Executive Director

Nicole Braddock

Nicole Braddock has led Solano Land Trust for over ten years. During her tenure at Solano Land Trust, she spearheaded the land trust’s efforts to raise over 20 million dollars for conservation, nearly double the staff capacity, and achieve national accreditation.

With over 20 years of experience, Nicole is seasoned in non-profit systems, partnerships and collaboration, and raising support and funds for community benefit programs. She is inspired by and focuses on bringing people together to find common ground and believes that land is the common ground we all share.

Nicole serves on the advisory committee for the Bay Area Open Space Council, the management team for the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the Land Trust Alliance Leadership Council. She is also an alumna of the Center for Whole Communities.

Prior to coming to Solano Land Trust, Nicole supported small businesses and economic development at The Federal Technology Center and promoted farmland conservation and natural area protection with Greenbelt Alliance.

Nicole is a California native who grew up camping and exploring the Sierra Nevada Mountains with her family. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from UC Davis and a Master of Business Administration from Capella University. In her free time, Nicole enjoys painting, gardening, wood carving, and getting outdoors with her husband Rob, son Bryson, and their rescue dog Zanna.

Development Manager

Laura Livadas

Laura joined Solano Land Trust in April 2019. As the Comprehensive Campaign Manager is in charge of leading our fundraising team and spearheading our upcoming 2020 campaign that will expand and share our vision of the Solano County lifestyle and provide access to nature for all. Laura received her BS in Business from Bellevue University of Nebraska and receive the 2019 UC Davis Wine Executive Management Certificate.  Laura brings over 25 years of business experience, including 4 years in the United States Air Force and 15 years in the wine industry. Her last role was at Vezer Family Vineyard where she served as their vice president of operations. In her spare time, Laura channels her high energy by working out, spending time with her husband, Christopher and running her own jewelry making business.

Comm. Specialist

Samuel Adams

Samuel James Adams joined Solano Land Trust in March of 2020. Previously, he taught English in Estonia, cleaned schools in Benicia, wrote for regional magazines, and worked with adults with developmental disabilities in the North Bay. From 2016-2018, he received a scholarship to pursue an MFA in Creative Writing (fiction) from Bowling Green State University. His stories appear in The Sun, Ruminate, and other literary journals. He was born in Tokyo and grew up in Benicia, where he lives with his fiancé.

Finance and Administrative Director

Anne Alver

Anne joined Solano Land Trust in March 2009. As Business Services Manager she handles bookkeeping, the annual budget, contract administration, HR, payroll, insurance, benefits, website, and some graphic design. Before moving to California, she spent fourteen years in the book publishing industry, and holds a BA in English-Professional Writing from Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. Anne moved to California in 2007 and immediately fell in love with the California landscape and lifestyle. A few years ago she also met and fell in love with her husband Casey. Anne also loves yoga, reading, visiting the coast, gardening and her rescue dog Rufus.

Donor Relations Officer

Michelle Dickey

Michelle Joined Solano Land Trust in March 2016. She is originally from Big Sky Country, Billings, Montana. Growing up, Michelle spent most of her time outdoors: fishing, hunting, and enjoying the open space of Yellowstone County with her brother and father. She has an ingrained appreciation of wildlife, ranching, and farming. She has worked in marketing and community relations for the last 20 years. The last eight years were spent in the Napa Valley working with non-profit organizations on events, fundraising, and growing relationships between businesses and non-profits.

She is responsible for leading the coordination of fundraising events, assisting with appeals and campaigns, and community engagement. Michelle is excited to be a part of a team dedicated to giving back to the community. Michelle brings a wealth of leadership, marketing, and nonprofit expertise to Solano Land Trust. She loves to hike, cycle, and read in her spare time.

Engagement Specialist

Di Holokahi

Di joined Solano Land Trust in November 2018. She is a mother of two vivacious children and a wife to a warrior husband.  She will be working closely with Michelle and Deanna in the Community Engagement Department.   Di has many years of experience in community outreach through years of working with The Salvation Army Kroc Center in Suisun and helping her husband Izi run their family owned music school, The Ukesperiment Music Lessons.  Her passion is to encourage, add value, connect, impact, and be an example to others.  In her spare time, she likes to plan exciting adventures and activities to do with her husband and kids.

