 |
Jim McKenna
Board President
Jim earned a BS from the Environmental Horticulture Department at University of California at Davis, and worked for the Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. He returned to UC Davis a year and a half later to earn his Agriculture teaching credentials. He then taught for 10 years at Soquel High School vocational agriculture classes in landscape horticulture and natural resources and forestry.
For the past 15 years, Jim has owned his own Landscape construction company, James McKenna Landscapes. He specializes in erosion control, water management, and construction of stone and concrete outdoor living areas. He also owns and operates a 12 acre apple orchard in Aptos. Jim is a Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Specialist, and has served on the RCD board for over 20 years. Jim enjoys traveling, camping and photography with his wife and daughter when vacationing
 |
Mike Manfre
Board Vice President
After attending Cabrillo College and Cal Poly SLO, Mike officially began his career in the family farming business, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father. The last twenty-five years, his responsibilities have included managing his local farming operation and the multiple locations that they have established in Southern California and Mexico. In his role as production manager, he oversaw the growing of more than twenty crops, which was a twelve month endeavor at these many locales. Also during this time period, separate projects with Ducks Unlimited and the Resource Conservation District, were implemented on McClusky Slough and Beach Road to preserve the Sloughs and control erosion. Currently, Mike is a member of the Board of Directors of Capurro Marketing with responsibility for the overall direction of the company, as well as overseeing Baja California farming operations and partnership. Industry activities include Vice President of the Santa Cruz Resource Conservation District Board, an executive committee member of the California Lettuce Research Board, and a member of both the Santa Cruz County and Monterey County Agricultural Policy Committees.
 |
Tom Lukens
Director
Tom Lukens is the current president of a horticultural firm that hybridizes and produces two primary flower bulb species and sells them around the world. With between 200 and 450 employees and the farming of over 1,000 acres spread between Santa Cruz and Monterey counties under his purview, Tom brings considerable management level expertise to the RCDSCC. His involvement in conservation dates back to the mid 70's when he was a leader in the local youth conservation corps. Project involvements included salmon stream habitat work, reforestation and thinning projects and later led to his becoming a private contractor in both reforestation and wilderness trail construction and maintenance. More recently, he has been involved in habitat creation and restoration for non-game species and has led the way in some of these pioneering efforts on his own private property. Tom is committed to conservation and enjoys his Board of Directors role and the opportunity to give something back to the community.
 |
Roberta Smith
Director
District Director Roberta K. Smith first joined the District Board in 1980. Roberta, a Ph. D. and State Licensed Geologist, believed then and believes today that the geological perspective is important to much of the District’s work. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Roberta first studied geology at Valley College there with a professor who later became the California State Geologist. He was very important to her becoming a geologist and pursing a career in a field then barely open to women. Roberta graduated with a B. A. from the U. of Alaska in 1957, then got an M. A. at U.C. Berkeley, and a Ph. D. from the U. of British Columbia (Canada) in 1966.
Roberta continued a career as a researcher at the Smithsonian Institution and University Professor at Howard. U. and George Washington U. in Washington D. C. Returning to California and to Santa Cruz County in 1973, Roberta conducted research and taught at U.C.S.C. and also started her consulting geological practice. She still practices, emphasizing (1) geological processes and their relation to human land use and (2) mitigation paleontology – reflecting her two main areas of expertise in earth sciences. She has authored numerous publications and documents.
Roberta also has been very active in geological, land use, and community organizations over the years. These include the RCD and CARCD Board, and also TAC to the State Board of Forestry, State Soil Conservation Committee, and more locally as a Davenport area resident the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District Advisory Committee, the Davenport/North Coast Association, the Davenport Citizens–Cemex Committee (relations between the community and the Davenport cement plant), the Scotts Creek Watershed Council (wherein she contributed to the Scotts Creek Watershed Assessment – accepted by California Department of Fish and Game), and the Davenport Geological Society. Roberta says that her participation in the RCD over time has always continued to be very important to her.
 |
Sheryl Bailey
Director
Sheryl is currently a Project Manager for Santa Cruz County Redevelopment Agency specializing in park site acquisition, design and development and roadside/roadway improvement projects. She has also worked as a Planner for Santa Cruz County in the disciplines of environmental planning and advanced and current planning and served as the Agricultural Planner for nearly 5 years.
Sheryl received her B.S. in Agriculture with an emphasis on Natural Resource Management from the University of Columbia in Columbia, Missouri. During her college years she was employed as a Soil Conservation Student Trainee. Her professional career began as Soil Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Missouri. She also worked at the local NRCS partnership office in Santa Cruz where she acted as volunteer coordinator/trainer following the Lexington fire.
Sheryl’s hobbies include spending time with family and friends, learning new things, being out-doors, the arts, reading and listening to music.
 |
John Ricker
Director
John Ricker has been a Director with the Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District since 2000. He is the water resources program coordinator for Santa Cruz County and has worked for the County in watershed planning, water quality protection, and water resources management since 1974. He serves on various state and regional advisory groups dealing with beach water quality, groundwater management, stormwater management, onsite sewage disposal systems, and watershed protection. He has been a partner in an organic apple and pear orchard and is a partner in a horse boarding and riding facility. He has a degree from UCSC in Environmental Studies and Biology and is a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control.
 |
Howard Liebenberg
Director
Howard Liebenberg is a general engineering contractor and a lifelong resident of Santa Cruz County . He has more than 40 years of experience in complete custom home site development and landslide and slope stability in the Santa Cruz Mountains . After the 100-year storms in 1982, he developed debris aligning locator pins for culvert inlets. He also designed and developed multiple inlet culverts which allow smaller sized culverts to carry larger volumes of water.
Howard lives in Brookdale with his wife, two dogs, two cats and hundreds of fish. With his wife, he is co-caretaker of two horses. He has extensive, hands-on experience in manure management.
 |
Steven M. Butler ‘Slim’
Associate Director
Slim has over 27 years of experience in forestry and natural resource management. He received a B.S. in Forest Resource Management from Humboldt State University in California and is a California Registered Professional Forester and a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control. In additional Slim has been appointed to numerous professional committees throughout his career. He was a consulting forester for Edward A Tunheim Consulting Forestry for 14 years and is currently a self employed professional consultant.
Slim’s daily work includes interactions with agency employees, contractors, executives and the public. This, coupled with his diverse work experience, broad educational background and unrivaled sense, allow him to work and communicate successfully with people from all walks of life.
Slim has a strong understanding of wildland ecology and management and strives to find a balance between resource protection, production and utilization. As a past RCD director and vice-president for 10 years Slim strongly believes in the districts efforts and continues to actively support its mission.