Who we Are
We are rooted in a love of the land. Healthy, functional forests are integral to healthy communities and deliver significant ecological and economic benefits.
CHRISTY PRESCOTT - BIOMASS INNOVATION SPECIALISTS AT SIX RIVERS NATIONAL FOREST.
Tenure: 2019 – Present
Christy Prescott serves as President of the Forest WRX Alliance, working alongside partners to advance sustainable building materials and forest products manufacturing across California’s North Coast region. Drawing from her background in environmental science and community development, she focuses on bringing people together to create opportunities that benefit both forests and communities. Through her work with the U.S. Forest Service and Forest WRX Alliance, she has helped facilitate partnerships between industry, tribes, government agencies, and academic institutions to support innovative approaches to forest and community resilience. Christy holds degrees in Environmental Sciences and Social Science from Cal Poly Humboldt, where her research focused on sustainable economies in forest-dependent communities. She also enjoys hiking, hot springs, playing guitar, and spending time with friends and family.
MIKA COOK - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES TO NOVEL AGRICULTURE CORP.
Tenure: June 2024 – Present
Mika Cook holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Berkeley in Conservation Resource Studies (2014) and is currently working towards her postbaccalaureate degree at Cal Poly Humboldt to acquire her Master’s in Forestry (2026). She is also the Executive Director of the nonprofit she founded, Sustainable Approaches to Novel Agriculture Corp., striving to empower local forest landowners to practice sustainable land stewardship, supporting healthy, resilient forests for future generations. Mika is president of her local road maintenance association, representing landowners spanning over 1,500 acres of privately owned forest lands, in addition to leading the Van Duzen Watershed Fire Safe Council. Mika has over five years of experience managing wildland firefighting and forest restoration and rehabilitation contracts for a local small business, performing work primarily on public forest lands. In her free time, Mika is an avid surfer and enjoys tending her backyard garden.
JOE SNIPES - OWNER/FORESTRY SPECIALIST, FORESTSCAPES LLC.
Tenure: March 2024 – Present
Joe Snipes is a dedicated Forestry Specialist at ForestScapes LLC, bringing years of expertise in wildland fire prevention, tree care, and sustainable forestry practices. With a passion for preserving natural landscapes and enhancing forest health, Joe specializes in tree risk assessments, fire mitigation strategies, and precision arboriculture. His commitment to safety and environmental stewardship aligns perfectly with ForestScapes LLC’s mission to protect and enhance forested areas. When he’s not working in the field, Joe enjoys exploring Humboldt County’s rich wilderness and sharing his knowledge to inspire sustainable land management.
VALERIE ELDER - ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES AT COLLEGE OF THE REDWOODS IN EUREKA, CA.
Tenure: May 2023 – Present
Valerie teaches a variety of introductory coursework that prepares students for careers managing public and/or private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. Elder has a B.S. in Forestry and Natural Resources Management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and an M.S. in Forestry from West Virginia University. She has also earned graduate certificates in Higher Education Teaching from Cal Poly Humboldt (CPH) and Wildlife Management from Oregon State University. She serves on the National Tree Farm Standards Implementation Committee and is the District 3 Representative for the Society of American Foresters National Board of Directors. Her research interests include cross-boundary collaborative conservation, small-scale silviculture, and more recently, place-based pedagogy. She manages her family’s forest and is part of her family’s multigenerational logging company. In her free time, she is a beekeeper, backpacker, and enjoys spending time with her chocolate lab at beaches, mountains, and rivers.
GEORGE SCHMIDBAUER - SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER, NORTH FORK LUMBER. FOUNDER, MAD RIVER MASS TIMBER.
Tenure: March 2023 – Present
George Schmidbauer is a fifth-generation leader in the forest products industry, working to bridge the gap between California’s forests and communities. With a diverse background in finance, affordable housing development, construction management, and wood products manufacturing, George brings unique insights into the entire building supply chain. As project and business development manager for the Schmidbauer Group of Companies and founder of Mad River Mass Timber, George focuses on creating value-added wood products that promote a sustainable and regenerative model for the forest-based economy. He aims to harness the latest advancements in wood products manufacturing to address pressing challenges like declining forest health, catastrophic wildfires, affordable housing shortages, and rural economic decline. Outside of his professional roles, George enjoys skiing, surfing, tennis, and marine conservation.
BASHO PARKS
Tenure: June 2024 – Present
Basho Parks is an enthusiastic community leader and dedicated father residing in the remote east county community of Willow Creek, engaged in pushing the critical mass conversation of Wildfire Resilience for over half a decade. A former Forestry business owner turned biomass energy consultant and Applied Fire Ecology student enrolled at CalPoly Humboldt in Spring 2025, Basho has extensive elbow-deep experience in topical matters pertaining to forest health, connecting adjacent agencies, organizations, and tribal governments in meaningful dialog and grant awards since 2021. His immense passion for full-spectrum community, silvicultural and waterway health is worn on his sleeve every day. When not engaged in work, Basho spends time on the Trinity River paddle boarding, playing disc golf, and in avid exploration of nature with his children and partner.