Devin Best
Devin Best – Executive Director
Devin has a degree in Ethnobotany from Humboldt State University. He started his career working in the Americorps Watershed Stewards Project in Northern California. Following his time in Northern California, he moved back to San Luis Obispo County and worked for the California Conservation Corps as a GIS Supervisor and then for the California Department of Fish Wildlife as an Environmental Specialist. He continued to build upon his experience in natural resource management and biological population monitoring and modeling in the Pacific Northwest, as well as developing his skills in watershed restoration, permit coordination, and non-profit leadership. Devin is a strong advocate for community stewardship, collaboration, and ecological restoration.
Phone: (805) 460-7272 x 5
Lauren Danna
Lauren Danna – Program Manager
Lauren comes from a lineage deeply rooted in agriculture, spanning four generations of her family’s farming heritage. Growing up amidst the green fields and rustic landscapes of Northern California, she developed a profound connection with the land, fostering an appreciation for agriculture and the outdoors from an early age. Lauren holds a degree in Agriculture Business from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Her diverse career journey has seen her immerse herself in various facets of the industry, from food sourcing and financial advisory to regenerative grape harvest, and small plot, organic crop production. Lauren is excited to serve the community and ecosystems in her district, hoping to encourage stewardship of the land and preservation of the land’s integrity. When not in the office, Lauren enjoys time in the kitchen, visiting farmers markets, rock climbing, biking, hiking, running, spending time outdoors, and finding a good bakery.
Phone: (805) 460-7272 x 3
Spencer Gordon
Spencer Gordon – Project Manager
Spencer holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in restoration ecology and a MS in Environmental Science and Management with an emphasis in forestry from Cal Poly SLO. For his Master’s project, he implemented a fuel inventory report for the eucalyptus forest at Montana De Oro State Park. Before joining the RCD, Spencer spent nearly seven years with the California State Parks in the Santa Cruz district as a field crew lead in the Natural Resource Management program. While in State Parks, he gained experience in the fields of prescribed fire, invasive species management, and biological monitoring. Additional work experience includes UC natural reserve land stewardship, trail construction/ maintenance, as well as native plant seed collection, plant propagation, and general nursery management. In his free time Spencer enjoys spending time with friends listening to records, botanizing, and surfing.
Phone: (805) 460-7272 x 2
Eli Grinberg
Eli Grinberg – Conservation Technician
“Environmental conservation and stewardship work has been my career since I experienced my first creek restoration. I was 16 years old and was thrilled to be working outside with my hands, pulling weeds, planting native plants, and learning about the ecology of the Corte Madera Creek out behind my high school. I was raised on unceded Coast Miwok Territory of Marin County, where redwoods and oak trees grow like nobody’s business.
My love and learning for the natural world inspired me to pursue a BS in Forestry & Wildlife Biology from Cal Poly SLO. Upon graduating in 2016, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with a wide array of agencies and organizations. I am proud to have served communities and ecosystems alike and intend to continue doing so with the Upper Salinas-Las Tablas RCD.
Outside of the office, I enjoy hiking, running, riding bicycles, playing music with my friends, camping, backpacking, going to the beach, botanizing, and doing yoga.” – Eli (AKA Treeli) Grinberg
Phone: (805) 460 – 7272 x 1
Hailey Leurck
Hailey Leurck – Restoration Technician
Inspired by her childhood spent outside in the areas of Boulder, Colorado and Morro Bay, California, Hailey attended Cal Poly Humboldt where she studied Environmental Science and Management with a focus on Environmental Education. Hailey has worked in a variety of roles in education, ecological monitoring, wildlife management, and restoration work. Hailey joined the US-LTRCD team in March of 2023 and enjoys building relationships with community members and getting her hands dirty in the field. She hopes to inspire stewardship in others and protect and restore natural spaces for future generations. During her free time, Hailey enjoys hiking with her dog, watching live music with friends, bbqing with family, and reading in her backyard hammock with her cats.
Phone: (805) 460-7272 x 4
Blaze Elation
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Blaze Elation – Regenerative Ag Consultant
A Central Coast native with roots in sustainable agriculture and country living. Blaze received a degree in Conservation and Resource Studies from UC Berkeley with a minor in Forestry. As a certified permaculture designer, she has worked to create a better relationship between people and their environment by making ecologically based design decisions. She is inspired by nature and enjoys backpacking where she can brush up on Latin plant names, hunt for edible mushrooms, and marvel in the exquisite beauty and complexity of the local ecology.
