Board of Directors
Anna Talken,
Co-Chair
Anna has been living on the Central Coast since 2014. She has always shown a passion for conservation and worked as the Sustainability Assistant for ECOSLO before moving to Santa Barbara to pursue a Master’s in Environmental Science and Management. After graduate school she returned to San Luis Obispo County where she now works as a Restoration Ecologist, developing and managing large-scale riparian restoration projects in Central California. She has over 6 years of experience working for nonprofits and is excited to continue her involvement with ECOSLO. As an avid outdoorswoman, Anna enjoys surfing, hiking, diving and camping in the backcountry.
Marissa Miller,
Fundraising Committee Chair
Marissa was born and raised on the island of O'ahu, Hawai'i, where she grew up surfing and spending most of her free time outdoors and in the water–which led to her passion for conservation and sustainability. She moved to San Luis Obispo in 2017 to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management and Protection at Cal Poly, where she also led the student Surfrider Foundation chapter and connected with ECOSLO through partnering on beach cleanups. Over the course of the last 8 years, she has volunteered, interned, and worked for various conservation organizations and initiatives. She now works for Conservation International as the Senior Coordinator for Surf Conservation and Global Fisheries. While the water is much colder on the Central Coast than in Hawai'i, she still avidly enjoys surfing, in addition to snowboarding, climbing, camping, and other outdoor activities.
Alex McDavitt,
Cleanup Committee Chair
Growing up in San Diego, Alex developed a love for nature through family beach days and weekend camping trips across California and the west. She decided to channel this passion into a career in conservation and has now been working at environmental nonprofits for nearly 15 years. She currently works as a market development manager for the Aquaculture Stewardship Council. She moved to SLO county with her husband and two children in 2022 and participated in the Creeks to Coast cleanup with her family before becoming an ECOSLO board member.
Cassie Olovsson,
Co-Treasurer
Born on Oahu, Hawaii and raised in Southern California, Cassie has always felt a deep connection to nature and caring for her local environment. Upon moving to SLO in 2014 to attend Cal Poly, Cassie fell in love with the natural beauty that the Central Coast has to offer, which quickly spurred her passion for environmental sustainability and ultimately resulted in her joining ECOSLO in 2017 as an Event Coordinator Intern. After venturing to the East Coast in 2018 to start her career in nonprofit fundraising, (being the West Coast baby at heart that she is) Cassie moved back to the Central Coast in 2022 where she now lives, plays, and explores alongside her partner and puppy, while continuing to work as Director of Development for Food Recovery Network. In her spare time, you can find Cassie surfing, hiking, thrifting, crafting, exploring with her pup, and practicing yoga.
Audrey Nolan,
Co-Treasurer
Growing up in Louisiana, Audrey’s passion for the environment originated early as she spent most of her years exploring her backyard of biodiverse wetlands and piney woods. Audrey followed this passion in college at TCU, where her research focussed on the ecological impacts of our national energy system. Eager to dive deeper into energy and climate science, she moved to the central coast of California and attended graduate school at UCSB. Audrey now proudly calls San Luis Obispo home and still spends her time exploring the wetlands and woods (and now ocean!). In her professional life, Audrey works in corporate sustainability and renewable energy strategy for global companies.
Melissa Danehey,
Member
Melissa is a nonprofit professional and native North Carolinian, whose love for the California coast drew her here in 2014. She has a BS in Animal Science/Nutrition and Masters in Nutritional Sciences. Her passion for local environment grew over the years after discovering her love for running, surfing, and paddle boarding. In her spare time, Melissa also competes in ultra marathons, plays piano, and spends time with her teenage daughter and two dogs. She is also a foster/resource parent and a Big Sister.
Pepe Sanchez,
Member
Pepe obtained a degree in Architecture & Environmental Design from Cal-Poly, where he developed a strong appreciation for environmentally conscious design. He believes that designing a space is a way to communicate with its intended occupants, creating a conversation about purpose and ambiance. He is a Co-Founder of Deadwood Revival Design (DRD) which is a a CA based Urban Lumber Sawmill and Craft Furniture/Design shop. He utilizes this platform to focus on inventive design that creates spaces that are aesthetically pleasing, comfortable to inhabit and sustainable. Ultimately, Pepe's goal is to create sustainable spaces that inspire and evoke emotion in those who use them.
Miranda Beal,
Member
Miranda was born and raised on the Central Coast in Santa Maria. In Santa Maria, her pastime was hiking and running the Santa Maria Valley Open Space when it opened in the 2010s, and it was great to see so much excitement for a trail system in the community. Miranda graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Environmental Studies, and in 2016, she moved to SLO to serve as an AmeriCorps Member and later the Community Engagement Coordinator for One Cool Earth. During that time, she supported ECOSLO by attending events and volunteering. Miranda has always appreciated her time in nature and is grateful for how much open space SLO has to offer. She enjoys to hike, cook, journal, thrift, camp and spend time with friends and family.
Quotes from current and former members
"Throughout the years that I have been involved with ECOSLO, I have been continually impressed by the positive impact that this organization has on the community. From leading urban tree plantings and county-wide beach cleanups to helping local businesses become more sustainable, ECOSLO offers many programs that educate and inspire people to make a difference. I am grateful for the wonderful staff who make these programs happen and for the dedicated volunteers who show up to events and are the reason why hundreds of trees get planted and thousands of pounds of trash are removed from SLO County's creeks and beaches every year. Volunteering for an organization like ECOSLO is a great opportunity to engage in meaningful work and support protecting the environment for future generations!" - Anna Talken
"I volunteer with ECOSLO because it provides such crucial work to SLO County, and the people involved with the organization are just incredible to work with. Even from across the country, I find such value in volunteering with ECOSLO in any way I can. It keeps me involved in caring for the Central Coast, while also learning so much to apply to my home on the East Coast." - Kayla Huff
Interested in Joining ECOSLO’s Board of Directors? Learn More & Apply Below
We thank former Board Members for their service and dedication to ECOSLO:
Patty Andreen
Jodee Bennett
Andrea Biniskiewicz
Bill Bradlee
Krista Burke
Teresa Campbell
Joan Carter
Susan Christopher
George Crane
Melody DeMeritt
Mike di Milo
Greg Ellis
John Ewan
Laura Grace
Liz Scott-Graham
Nancy Graves
Chris Hamma
Darshan Hanson
Jeannie Hanson
Alex Henige
Deborah Hillyard
Pam Heatherington
Carolyn Huddleston
Kayla Huff
Kristin Horowitz
Laura Hyde
Richard Krejsa
Geoff Land
Tim LaSalle
Bob Lavelle
James Lopes
Sandra Marshall
Jan Marx
Ayla-Louise Mateo
Christine Mulholland
Sean Murphy
Allyson Nakasone
Judy Neuhauser
Jim Patterson
Sandra Sarrouf
Scott Secrest
Bob Shanbrom
Sandi Sigurdson
Nicole Sisneros
David Slade
Holly Sletteland
Noah Smukler
Lynn Torbert
Chuck Tribbey
Pat Veesart
Dirk Walters
Mary White
Rosemary Wilvert
Cal Wilvert
Arlene Winn
Bob Wolf
Mike Zelina
If you are a former board member of ECOSLO and your name is not listed, please let us know! Please contact us by phone or email – see our contact information below.
Thank you for your service to and support in ECOSLO in protecting SLO County’s natural resources!