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Board of Directors

Leadership and governance is provided by a seven-member volunteer Board of Directors composed of local residents with diverse backgrounds and interests. The role of the Directors is to establish priorities, set policies and guidelines, and oversee general operations. Additionally, Associate Directors serve the organization in an advisory capacity.

The Board of Directors meets every second Thursday at 8:00am in the JoAnn Busenbark Boardroom located at 625 Burnell Street, Napa, CA. Remote teleconference access is provided for the public’s convenience and in the event a Board Member requests remote participation due to just cause or emergency circumstances pursuant to Government Code section 54953(f). The public is welcome to attend and participate and provide oral or written comments. View upcoming meeting agendas or request to be signed up for email notifications at the Agenda page.

When Director positions are open, an announcement will be made on the Napa RCD website and also on the Napa County website. Associate Director applications are accepted on a rolling basis. To apply, please contact Lucas@NapaRCD.org.

Board Members

Bruce Barge

President

Biography

Bruce is an organizational psychologist and executive coach who has worked with client companies and leaders to improve performance and impact. He earned a PhD in industrial/organizational psychology from the University of Minnesota and worked as a consultant and business leader with Fortune 500, public sector, and non-profit organizations for over 30 years. For Napa RCD, Bruce has chaired the Governance subcommittee and was elected in 2022 as President of the Board. Given the environmental challenges in Napa County and Napa RCD’s strong capabilities, Bruce is committed to advancing Napa RCD’s role in forest health, watershed restoration, regenerative agriculture and community-based environmental education.

Rainer Hoenicke

Vice President

Biography
Dr. Hoenicke is a systems ecologist and has spent a good part of his career making science relevant to decision-makers at the federal, state, regional, and local levels. He received his B.S. in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Bonn, Germany, and his Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of California at Davis. His working career has included development of monitoring and assessment programs, applying science-based criteria in prioritizing statewide conservation investment decisions, and leading a non-profit science organization. He retired fin 2018 rom his most recent assignment as the Deputy Executive Officer for Science at the Delta Stewardship Council, which oversees the development of the co-equal goals of Delta ecosystem protection and assuring a reliable water supply for California. Rainer has been serving on the District Board since 2004.
Jon-Kanagy

Paul Asmuth

Director

Biography

Paul is currently completing (2023) a Master of Science in Forestry degree from Mississippi State University online. His graduate courses have focused on coast redwoods and community-based forestry. He and his wife Marilyn founded The Napa Valley Community Forest in 2012 which now has more than 2,000 coast redwoods and oak trees. Paul has worked alongside the RCD on this reforestation and acorn planting project. For the last 22 years he has worked at Meadowood Napa Valley and The Napa Valley Reserve and worked with the RCD on vegetative management and reforestation pre/post the 2020 Glass Fire. His current title is Director of Special Projects and Community Relations. He recently completed two terms (6 years) as a Board of Director for Land Trust of Napa County and is a certified California Naturalist (2016). In a previous career, he was a California CPA and earned a B.S. in Accounting from Arizona State University and M.S. in Taxation from Golden Gate University. In 2010, he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Jim-Lincoln

Jim Lincoln

Director

Biography
Jim is the latest in a long line of Lincolns who have had a special role in the history of land stewardship and grape growing in the Napa Valley. He received a degree in Agricultural Science and Management from UC Davis and since 2002 has worked as a Vineyard Manager for Beckstoffer Vineyards. Jim has served on the Board of the Napa County Farm Bureau and was chair of the Natural Resources Committee. He also served on the Watershed Task Force and WICC Board. Jim brings an understanding of soil engineering and farming adaptive management which has contributed to the development of the county’s conservation regulations. He is an avid brewer and farmer.
Bill Pramuk

