Cydney G. Bender-Reents, MAI is principle in charge of the firm of Bender Rosenthal, Inc., (BRI) a Sacramento based real estate appraisal, right of way (ROW) acquisition, and relocation firm specializing in appraisal services, right of way management, and right of way planning for small and large government and private infrastructure projects. Ms. Bender Reents' professional experience in real estate appraisal began in 1991 and encompasses a broad range of land uses and property types. As a member of the Appraisal Institute, she earned the (MAI) designation, and is a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser, in the State of California. Prior to her career in real estate, Ms. Bender attended California Polytechnical State University in San Luis Obispo, majoring in Agricultural Business Management. Upon graduation, she entered the commercial construction field as a Project Manager for a Sacramento based general contractor. Her unique real estate background enables Ms. Bender Reents to grasp complicated construction issues as they relate to right of way projects and valuation matters.
KATHERINE J. HART, Vice President
Kate Hart is a member of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board and an attorney with Abbott & Kindermann, LLP. Ms. Hart’s primary area of practice is land use law. She represents the firm’s clients in processing all types of land use entitlements, and has extensive experience with the Subdivision Map Act, Mitigation Fee Act, and the California Environmental Quality Act. She has worked for both local agencies and private developers processing subdivision maps, conditional use permits, rezoning and general plan amendments, and variances, as well as negotiated development agreements and various types of easements for residential, commercial and industrial properties. Ms. Hart is a member of the State Bar of California and the Real Property and Environmental Law Sections of the Sacramento County Bar Association. She also sits on the Board of Trustees for the Sacramento Valley Conservancy. She earned a B.S. degree at Santa Clara University and a J.D. at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.
TROY PRATHER, Treasurer
Troy Prather is a Director of Litigation Consulting and Business Valuation Services with the Mann, Urrutia and Nelson accounting firm in Sacramento, California. Troy directs the firm's consulting division, specializing in economic damages and business valuation. In addition to consulting, Troy is an adjunct community college accounting professor. Troy formerly served on the Board of Directors of the Active 20-30 Club of Sacramento #1. He is a Certified Public Accountant, Accredited in Business Valuation, Certified in Financial Forensics and is a Certified Forensic Financial Analyst. He holds an accounting degree from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California, Davis.
ROBERT J SLOBE, Secretary
Bob Slobe is the President of the North Sacramento Land Company. He is active in the community and has served as president of the North Sacramento Chamber of Commerce. He is chair of the California State Railroad Museum Foundation and serves on the Crocker Art Museum board as well. Bob graduated from Stanford University, and has a Master’s degree from The American Graduate School of International Management. Bob’s love of the outdoors is reflected in his hobbies of tennis, running, skiing, hunting and travel and spending time restoring habitat on the family ranch in Colusa County.
RUSSELL AUSTIN
Russell Austin is the Managing Partner of Murphy Austin Adams Schoenfeld LLP. He has over 20 years experience in private practice, specializing in real estate law. His work has included a number of large, complex conservation transactions for non-profit conversation organizations including the American Land Conservancy. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at McGeorge School of Law and as a Lecturer at UC Davis School of Law. He holds a B.A. from UC Santa Barbara and a J.D. from Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley.
ROB DONLAN
Rob Donlan is a partner with the Law Firm of Ellison, Schneider & Harris L.L.P. His practice focuses on groundwater and surface water rights, as well as counseling on matters involving state and federal Endangered Species Acts, the California Environmental Quality Act, and other state and federal statutory and regulatory requirements affecting water users and water managers. Rob represents public agencies and private parties before the California courts, the State Water Resources Control Board, and other administrative agencies, and advocates on behalf of water users on policy issues involving water rights and water management.
