Darla Guenzler, Ph.D

Executive Director
Guenzler has worked in the land conservation field for nearly twenty years, and her leadership is recognized throughout the state and nation. In 2005, she founded the California Council of Land Trusts, a statewide association of nonprofit land … Read more
Kelly Velasco

Associate Director
kellyvelasco@wildlifeheritage.org
Kelly Velasco has worked in the California land trust community for nearly a decade. As Associate Director, she is responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with WHF’s public agency and statewide community partners, assisting with the Foundation’s … Read more
Gaylene Tupen

Senior Wildlife Biologist
Gaylene Tupen is a biologist with over 20 years of professional experience in natural resource management. She has a B.S. in Environmental and Systematic Biology from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Ms. Tupen is experienced in wildlife … Read more
Lance Spece

Land Manager
Lance joined Wildlife Heritage Foundation in Spring of 2020. Lance was born and raised in Sacramento County and graduated from Humboldt State with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management, with an emphasis in Planning and … Read more
Niall Ogburn

Land Manager
Niall Ogburn began working with WHF in November 2019 as a part time technician before being brought on as a full-time employee in January 2020. Niall attended Sonoma State University and received a B.A. in 2017 in Environmental … Read more