Make a difference for Californian communities.

Contribute your time and talents.
Join the Board

Board members are vital in directing and assisting the organization in meeting its fundraising and program goals. The CaUFC board is made up of individuals who are passionate about trees, dedicated to the cause of urban forestry and value the social and community building benefits that serving the organization brings.

Representatives

Robert Blum

Robert Blum

Board Member

I am an attorney who has practiced law in San Francisco for more than 30 years. Throughout my career, I have especially enjoyed my representation of clients who are active in vegetation management and tree care.

See Bob’s full profile

Laura Burnett

Laura Burnett

Board Member

For 30 years Laura Burnett has practiced planning and design of urban communities, parks, campuses, transit-oriented facilities, and regional open space networks where infrastructure, buildings, and landscape are a coordinated whole.

See Laura’s full profile

Mona Cummings

Mona Cummings

San Joaquin Valley Representative

Mona N. Cummings has been the CEO of Tree Fresno since October 2019. Mona has experience in natural resource conservation, organizational development, and the building of meaningful partnerships.

See Mona’s full profile

Emina Darakjy

Emina Darakjy

Board President & LA OC Representative

Emina Darakjy is a community volunteer and sits on the board of the Independent Citizen’s Advisory and Oversight Committee of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority as well as the board of the Pasadena Center Operating Company.

See Emina’s full profile

Anne Fenker

Anne Fenker

Sacramento Valley Representative

Anne is a project developer for Davey Resource Group and works with communities throughout the west to help them achieve their vegetation management goals. 

See Anne’s full profile

Sarah Gaskin

Sarah Gaskin

Board Member

Sarah is an Executive at A Plus Tree, Inc and has been in the tree care industry for over 10 years. She’s a Registered Consulting Arborist, Certified Arborist, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from the University of California, Berkeley.

See Sarah’s full profile

Gordon Mann

Gordon Mann

Board Member

I am a consulting arborist and trainer living in Auburn, CA, with 40 years of municipal tree management, public administration, and urban forestry experience.

See Gordon’s full profile

Gordon Matassa

Gordon Matassa

Bay Area Representative

Gordon Matassa represents the Bay Area Region as the chair of the Bay Area Urban Forest Ecosystem Council. He is the Urban Forestry Project Coordinator for the City of Oakland, where he does everything from helping nonprofits plant trees to developing Oakland’s first urban forest plan.

See Gordon’s full profile

Nancy Sappington

Nancy Sappington

Vice President

Ms. Sappington has helped produce more than 25 urban forest management plans for organizations including municipalities, universities, and nonprofit foundations throughout California.

See Nancy’s full profile

Meha Senthil

Meha Senthil

Board Member

Meha Senthil is passionate about the environment and is currently working on a circular economy initiative to provide reusable food serviceware to schools.

See Meha’s full profile

Magen Shaw

Magen Shaw

San Diego Representative

Magen Matison Shaw – Representing the San Diego Region. Magen has been a certified arborist since 2015 and obtained the TRAQ certification in 2017. 

See Magen’s full profile

Emily Spillett

Emily Spillett

Past President

Ms. Spillett is a Program Manager for Davey Resource Group’s Western Region Urban Forestry Program. She joined the DRG Team in 2001 as a consulting forester and has over 17 years of professional experience working with utility forestry, urban forestry, land use planning, and natural resource management issues.

See Emily’s full profile

Share This