EDC Staff
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Nathan Alley, Staff Attorney. Nathan works on energy, land use and habitat issues. Before joining EDC in 2007, Nathan worked for Sierra Watch and the Natural Heritage Institute in northern California, NRDC and Environmental Defense in New York, and Forest Guardians (now WildEarth Guardians) in Santa Fe. Nathan received a law degree from New York University, where he was Editor-In-Chief of the NYU Environmental Law Journal, and a dual bachelor’s degree in journalism and religious studies from Indiana University.
Professional Resume
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Kristi Birney, Marine Conservation Analyst. Kristi assists staff attorneys in policy, administrative, and legal representation related to ocean protection. She also provides support for the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) Conservation Working Group by developing scientifically-based analysis and recommendations regarding emerging ocean and marine issues such as ocean acidification, marine protected areas, whales and shipping in the Santa Barbara Channel, offshore energy projects, and marine wildlife protection. Kristi holds a Masters in Environmental Science and Management from UCSB’s Donald Bren School and a Bachelors of Science in Marine Biology from Hawaii Pacific University. Before joining EDC she worked for California State Parks as an Environmental Scientist. |
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Karen Kraus, Staff Attorney. Karen joined EDC in 2002. Before that she spent seven years with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of General Counsel in Washington, D.C. Karen received her law degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Professional Resume |
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Linda Krop, Chief Counsel. Linda has worked at EDC as a staff attorney since 1989 and as Chief Counsel since 1999. Her main focus has been on open space protection, coastal preservation and beach access, marine issues, and offshore oil and gas development. Linda represents the conservation community on the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council and teaches at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Linda has received the Sierra Club Award of Appreciation for Outstanding Achievement, U.S. Senator Boxer's Conservation Champion Award, Environment Now Wells Family Award, League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara Achievement Award, Citizens Planning Association Community Services Award and Environmental Leadership Award, Jim Ryerson Environmental Award, UCSB Environmental Studies Community Services Award, Coastal Protection Award, and Santa Barbara Independent Local Hero Award. Linda earned a bachelors degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and a law degree from the Santa Barbara College of Law.
Prefessional Resume
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David J. Landecker, Executive Director. David earned a law degree from Georgetown University in 1977 and performed pro bono work for EDC during his ten years practicing law. David owned and operated a local manufacturing company and joined EDC after five years as the Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics. A former member of the Santa Barbara City Council, David is a long-time political activist and has served on the boards of many local environmental and other organizations, including EDC’s. |
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Christina McGinnis, OPEN Program Director. Christina holds a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning, and has extensive experience in all aspects of community planning, including formulating and assessing planning policies and zoning, preparing environmental documentation (large-scale ecosystem management plans) and assisting groups with the evaluation and review of all stages of private and public projects. Ms. McGinnis has also worked as a planner for Santa Barbara County, and has been an instructor at UCSB in the environmental studies department, teaching upper-division classes on environmental planning. EDC’s Open-space Preservation and Education Network (OPEN) focuses on promoting the shared goals of agriculturalists and environmentalists(rather than their differences) in order to devise policies that provide long-term protection to the open spaces and agricultural lands of Santa Barbara County.
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Brian Segee, Staff Attorney. Brian joined EDC as Staff Attorney in 2009, bringing with him extensive experience in environmental law with an emphasis on endangered species, public lands, and habitat conservation issues.
From 2004-2009, Brian was a Staff Attorney with Defenders of Wildlife in Washington, D.C., where he worked to advance Defenders’ wildlife conservation mission and support the organization's field staff through litigation and legislative advocacy. Prior to working at Defenders, Brian served for several years as the Center for Biological Diversity’s Southwest Public Lands Director in Tucson, Arizona.
Brian earned a Bachelor of Arts from U.C. San Diego in Political Science and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Colorado School of Law.
Professional Resume
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Kelley Skumautz, Development Director. Kelley joined EDC in 2010, bringing more than fifteen years nonprofit fundraising and management experience to the organization. She has previously worked with respected environmental groups including the Environmental Media Association, Heal the Bay, and TreePeople. Kelley earned her B.A. in Cultural Anthropology and Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Humanities from Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles. |
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Brian Trautwein, Environmental Analyst. Brian has been with EDC since 1997, serving as our Environmental Analyst merging science and policy to strengthen EDC cases. A Santa Barbara native, Brian graduated from UCSB’s Environmental Studies Department in 1990, founded and directed the Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council, and specializes in water and habitat policies, creek restoration and steelhead recovery efforts. Brian is an avid back country enthusiast. You are likely to see him on a trail or testifying before a government body to preserve open space. |
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Betsy Weber, Communications Director. Betsy joined EDC in 2007 after working at the Wyoming Wilderness Association to protect and expand federal Wilderness Areas in her home state. She serves as the interface between EDC and the public by coordinating community outreach and education initiatives, along with EDC's array of public, media, and online communications. Betsy also conducts operations administration and event planning. She earned her B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. |
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