Roger has been working in environmental protection since 1972.  He earned a BS and MS in Civil Engineering (Environmental), at U. C. Berkeley, and is a Registered Civil Engineer. Roger worked for the Central Coast Regional Water Board, whose Vision is “Healthy Watersheds.”  This work included many land conservation projects with LCSLO and other conservancies as well as work on marine preserves, fish migration barrier removal projects, and rangeland practices to improve degraded riparian habitat. Currently, Roger serves on several LCSLO committees and chairs the Governance and Nominating Committee.

Roger enjoys sailing and racing and is working on a new Small Boat Program with the aim of getting younger people out on the water (the ocean is a vast natural open space!).  He also teaches/coaches to improve other’s sailing and racing skills.  With his wife Marney and several dogs and horses, Roger lives in Nipomo, and they have five children and six grandchildren between San Diego and Portland.  Roger also enjoys racquetball, pickleball, writing, playing music, building, horseback riding, camping, hiking, and always learning.  “One of the important things I have learned is that we need to visit wild natural places to refresh and rejuvenate.”

Jim Grant has lived on the Central Coast since 1978 after moving from the Northern California town of Chico. Chico is home to Bidwell Park, a massive park of 3,670 acres, nearly 11 miles long, making it the third largest municipal park in California. This amazing park shaped Jim’s views regarding the value of public open space in and around urban areas. Jim has served on The Land Conservancy’s Land Committee and Governance Committee since 2018. He joined the Board in 2019.

Jim worked for San Luis Obispo County for 33 years. His last three years before retirement he served as the County’s top executive and helped lead the county out the great recession. He is an active volunteer in the community. Jim was a member of the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo and served on the Board of the Directors of the Homeless Foundation. He is a graduate of San Luis Obispo’s Leadership SLO and was a facilitator of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Jim has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Services from California State University, Chico.

Jim is an avid mountain biker, hiker, sailor, gardener and traveler. He is also a third-degree black belt in Kenpo karate. He lives in San Luis Obispo and has two grown children.

Johnine Talley was born and raised on the Central Coast of California.  After earning her degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she joined Talley Vineyards. She lives in Arroyo Grande with her husband, Brian and they have two adult daughters, Elizabeth and Olivia.

Committed to giving back, Johnine was a founding member of the Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County, serving on its board for 15 years. Together with Brian, she established the Fund for Vineyard and Farm Worker, a fund held at the Community Foundation which supports agricultural workers and their families in San Luis Obispo County.  She remains actively involved on the Foundation’s grants committee, serves on the board of KCBX public radio, and volunteers weekly with Meals That Connect, delivering meals to homebound seniors.

Passionate about preserving the beauty of the Central Coast, Johnine loves working with the Land Conservancy to help protect the region’s open spaces and vital natural resources.

Celeste Royer has 35 years of experience as an environmental and outdoor education administrator. As a Californian who grew up loving the outdoors, she is dedicated to making natural environments and outdoor spaces accessible to all community members.

Celeste is currently the director of equity and inclusion at Ten Strands, a statewide nonprofit focused on centering equity while advancing environmental literacy for all CA students. She was director of environmental and outdoor education at the SLOCOE for over 30 years and directed Rancho El Chorro Outdoor School’s residential, field, and classroom programs. She is a faculty member at Cal Poly SLO and teaches Environmental and Wilderness Education. As director of the California Regional Environmental Education Community Network for the CA Department of Education, she built regional and statewide partnerships to support environmental education initiatives.

A strong advocate of environmental literacy for all, Celeste serves on numerous boards and advisory committees of organizations that advance equity, inclusion, justice, and environmental literacy including Justice Outside and the BEETLES Project at the Lawrence Hall of Science. Celeste holds degrees from UCLA, SFSU, and Cal Poly SLO. She resides in Los Osos with her husband Jim where they get outdoors often. Her grown children reside in New York City and the Czech Republic.

Dave was raised in Los Angeles and escaped to the Central Coast in the 1980s.  Dave has always enjoyed the outdoors, and has hiked in many beautiful places around the world.  Being on the Central Coast with its wide-open spaces and plentiful hiking trails is like living in heaven, and Dave has long appreciated the work of the Land Conservancy to preserve and protect what makes this area special.

Dave is an attorney with Andre, Morris & Butter specializing in real estate, land use, and business law.  Dave has been an involved member of the business community for many years, and currently serves as Board Secretary of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce.  Dave is also very involved with local non-profits, currently serving as Board President of Lumina Alliance and Board member of Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.

