Staff

Danielle joined Napa RCD in 2019. Much of her professional background is in environmental education, having worked as an interpretive ranger in Colorado, a wetlands ecology and conservation educator in the California central valley, and a camp naturalist in Point Reyes. She is certified in Project WET, Project Learning Tree, and is an AEOE Certified Environmental Educator. Danielle also provides technical assistance in Napa RCD’s forestry program. Danielle is interested in topics such as cultural and prescribed burning, fuels mitigation, and ecological post-fire responses/regeneration.  When not enjoying her time at work, Danielle loves camping, rock climbing, hiking, and live music at local venues.

Ali joined Napa RCD in 2022 to oversee its forestry programming, supporting forest health and wildfire resiliency in Napa County and the region more broadly. She is eager to apply her passion for strategic program development and implementation—and love of all things trees—to the growth of Napa RCD’s forestry programming. Through her prior experiences leading collaborative research programs, Ali has gained expertise in project and grant management, partnership development, and staff supervision and professional development. Ali received a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Tulane University and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Outside of work, Ali enjoys hiking, camping, gardening, cooking, volunteering at Little Moon Farm, and learning about the latest climate change solutions.

Program Areas:

• Forest Health & Wildfire Resilience
• Habitat Restoration
• Fish Passage Enhancement

Ask Me About: resources for landowners interested in forest management and health, wildfire resiliency, stream habitat restoration, sediment reduction/erosion control, and project development.

Biography: Aaron is passionate about forest and stream health and enjoys creating and implementing projects that strengthen both natural ecosystems and local communities. He has led restoration efforts across Sonoma and Marin counties, from improving stream habitats to wildfire resiliency projects, and is especially inspired by work that helps landowners steward their landscapes. Now putting down roots in Napa County, Aaron is excited to continue building projects that make a lasting difference.

Miguel García has been assisting farmers implement sustainable farming practices in California since 2016. He has Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and a B.S in Chemistry from UC Riverside. Miguel is also a Certified Crop Adviser. He provides on-farm technical assistance and planning related to soil health, carbon sequestration, erosion control, and water management. He also designs bilingual educational programs aimed at providing local growers and farmworkers with valuable information on topics related to sustainable agriculture. Miguel believes the future of our local water resources and the world’s food security lies heavily on the implementation of sustainable farming practices today. By working one-on-one with growers and farm workers, he believes true change is possible. Outside of work, Miguel enjoys hiking, cooking, playing bass and guitar, and reading.

Ashley joined Napa RCD in 2019. She has a Master’s in Environmental Education from Western Washington University and experience running youth and adult education programs, volunteer coordination, organizational communications, and implementation of field and classroom outreach programs. Ashley is building out and managing Napa RCD’s volunteer programs, allowing local residents to get involved with local stewardship. In her free time, Ashley loves tending her houseplants, embroidery, and learning about her surroundings by hiking.

Francisco grew up in Napa, coming from a family with a strong background in farming and vineyard labor. Having been surrounded by vineyards and their hardworking laborers from a young age, he developed a deep understanding of the industry. In 2007, Francisco began working for a vineyard management company as a vineyard laborer, where he gained hands-on experience in a variety of tasks including planting, pruning, maintenance, and harvest.

In 2015, Francisco had the opportunity to join JFW as a tractor driver and irrigation assistant. Over time, he worked his way up to become a crew leader, where he oversaw spray applications. By 2017, he was promoted to vineyard supervisor, managing several vineyards, overseeing employees, and handling equipment. Francisco’s dedication and expertise eventually led to his promotion to assistant vineyard manager. In this role, he contributed to projects focused on vineyard sustainability, development, and safety across Sonoma Bennett Valley and Carneros.

Outside of work, Francisco enjoys spending quality time with his family, watching movies with his children, and attending car shows and other fun events whenever possible.

Lisa joined Napa RCD in 2024. She previously worked in Marin County for both the Parks and Public Works Departments on environmental compliance and permits, construction monitoring, mitigation, and wildlife monitoring and conservation projects. Before that she worked in various parts of California, including for the National Park Service, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and in consulting, and in the Midwest for both state and county natural resources departments. She earned her B.S. degree in zoology and psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her M.A. in conservation biology from Columbia University. She loves planting native plants that support wildlife of many families.

Lucas Patzek became Napa RCD’s Executive Director in 2018. He believes deeply in the District’s collaborative and non-regulatory approach to inspiring behavior change, and has experience working with similar Districts across California and Washington. Prior to joining Napa RCD, he served as County Director and Agriculture & Natural Resource Faculty with the Cooperative Extension Service in Washington, and as the Associate Executive Director of the Sonoma County-based non-profit Ag Innovations. He has also been involved in agricultural development efforts in Algeria, Cambodia, Mexico, and the European Union. Lucas received a Ph.D. in Crop Science from Washington State University and a B.S. in Biology from University of California at Santa Cruz. Outside of work he’s an art enthusiast and enjoys exploring wild spaces, growing delicious food, and doing it with friends and family.

Ruby has been working in environmental conservation since 2009. She has a M.S in Conservation Biology from Antioch University New England and a B.A in Environmental Studies from Prescott College. Ruby has worked with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (Crops Pathology and Genetics Research Unit at UC Davis) and the USDA Forest Service on the East Coast and in Puerto Rico. Her areas of expertise are in conservation planning and implementing restoration projects. Since joining Napa RCD in 2019, Ruby has helped many farmers complete Farm Conservation Plans, Carbon Farm Plans, and Pollinator Habitat Plans. Ruby also works with landowners to improve erosion control practices and is a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC). Ruby is passionate about working with landowners and managers to create habitat, protect water quality, and improve soil health. Ruby grew up in Puerto Rico and is fluent in Spanish. In her free time, Ruby enjoys surfing, fishing, cooking, crafting, and being out in nature.

Ben is the NRCS Field Engineer for Napa County. He joined the staff in December 2023 and supports staff with projects that require engineering practices across a wide variety of land uses. Ben has a BS in Engineering Physics from Fordham University and a MS in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University.

Erika joined the NRCS staff in Napa in 2020. She works with local landowners to create conservation plans for their property and then assists them in applying for and navigating federal financial assistance programs. In Napa, Erika has developed conservation plans that include practices targeting forest health and fuel reduction, prescribed grazing, vineyard cover crop, native hedgerows, and irrigation water management. Erika has a B.A. in Biology and German from Austin College and a MSc in Land Reclamation and Remediation from the University of Alberta in Canada.