Bill Pramuk

Director

Biography
Bill is a Registered Consulting Arborist (American Society of Consulting Arborists) and Certified Arborist (International Society of Arboriculture) with extensive experience in tree care and wholesale and retail nursery work. He has a private practice in Napa as a consulting arborist. Bill also writes a newspaper column – ‘Trees and People’ – that has appeared twice per month in the Napa Valley Register since autumn 1995. In 2011 he volunteered to get Napa involved in the Sudden Oak Death Blitz program, sponsored by the UC Berkeley Forest Pathology and Mycology Lab, and now coordinates Napa’s annual Blitz.
Gretchen-Stranzl-McCann

Gretchen Stranzl McCann

Director

Biography
Gretchen has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Landscape Architecture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She is a CLARB certified licensed landscape architect in California and Colorado, and has practiced in the Napa community for over 22 years. Among her professional passions is sustainable environmental design, in particular riparian and wetland restoration. Gretchen has been involved with many interesting and successful restoration projects for both private and public developments. She is technically current with practices in restoration design and best management practices regarding watershed development and protection and low impact development concepts and principles of environmentally sustainable design.

Karen Turjanis

Director

Biography

Karen was born and raised in Northern California. She received a B.S. in Fermentation Science from U.C. Davis before moving to Napa to join the wine industry. For more than 25 years she enjoyed making wine and managing vineyards in the coastal ranges of Sonoma and Napa Counties, plus a bonus harvest in New Zealand. Always up for a new challenge and a passionate advocate for youth and education, she earned her teaching credential and has been teaching mathematics to students with learning disabilities over the past decade. Prior to joining Napa RCD, Karen served on the Board of Directors for Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District for 10 years. She was a founding board member for Friends of the Napa River and served on their board for nearly 20 years. Karen is a staunch proponent of public access to public lands and providing opportunities for youth to experience the outdoors. She is a member of the Napa RCD Community Engagement Committee. With two kids in college, Karen and her husband have their hands full but still try to find time to hike, garden, cook and row.

Associate Directors

Chris Carpenter

Associate Director

Biography
Chris is currently a Senior VP of Production at Jackson Family Wines and in that capacity oversees winemaking and vineyard operations for several JFW brands, including Lokoya and Cardinale in Napa Valley. In addition to Napa RCD, he currently sits on the Board of Festival Napa Valley. He was the chair of the Board for the Napa Valley Youth Symphony. He founded the Napa Valley chapter of Slow Food and ultimately moved to a board position on the national organization, Slow Food USA, where he served as board chair for 4 years. He was on the charter council at the Napa Valley Language Academy while his two daughters, Maggie and Sadie, were students there. He attended the University of Illinois, receiving his BS in Biology and his MBA in International Business. He also earned an MS from UC Davis in Viticulture.

Balkis Johnson

Associate Director

Biography

Coming Soon!

John Henshaw

Associate Director

Biography

John earned a B.S. in Forestry (1975) from Humboldt State University and a M.S. in Forest Engineering (1977) from Oregon State University.  He is a registered professional forester in California and a registered professional engineer in Oregon (Logging Engineer) and holds both basic and advanced Certificates of Public Administration from Lewis and Clark College (1995).  John was lucky enough to attend Class 9 of the Washington State Forestry and Agriculture Leadership Foundation program in 1987. He also was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Pacific Union College for his work to conserve and manage their 1200 acres of forest lands in Napa County.  During his college years he taught classes at both Humboldt State and Oregon State. Since starting his career, he has taught forestry at Sierra College and UC Davis, in addition he currently teaches Environmental Policy at Pacific Union College.

Matt-Reid

Joseph Nordlinger

Associate Director

Biography
Joseph Nordlinger has a Bachelors’ degree in International Political Economics from the University of California at San Diego. Joseph’s skills are in leadership, business planning, organizational development and strategic alignment. He has been President and CEO of the Ascent Services Group since 2006. Ascent is a technology, business professional, and biopharmaceutical staffing, consulting and workforce management Company that is focused on efficient, value led, talent services for its clients and outstanding career opportunities for its professionals.

