Our dedicated staff and board members protect the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and cultivate an appreciation of this land.
Executive Director
Operations Director
Retail Director
Communications & Marketing Director
Finance Director
Corporate & Government Affairs
Education Manager
Outdoor Educator
Land Program Administrator
Office Manager
Education Coordinator
Community Engagement Coordinator
A native of Massachusetts, I spent my adult life bicoastal — New England/California. My career was in university communications, at my alma mater Boston College, San Diego State, and UC Berkeley. I also completed 20 years of service in the Navy, most of them in the reserves, retiring as a Commander. I moved to San Diego County in 2012, residing in Fallbrook. During my pre-move reconnoitering, I shared with a local resident a photo of my then four-year-old daughter next to a cholla, an iconic family photo, and told him of my interest in the desert. He told me he was a member of the ABF board. A couple of years later, so was I.
I enjoyed a 31-year career with California State Parks, including assignments as a ranger, park ecologist, Superintendent of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and District Superintendent of the Colorado Desert District. I joined the Foundation’s Board in 1989. I have long believed that one of the key roles of ABF is to ensure that its land conservation work plays a vital role in sustaining biodiversity, ecological complexity, and climate change adaptability. I enjoy bicycling, hiking, upright bass, singing, and building wooden toys for my grandchildren. I’ve been lucky enough to have written two books about park rangers and am currently working on a movie about parks.
From 1995 to 2010, I was the manager/executive director of ABF. During those years ABF acquired Sentenac Canyon and Cienega, and the ranches—Vallecito, Lucky 5, Mason Valley, and Tulloch. I came to love the Anza-Borrego Desert, a landscape vastly different from the lakes and woods of my native Minnesota. The blessing I value most about Anza-Borrego, in addition to its raw beauty, is “stillness.” My love of history and mysteries has evolved into a passion for genealogical research of my family tree.
I have a diverse background in marketing and finance. I have worked in commercial real estate leasing and development and founded an international wine exporting and marketing company. I have also worked in the long-term care insurance arena. Now retired, I try to involve myself in making a difference in my community in a variety of ways. Regarding my work with ABF, I believe that knowing natural spaces such as the Anza-Borrego desert will help people yearn to conserve it for future generations. I have a University of Pennsylvania Finance degree and an MBA from Harvard Business School. I love living in Cardiff by the Sea.
Originally from Michigan, I moved to Borrego Springs at the age of 24 to work for the Borrego Sun newspaper. One of my beats was Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and I enjoyed writing about the Bighorn sheep count, the annual Christmas Bird Count, the Hawk count, and numerous challenges facing the park. I won awards for my investigative series on the Sunrise Powerlink–– a proposal that would have marred the desert landscape forever. That battle led me to pursue a career in law, and I left Borrego Springs for law school in 2011. I’m currently an Attorney in San Diego and am proud to be an ABF trustee.
I have been a writer/photographer my whole adult life, but that has simply satisfied my desire to wander in nature. I am fascinated by the natural world, touched deeply by things like the Northern Lights, a desert sunrise, comets, or the beauty of a colorful bird. I have been a part of ABF since it was created and strongly support its efforts to preserve California’s premier state park. I am happiest when my boots are dirty and filled with sand.
After a long career in information technology in various management roles, I retired. My husband, Tom and I have traveled extensively in the last ten years and spent each winter “season” in Borrego Springs. We have ridden our bikes across the USA and in Europe. We enjoy cycling, hiking, going to new places, entertaining friends, and spending time with family. Anza Borrego Desert State Park is my happy place and I love giving back to the Park.
I have been visiting Anza-Borrego Desert State Park since I was 9 years old. I grew up discovering the desert with my family and as an adult, my love for the desert has deepened resulting in my passion for desert photography and exploring all that the park has to offer. I am a board member for the San County Office of Education, representing District 4, which includes a large portion of inland north San Diego County and work for LEGO® Education. As a trustee, I work to ensure that future generations will enjoy and preserve the park.
My late husband Jerry and I discovered Anza Borrego while bird watching in 1990. Two days eventually became four months here each year where the beauty and mysteries of the desert and its inhabitants continue to enchant me. When not in Borrego, I live in SW Florida at the edge of the Everglades. My professional expertise has centered on Standards, Certification and Accreditation. I currently head a consulting group that works with organizations throughout the world in this field. This has included designing the accreditation system for the Land Trust Alliance, to encourage and evaluate best practices in land use and conservation.
Ben Kingsley is a San Diego native and financial advisor passionate about preserving Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and advocating for environmental education. He brings valuable financial expertise to ABF and is committed to ensuring ABF’s resources are managed effectively for future generations. In addition to his work with ABF, Ben volunteers with local community organizations and holds certifications as a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Exit Planning Advisor. His deep appreciation for nature has driven his passion for hiking and exploring the Park’s stunning landscapes since childhood. He is dedicated to protecting the Park’s unique geology, flora, and fauna.
In my professional life, I've spent over 16 years in software development across different industries. In contrast, much of my free time is dedicated to exploring the natural world. As much as I enjoy hiking in chaparral or exploring the local mountains, I feel that Anza Borrego is a very special place. The sheer size and accessibility of the park are unlike any other in the region. The rugged landscape, endless vistas, and hidden oases offer unique opportunities to explore. I feel that supporting the Anza Borrego Foundation is the most impactful way to support the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
I am a Professor Emeritus at SDSU, where I taught courses on environmental policy for 32 years. To paraphrase Will Rogers, ‘I’ve never met an ecosystem I didn’t like’. My favorite ecosystem is the Anza-Borrego Desert and I’ve participated in Christmas Bird Counts there since the 1980’s. As a county planning commissioner, I worked to remove four desert roads, including Grapevine Canyon and Kane Springs, from the county’s transportation element. To praise the many ecosystems we have locally, I enjoyed writing San Diego: An Introduction to the Region, now in its fifth edition. I feel privileged to assist the Anza-Borrego Foundation in its vitally important work.
As a former Chief Ranger of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, I enjoy a special relationship with both ABF and the Park. My interests in ABF and ABDSP include championing natural and cultural environmental protection locally and globally in addition to serving with this renowned, model partnership. My current, academic, and artistic work emphasize these themes. Anza-Borrego Desert SP is foundational to the health and well-being of the areas in and adjacent to the community of Borrego Springs. I am happy to share my background and energy as a trustee of the Parks’ official Partner, ABF.
Throughout my career in public accounting, I have spent as much time as possible exploring the natural world. I discovered Anza Borrego Desert State Park during my college years and fell in love. Some favorite moments from time spent in ABDSP have been hiking Indian Head Mountain, exploring washes and slot canyons, camping with friends and family, botanizing and birding, and listening to the desert sounds. I have been involved with ABF for many years. It is important to me to foster a love for nature, wilderness, and public parklands in others. As a volunteer, I get to help support that work and the mission of the organization.
