About Us

The California Trails Conference Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1995. The Foundation works in partnership with the California Department of Parks and Recreation to offer an annual conference each spring. Our activities are designed to increase the knowledge of trail, recreation and wildland management professionals and advocates, both novice and expert, in order to improve non-motorized, recreational and heritage trail systems and programs throughout California.

Board of Directors

Maryanne Vancio, President

mvMaryanne grew up in rural northern New Jersey where her love for great outdoor adventures began. She got involved in trails in 1986 after moving to the unincorporated area San Diego County when she volunteered to help with an assessment of the historic California Riding and Hiking Trail. She realized then just how important trails were to her community. She became an advocate promoting the idea of multi-use trails to the County Board of Supervisors. In 2002, Maryanne was hired as County of San Diego Trails Program Coordinator. In her free time, you can find her on her neighborhood trails hiking, walking her Doberman or riding one of her Arabian horses.

Ron Krueper, Secretary-Treasurer

Ron portrait (1)Ron’s introduction to the great outdoors occurred early through very active parents involved defending the southern California’s San Gorgonio Wilderness Area from proposed downhill ski developments and it’s designation as such through the 1964 Wilderness Act. Ron completed the John Muir Trail in sections by age 12, which led to a life time of enjoying, using and promoting the use of multi-use trails as a means to connect people to the great outdoors whether in the Sierra Nevada or any nearby urban/open space park.  It also led him to a 38 year career as a Lifeguard, Ranger and District Superintendent with California State Parks throughout southern California where trails and regional trail planning was a “key” element for him.  Now recently retired in Big Bear Lake, California, Ron continues to enjoy the great outdoors through bike riding and hiking.

Kurt Loheit, Director

Kurt LoheitTrails have been a significant part of Kurt’s life since before he was born, when his parents would camp in the Lake Tahoe area. 30 years ago he was looking for some stress relief from his day job which included management, engineering, business development, and technology in the aerospace industry. That stress relief came in the form of a volunteer trail maintenance day, and Kurt was hooked ever since. His professional background gives Kurt the opportunity to look at trail elements from the technical side (design, construction, maintenance, etc.) as well as the management side (resource, staffing, budgeting, etc.). Kurt has had the privilege of working with phenomenal land managers, seasoned professional trail contractors, and some of the most dedicated volunteers over the past decades, and he looks forward to expanding an already diverse and experienced trail community in California (where his family goes back five generations).

Tina Robinson, Director

Tina Robinson is a retired Senior Park and Recreation Specialist from California State Parks where she specialized in environmental review, general plans, and resource management in Southern California. She has also served on the San Dieguito River Park Trails Committee for many years. An equestrian, hiker, skier, and sometime kayaker, she is an advocate for trail access and use. She believes trails bring people outside and closer to nature and mental wellness. Tina lives in San Diego and considers the Eastern Sierra a second home.

Larry Tierney, Director

Larry resides in La Selva Beach, CA, with wife Tori and doodle Kona.  He retired from California State Parks in 2015 after 35 years serving in various Technical Service positions, the last one as Monterey District Maintenance Chief.  In Monterey he resurrected the District’s Roads and Trail Program which is highly regarded as one of the top programs in the State.  Since retirement he has served on the Board of the Mountain Parks Foundation (Big Basin and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Parks), worked for Statewide Trails at the Conference, and also as a consultant for Save the Redwood League on State Park projects.  Larry first got into hiking and backpacking as a Boy Scout in the East Bay and decided he wanted a career as a Park Ranger.  He and Tori enjoy traveling abroad and around the West (in their travel trailer), and Larry tries to get out several times a week on a bicycle, either on the road or in one of the local parks.

 

Staff

The Foundation has one staff member who manages the organization’s affairs and serves to coordinate the conference in conjunction with State Park staff.

Victoria Stehl, Executive Director

Victoria graduated with a BA in communications from CSU, Chico. With over 20 years of experience, she has been working with private and public organizations as a consultant and project manager. Victoria focuses on the development, coordination of communication, education, and marketing campaigns and materials, as well as the management of large-scale events. For the last 10 years, she has supported the California Trails and Greenways Conference and is excited to be the new Executive Director of the Trails Conference Foundation. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, photography, outdoor activities, and spending time with family and friends.

Emeritus Board

Dave Gould

dgDave Gould grew up in the Los Angeles area and spent many days in his youth camping and hiking in parklands throughout California. That led him to a 34-year career working seasonally for the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service, and then for most of his career as a ranger and superintendent with California State Parks. Dave lives in Sonoma and spends much of his life in retirement volunteering on various parks issues in addition to time spent as a “Master Gardener” giving programs throughout Sonoma County. He retired from the Board of Directors in the summer of 2016.

