OFFICERS and DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT Denise Koroslev Denise joined Rodgers Ranch in 1996 and headed up the "Round Up" summer heritage camps before becoming president in 2004. She is co-chair of The Herb Society - Northern California Unit and secretary of the P.H. Historical Society. Denise is also an instructor for several workshops on sustainable living that RRHC co-sponsors with Sustainable Contra Costa at the ranch. |
VICE PRESIDENT Aloma Levine Aloma has been active with Rodgers Ranch off and on from the beginning, serving as treasurer and events chair. Aloma owns Innovations Hair Salon and has served on the P.H. Chamber and the P.H. Community Foundation. She is vice president of RRHC. |
SECRETARY Alison Clary Alison was a docent for the "Round Up" summer heritage camps at RRHC before joining the board in 2014. She is a writer and the copy editor for Community Focus newspaper as well as the coordinator of the sustainable workshop series with Sustainable Contra Costa. She helpled dismantle an 1890s barn in Martinez to recycle the wood for RRHC's future barn. Alison has a Master's Degree in Museum Studies from JFKU and is the secretary and chair of the Education Committee at RRHC, She enjoys maintaining the blog for this website. She and her family live just over the fence from RRHC. |
TREASURER
Steve Wallace Steve joined RRHC in 2005. He is the owner of J.S. Wallace Group, Inc. and was instrumental in overseeing the restoration of the interior of the farmhouse, including the installment of window security screens and the wraparound porch. He supervised the dismantling of the original barn, directed a scout troop in erecting the windmill, and obtained a donation for having the front lawn installed. He is RRHC's treasurer and resident BBQ master for our public events, not to mention Santa Claus for the holiday boutiques. He is a member of Pleasant Hill Rotary, hosts Special Olympic dinners at his home, and volunteers for Christmas for Everyone as well as Loaves and Fishes. |
Christian Rousset
Christian joined the board in 2014 and is an enthusiast of the site and its history. As a life-long builder, he particularly enjoys being the chair of the Grounds and Structures Committee and working on fundraising for the future barn. Christian feels volunteering for Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center is an opportunity to give back to the community of Pleasant Hill, where he has resided for 35 years. He is also a real estate broker and volunteers for the Contra Costa Food Bank and the Pleasant Hill Community Foundation. |
Daniel Wagner
Daniel joined us in 2016 with a special interest in helping with the barn project. After retiring from 32 years as a civil engineer at East Bay MUD, he followed his passion and became an avid photographer. He joined the Contra Costa Camera Club and now serves as their secretary. He and his wife, Susan, who is secretary of the Northern California Unit of the Herb Society of America, have lived in the area for 38 years. |
Habiba Hall-Bey Habiba joined our board in 2016 and is the president and one of the founders of the Contra Costa Succulent Garden Club, which meets monthly at the ranch. She is also owner of Habibitique, which features ethnic home decor products and jewelry she makes herself for vendor fairs around the Bay Area. |
Marian Woodard Urban Farm Co-Founder Marian and her husband, John, developed the Rodgers Ranch Urban Farm in 2012. Marian is a certified master gardener and a permaculture design and composting specialist. She presents instructional workshops on the benefits of sustainable gardening, and her permacultural gardening classes offered through Sustainable Contra Costa provide valuable information on improving soil conditions to increase garden production. |
John Matthesen Urban Farm Co-Founder When John and Marian began developing the Urban Farm in 2012, the hill was hard clay. Using soil-building techniques and a lot of hard work, John has created a fertile and rich growing environment along with a water saving drip irrigation system. He works actively with many groups, teaching time-tested methods of building and protecting a garden using recycled materials. He has also developed a comprehensive class for DVC Culinary students, showing them how to grow and use common and unusual plants in their farm-to-table menus. Join John and Marian at garden meet-ups on Saturday mornings. |
HONORARY FOUNDERS
BARBARA CONNERS MARY WALTERS DENNIS MESSICK
MARIE DUNCAN NANCY WHALEY ELLEN STEVAHN
JANE FUENTES TED WINSLOW BARBARA THOMPSON
LOUIE MANGINI SARAH YOUNG
BARBARA CONNERS MARY WALTERS DENNIS MESSICK
MARIE DUNCAN NANCY WHALEY ELLEN STEVAHN
JANE FUENTES TED WINSLOW BARBARA THOMPSON
LOUIE MANGINI SARAH YOUNG
FOUNDERS
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MARIE DUNCAN
ELLEN M STEVAHN BARBARA THOMPSON |
MARY A WALTERS
NANCY WHALEY SARAH C YOUNG |
