Our team is the heart of our mission to enhance the resilience of Eastern Sierra landscapes and communities. Composed of dedicated professionals with deep expertise in forest health, wildfire management, and environmental science, our team brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to every project.
Our Staff
Executive Director
Laura Beardsley
Laura Beardsley has dedicated her career to supporting nonprofit organizations that engage communities in exploring the natural world. A Bryn Mawr graduate, she moved to the Eastern Sierra in 2012 and has led Friends of the Inyo and Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra. She enjoys hiking, skiing, and biking with her husband and dog.
Resilience Program Director
Janet Hatfield
Janet first visited Mammoth in 1993 while working in Tuolumne Meadows and settled here in 1999. After 16 years in Wilderness and Fire Management, she transitioned to watershed work in 2011. She has woven together a multitude of disciplines that have given her the guts to take on the Eastern Sierra Climate & Communities Project (ESCCRP) in partnership with the Inyo National Forest.
Finance and Administration Director
Ryan Bobik
Ryan has over 10 years of experience in financial management, strategic planning, and operations across sectors, including startups, high-growth private companies, multinational public organizations, and mission-driven nonprofits. With a proven track record of driving efficiency and enhancing financial performance, Ryan brings expertise in budget optimization, compliance, and operational strategy.
Scientific Advisor
Rick Kattlemann
Rick brings over 40 years of experience in Sierra Nevada natural resource issues. A founder of the Eastern Sierra Land Trust and former Mono County Planning Commissioner, he’s authored 100+ scientific papers. Rick has spent a decade exploring Asia’s mountains and the Sierra Nevada’s backcountry, adding global perspective to his work.
Senior Environmental Planner
Jessie O’Dell
Jessie joined the Whitebark Institute in 2022 as an Environmental Planner for the ESCCRP. Growing up in the Eastern Sierra, she developed an interest in wildfire and climate adaptation after the 2015 Round Fire affected her community. Jessie enjoys skiing, sailing, and mountain adventures when she’s not focused on NEPA, CEQA, and equitable planning.
Environmental Specialist, Forester & Hydrologist
Melissa Boyd
Melissa joined the Whitebark Institute in 2022 as an Environmental Specialist for the ESCCRP. Captivated by the Eastern Sierra during her time with the Mono Lake Committee, she later earned a biology graduate degree and researched climate impacts. Melissa enjoys rock climbing, sushi, and hiking with her two dachshunds.
wildlife biologist, Community eNGAGEMENT Program Manager
Claire Galaway
Claire joined the Whitebark Institute in 2022 as a Wildlife Biologist for the ESCCRP. With a graduate degree in wildlife conservation, she’s worked in Australia, California, and Idaho. After backpacking the John Muir Trail, Claire made the Eastern Sierra her home. She enjoys trail running, cycling, and cross-country skiing.
Project Manager
Sarah Hoff-Phillips
Sarah joined Whitebark Institute in 2022 as Project Manager for forest health in the ESCCRP. After falling in love with the Eastern Sierra in 2005, she moved to Mammoth in 2010 and worked for USGS in environmental compliance. She now focuses on forestry and enjoys skiing, backpacking, climbing, and coffee.
Project Coordinator
Carl Rumpp IV
Carl, originally from Manhattan Beach, CA, has deep connections to both the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra’s eastside. With a background in botanical fieldwork, particularly in the Eastern Sierra and Owens Valley, he contributes to the ESCCRP’s monitoring and plant population mapping. Carl enjoys mountain biking, backpacking, and rock scrambling.
Outreach & Education Coordinator
Heidi Porras
Heidi is a bilingual conservation professional from Mexico with expertise in marine resource management and outdoor education. Living in the Eastern Sierra since 2020, she is the Outreach and Education Coordinator at the Whitebark Institute, focusing on community engagement. In her free time, Heidi enjoys exploring the Sierra Nevada’s natural beauty.
Administrative Specialist
Porscha McRobbie
Porscha joined Whitebark Institute in 2024 as an Administrative Specialist. With a graduate degree in Physics and over a decade of data analysis experience, she’s excited to support the organization and align her work with her values. Porscha enjoys hiking, strength training, and everything related to planning in the Eastern Sierra.
Project Manager
Rachel Drattler
Rachel joined Whitebark Institute in August 2023 to support Forest Health Implementation within the ESCCRP. A Northeast native, she moved west to work as a wilderness guide and outdoor educator. With a degree in Human Ecology and nine years in the non-profit sector, Rachel is excited to contribute to the Eastern Sierra’s resilience. She enjoys hiking, snow, scenic views, and roasting coffee with her dog, Miso.
Community Engagement Coordinator
Annie Crowley
Annie has called the Sierra Nevada home since 2012, after arriving in Yosemite with just a bicycle and backpack. With experience as an interpretive guide and Wilderness Ranger, she now works with the Whitebark Institute’s Community Engagement team, focusing on forest restoration education. Outside work, Annie enjoys climbing, gardening, and pottery.
Outreach & Education Coordinator
Crystal Medhurst
Crystal, drawn to wild places and positive change, found her way to the Eastern Sierra in 2003 after a snowstorm detoured her van-life travels to Mammoth Lakes. A lover of the High Sierra, she now works as an Outreach and Education Coordinator for wildfire safety, aiming to help build Fire Adapted Communities. Crystal shares her life with her husband, two kids, and a loyal pup.
Our Board of Directors
Board Chair
Don Chambers
Don retired after forty-four years at Esri as Director of Consulting Services, designing GIS systems for global clients. Now living in Bishop, he volunteers with nonprofits and chairs the Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association board. Don also co-founded the UCR Geographer’s Scholarship. He enjoys hiking, kayaking, flyfishing, and skiing with his wife.
Vice Chair
Bruce Medhurst
Bruce has been on Whitebark’s board of directors since its inception. He moved to Mammoth Lakes in 2001 to work at UC Santa Barbara’s Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Lab. With a background in Aquatic Toxicology and a Master’s in Biology, Bruce currently serves as Laboratory Supervisor at Mammoth Community Water District. He enjoys skiing, backpacking, camping, and playing music.
Secretary
Rachel Leiterman, Esq.
Rachel joined the Whitebark board in spring 2023. A member of the California Bar since 1999, she practiced intellectual property law for 19 years before transitioning to work as a wilderness ranger for the Inyo National Forest. In 2022, she became a housing attorney for California Indian Legal Services. In her free time, Rachel cares for a herd of horses and mules.
Board Member
Amanda Serenyi
Amanda has worked with nonprofits in roles ranging from auditing and consulting to accounting and philanthropy support. After stepping away from accounting to focus on writing, she and her husband relocated to the Eastern Sierra during the pandemic. Amanda is eager to apply her experience to support her community. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, solving crosswords, and exploring trails with running shoes, a bike, or XC skis.
Board Member
Jerry Keir
Jerry Keir is the co-founder and former CEO of the Great Basin Institute, with 25 years of experience in interdisciplinary research and field studies across the Mountain West, Central Pacific Mexico, and Costa Rica. He has led collaborative conservation projects and managed $145MM in grants. Now a consultant, Jerry supports forestry operations and NEPA planning. He enjoys roaming his backyard forest and desert in Reno with his spouse Maria and their children, Amaya and Alejandro.