Executive director, Pepperwood Foundation, 2130 Pepperwood Preserve Rd., Santa Rosa 95404, 707-360-5536, pepperwoodpreserve.org
Age: 49
Residence: Sonoma
Education: Ph.D., energy and resources, and M.S., environmental water resources engineering, University of California, Berkeley; M.Phil., history and philosophy of science, Cambridge University; A.B., history and science, Harvard College.
Staff: 15
[caption id="attachment_94228" align="alignleft" width="221"] Lisa Micheli[/caption]
Tell us about yourself and your company: I am the founding executive director of the Pepperwood Foundation and the Dwight Center for Conservation Science. Pepperwood is a place where science and community come together to solve today's most pressing environmental challenges. We use our 3,200-acre nature preserve as a living laboratory to tackle issues as diverse as nature deficit disorder among today's youth to 21st century climate change.
Our goal is to ensure that humanity thrives together with a vibrant natural world today, tomorrow and for generations to come. At Pepperwood we recognize that the future of nature is in all of our hands and we invite our community to join us in stewarding our precious natural resources. Since opening the doors of the Dwight Center in 2010, Pepperwood has served over 24,000 members of our community, including youth, families, scientists, land and water managers, and policy makers.
Is there a major accomplishment in the past year or so that you would like to share?: Pepperwood launched TeenNat, a new summer internship for local teens, that gives our youth hands on experience with technology and natural science. After our first season in 2013, the program has already inspired several TeenNat grads to pursue four-year degrees in the environmental field. We look forward to the new TeenNat cohort joining us in July.
What is the achievement you are most proud of?: Pepperwood has been selected by the our local governments of Sonoma, Marin, and Napa to develop a climate vulnerability assessment using our science products for the region via a State Coastal Conservancy Climate Ready grant. This project will be completed in 2016.
What is your biggest challenge today?: Maintaining work life balance. There are so many exciting work opportunities, it is important to remember to take time for oneself.
Words that best describe you: Tenacious.
As a successful female professional, what were the biggest obstacles you faced and how did you overcome them?: As a girl, I always wanted to prove I could do what the boys did. I had to learn to let go of that motivation to discover what I wanted to do for myself.
How do you think your profession will change in the next five years?: The technology we use for researching and communicating about the environment is growing by leaps and bounds. Within the next five years there will be entirely new tools available that we will need to learn to use.
Who was your most important mentor? My parents. They always pursue their passions in their work.
What advice would you give to a young woman entering your profession or the work world today?: Identify your purpose/passion, then identify what are the specific professional pathways that would help you fulfill that purpose.
Most admired businessperson outside your organization: Herb Dwight
Current reading: The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni.
Most want to meet: Others in our community dedicated to nature!
Stress relievers: Walking, singing and spending time with family.
