MEET OUR STAFF

Executive Director

Lisa Giordano oversees Friends of Sausal Creek's projects and programs and administers the organization. She manages field staff, handles finances, writes grants, and leads fundraising efforts.

Previously, Lisa developed and led a national membership-based advocacy organization for young people, advocating for climate action, environmental justice, and clean energy policies at the federal level. Before that, she worked on recycling and sustainable waste management programs in New York City with GrowNYC and city government; and as an environmental research specialist in the Bay Area. Lisa holds a B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley, in conservation and resource studies.

Education and Outreach Manager

Ashley develops and delivers Friends of Sausal Creek's education programming and engages with the watershed community to collaborate on community-identified goals such as increasing the quality and access to green spaces. 

Ashley is a proud Oakland native who has spent eight years working on trail crews across the country. In addition to teaching San Francisco Bay ecology to people of all ages at East Bay Regional Parks, she has led crews for the Student Conservation Association and coordinated programs for the Golden Gate National Conservancy. With a passion for wildlife and the outdoors, she is committed to ensuring nature is a safe and diverse place for all. Ashley is finishing her B.S. in wildlife, fish, and conservation biology from the University of California, Davis.

Restoration and Nursery Manager

Ella oversees Friends of Sausal Creek's Native Plant Nursery and restoration strategy within the watershed. She coordinates volunteers and restoration efforts, and leads seed and native plant ID hikes with the community. 

After falling in love with plants while studying lemurs in Madagascar, Ella moved home to restore local ecosystems. She has environmental research and  monitoring expertise, and previously worked at the Houston Arboretum in restoration, native horticulture, and nursery management. Ella has degrees in ecology and environmental sciences from Rice University, and has been leading backpacking trips and environmental education programs for over a decade.

Communications and Operations Manager

Kate oversees Friends of Sausal Creek's communication channels and team operations. She coordinates community events, recruits volunteers, and raises funds in support of FOSC's restoration, nursery, and environmental education programs. 

Kate got her start at FOSC as a volunteer in the native plant nursery, where communing with people and plants inspired a new perspective. She is thrilled to have found a path that combines her love for connecting with the community, designing solutions, and protecting Oakland's incredible wild spaces. She holds a B.S. in fashion design from the University of Cincinnati and is enrolled in Merritt College's NHS program studying conservation and resource management.