Meet Our Team

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.

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.

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.

GARDEN PROGRAM 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.

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.

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. 

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!

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.

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.

GARDEN EDUCATOR

Susan has spent over 40 years as an advanced practice nurse, working with veterans managing chronic cardiac conditions and providing care for geriatric adults with advanced chronic diseases and terminal illnesses. After retiring, Susan shifted her focus to working with younger populations, continuing to share her passion for health and wellness. She loves to spark curiosity, inspire joy, and share the magic of getting your hands dirty in the garden.

FARM EDUCATOR

Terilyn believes the best way to learn is by getting outside and getting your hands dirty! With a degree in Sustainable Environmental Design from UC Davis and a background in landscape design, horticulture, and California native plants, she is passionate about empowering youth to discover the magic of nature and build lifelong connections with the environment. When she’s not teaching, you’ll find her exploring, sketching, or diving into crafts, gardening, and new adventures!

CO-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.

CO-CHAIR

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

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.

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 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.  

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.