LCSLO Staff Members.

deputy director

Daniel grew up a stone’s throw from the Sand Counties of Wisconsin that helped shape Aldo Leopold’s land ethic. An early conservationist in the image of Leopold, Abbey, and Berry, Daniel has worked in, on, and for the land going on twenty-five years now, seventeen of which have been with The Land Conservancy. Daniel endeavors…

Executive Director

Kaila was born and raised in Ben Lomond, California, a small town nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains. She grew up camping, fishing, hiking, and horseback riding with her family. She attended Cal Poly earning a B.S.in Animal Science with a concentration in Livestock Production and Rangeland Resources, and a M.S. in Watershed Hydrology and…

Learning Among the Oaks Program Manager

After a childhood in the redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Zarah studied horticulture and ecology at the University of California, Davis. For the last 20 years her work has focused on protecting and restoring California’s oak woodlands while supporting oak-based conservation initiatives throughout western North America. Zarah’s favorite things are harvesting acorns, climbing oaks,…

Mat Wernet

Preserve Supervisor

Mat was born and raised in Federal Way, Washington and moved to Arroyo Grande, California his junior year of high school. He then acquired an EMS degree from Allen Hancock College. After hiking the well-groomed trails of the central coast, Mat was inspired by the coast live oaks and started practicing the art of Bonsai.…

Executive Assistant

Marie Weiher grew up in San Luis Obispo, California with cherished memories of being a young child running freely through the hills of northern Morro Bay and Cayucos. Following graduation from San Luis Obispo High School, Marie moved to San Diego and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations…

Development Coordinator

Niki grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, exploring the natural beauty of the island. After moving to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly, she earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences with a minor in Environmental Studies in 2021. Coming from an island, Niki grew up more interested in the ocean than land, but that flipped…

Monitoring Program Manager

Dylan grew up in Seattle, Washington and gained an appreciation for the mountains, clean water, and lush forests that surround his hometown. He graduated with a BS degree in Natural Resources Management and an MS degree in Forest Hydrology from Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo California. Dylan is enthusiastic about managing Land…

Community Engagement Coordinator

Christa grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, where childhood exploration of the forests and tallgrass prairies instilled in her a passion for the environment. Pursuing this passion and seeking better weather, she moved to the Central Coast to attend Cal Poly, where she received a B.S. in Environmental Management and Protection in 2021. Recognizing the…

Cain Silvey

Conservation Program Manager

Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Cain moved to San Luis Obispo for a job with the U.S. Forest Service and spent the next four years fighting wildfires throughout the West. He began working for The Land Conservancy in 2019, then went on to pursue an opportunity as a grant manager for the California Department of Conservation.…

pismo preserve outreach coordinator

Carolyn “CJ” Silas has spent most evenings throughout her life on a microphone talking sports & announcing games for college football & baseball at Cal Poly and Hancock College. By day she laces up her hiking boots or Roller Derby skates to get her blood pumping and her heart racing. She has been a volunteer…