting wild places was reflected in everything he did for OVLC. We are incredibly grateful for all that Dan contributed and wish him nothing but clear skies ahead!
Welcome Ethan Van DUSEN, OFFICE MANAGER
Ethan grew up on the rugged coast of Maine. Searching tide pools and flipping downed trees in search of hidden critters sparked a deep love within him for the plants, animals, and wild spaces that shape our world. Coming from a family of avid birders, nature artists, and outdoor enthusiasts, fresh air was a staple in his life. He spent his childhood skiing, surfing, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, and collecting as many grass stains as possible. After high school, he moved to Florida to study Marine Biology at Eckerd College but soon felt the pull of the wild. Trading classrooms for open water, he packed a canoe and spent a month paddling from the northern tip of the Everglades to the southern, living off powdered milk, sesame snacks, spam, beans, and saltwater showers. Upon a crusty return to civilization, he moved back to Portland, Maine, where he discovered a passion for photography. That passion led him to study Journalism at the University of Southern Maine—until nature called again. This time, it took him to Costa Rica, where he spent four months surfing, whitewater kayaking, and assisting with an Olive Ridley Turtle project. After Costa Rica, he bounced between Maine and Vermont, working restaurant jobs, before landing at the Patagonia Outlet in Freeport, Maine, in 2014. Four years later, he transferred to Patagonia HQ, where he spent another six years as a Receptionist and Experience & Culture Ambassador. Now, he’s thrilled to be part of OVLC, supporting a mission that aligns with his lifelong love for the outdoors. On weekends, you’ll find Ethan at Prospect Coffee, hiking with his fiancée Megan and their golden retriever Ellie, surfing, or wandering with a camera in hand.
Welcome Anthony Gomez, Restoration Field Crew
Hailing originally from Oxnard, California, Anthony attended university at California Polytechnic Humboldt where he majored in wildlife biology, with an emphasis in ecological restoration. He understands that in order for the fauna of this world to survive beyond the 21st century, we must protect, conserve and nurture their native habitat, which consists of flora. For him, ecological restoration has a meditative quality to it, seeing it as a way to help mitigate the damage that has been done to both the natural world and the individual. His understanding comes from years of experience thanks to his time spent both in academia and working out in the field with different conservancies in Ventura County. Anthony joins OVLC’s restoration program to contribute his knowledge and experience to ongoing projects. He hopes that his actions speak louder than his words: Anthony wants to do his part to ensure that species and the systems they depend on have a fighting chance to make it to the end of the century and onwards. For Anthony this is truly the bread and butter for why he joined OVLC, to be among those that give a voice to the voiceless and be the bulwark that provides species with the universe’s scarcest resource, hope.