Our Team
Jackee Riccio
Executive Director
& Co-Founder
Jackee has 13 years of experience in applied conservation biology for a variety of northern CA and western species, as well as training for assessing and handling special status species, such as mesocarnivores, tortoises, shorebirds, and marine mammals. She holds two degrees from California Polytechnic University at Humboldt, a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation and Management and a B.S. in Archaeology. Her career has involved research in wildlife demography, habitat selection, energetics, and disease ecology for the public and private sector, as well as habitat restoration, environmental compliance, and backcountry guiding. She now is the Executive Director of Cannabis for Conservation, a nonprofit establishing environmental conservation and research programs in cannabis-impacted landscapes, and liaising regulatory agencies and rural landowners around the common value of conservation. Jackee is an avid horseback rider and backcountry packer, backpacker, skiier, and traveler.
JANELLE CHOJNACKI
Project director
Janelle has spent almost 15 years studying wildlife, mostly songbirds, and their ecosystems. She's also had positions focusing on entomology, botany, forestry, mammals, and environmental education. She's an avid birder, soccer player, whitewater kayaker, and gardener and loves being part of the incredible outdoor and environmental community in Humboldt County.
VANESSA Salamon
program Manager
Vanessa holds a master’s degree in Conservation & Restoration Science from UC Irvine and a graduate certificate in GIS from USC. With over five years of experience, she has honed her project management skills while building a strong foundation in environmental science. Her research spans microbial communities across diverse ecosystems and their ecological and health impacts, avian monitoring in Southern California, and GIS applications. Outside of work, Vanessa enjoys spending time with her fur babies.
Natalynne DeLapp
Development Director
Since 2009, Natalynne has led mission-driven organizations with a focus on environmental advocacy, organizational development, and sustainable funding. Natalynne previously served as Executive Director of the Humboldt County Growers Alliance (HCGA), where she led policy initiatives and stakeholder engagement to support California’s legal cannabis industry. She also served as Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC), where she advanced forest and watershed protection across Northern California. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Public Policy from Cal Poly Humboldt, graduating cum laude. Outside of work, Natalynne enjoys hiking with her German Shepherd Cadence, cooking with local ingredients, gardening, mushroom foraging, and cozy nights by the fire.
Rhiannon Lewis‑Stephenson
Grants Manager
Rhiannon brings nearly a decade of experience in nonprofit development, communications, and community‑focused projects to CFC. Originally from the hills of southern Humboldt, she earned her B.A. in International Relations with a focus on Land Use & Energy Supply from UC Davis. Her path has taken her from coordinating international outreach tours with the Center for Biological Diversity to advancing local conservation efforts with EPIC, co‑founding a farm‑to‑table café that celebrates Humboldt’s farmers and makers, and supporting community initiatives through her work with the City of Arcata. In her role at CFC, Rhiannon draws on her love of relationship‑building and her background in fundraising and advocacy to help restore ecosystems and strengthen rural communities. Outside of work, she finds joy in a good book, spending time by the ocean and rivers, and creating welcoming spaces through food, art, and connection.
Dane Curry
Industry Specialist
& Co-Founder
With a deep commitment to environmental stewardship and sixteen years in the cannabis industry, Dane co-founded Cannabis for Conservation in 2018. Working as the Industry Specialist, Dane will be applying his expertise in infrastructure and sustainable systems development, client relationships, and outreach education to address the unique ecological challenges facing cannabis cultivation, particularly in sensitive and rural ecosystems. Dane is passionate about supporting more sustainable practices and will help guide the organization’s efforts to engage the cannabis sector in meaningful environmental change. When he's not at the office, you'll most likely find him snowboarding, cliff jumping, riding his mountain bike, or doing some other adrenaline-filled activity.
Megan Taylor
Communications Manager
Megan is a multidisciplinary creative with a background in community-focused communications through photography, design, and storytelling. She holds B.A.s in Communication and Design from UC Davis, where a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental awareness shaped her creative perspective and continues to influence her work today. Prior to joining CFC, she led visual and content strategy for brands and universities, using a cross-platform approach to spark engagement and deepen connection. She brings a passion for place-based and mission-driven storytelling, with a special interest in accessible education through design. Outside of work, you can find her with her nose in a fun romantasy book, watching her favorite reality tv shows, or enjoying Humboldt's nature with her dog Ace.
Alyssa Roddy
Senior Biologist
Alyssa is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Wildlife Natural Resources at Cal Poly Humboldt. With over a decade of experience conducting applied field research across diverse ecosystems, she has developed a strong focus on mesocarnivore ecology and conservation. When she’s not in the field, Alyssa enjoys spending time outdoors rock climbing, mountain biking, or exploring nature with her two wild pups, Buckwheat and Mud.
Thomas Herman
Fisheries Biologist &
Project Coordinator
Tom holds a B.S. in Fisheries Biology and a minor in Watershed Management from Humboldt State University. He brings twenty years of experience in fisheries and hydrology from his work with state and federal agencies as well as private timber companies. Most recently, he supervised a local non-profit restoration crew. With his extensive experience in environmental projects on the West Coast, Tom is enthusiastic about contributing to the sediment reduction grant. In his free time, Thomas enjoys fishing, surfing, restoring and driving classic muscle cars. He is the proud owner of a '77 Corvette.
Jasmine Zenderland
Botanist &
Project Coordinator
Jasmine is a seasoned botanist with experience in Northern California flora, global ethnobotanical traditions, and research in evolutionary biology and genetic techniques within a plant science context. She holds a B.S. in Botany from Cal Poly Humboldt and an M.A. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Washington University in St. Louis. Her work focuses on strengthening relationships between people and plants by integrating ecological science with cultural and botanical knowledge to support the well-being of both. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, foraging, and making herbal medicines inspired by the landscapes she studies.
Julie Sorfleet
Geospatial Analyst
Julie holds a master's degree in Natural Resources from Cal Poly Humboldt and a bachelor's degree in Geography and Spanish with a minor in GIS from UCLA. She has experience in UAV operations, remote sensing, and GIS workflows and has supported projects in environmental management, habitat mapping, disaster response, and energy policy. Outside of work, Julie enjoys skiing, playing ultimate frisbee, and reading a good book.
BOARD
Jackee Riccio, President
Dane Curry, Vice President
Malia Ortiz, Secretary
Mary Dorman, Treasurer
Mollie Holland, Board Member