STAFF
Brett Schilke
Executive Director
Brett’s work has been focused on giving young people the tools to bring about better futures for the past 15 years. He loves hiking through our endless open spaces and finding the darkest skies to stare at the stars, and is firmly convinced that to truly heal this world, we need to replace pixels with people and spend more time in soil than screens. He’s excited to bring that belief to life with The HEAL Project.
Fiona Benjamin
Associate Director
Fiona has a degree in Sustainable Agriculture from UC Davis. She started with The HEAL Project as a Farm Educator and became the Farm Manager before taking on her new role. As a native of the coastside, she is grateful to have the opportunity to share her passion for healthy eating and the environment with her local community.
Donya Foley
Farm Programs Manager
Donya received her degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems from UC Davis, sparking her passion for outdoor environmental education. She started with The HEAL Project as a farm educator and now directs all farm programs. Donya is passionate about spreading agricultural and nutritional education to children of all backgrounds in a hands-on setting.
Judy Curtis
Communications Manager
Judy Curtis has a background in music and art history & 30 years' experience in technology and life science PR. For her, working with THP to promote healthy lifestyle education and raise awareness of the joys of eating, cooking, and growing our own food sustainably is a valuable investment in our youth, our local community, & society at large.
Wiebke Michels
Business Operations Manager
Wiebke Michels joins The HEAL Project after teaching high school Spanish in San José for many years. She holds a masters degree in Educational Studies, Spanish, and Physical Education from the University of Hamburg, Germany, and a teaching credential from San José State University. She is excited to work with a team that shares her keen interest in sustainably growing food. In her spare time she enjoys the outdoors and tending to her garden.
Emily Cheng
Garden Programs Manager
Emily received her degree in Integrative Biology from UC Berkeley and has had a lifelong love of science. She is passionate about bringing garden-based education programs to students in the Bay Area. She loves to garden with her daughters, travel, hike, and cook cuisines from around the world.
Katie Filar
Farm Manager
Katie Filar is happy to be taking care of the farm that helps educate coastside kids about where their food comes from. Growing up in Pacifica she discovered that the seeds to lifelong learning are found and watered outdoors. Katie puts her UC Berkeley degrees in society & environment and professional forestry to work at The HEAL Project farm. She intends to go to graduate school one day for design to bring her love of arts and crafts to their full potential.
Sarah Donato
Farm Assistant
Sarah Donato is a Bay Area local who received her master's and bachelor's degrees in environmental biology with a focus on agro-ecology from Tulane University. She is passionate about creating a world where kids know where their food comes from, have access to fresh produce, and can cook independently. Sarah also loves to cook, paint, draw, and spend time in the great outdoors.
David Ruettiger
Farm Assistant
David Ruettiger’s grandparents were farmers; his parents had a huge vegetable garden and raised chickens. David says that farming is in his blood. He is a board member of Pacifica Gardens, and also does private gardening and landscaping. David is a retired government social worker and owned his own costume shop for 25 years.
Piper Trautwein
Garden Educator
Piper Trautwein has a background in animal care and zoo and aquarium education. She has taught STEM science to elementary and middle schools students throughout the Bay Area, encouraging environmental literacy and stewardship with a side of fun. Piper studied anthropology and social sciences at Cal Poly and she brings her experience working with wildlife and getting majorly dirty to The HEAL Project!
Sara Neale
Farm & Garden Educator
Sara Neale has a bachelors degree in Communication Theory from the University of Toronto and is currently pursuing an Early Childhood Education certification. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family exploring all the treasures this area offers. Sara loves working with kids and hopes to encourage a love of learning and respect for our environment that will last a lifetime.
Emma Rose Mahoney Rohrl
Farm Educator
Emma Rose graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in global studies, specializing in intersectional justice. Before moving back to the Bay Area, Emma Rose led educational outdoor programs for youth in Santa Barbara. Her work with children has been a constant source of learning and growth. Raised in Pacifica, Emma Rose is deeply dedicated to contributing to the well-being of her community and the land she holds dear.
Joanna Durand
Garden Educator
Joanna Durand is an El Granada resident who attended local schools Farallone View, Cunha, and Half Moon Bay High School. She worked as a nurse for many years and became involved in the PTO at Farallone View. For Joanna, it is a joy to work with students and teachers in the outdoor classroom instilling healthy living habits and respect for our environment.
Annie Schiffer
Farm Educator
After graduating with a degree in biology from Bowdoin College, Annie Schiffer explored her love of nature in a variety of ways, from ski patrolling at Park City Mountain to working in community engagement for a nature-focused startup venture group. Annie is excited to help communities and school groups develop a connection to the outdoors, sustainable agriculture, and a sense of stewardship over their local landscapes. In her free time, Annie likes to surf, throw pottery, paint, read about ecology, and explore the local landscape around her.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jason Mousel
Chair
Jason has a master’s degree in nutritional sciences and currently works as a clinical dietitian at Sequoia Hospital. He has a strong involvement in community nutrition, working with Head Start, Seton Coastside Medical Center, Healthy San Jose State, and founding a sustainable foods student group at SJSU.
