MEET OUR STAFF
JOHN SVAHN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
John is an active member of the trails community in Truckee and North Tahoe, and is involved in local trail planning commissions. John holds a BS in Agriculture and Natural Resources Management from the University of Maryland. He and his wife Heather have made Truckee their home since 1998 and are usually found running, skiing, or mountain biking on our local trails.
KEVIN STARR, STEWARDSHIP DIRECTOR
Kevin is working to complete the Land Trust’s flagship trail project, the Donner Lake Rim Trail. He also leads trailbuilding crews and tackles the Land Trust's numerous stewardship duties year-round. A member of the Truckee community since 1991 and when not working on the trails for the Land Trust and Truckee Trails Foundation, you can find Kevin outside skiing, climbing, and biking on some of those same trails.
DANIELLE WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY
Danielle brings 20 years of experience in government, corporate and nonprofit work, focused on building strong, lasting and collaborative relationships. She has a background in fundraising and an excitement for conservation. She has worked for several organizations, including the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C., and most recently with the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum in Reno. From growing up on the American River in Sacramento to hiking in the Sierra with her husband and daughter, Danielle has a long history with the region and a deep appreciation for the natural world.
BAILEY SHERIDAN, ADMINISTRATION AND LAND ACQUISITION MANAGER
Bailey was born and raised in Nevada, and is an avid outdoor enthusiast who loves spending time in the Sierra Nevada whether it be climbing, biking, running, or fly fishing. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a B.S. in Community Health Science, and in 2019. Bailey then worked with Salviamo I’Orso, an environmental nonprofit in Abruzzo, Italy, working to protect the Marsican brown bear from extinction, where she gained an appreciation for protecting land and biodiversity found in her own backyard.
DEAN GOOD, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Dean is a native of Connecticut and after visiting the Truckee-Donner area for 25+ years for work and to ski with his two children, he moved to the Reno area in 2017. Dean is a Graduate of University of New Haven and has a diverse career, working in many industries and serving on boards of nonprofit organizations. He loves the outdoors, skiing, hiking, camping, and mountain biking, which drew him to the position at the Truckee Donner Land Trust.
GREYSON HOWARD, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Greyson has lived and worked in Truckee since 2006, starting off as a reporter at the local newspaper and working in a variety of communications roles in the region. A National Outdoor Leadership School graduate, Greyson has a BA in English from UC Davis. He skis, hikes, climbs and mountain bikes with his wife, Lynn Baumgartner, and enjoys photography and videography.
JESSE CASSIDY, PUBLIC ACCESS AND TRAILS COORDINATOR
Jesse has been a part of the Truckee community since 2010, when he moved to the area for its numerous outdoor activities including skiing, biking and hiking. After graduating from the University of Nevada Reno in 2015 with a BA in History, he has been involved in numerous outdoor professions. Jesse joined the Land Trust in the spring of 2020 as a seasonal stewardship employee, and now joins the staff full-time as part of the Land Trust’s growing stewardship team.
CHRIS ROCHEFORT, DIRECTOR OF HUTS, CAMPING, FACILITIES AND EXTERNAL EVENTS
Chris has lived in Truckee since 2006, working at Northstar for 11 years before joining the Truckee Donner Land Trust staff. A graduate of Lyndon State College in Vermont with a degree in Recreation Resource and Ski Management, as well as an MBA from Morrison University, Chris enjoys backcountry skiing, mountain biking, photography and spending time with his family.
DANIEL JOANNES, FOREST AND RESTORATION COORDINATOR
A graduate of University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point in Forest Ecology, Daniel brings a wide range of experience in habitat restoration, forestry work and biological monitoring. He joins the Land Trust full time after a summer as a seasonal employee of the stewardship team, focusing on restoration and forestry on Land Trust lands. Outside of work, Daniel enjoys rock climbing, mountain biking, snowboarding and spending time outside both here in the mountains and down on the coast.
PERRY NORRIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Prior to joining the Land Trust, Perry was chief operating officer at the North Carolina Outward Bound School. His other previous posts include deputy director at the Pacific Crest Outward Bound School and headmaster at Cedar Smoke School. The Sierra Business Council awarded Perry its Vision 20/20 Award "for his achievement in building one of the most effective land trusts in California." A graduate of Bennington College, Perry is married to Seana Doherty and has two children, Louis and Lacey. He enjoys backcountry skiing, mountaineering and cooking.