Proud Partner

 

egret
Egret photo courtesy of Terry Vance


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Meet Our Staff

Robin Rierdan
Executive Director- Robin Rierdan

Robin has a M.C.P. in Urban Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology with specializations in economic development and real estate, and a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego (Revelle College), in Anthropology and Teaching. She is the past director of the State of Nevada's Rural Economic Development Program. She has been active in land preservation projects and issues in Santee and East County for the past six years. Robin, a founding employee of the River Park, has written several multi-million dollar grants for property acquisition and restoration.

Cindy CollinsMembership & Volunteer Manager- Cindy Collins

Cindy joined the Lakeside Conservancy in the Spring of 2004 and has over fifteen years of combined experience as a non-profit administrator. She has a B.A. from San Diego State University in Fine Art. Cindy’s goals are to increase membership enrollment and develop and maintain volunteer programs.

Bob ForsytheSpecial Projects Coordinator - Bob Forsythe

Bob has a M.A. in Political Science from San Diego State and a B.A in Asian Studies, also from San Diego State.  He is retired from The County of San Diego, where he worked as a Land Use and Environmental Planner for the Department of Planning and Land Use.  While with the County, Bob was the lead planner for the Upper San Diego River Improvement Project, where the River Park is located.   Bob was also the County’s Project Manager for the River Park’s Reclamation Plan.


Linda OlmsteadAccountant - Linda Olmstead

 Linda has lived in the growing Santee area for 25 years.  Originally from Denver, Co., she moved to California in 1964.  She has worked in the construction accounting field for  the past 20 years.  Linda like tennis, golf, cooking and being outdoors.

Amy Huie 
Field Supervisor -
Amy Huie

Amy Huie worked as a Restoration Intern for Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy in 2008.  Amy studied Ornamental Horticulture at Cuyamaca College.  Her focus has been California native plants and she enjoys seeing and learning about all the living things that are associated with them.  Amy’s work as a Production Consultant at Moosa Creek Nursery, Head Grower of Cuyamaca College Nursery and her volunteer work with the California Native Plant Society have prepared her for the job of taking care of the plants of the Lakeside River Park Conservancy’s 130+ acre site.  Amy is proud to join the team at LRPC.


Seth
Park Biologist -
Monica Winters

Monica Winters is the River Park's biologist. She leads our new public safety and wildlife program "Riverbed Walkers." Monica first came to the River Park as a volunteer at our weekly plant nursery group. Now she has been hired as a consultant to work on specialized programs. She is also developing a water quality monitoring program for the Los Coches Creek on the River Park's Ha Hana property.  Monica has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from SDSU and a Master of Science in Environmental Science from UCR. Her primary passion is using native plants to restore contaminated soils but loves anything that involves working outside.


Consultant- Gary Ruyle

Gary Ruyle has 25 years experience as a landscape architect specializing in habitat restoration. Habitats restored include riparian, coastal sage, chaparral, native grasslands, and vernal pools. He has a Master’s in Landscape Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona and a BA in Park Administration. Mr. Ruyle is experienced with development of exotic plant mapping and removal programs.