Maria Mircheva - Executive Director
Maria Mircheva has been the Executive Director of the Sugar Pine Foundation since July 2007. She first
volunteered for the Sugar Pine Foundation during the 2006 field season, and took over the day to day
operations of the organization after the Angora Fire in 2007.
Maria holds a Masters in Environmental Science and Management, with a focus on conservation policy,
from UC Santa Barbara. Her undergraduate degree is in Business Economics, and she worked as a
business consultant in the Silicon Valley before discovering her passion for environmental work. Maria
currently juggles the demands of being a mom with those of the organization and her need to play
outside as much as possible!
Maria Mircheva has been the Executive Director of the Sugar Pine Foundation since July 2007. She first
volunteered for the Sugar Pine Foundation during the 2006 field season, and took over the day to day
operations of the organization after the Angora Fire in 2007.
Maria holds a Masters in Environmental Science and Management, with a focus on conservation policy,
from UC Santa Barbara. Her undergraduate degree is in Business Economics, and she worked as a
business consultant in the Silicon Valley before discovering her passion for environmental work. Maria
currently juggles the demands of being a mom with those of the organization and her need to play
outside as much as possible!
John Pickett - President
John Pickett founded the Sugar Pine Foundation. He remains the voice, visionary and lead tree-climber
of the organization.
John holds a Masters in Professional Accountancy and has done graduate work in forestry and forest
pathology at the University of Nevada, Reno. He has worked as a tax consultant for many organizations
and is experienced in all aspects of business management. John was also a forestry technician with the
U.S. Forest Service for three seasons. Recently, John served on the bi-state fire commission formed by the
governors of Nevada and California. He currently manages defensible space projects in the Lake Tahoe
Basin with the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District - and enjoys hunting, skiing and reading to his kids.
John Pickett founded the Sugar Pine Foundation. He remains the voice, visionary and lead tree-climber
of the organization.
John holds a Masters in Professional Accountancy and has done graduate work in forestry and forest
pathology at the University of Nevada, Reno. He has worked as a tax consultant for many organizations
and is experienced in all aspects of business management. John was also a forestry technician with the
U.S. Forest Service for three seasons. Recently, John served on the bi-state fire commission formed by the
governors of Nevada and California. He currently manages defensible space projects in the Lake Tahoe
Basin with the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District - and enjoys hunting, skiing and reading to his kids.
Tressa Gibbard - Development Coordinator
Tressa Gibbard has been working for the Sugar Pine Foundation since January 2010 in the capacity of
grant-writer, editor, design guru and overall organizational assistant.
Tressa holds a Bachelors degree from Penn State University, where she designed her own course of
studies in Environmental Sustainability. She has nearly five years' experience working as a field biologist
throughout California and many other western states. She was introduced to the Sugar Pine Foundation
as a participant in the 2006 Tahoe-Baikal Institute Summer Environmental Exchange program, and was
previously a seasonal volunteer with the foundation. When she's not saving the sugar pines, Tressa can
generally be found climbing rocks.
Tressa Gibbard has been working for the Sugar Pine Foundation since January 2010 in the capacity of
grant-writer, editor, design guru and overall organizational assistant.
Tressa holds a Bachelors degree from Penn State University, where she designed her own course of
studies in Environmental Sustainability. She has nearly five years' experience working as a field biologist
throughout California and many other western states. She was introduced to the Sugar Pine Foundation
as a participant in the 2006 Tahoe-Baikal Institute Summer Environmental Exchange program, and was
previously a seasonal volunteer with the foundation. When she's not saving the sugar pines, Tressa can
generally be found climbing rocks.
| Board of Directors |
| Interns |
| Volunteers |
| Staff Profiles |
| The Sugar Pine Foundation is extremely fortunate to be a participant in the Patagonia Employee Internship Program. Many thanks to our awesome Patagonia Interns: Kevin Wikander (2007) Nikki Burger (2008) Many thanks to Student Intern Hugh Denno (2009) for his tree-climbing and movie-making expertise. |
| We could not carry out our mission without our volunteers! The Sugar Pine Foundation would like to thank all of its extraordinary volunteers, many of whom belong to the following groups: Tahoe-Baikal Institute, Americorps, Life More Natural, Tahoe Rotary Clubs, Patagonia Inc, the Tahoe-Truckee Community, Tahoe and Truckee Schools |
| All rights reserved. |
John Pickett, Sugar Pine Foundation Founder
Forester, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District
Jenny Francis, Director of California Trout
Kim Jardine, Patagonia Environmental Programs
Larry Tietig, Retired Teacher and Business Owner
Courtney Walker, Tahoe Resource Conservation
District
Forester, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District
Jenny Francis, Director of California Trout
Kim Jardine, Patagonia Environmental Programs
Larry Tietig, Retired Teacher and Business Owner
Courtney Walker, Tahoe Resource Conservation
District
Kim Jardine, Maria Mircheva and Hugh Denno plant a resistant sugar pine seedling at the
Reno, NV Patagonia Outlet Store.
Reno, NV Patagonia Outlet Store.
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