Staff, Interns & Key Volunteers
(is not all inclusive)
Megan Krekorian
Executive Director
Employment Date: October 2011
Megan began with the nature center as the Media Coordinator in 2006 while working full-time as a National Sales Coordinator for an organic home furnishings company. Megan transitioned to the Communications Director and Program Manager before being hired as the Executive Director 2011. Past experience includes graphic design, sales and business administration in for-profit businesses. Looking for something with greater social impact she began volunteering with Placer Nature Center, Protect American River Canyons, the Sacramento-Sierra Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the Sacramento Tree Foundation which led to switching to the nonprofit sector full-time. She received her Bachelor's degree with honors from California State University, Sacramento in Organizational Communication with minors in Real Estate and Land Usage and Marketing. Having received the Serve it Forward scholarship from the University of Phoenix and the Hands-On network for volunteer work, she is now receiving a Masters of Business Administration.
Linda Desai
Education Director
Employment Date: October 1991
Linda is the co-founder and Education Director of PNC, a college instructor, author and community environmental educator and teacher. Linda is a tireless, dedicated leader for all of the education programs provided by Placer Nature Center. She is a facilitator for Project W.E.T., Project Learning Tree, Project WILD, Close the Loop, and active with California Regional Environmental Education Community and GO Network
Member of National Association of Interpreters. Linda holds a Master of Science Degree and
Conservation Education
Bachelor of Science Degree from Michigan State University. She also holds
Conservation Education
Credentials for Community College Instructor in Biology, Forestry, Natural Resources
Designated Subjects Vocational Education – Forestry, Natural Resources, Rural. Linda has recevied the 2005 Project Learning Tree Outstanding Educator Award and the 2003
Governor’s Economic and Environmental Leadership Award for excellence in children’s environmental education.
Leah Cavanaugh
School Program & Docent Coordinator
Leah coordinates Placer Nature Center’s docents and school program dates. She keeps our school programs going by keeping our docents informed of all the programs happening at the nature center, presented at school and deliered off-site in the field, like our Taylor Ranch programs. She is also a volunteer docent.
Josena Aiello
Staff Naturalist
Spending her early years in South Shore Lake Tahoe she developed a reverence for nature. After 25 years as a professional floral designer she realized how huge the industries' impact is on the planets ecology. With a desire to work in conservation she took a part-time seasonal maintenance job at the local State Recreation Park. Seeing the litter and vandalism in the park encouraged her to turn her focus to environmental education. Today Josena attends Sierra Community College with a focus on Natural Science. She is an active member of the campus environmental club (ECOS), she is volunteering to help educate fellow students about the environmental impact of their choices. As the Staff Naturalist, Josena works with children of all ages, teachers and parents facilitating connections to nature and breaking down fears of the wild outdoors.
Nancy Morgan
Nature Shop Manager
Nancy is the artistic talent behind the wonderful Nature Shop. Since she retired from administrative work in grammar schools, she has volunteered for Placer Nature Center in multiple capacities, including volunteer docent.
Valerie Curl
Social Media & Web Coordinator - Volunteer
Volunteering at Placer Nature Center since 2009, Valerie has worked to increase the center's presence across the web and keeps our website updated. Her extensive career in marketing and advertising has helped grow our community and her passion for nature and our planet makes her an ideal social media and web coordinator for us!
Norma Brink
Accountant/Bookkeeper - Volunteer
Since 1991, Norma has generously volunteered her services to manage our income proceeds. She has generously shared her skills in non-profit organizational finances with the center..and she is greatly appreciated for her skills and long volunteer service to PNC..
Barbara Leak
Bookkeeper
Barbara is an experienced and outstanding bookkeeper who works with the Foothills Farmers Market and other clients. She brings her positive attitude and team spirit as well as her efficiency and attention to detail to her role as bookkeeper for Placer Nature Center.
Darrell J. Dwyer, MBA CPA
Accountant - Volunteer
Darrell is principal of Dwyer and Company with offices in Auburn and Rocklin. Darrell completes Placer Nature Center's tax returns for the IRS, Secretary of State and Franchise Tax Board each year and addresses other tax related issues for the Center to ensure satisfactory compliance with the legal and accounting requirements of our 501.c.3 organization.
164 Maple Street Suite 3 Auburn, CA 95603
Phone: (530) 888-7130 Fax: (530) 888-0741 http://www.dwyer-cpa.com
Many more wonderful Volunteers and Docents insure the operation of PNC and all of the school programs - be sure to read more about them here!
Last updated:
November 7, 2011
