Staff

Jamison Watts

Executive Director

(415) 663-1158 ext. 301 | Email

Jamison is responsible for providing strategic vision and leadership in the execution of MALT’s mission and overseeing all organizational functions, including land protection and stewardship, fundraising, operations, communications, strategic relations and financial management. He joined MALT in 2013 and has worked in natural resources management, land conservation and business development for nearly 20 years. Prior to joining MALT, Jamison served as the executive director of the Northern California Regional Land Trust and as a wildlife biologist and environmental consultant. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology with an emphasis in conservation biology from the University of California at Davis and a master’s degree in biological sciences from California State University at Chico.

Jennifer Maude Carlin

Director of Advancement

(415) 663-1158 ext. 315 | Email

Jennifer joined MALT in May of 2019 to lead its strategic fundraising, communications and outreach programs. Prior to joining MALT, Jennifer served as the director of development at Ten Strands, an environmental education organization committed to bringing environmental literacy to all of California’s K–12 students. Jennifer has worked in the nonprofit sector for more than 20 years with a focus on development, engagement, philanthropic partnerships and organizational capacity building. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from DePauw University.

Ray Fort

Director of Operations

(415) 663-1158 ext. 307 | Email

Ray joined the MALT team in December of 2016. As Director of Operations, he oversees all day-to-day business for MALT, including finance, HR, facilities and IT, in order to facilitate MALT’s conservation efforts. Before coming to MALT, Ray provided management consulting services to many successful nonprofits. As Chief Operating Officer of Larkin Street Youth Services, Ray helped at-risk youth find pathways to get off the streets of San Francisco. Ray also served as Controller of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Wellington, New Zealand. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Indiana University.

Marcella Brawley

Associate Director of Development, Major Gifts

(415) 663-1158 ext. 318 | Email

Marcella joined MALT in 2017 to help grow and develop the organization’s major gift program. She is focused on building and maintaining strong relationships with our supporters. Prior to joining MALT, Marcella was a major gift officer at the SF-Marin Foodbank. She has spent the last ten years of her career as a development professional and fundraiser for various non-profit organizations around the Bay Area. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Hawaii Pacific University and a master’s degree in Asia Pacific studies from the University of San Francisco.

Tristan Conway

Outreach Associate & Volunteer Coordinator

(415) 663-1158 ext. 321 | Email

Tristan works alongside our Senior Outreach Manager and coordinates our dedicated team of volunteers. Prior to joining MALT in 2016, Tristan worked for Ocean Riders of Marin as a program developer and community outreach coordinator.  She has also worked in the field of specialty veterinary medicine and for the USDA Agriculture Research Service. Tristan graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Science.

Isabel French

Associate Director of Development, Marketing & Communications

(415) 663-1158 ext. 311 | Email

Isabel joined the MALT team in 2018 to manage communications and marketing. Before coming to MALT, Isabel oversaw communications and development for San Francisco Friends School, a Quaker school in the Mission District of San Francisco, and for Children Now, a children’s policy and advocacy organization in Oakland. Prior to that, she served on development teams for educational non-profits in the Bay Area and as an English teacher in a small town outside of Madrid, Spain. Isabel holds a bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology from U.C. Santa Cruz.

Peter Fugazzotto

Associate Manager, Digital Engagement

(415) 663-1158 ext. 323 | Email

Peter joined the MALT team in 2018 to manage online communications and fundraising. Before coming to MALT, Peter led online and offline individual donor efforts and coordinated online advocacy programs at Turtle Island Restoration Network, a marine conservation organization. Prior to that, he provided fundraising and communications consulting for a range of environmentally-focused nonprofits. Peter holds a B.A. in English from Stanford University.

Kristin Guy

Stewardship Project Manager

(415) 663-1158 ext. 322 | Email

Kristin joined MALT in the spring of 2018, bringing over a decade of Conservation Planning experience from our close partner, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) throughout California’s Central Valley. Kristin assists MALT landowners with conservation programs and projects, monitors existing easements, and evaluates prospective new projects. She provides our landowners with technical assistance in addressing resource concerns and works closely with our partner organizations to develop practical solutions. Kristin holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biological Sciences from California State University, Stanislaus.

Colleen Hogan

Office Manager

(415) 663-1158 ext. 300 | Email

Colleen joined MALT as office manager in 2014. Her responsibilities include maintaining the MALT facility, assisting with recruiting and other human resources functions, providing executive support to the executive director and MALT Board of Directors, and general office management. Colleen has over 25 years of operations experience including 16 years as director of administration and coaching operations for E-Myth Worldwide, a small business training organization. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Whittier College.

Elizabeth Hollis

Development Associate

(415) 663-1158 ext. 306 | Email

Elizabeth started with MALT as a volunteer in 2016 with the Hikes, Tours and Tastings program, and joined the staff in 2018. Elizabeth works alongside the Database Manager preparing reports and providing donor support. Elizabeth is active in the West Marin community as the manager of the Point Reyes Farmers Market and holds a bachelor’s in Communication Studies with a minor in Anthropology from the University of Central Missouri.