During his tenure on the Central Coast, Dave has been involved with other non-profits including serving as Board President of the YMCA, Literacy Council and Red Cross.  Dave is a graduate of Stanford University and UCLA Law School, lives in San Luis Obispo with his wife Sharon, and is the proud father of twin sons who were raised on the Central Coast and currently live and work in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Jay Beck is a Regional Commercial Relationship Manager at American Riviera Bank and has close to 30 years of experience in his field. Jay has served as a board member and volunteer for numerous non-profit organizations and other community focused organizations, including the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo, the San Luis Obispo Repertory Theater, The SLO Food Bank, and many others. He was also the Co-Chair of Yes on Measure C-22, which raised voter support for the 2022 passing of a $350M school bond measure to support our local elementary and middle schools.

As a lifelong resident of San Luis Obispo and with a long family history in local agriculture, Jay is passionate about supporting the Land Conservancy’s mission to preserve our County’s open spaces.

Joel Sheets joined The Land Conservancy Board in 2019. He is a retired scientist who moved to San Luis Obispo with his family in 2014. He earned a Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics from the University of California, Irvine, CA. He spent over 30 years working for Dow AgroSciences, having various research roles as Research Leader in the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Department.

He has authored/co-authored over 25 patents, over 40 external peer reviewed publications and book chapters, and over 200 proprietary internal research reports in the area of Agricultural Biochemistry. His primary research interests are in the application of insecticidal proteins in agriculture. He is a board member of the San Luis Obispo Rotary Club and currently enjoys many outdoor activities including hiking, biking, sailing and touring.

John and his family moved to San Luis Obispo in 1978 after escaping from the Los Angeles area!  He was raised in Clearwater, Florida as one of the first pioneer families to homestead in the area in the 1860’s.  John spent his young years exploring the gulf and undeveloped areas of the county.

“During college summers I journeyed to California and worked as a Forest Service firefighter, carpenter, welder, and wastewater laboratory technician. After graduation in civil engineering, I returned to California permanently to work for the Los Angeles Flood Control District providing flood hazard advice to communities through the LA Basin.

In 1978, I joined the SLO County Engineering Department as the Office Engineer. This position gave me a great understanding of the County and I formed relationships that carry forward to the present time in private practice and volunteer work.

John provided many agencies and private clients with engineering advice over the years.  He is past president and remains on the board of the Monterey Co. Chapter of APWA.  He volunteers with local and international organizations including Eco Alianza, an environmental organization in Loreto BCS, Mexico.  He is a charter member of the Rotary Club de Tolosa of San Luis Obispo and serves on other LCSLO committees including the Governance and Nominating, and Development Committees.

My wife and I enjoy ranch work, outdoor adventures, volunteer work and travel to special places.  We have two grown sons who ranch with their own families.

I truly enjoy the work that the SLOLC does and especially appreciate working with all our outstanding staff!

Rob DeGraff has led community improvement projects on the west coast for over 30 years. He developed progressive policies to address a wide variety of public issues in Portland, Oregon. After retiring to SLO in 2008, he sought opportunities to utilize his professional expertise and passion for the outdoors.

As the Vice President for Public Policy at the Association for Portland Progress (APP), Rob was responsible for the development of the organization’s positions on a wide variety of public policy issues, including transportation, business development, housing, public safety and human services. He staffed APP’s involvement in light rail planning, salmon recovery, statewide transportation funding, and local code issues such as system development charges and parking regulations. Rob also worked on policy development surrounding street youth and services to the chronically mentally ill, and he helped oversee Portland’s successful business improvement district (BID) “Downtown Clean & Safe”.

While serving as APP’s Public Safety Director, Rob led the organization’s crime prevention program and helped earn national recognition for its programs. During his career in downtown management, Rob consulted for various major business associations, managed a successful revitalization project in Southeast Portland, and served as the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Project Director on the Columbia River Crossing. His volunteer activities include leadership on the Oregon Investment Board, Metropolitan Youth Commission, Youth Today, Inc., and Lower Nehalem Community Trust.

Rob has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Oregon and a J.D. from Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College. He was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 1978 and has published various policy articles. An avid outdoorsman and keen photographer, you are likely to see Rob on nearby trails accompanied by his wife Mary. Rob and Mary live in San Luis Obispo and have been active Land Conservancy volunteers since 2010.

“I learned early in life that I was happiest when part of team working to advance a cause in which I believe. The Land Conservancy’s mission is such a cause. I am also happiest when I am being challenged to learn something new. I know I have much to learn about land conservation. Thus, participating on the LCSLOC Board, advancing a good cause while learning conservation practices, promises me great satisfaction.”