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.
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.
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.
Margaret Kinda
Director
Margaret Kinda received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1976. She attended Santa Clara University’s School of Law and received her Juris Doctorate in 1979. She is currently an active member of the State Bar of California.
Certified as a Family Law Specialist, Margaret practiced law in Santa Cruz County for 25 years. After she retired, she completed the Master Gardener Program through the University of California’s Cooperative Extension. Her project was chosen for the Master Gardener Home Tour. She continues to be an avid gardener and enjoys spending time in Desolation Wilderness, Lake Tahoe, and other areas of the Sierras.
Margaret has embarked on a second career involving her love of textile arts: she is currently the owner of an oriental rug restoration studio in Watsonville.
Dave Moeller
Director
Dave Moeller received his B.S. in Zoology (emphasis Entomology) from CA State University, Long Beach in 1975, followed by a year of graduate work investigating the use of ultra-sonics for pest insect management.
In 1976, Dave was hired by the Agricultural Commissioners of Los Angeles and Orange Counties as a pest detection specialist on eradication projects targeting non-native fruit flies and Dutch Elm disease, to name two, the latter requiring door-to-door surveys in and around Beverly Hills, Bel-Air and Trousdale Estates. A “Map to the Stars’ Homes” was considered an essential tool for navigating the area.
In 1979 Dave and his wife moved from Southern California to a home on an abandoned apple orchard in Soquel, part of the former Pinelli Ranch. After a 6-month stint as a mushroom grower, Dave was hired as an inspector for the Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office. In 1990, the Board of Supervisors appointed him County Agricultural Commissioner, where he served four 4-year terms until his retirement in 2006. During his tenure as Commissioner, his office held the County’s first unwanted pesticide collection program and he designed and implemented the County’s first-ever mosquito and vector control program, which he subsequently directed. He was also Executive Secretary to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Commission, ex-officio Director on the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau Board and member of their Legislative Committee. Although retired he continues his near 20-year involvement in Leadership Santa Cruz County and in Agri-Culture’s Focus Agriculture program.
Dave and his wife, a recently-retired assistant principal, still live on the same Soquel property, where their now-adult sons -- all still county residents -- were raised. Dave and his wife spend summers sailing, hiking, rowing and kayaking. Grandsons, graphic design, making fine art prints and photography take up much of the remainder of Dave’s time. Management of the orchard – an exercise in futility – he conceded to the resident animal and plant pests several years ago.
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.