OUR BOARD
Jasonn Beckstrand, Board President
Jasonn (at) LPForest.org
Valerie Hoffman
Vice Chair
Kyle Slattery
Treasurer
Gordie Hemphill
Ojai Chapter President
Robert Gilcrest
Board Member
Terry Wright
Board Member
Josh Stichter
Board Member
Curt Cragg
Board Member
OUR STAFF
Bryan Conant, Executive Director
Bryan (at) LPForest.org
Bryan Conant has been the Executive Director of the LPFA since 2013. Bryan grew up outside of Los Angeles and learned an appreciation for the outdoors thanks largely to annual Sierra backpacking trips with his family. After attending UCSB and graduating with a degree in Geography, Bryan settled in Goleta and worked for 15 years as a Cartographer and the Director of Mapping Services at Maps.com. It was also during this time that Bryan began spending many weeks each year exploring and learning about the Los Padres National Forest and in particular the trails across the Sespe, San Rafael and Dick Smith Wilderness areas. In 2003 Bryan merged his love of the Santa Barbara Backcountry with his cartographic expertise and self-published the San Rafael Wilderness Map Guide. This was followed in 2008 with the publication of the Dick Smith & Matilija Wilderness Map Guide. Both map titles continue to sell at local retail stores and are updated regularly. Around the same time Bryan became involved with the Condor Trail and founded a 501c3 non-profit focused on building the Condor Trail named the Condor Trail Association. Bryan has a strong background in trail design and maintenance with multiple trail building certifications and through his role as LPFA Executive Director works closely with the Los Padres National Forest and other partner organizations to oversee the maintenance and restoration of trails across the Los Padres Forest. In addition to backpacking, hiking and mountain biking the Los Padres, Bryan also enjoys surfing, playing sports, house projects and spending time with his family.
Ari Songer, Program Manager
Ari (at) LPForest.org
Ari has been with LPFA in a number of capacities for the past 3 years. She has a background in youth education and conservation and has run a number of programs focused on getting youth outside. Her work experience has taken her to trails across the West, working with both conservation corps and the National Parks Service. Ari’s day to day work with LPFA involves trail work, managing volunteer projects and community engagement. Ari appreciates the dynamic nature of the Los Padres backcountry and never turns down an opportunity to spend day and night on the forest.
Tim Bills
Big Sur Manager
Mike Smith
Trail Crew Leader
Jason Morris
Trail Crew
Daniel Smith, Trail Crew
Daniel Smith is native to Southern California’s Los Padres National Forest. When given the opportunity to give back to the mountains, he takes every chance he can get. Daniel works on the LPFA trail crew full time to help keep the forest accessible.