Kerry Bitner
Secretary
Kerry has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Cornell University and a master’s degree in television production from Boston University. Through volunteering at her children’s elementary schools, she got involved with starting school gardens and saw first-hand the positive impact they have.
Lynn Watson
Treasurer
Lynn has been a flight attendant for 25+ years. Her flexible work schedule has allowed her to get an MBA & become involved with the Coastside community. She has served on the boards of a family business, Hatch Elementary PTO & Coastside Children's Programs.
Clare Squire
Clare has a master's degree in public policy and nonprofit management, and is currently working towards a certificate in horticulture through UCLA. She is passionate about plants, growing food for her family, raising chickens, cooking, and eating well. With a background in the education sector and nonprofit fundraising, Clare is excited about supporting The HEAL Project's sustainability and strategic vision. Clare is also a yoga instructor at Swell Yoga.
Mary Oldham
Mary received a Bachelor of Science in horticulture with a minor in biochemistry from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Mary has worked in the ornamental horticulture industry since 1980. She has been an investor in the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company since 2004, and is currently the Director of Marketing.
Dianne Kavanagh
Dianne is a native Californian who has lived on the coast since 2014. An avid gardener and beekeeper, Dianne’s keen interests in sustainable agricultural practices and environmental education align with The HEAL Project’s mission and objectives. She works for a global leader in biotechnology as a project manager and holds a bachelor’s degree in integrated systems with emphasis in organizational management from Arizona State University.
Evelyne McCleland
Evelyne is a sustainability-focused marketing leader, inspired by organizations with a positive influence on the environment and the communities we live in. With a marketing career spanning various industries including renewable energy, electric vehicles & geospatial technology, she is an expert in building brands and launching impactful products & programs that improve our planet.
Erin Tormey
Erin is the proprietor of Irish Ridge Ranch. She is the founder of The Coastside Farmers' Markets, an inaugural member of the San Mateo County Food Systems Alliance, sits on the Technical Review Committee the CDFA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, and is a founding member of The HEAL Project.
Kelly Huber
Kelly has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from San Francisco State University. A volunteer in her three kids’ schools, she fell in love with marine biology and was a docent and board member for the Friends of Fitzgerald Marine Preserve. The HEAL Project appeals as it teaches children the value of good nutrition and spending time outside. With two grandchildren who play a big part in her life, Kelly hopes to relay this message to them and to many others.
Sherine Elamad
Sherine is an innovative leader and community builder with ten years of experience impacting change in various roles in the non-profit sector. She has experience in nonprofit development, strategic partnerships, program & project management, community outreach and event management & execution.
Kristi Gillis
Kristi has experience leading large scale projects as an engineering program manager. She is very active in volunteering with her child’s school, where she focuses on expanding outdoor education opportunities. She is an enthusiastic home gardener. She holds a bachelors degree in English from The University of Georgia.
Margaret Krebs
Margaret is a program designer based at Stanford University’s Sustainability School but working globally. She helps environmental and sustainability researchers build partnerships with communities, government agencies, and non-profits so that together they can co-design solutions on complex issues. Her interest in The HEAL Project links back to her first job as a high school teacher in Philadelphia, identifying community projects where kids could get practical field experience.
BOARD EMERITAE
Julie Hosfeldt
Julie is a registered dietitian, and has spent her 30+ year career with the San Mateo County Public Health Nutrition. Her concerns about children's health and the environment led her to co-found the Hatch School Garden in 2000, and The HEAL Project in 2005. Julie served on THP's board for 9 years. Julie loves how THP encourages kids to have FUN while learning the connection between healthy food and a healthy planet.
Denise Phillips
Denise has admired The HEAL Project since the day her kids came home from school and told her excitedly how they had tasted kale that day and loved it! Their enthusiasm for their THP classes was infectious and Denise served on THP’s board for seven years. She appreciates the fun approach to learning embraced by THP and wants to do what she can to make sure more kids get that same opportunity.
Beth Loof
Beth received a B.S in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in botany from CSU Chico. She has worked as a lab technician, restaurant manager and inside-sales and support tech person before staying home with her two boys. Beth has always loved the outdoors. She is often outside running, bicycling or working in her own garden.
Maureen Perron
Maureen is a retired registered dietitian. In 2005, while working with the Coastside Health Committee with connections to the San Mateo County Department of Public Health, Maureen, with Julie Hosfeldt, received grant funds from Kaiser Permanente to address the health needs of low income students in schools on the coast, and so HEAL was born. A few years later, after being renamed The HEAL Project (THP), again through the agency of the County Health Department, the land and partial funding for THP to develop the San Mateo County School Farm was made available to serve students from across San Mateo County. Maureen's involvement with THP and seeing the programs grow over the years has been a great gift.