Foothill Conservancy Board of Directors
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Foothill Conservancy Staff
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Carol Olney, Jackson, CA: Highly focused and discreet Audit and Risk Management professional with over 30 years of Corporate and Gaming experience. Astute and proactive problem-solver with elevated business and operations acumen acquired through progressive career history, diverse industries knowledge and accomplished education. Skilled at team building. Has a great love of the outdoors.
Mel Welsh – Mel has been an RN active in-home health, hospice, public health and other community-based healthcare. She is an ardent believer of community work and volunteerism. She was involved with Sutter Amador Hospital Foundation, current Director Farms of Amador and Small Change 4 Big, active member of Watershed Protection Alliance, Homeless Task Force, Pine Grove Civic Improvement Club, Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee and recently retired from Operation Care board. Mel and her husband Bob Hartmann, MD, have been trail runners for 40+ years. They raised a daughter, Hallie, in Amador and she is a Psychiatric RN in Milwaukee, WI. She has a weakness for Golden Retrievers.
Patrick is a Landscape Design Contractor who owns and operates a small landscaping business since 2014. Patrick grew up in Sutter Creek and attended Amador High School. He graduated from Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo and has moved back with his wife, Katie, to the area that has always had a place in his heart.
Marty Smith – Marty was born and raised in Eastern Washington where he earned his BA in Business Administration from Eastern Washington University. An avid outdoorsman Marty started skiing at 3 years of age and volunteered on National Ski Patrol for 32 years. Marty also enjoys mountain biking, backpacking, and most recently fly fishing. Marty brings 25 years’ experience as a small business owner to Foothill Conservancy’s board of directors and also volunteers as a fire commissioner for Sutter Creeks’ local fire department.
Susan Bragstad, Amador City, CA: retired architect; owner, Amador Olive Oil Company; founding director, Motherlode Land Trust; director, Amador Farmers Markets, Farms of Amador; former director, Kennedy Mine Foundation; member, Amador City Council.
Susan Conn – An advocate since high school, she continued with various political and social actions as she raised 5 children, first in California and later in Oregon. She held many jobs over the years; in retail, banks, teaching Vocational English as a 2nd Language, in newspapers, as a pharmacy technician, a special education instructional assistant, and working as a tax & legal assistant. In Oregon she served 14 years as a commissioner’s appointee to the Columbia County Commission on Children & Families & 7 years on the St. Helens Library Board. Elective Offices included 2 terms on the St. Helens School Board & 2 terms on the St. Helens City Council. She also served on the Columbia Pacific Economic Development District Board, The St. Helens Community Foundation Board, & the Columbia County Democratic Central Committee, as well as other boards & committees. Currently Susan lives in Pioneer and is on the Board of Directors of the Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency (ATCAA). Susan’s education includes small business administration, psychology and sociology and she has extensive community involvement.
Craig Baracco, Executive Director: Growing up in Amador County, Craig learned to appreciate the Foothill’s natural beauty while camping with his boy scout troop.
Craig has worked as a reporter covering local government for both the Ledger-Dispatch Newspaper, and KVGC Radio for over ten years. Before that he was a City Planner working on land use and environmental issues for Yolo County, the City of Stockton, and as private consultant. He brings an in-depth knowledge of government, land use policy and communication to the Conservancy.
He is a member of the Italian Benevolent Society and occasionally brews his own beer.
Carolyn Schooley – Administrative Assistant. Carolyn is a native Californian. Her family went camping and fishing a lot while she was growing up and she had further exposure to all things nature as a girl scout. She continued her scouting experiences into adulthood as a leader, teaching outdoor skills to her daughters’ troops. Carolyn worked as a teacher’s aide for 15 years before taking her first position as an administrative assistant at HRM Consulting; moving to the Resource Connection in 2004 before finding her place at Foothill Conservancy in 2013. Carolyn still loves to spend time in the outdoors camping, gardening and crafting.