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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Owen Bailey, Executive Director. Owen joined EDC in 2013 after almost ten years at Sierra Club, where he was initially focused on community and media outreach and grassroots organizing for their California coastal campaign. It was here that he first worked alongside EDC on the successful effort to prevent construction of a Liquefied Natural Gas terminal in the Santa Barbara Channel. Owen then went on to develop and manage Sierra Club’s entertainment industry outreach program on the way to becoming Director of Advancement overseeing eight Southwestern states. Along the way, Owen has also been involved in several political campaigns, most recently serving as Director of Surrogate Operations for Senator Boxer’s 2010 reelection effort. |
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Kristi Birney, Marine Conservation Analyst. Kristi works on emerging ocean and marine issues such as ocean acidification, marine protected areas, whales and shipping, offshore energy projects, and marine wildlife protection. Kristi represents the conservation community on the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) and leads the Conservation Working Group, which provides scientifically-based analysis and recommendations to the SAC and seeks to build partnerships to address the many challenges facing our ocean. As a long-time resident of the area, Kristi is an avid water person spending her free time surfing and taking long stand-up paddle board excursions along the coast. 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 in 2009, 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.
Professional Resume
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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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Brian Trautwein, Environmental Analyst/Watershed Program Coordinator. 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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