At Eastern Sierra Land Trust, we often talk about our accomplishments in terms of lands, water, and wildlife. And yet, at our core, we’re an organization of the community, for the community.
Each member of our Staff and Board of Directors brings unique insights and expertise to the table, and we work collaboratively to ensure that we take into account the many opinions that make our region so wonderfully diverse. By working together, we believe that we can find common ground and develop long-term land use solutions that will benefit all: residents and visitors, ranchers and environmentalists, families and wildlife alike. Together with supporters like you, we’re creating a better future for the Eastern Sierra we love.
Are you interested in joining our team at Eastern Sierra Land Trust? Visit our Employment Page to see current staff openings, and contact us today to share your skills and passions with us. We’re always looking for energized and committed community members who want to have a hand in advancing local conservation.
Eastern Sierra Land Trust Staff
Kay Ogden, Executive Director

Amanda Serenyi, Membership Coordinator

Amy Sturgill, Land Conservation Program Director
Carissa Gospodinoff, Operations Director
Carissa grew up 30 miles outside New York City in Greenwich, Connecticut, where her family had operated a tree nursery for four generations. As a kid growing up on this 10-acre property surrounded by nature, the only rule during summer was to come home and eat when the dinner bell was rung. After attending college in New York City, Carissa worked in the U.S. Virgin Islands educating school groups about local ecology and various methods to increase local conservation efforts. Once she returned stateside, Carissa realized she wanted to explore more of the country and accepted a position in South Lake Tahoe as Operations Manager with the Sierra Nevada Alliance. She quickly fell in love with the Sierra Nevada region. Carissa is excited to continue working hard to protect and preserve such a valuable part of the country with ESLT. In her free time you can find Carissa frolicking through streams and rivers with her pup, Samson.
Claire Marvet, Program Associate
Claire came to ESLT through the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership and served as ESLT’s 2021-2022 AmeriCorps Member/Education Coordinator. During her time with ESLT, claire ran our Community Connections, Sunflower Kids, and Eastside Pollinator Garden programs among other roles. Now, Claire will be working closely with our newest Education Coordinator/AmeriCorps Member, while taking on new and exciting roles with ESLT. Claire grew up in the Chicago area and attended the University of Washington, Seattle. She graduated in 2018 with a BS in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology. You can find her in the Eastern Sierra enjoying the outdoors – she loves to snowboard, rock climb, and hike in the mountains.
Emmalyn Snead, Land Stewardship Program Director

Heather Freeman, Development & Marketing Director

Board Members
Marie Patrick, Chair

Cyd Jenefsky, Secretary
Cyd moves between Stockton, Sacramento, and the Bay Area in her position as Interim Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Strategy and Educational Effectiveness at University of the Pacific. The Eastern High Sierra is her temple, and she has been hiking and cycling on the Eastside for many decades. As a dedicated member of our conservation community for many years, she is honored to do what she can to conserve this treasured land.
Robert Sharp, Treasurer

Tim Bartley, Vice-Chair
Tim and his wife Pam moved to Mammoth Lakes in 2010. Tim has been an active volunteer in local conservation, stewardship, and water quality projects. He spent his professional career in biotech research at Amgen, and holds a PhD. Tim is an avid fisherman, and he frequently works with ESLT’s volunteer team to advance important habitat restoration projects in the Eastern Sierra.
Brynn Pewtherer, Director

Fran Hunt

Leslie Hunewill, Director
Leslie is a rancher in Bridgeport Valley where her family raises cattle and operates a guest ranch. The ranch was founded in 1861 and started taking guests in 1931 as a way to pay taxes so the family could keep the ranch. Doing this was integral in allowing the family to continue to live and raise the next generations in Bridgeport and its incredible landscape. Her grandfather started implementing Holistic Management practices several decades ago, and Leslie helps create each year’s grazing plan to ensure that care is being taken to sustain and support the land. She manages the herd health, genetic selection, and records for their cattle operation, and helps out with the day to day activities as she can. Leslie also fills in when and where she’s needed on the guest ranch. She is enjoying raising her children on the ranch where she was raised, and seeing them get involved with every facet of ranch life.
Rick Kattelmann, Director

Tony Taylor, Board Member Emeritus

Advisory Council
Randy Barrow
Scott Burns
Laurence Cohen
Steve Frisch
Mary Glenn
Rusty Gregory
Linda Hess
Sandy Hogan
Ruth MacFarlane
Matt McClain
Bob Moon
Paul and Kate Page
Pete Pumphrey
Jim Reed
Orrin Sage