John Kolb

jk

John is a native Californian who grew up in rural Sonoma County enjoying the outdoors – primarily hiking, camping and fishing. That background led him to a career as a Ranger and Superintendent with California State Parks, for a time overseeing some of state’s most extensive trail programs. Now retired in Quincy, California, John continues to enjoy outdoor activities as well as his role as volunteer for the California Trails Conference Foundation. One of his favorite quotes is from John Muir: “The mountains are calling and I must go!”

Dick Troy

dtDick enjoyed a 30 year career with California State Parks where he retired in 2002 as Deputy Director for Park Operations. Beyond the Trails Conference, he stays active in park matters, serving on the boards of the State Railroad Museum and Anza Borrego Foundations. He divides his time between Sacramento and Borrego Springs where he designed and built a straw bale house.

For more than 20 years, Dick has provided leadership and support for the annual statewide California Trails and Greenways Conference.  He played a major role in forming the Foundation to provide financial assistance to the conference and served as the Foundation’s first president.  Under his guidance a memorandum of understanding was created between the Foundation and the Director of California State Parks, ensuring mutual cooperation and support for the conference.  Dick has worked to strengthen the conference and the leadership role it plays in the California trails community.  Always positive and encouraging, Dick models a “cheer-leading” style that ensures the success of many endeavors. He retired from the Board of Directors in January 2015.

Advisory Council

Beth  Boyst

BethBeth Boyst is the U.S. Forest Service Trail Program manager for the entire 2,650 mile Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) traversing the Sierra and Cascade Ranges through California, Oregon, and Washington from Mexico to Canada.  Her duties include supporting a volunteer partnership programs that excels in trail construction, maintenance and primitive skills. Her work has always emphasized citizen stewardship and partnerships in special places.  From 1991-2007 she worked in various roles on the White River National Forest, Colorado supporting the wilderness and trails programs.  Beth’s career has taken a nontraditional path, working first as a pediatric nurse at the University of Virginia and Denver Children’s Hospitals prior to attending Colorado State University and receiving her Masters of Forestry in 1991.  In 1985, Beth completed the Appalachian Trail and has hiked most of the PCT through California.

Hayden Sohm

SI ExifHayden Sohm is a Deputy Director with the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. He is responsible for the management and operations of LA County’s Regional Parks. With an operating budget of $40 million and 500 budgeted positions, this program provides some of the most diverse recreational opportunities in the country. Prior to his work in Los Angeles, Mr. Sohm served for 30 years with the California Department of Parks and Recreation. His last position in that capacity was serving as the District Superintendent for the Sierra District at Lake Tahoe. He holds a B.A. in History from University of California at Santa Cruz. He is active in the Dragon Boat community and is an active participant in the sport. He recently traveled to Fushun, China to represent the International Collegiate Dragon Boat Association at their June races.

Carl Somers

Carl Somers is the Chief of Planning & Acquisition for Marin County Parks & Open Space District, where he directs programs, including a highly visible trail initiative, and manages real estate for a growing network of 34 Open Space Preserves, 70 county park units, and Marin County’s extensive and heavy utilized multiuse pathways. Prior to joining Marin County Parks in 2013, Carl spent a decade with the Northern California Program of the Trust for Public Land, developing a varied portfolio of land acquisition and conservation projects totaling over 41,000 acres. He currently lives in Albany, California and spends as much of his free time as possible exploring the world through trails.

Victoria Touchstone

trail photoVicki has been active in trail issues since the 1990s when she joined the staff of the San Dieguito River Park. She is a frequent California Trails and Greenways participant and has assisted in organizing several pre-conference workshops. Since 2003, Vicki has been working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System, where she is responsible for the preparation of refuge management plans and working with other agency partners and the public to conserve sensitive habitats, while also providing opportunities for the public to access and enjoy the natural resources being conserved within our National Wildlife Refuges.

Jim Townsend

Jim at Trails eventJim Townsend recently retired from the position of Trails Development Manager at the East Bay Regional Park District, the nation’s largest regional park agency. In that capacity he was responsible for the development of both paved and narrow natural surface trails in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. He served on the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council for many years, and chaired the Citizen’s Advisory Committee for the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. Currently, he serves on the Board of Coastwalk California, and was recently appointed to the Caltrans Active Transportation Program Technical Advisory Committee.

Garrett Villanueva

Garrett Villanueva is a trail professional and has been employed by the US Forest Service since 1998.  His passion and full time job include managing trails and fostering land stewardship.  While he likes nothing more than digging in the dirt, his job has evolved from trail construction and trail design to trail operations, and policy and partnerships development.  Currently, Garrett leads the trail program for the US Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region which encompasses the beautiful state of California.  He works with statewide partners and tackles complex trail issues throughout California’s National Forests.  Representing the US Forest Service, Garrett has travelled internationally to Brazil and Israel to share knowledge about partnerships, community engagement, trail management, and trail planning.   In his free time he enjoys nordic and alpine skiing, cycling, hiking, paddle boarding and surfing with his family.  As his job/hobby, he has a small business building wooden surfboards, paddleboards, kayaks and canoes.