MEET THE BOARD
BOARD MEMBERS
SANDY BUECHLEY
PRESIDENT
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A long-time Ojai civic and environmental leader, Sandy recently retired as Business Intelligence Manager after a 37-year tenure with Patagonia.
JOHN MCNEIL
VICE PRESIDENT
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John McNeil is a long time Ojai Valley resident who enjoys hiking, biking and maintenance of our trail system. He recently retired as an Assistant Fire Chief after a 35-year career with the Ventura County Fire Department. He started with the department as a member of a seasonal wildland crew before graduating from the fire academy in 1988 and advancing through the ranks. He became a battalion chief in 2013 and a division chief in 2017 before his promotion to assistant chief in charge of the Emergency Services and Operations Bureau in 2019. In that role, McNeil has been responsible for oversight of fire stations and the fire dispatch center. He has extensive experience in urban search and rescue, wildland firefighting and human resources.
MARY BERGEN
SECRETARY
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Mary is a longtime Ojai Valley equestrian, avocado rancher, and advocate of healthy watersheds. She is also a retired marine biologist who has worked for California Department of Fish & Game.
LAURA S. CIONTEA
CPA - TREASURER
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Laura works in the audit and accounting practice of Damitz, Brooks, Nightingale, Turner & Morrisset. She joined the firm in 1997 and has over 30 years of experience in public accounting. Her principal areas of practice are accounting and auditing with special emphasis in nonprofit organizations, manufacturing, and benefit plans.
BECKY BECKETT
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Becky grew up in Ojai, riding her horse on the trails before becoming a science teacher at Nordhoff H.S. for 14 years and principal at Chaparral H.S. for 5 years. She developed the Ojai Valley Unified School District’s Environmental Field Studies program, helped found the Health Science Academy, and started a native plant garden. Becky now works part time as a teacher for Valley Oak Charter.
BILL BROTHERS
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Bill is a former teacher in an environmental education private school, as well as a retired businessman and a lifelong animal welfare advocate. His special interests in the Ojai Valley include land preservation, and trail building and maintenance.
PETER DENEEN
Peter Deneen is an Ojai native and product of the community’s public school system. One of his earliest jobs was working for The C.R.E.W. and he would later become the first communications design mentor for the Green Valley Project.Today, Peter is the chief executive and conservation director of non-profit Keep the Sespe Wild. He is also an award-winning journalist, teacher, and is head coach of the Nordhoff girls varsity soccer team. Peter is a veteran of the US armed forces, where over a 12-year career as an officer he specialized in maritime law enforcement operations ranging from piracy to drug interdiction. He holds a BS in International Relations from the US Coast Guard Academy, and an MA in Climate + Society from Columbia University. He is also a certified meditation instructor for veterans and holds a certificate in permaculture design. In his free time you can find him running ultramarathons in the mountains or tending the land.
MICHELLE HENSON
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Michelle is a banking and loan expert, having recently retired as Vice President and Senior Commercial Loan Officer at Bank of the Sierra. Michelle has extensive experience working with youth and Rotary.
ROGER MCDIVITT
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Roger McDivitt, raised in Ventura County, has called Ojai home for the past 35 years. His career began in 1972 at Chouinard Equipment, the company that would eventually become Patagonia. After retiring from Patagonia in 2002, Roger spent two additional years working with Carhartt. His focus at both companies was on supply chains, procurement, and logistics. In his post-retirement years, Roger has dedicated over a decade to serving as a member of the Upper Ojai Search & Rescue team. An avid dog walker for 40 years, he enjoys hiking the hills behind Ojai, always embracing the challenge of the uphill climb and the reward of a steady trot back downhill. Roger is also the proud grandfather of two teenage boys. Their experiences have broadened his understanding of the challenges faced by young people today, inspiring him to think more deeply about how he can support them and others in similar situations. His grandsons have helped him appreciate the value of organizations like The C.R.E.W. in making a positive impact on the lives of youth.
ATTICUS REYES
Atticus has called Ojai home since attending and graduating from Nordhoff High School. While at Nordhoff he played four sports, participated in Nordhoff Drama productions and served as an Associate Teacher for freshmen students during his senior year. While attending California State University Channel Islands, he helped coach the Nordhoff Junior Varsity Football Team. He was selected to participate in a Congressional Internship Program, interning for Congressman Eric Swalwell in Washington D.C. He was elected ASI Student Government President and graduated from CSUCI with a degree in History, and a minor in Political Science.
Atticus now works for State Assemblymember Steve Bennett as a field representative covering the issues of education, public safety, transportation, and immigration. He also currently serves as President of the Ojai Unified School District Board of Trustees. On the weekends you can catch Atticus trail running or playing basketball throughout the Ojai Valley.
BILL SLAUGHTER
Founding partner of the firm, Slaughter, Reagan & Cole, LLP, and trial attorney for 30 years, Bill has served on the boards of Ventura County Sheriff’s Foundation, Notes for Notes, Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce, Santa Paula Boys and Girls Club, and Sisar Water Company. A lifelong climber and outdoor sports enthusiast, Bill has served since the mid-1980s as a member and Captain of the Upper Ojai Search and Rescue Team (part of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department) through which he manages search and rescue activities in Ventura County and across California.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
BRET BRADIGAN
ROB BROKAW
JAMES E. CLARK II
NED CLARK
STEFANIE COELER
WILLI COELER
DIANE CROSS
GREG LEPINE
JIM LITTLE
PATRICK LOUGHMAN
WILLIAM SHANBROM ALICIA STRATTON
TONY THACHER
DAVID VADNAIS
ALLAN J. WEST