ROBERT JONES
Robert Jones is Vice President Emeritus at California State University, Sacramento. A native Californian, Robert served as a professor of political science at CSU Chico and has held senior administrative positions on four CSU campuses and with the President’s Office of the University of California. He worked as a staff consultant with the California State Legislature’s Assembly Committee on Education and was Treasurer of the International Association of University Presidents. Prior to his career as an educator Robert accepted a position with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game on the Alaska Peninsula to enforce commercial salmon fishing regulations. With his wife Julianne and their two children he organized and led Sierra Club family outings for fifteen years to wilderness areas and rivers in California, Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia and Alaska. He is an aviator, waterfowl hunter, kayaker, and down hill skier. Robert is committed to assisting the Sacramento Valley Conservancy in the area of gifted resource development for the acquisition of open space, the protection working landscapes and habitat preservation.
DENTON KELLEY
Mr. Kelley is a Managing Member of LDK Capital, LLC, an entity formed with his father, Larry Kelley, that focuses on value-add real estate acquisitions and development opportunities. Mr. Kelley received his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He recently completed the largest privately funded wetlands restoration project in California, known as the Roosevelt Ranch. He is a board member of the Sacramento Railroad Museum Foundation and serves on the development committee.
LYNN SADLER
Lynn Sadler is former Executive Director of Science and Collaboration for Connected Wildlands, formerly knows as South Coast Wildlands, and the Mountain Lion Foundation, a national wildlife protection organization. Other professional experience includes Natural Resources Director for the Planning and Conservation League, Assistant Director for Information and Policy Coordination at the California State Department of Personnel Administration, and Legislative Consultant for the California State Senate Joint Committee of Science and Technology. A twenty-five year veteran of advocacy campaigns across the nation, Lynn ran her own public affairs consulting firm, working for diverse efforts ranging from the President of the United States to city council candidates, and the Olympics to local charities. Lynn co-founded and performs with the Sacramento Choral Society and serves on several local, regional and statewide Boards of Directors. Lynn graduated University of Missouri and Pennsylvania State University with degrees in political science and journalism.
BEVERLY “BABS” SANDEEN
Dr. Sandeen is Vice Chancellor, University Relations, at UC Davis. In this position she serves as UC Davis' chief institutional advancement officer, with responsibility for fund raising, alumni affairs, government and community relations, communications, and advancement services. She oversees 130 employees and an annual budget of $15 million, provides strategic leadership in all external relations activities and serves as President of the UC Davis Foundation. Dr. Sandeen previously served as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations and Executive Director of the Cal Aggie Alumni Association from 2002 to 2005. She came to UC Davis from UC Irvine, where she served as Executive Director of the Alumni Association from 1998 to 2002. She received her bachelor's degree in political science and a doctorate in social ecology from the University of California, Irvine. Her volunteer activities have included service on the City of West Sacramento Planning Commission, the Woodland Opera House Board of Trustees, the National Board of Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS), and the Girl Scout Council of Orange County board. She is professionally affiliated with the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. She has also served at UC Davis as co-chair of the Professional Development Committee for the Fundraising Council.
DICK TROY
Dick Troy is former Deputy Director for Operations for California State Parks. He was responsible for overseeing the management and operation of more than 265 state parks, reserves, historic sites and recreation areas. Dick has a BA in Geography/Biology from San Diego State University. Dick also serves on the Board of the California State Railroad Museum Foundation, the Anza Borrego Foundation and is the President of the California Recreational Trail Conference Foundation.
CHRIS UNKEL
Chris Unkel is Director of Public Policy for the Western Region of Ducks Unlimited. Formerly, he was a Senior Field Representative for The Nature Conservancy, Cosumnes River/Delta Project. And, prior to that he directed the California Wildlands Program for the California Department of Fish & Game (a start up interpretive program for the state’s major public wildlife areas). He also served as a consultant for the Assembly Resources, Land Use and Energy, and Water Parks and Wildlife Committees. He holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University and a B.S. from the University of Montana.