Joseph is a Sonoma native and has been a Napa resident for 10 years. Outside of work, Joseph is interested in residential water and energy efficiency, drought tolerant landscaping, suburban permaculture, & suburban bee-keeping. In particular, Joseph would like to assist in education, training and transformation projects that bring greater conservation focus to residential homes in Napa. Joseph also enjoys snowboarding, running, cycling, and fly-fishing.

Bryan Parker

Associate Director

Biography

Bryan Parker is a veteran winemaker and educator who has lived in Napa Valley for 25 years. He earned his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1993, and after his Postdoctoral Appointment at Northwestern University ended, moved to Davis to study winemaking. Bryan currently holds the General Manager position at Rutherford Hill Winery and as an instructor for the UC Davis Winemaking Certificate program. Bryan’s interests include regenerative farming, water conservation, drought tolerant plants, forest health, and assisting in community education. While not working, Bryan can be found gardening, leading hikes throughout Napa Valley, and traveling.

Lucio Perez

Associate Director

Biography

Coming Soon!

Jennifer Putnam

Associate Director

Biography
​With over 25 years of success leading organizations and building teams, Jennifer is now helping landowners, small businesses, non-profits, and philanthropic families through her own consulting firm. Before arriving in the Napa Valley, Jennifer managed guest ranches, worked for the United States Forest Service, and spent seven years as a backcountry guide in Yosemite National Park. “It’s been my life’s work to champion preservation, education, and improving the lives of others. I specialize in bringing people and ideas together. I’m excited to bring this passion to the mission of the Napa Resource Conservation District.” Jennifer lives in Napa with her husband John, two sons, their dog Happy, and 2 horses with Argentine passports.
Matt-Reid

Matt Reid

Associate Director

Biography

Matt is a Calistoga-based winemaker with a love of education and the environment. He has served on the Calistoga Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees and is a current member of the Board of Hearts & Hands Preschool. He enjoys botanizing, mushroom foraging, and kayaking, and he looks forward to exploring the world of nature journaling. He moved to Napa Valley in 2003 and is always eager to explore more of our beautiful home.

Tyler Varian

Associate Director

Biography

Coming Soon!

Pierre Washington

Associate Director

Biography

​Pierre Washington is a retired Law Enforcement officer, 22 years with Richmond Police Department. He also served 22 years in the United States Navy, (11 years active duty & 11 years in the Navy Reserves). Currently he works at Genentech in Vacaville as the Executive Security Director and over sees the day to day Security, Safety, Health and Environmental challenges to ensure the safety and welfare of the employees, product and site campus. Pierre was elected into the American Canyon City Council in 2020 where he currently serves as a City Councilmember. On a more personal note: Pierre is married and has 7 children and two grand children, He loves camping, hiking and traveling.

Lauren-Winczewski

Lauren Winczewski

Associate Director

Biography

Lauren is a tenured Professor of Psychology at Napa Valley College. Her passion for conservation began when she moved to California and was moved by the majesty of the region’s trees. She obtained her PhD in Psychology at UC, Santa Barbara, where she conducted empirical research on the social psychology of close relationships. At Napa Valley College, Lauren supports students pursuing research and internship opportunities in STEM. She is committed to connecting the Napa RCD and Napa Valley College in an effort to build career pathways for students interested in conservation and environmental science.

Antoinette Freeman

Associate Director

Biography

Antoinette is a seasoned event planner with over a decade of experience working with prestigious restaurants, hotels, wineries, and music festivals in the San Francisco Bay Area. With extensive training and impressive expertise in organizing a diverse range of events, she understands the value of effective planning and practices that deliver exceptional guest experiences. Pairing her planning expertise and her passion for sustainability, Antoinette has recently completed a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies with a specialization in urban planning. As a native of Napa Valley, she possesses a unique perspective on the region’s people and intricacies that provide insightful contributions to her work in creating sustainable communities that balance social, economic, and environmental needs.

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