Jim Jensen

Stewardship Manager

(415) 663-1158 ext. 313 | Email

Jim joined MALT in 2013 bringing his understanding and expertise as a local rancher to MALT’s Stewardship staff. Jim works closely with the Director of Conservation, supervising Stewardship staff, managing MALT’s Stewardship Assistance Program and representing MALT at the local and regional level on land stewardship and conservation planning efforts. Jim has also played an integral role with the Marin Carbon Project’s (MCP) Implementation Task Force working to develop and fund Carbon Farm Plans throughout West Marin. He holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry and natural resources and a minor in rangeland resources management from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. When Jim is not at the office or in the field, he can be found working on his family’s 6th-generation sheep and cattle ranch near Tomales.

Kathryn Lyddan

Associate Director of Conservation, Acquisitions

(415) 663-1158 ext. 320 | Email

Kathryn oversees MALT’s acquisition program, managing MALT’s real estate transactions and contributing to policy and planning initiatives that support the permanent protection of Marin’s agricultural land for agricultural use. A former real estate lawyer, Kathryn has fifteen years of experience completing complex conservation transactions. Prior to joining MALT, Kathryn served as the Executive Director of the Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust and the Director of the California Department of Conservation’s Division of Land Resource Protection. Kathryn has a bachelor’s degree from the University of California and a law degree from Hasting College of the Law.

Zach Mendes

Conservation GIS Manager

(415) 663-1158 ext. 304 | Email

Zach joined MALT in 2014 to assist landowners with conservation programs and projects, monitor existing easements and evaluate prospective easements. Prior to joining MALT, Zach was the land projects and stewardship coordinator for the Northern California Regional Land Trust. He comes from a dairy farming family in the northern Sacramento Valley and holds a bachelor’s in urban studies and planning from the University of California, San Diego.

Denise Rocco-Zilber

Senior Outreach Manager

(415) 663-1158 ext. 310 | Email

Denise joined MALT in 2012 and manages MALT’s Hikes, Tours & Tastings program and major fundraising events. Prior to working with MALT she had produced and designed events set in unique West Marin locations utilizing only local foods, sustainable businesses and resources. Before her career in event production, Denise was a professional environmental photographer reporting stories from over 15 countries. She holds a BFA in documentary photography from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston.

Eric Rubenstahl

Stewardship Project Manager

(415) 663-1158 ext. 319 | Email

Eric joined MALT in April of 2016. He assists in monitoring existing conservation easements, helps evaluate future agriculture conservation easements, and facilitates best management practices on MALT’s working landscapes. Prior to joining the MALT team, Eric worked with the City of Fort Collins (Colo.) Natural Areas Department and for the South Yuba River Citizens League in Nevada City, Calif. Eric holds a master’s degree in Conservation Leadership from Colorado State University, where his thesis research consisted of creating a management plan for a 22,000-acre private protected area in southern Belize.

Maggie Sowell

Associate Manager, Communications & Design

(415) 663-1158 ext. 308 | Email

Maggie joined the MALT team in 2019 to oversee print communications and design. Before coming to MALT, Maggie led communications and marketing efforts at the Redwood Empire Food Bank, based in Santa Rosa. Prior to that, she managed communications and fundraising projects at a variety of non-profit organizations in California and beyond, and taught English and creative writing in Sonoma County and New Orleans, Louisiana. Maggie is a graduate of the Smith College Program for the Study of Women & Gender and holds a master’s of fine arts in writing from Columbia University. 

Nancy Turner

Accounting Manager

(415) 663-1158 ext. 316 | Email

Nancy joined MALT in 2018 to handle the day-to-day accounting functions for the organization and support the Director of Operations with finance, reporting and HR. Prior to MALT, Nancy spent over thirty years in public and private accounting, and a lifetime wandering the hills and trails of Marin. She currently serves as treasurer on the board of Woman Within, an international non-profit organization, and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and master’s degree in taxation.

Jonathan Wachter

Conservation Project Planner

(415) 663-1158 ext. 317 | Email

Jonathan joined MALT in 2018 to assist in developing agricultural management plans, implementing carbon farm plans and facilitating best management practices. His background ranges from building school garden curriculums in Oakland to doing agricultural policy research in Australia and New Zealand. Jonathan holds a PhD in soil science from Washington State University, where he worked on developing strategies for improving soil health and economic performance of pasture and crop land.

Sydney Weisbach

Major Gifts Associate

(415) 663-1158 ext. 305 | Email

Sydney joined the MALT team in 2019 to support the Major Gifts team in achieving their fundraising objectives for the organization. Sydney grew up in Marin County where she developed a passion for cooking and sustainability. Her two passions combined into a degree in Agriculture and Environmental Science at McGill University. Prior to joining the MALT team Sydney worked in a variety of farm and food businesses around the West and East coast.