JAY ZIEGLER
Jay Ziegler is the principal of a Sacramento-based public affairs consulting firm, Ziegler Associates. The firm was founded in 2003 and specializes in land use issues, regulatory concerns and political communications. After graduating from UC Davis in 1984, Jay worked in the California State Legislature and later served as Deputy Controller for the State of California from 1989-1992. Jay also served in the Clinton Administration as Special Assistant to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt for intergovernmental affairs (1993-1996) and served as Assistant Trade Representative for Public Affairs (1996-1999). At the Department of the Interior Jay’s portfolio included coordination of strategies to advance collaborative conservation efforts between public and private concerns. In this capacity, he addressed a series of volatile and complex regional natural resource issues including as endangered species and habitat conservation, expansion of natural parks and monuments. Prior to starting his own consulting firm, Jay was the California state director for the Gore-Lieberman presidential campaign (2000) and then managing director, California Public Affairs Practice, for Burson-Marsteller, an international public affairs firm. Jay resides in Davis, California with his wife Carri and two children.
Sacramento Valley Conservancy Staff
AIMEE B. RUTLEDGE, Executive Director
Aimee Rutledge has been Executive Director of the Sacramento Valley Conservancy since October 1996. Previously, Ms. Rutledge helped found the Friends of the Sacramento River Greenway, worked with the American Institute of Architects, California Council as Director of Governmental Relations, and ran her own consulting firm, ABR Services, serving as legislative advocate for the California Bicycle Coalition and performing outreach and advocacy services for various other clients. She holds a BA in History from Pomona College and is a graduate of Sacramento High School.
WENDY BATY, Administrative Director
Wendy has worked with the Sacramento Valley Conservancy since its “Birth Event” in 1991. She has also worked for the American River Parkway Foundation, Sacramento Open Space, and other environmental groups. She received a B.A. in Home Economics/Clothing & Textiles at CSU, Sacramento. She is proud to be able to assist in the protection of local lands as a preserve for wildlife habitat and recreation.
KATHY REYNOLDS, Stewardship Coordinator
Kathy joined SVC in September of 2009. She comes to Sacramento Valley Conservancy with a diverse environmental background, which includes a BS in Plant Ecology from University of Nevada, Reno. She was a forester in Mali, West Africa with US Peace Corps, a wetland biologist in southern Louisiana with US Fish & Wildlife Service, and at CSU, Sacramento achieved record high recycling rates as the Integrated Waste and Recycling Manager. An animal lover, Kathy volunteers at local no-kill pet shelter, Happy Tails. Kathy gets excited about wild animals living in their native wild habitat, and in 2009 went on safari in Kenya’s Maasai Mara where she saw “everything”. She is happy to be working with SVC preserving habitat for Sacramento valley’s wild animals.
GINA SILVERNALE, Outreach Coordinator
Living in Rocklin, California, Gina Silvernale considers the Sierra Foothills her personal backyard for her passion of the great outdoors, four-season adventure and her love of photography. Although Gina still appreciates to her roots from Montana, the characteristics of the local foothills supplies the wide open spaces, a trait that she is accustomed to from life on the family wheat farm in Big Sky Country. In addition to organizing youth (YES-Youth Education and Stewardship) day and backpacking outing and docent-led tour programs for SVC, Gina currently also leads fieldtrips for the REI Outdoor School on kayaking, photography and other subjects.
TAMMY MEBANE, Grants Coordinator
Tammy joined Sacramento Valley Conservancy in March 2005. A native Californian, Tammy grew up in a ranching family in Central California. She has almost 10 years experience in Program Management with non-profits, specializing in native tree mitigation. Tammy brings extensive experience managing and working with volunteers, giving her own free time as a volunteer whitewater guide for Friends of the River and Project Great Outdoors. When Tammy is not working or volunteering she is seeking out new rivers to kayak and enjoy.
VICKIE H. VALINE, Administrative Assistant
Vickie Valine, a Sacramento native, joined SVC in April of 2005. Vickie received a B.A. in Environmental Studies from CSU, Sacramento. Her activism goes back to the late 1970s with her involvement in Friends of the River and Greenpeace. She has 15 years experience with non-profit management and fundraising and is active in midtown Sacramento neighborhood associations. Vickie has had a life-long love affair with Sacramento and its environs, and looks forward to helping SVC preserve more land in the Sacramento Valley.
ABRAM WOODWARD, Program Assistant
Abram leads SVC’s YES (Youth Education and Stewardship) overnight backpacking trips. He loves sharing his knowledge of the outdoors with Sacramento’s youth and draws from his past experience with the Boy Scouts.