Conservation Director

Tracy Ellison

Tracy Ellison, Conservation Director, joined Solano Land Trust in March of 2011. In her time at SLT she has managed the the conservation easement stewardship program, transactions and outreach related to the land conservation. She brings an understanding and connection to agricultural with her background having grown up in rural Fresno County, the daughter of a high school Ag Teacher. She was an active 4-H and FFA member and raised Guide Dogs for the Blind. She came to SLT after doing liaison work in Solano County’s Suisun Valley Ag Region, working with farmers and ag business to promote Agri-tourism and wine grape recognition.

A favorite part of her job is the relationship building between SLT and landowners who choose to conserver their land for future generations to grow food and keep the local agriculture economy viable. With Tracy’s passion and drive to conserve land and create partnerships, SLT has become a key part of the Agriculture Community in Solano County.

If you have questions about conservation easements, private land preservation or transactions please contact Tracy Ellison.

Lead Implementation Manager

Jordan Knippenberg

Jordan Knippenberg’s work and life experiences vary in location but all pertain to the enjoyment of the outdoors and he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with him. Originally from upstate New York, Jordan received his BA in Art with a concentration in art therapy from the University of New York in Potsdam. He worked with at-risk teens in the wilderness of the Adirondacks, sleeping under the stars year-round. In another chapter of his life, Jordan lived in New Mexico working for the Forest Service. He cleared trails, packed horses, and moderated trail use in the Santa Fe National Forest. From Montana to Louisiana to Arizona, Jordan has spent time professionally and personally being captivated by the experience of being surrounded by nature. He relishes the beautiful weather of northern California and is excited to be living here and calling the people of Solano Land Trust his coworkers.

Manager of Land & People Connections

Kelly Santos

Project Manager

Jasmine Westbrook-Barsukov

Jasmine joined Solano Land Trust in February 2018. She received a BS in Cellular/Molecular Biology and a BS in Rangeland Resource Science from Humboldt State University, and a MS in Animal and Range Sciences from Montana State University. She has worked for the Forest Service, Humboldt Area Foundation, and was a lecturer at Humboldt State University. Jasmine grew up on Samuels Ranch, a sheep ranch in Napa and Solano Counties, where she was captivated by oak woodlands, chaparral, and ecology. Her research has been in sustainable agriculture and targeted grazing for working landscapes. She is delighted to be home in Solano County, and for the opportunity to protect the beautiful lands that inspired her as a child. In her free time, she works on the family ranch, and enjoys hiking with her Great Pyrenees, Kahlan.

Senior Project Manager

Tom Work

Tom joined Solano Land Trust in September 2019. As Manager of Land-People Connections, he is entrusted with the Lands Team that handles property oversight, facilities, mitigation, restoration, grazing, fleet, public access programs, partner management, events, and Rush Ranch reservations. Tom has lived throughout Solano County since his father was stationed at Travis AFB in the early 80s. He received his BS in Psychology from UC Davis, studied Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism at CSU East Bay (then Hayward) and has worked in the Bay Area and Yolo County. He most recently spent 18 years with the City of Fairfield’s Parks & Recreation Department, the last six of which he managed their Youth and Families Services Division. Tom loves to be outdoors cycling, hiking, running, walking his dogs and enjoying time with his wife, Rachelle, and their two children, Lauren and Max.

Development Assistant

Miranda Sanborn

Administrative Manager

Hadley McDonell

Hadley joined Solano Land Trust in September 2019. While Hadley grew up in the Bay Area, she only recently returned to Northern California after spending the last 16 years in North Carolina. She is excited to be part of the SLT team, and is responsible for providing support to the administrative and financial functions of the office. In her free time, Hadley and her husband enjoy exploring the area, and spending time outdoors hiking, mountain biking, and snowboarding.

Americorps VIP Service Member

Daniel Garvin

Greetings, my name is Daniel Garvin. I serve as an AmeriCorps VIP Member at Solano Land Trust. I work directly with our dedicated volunteers and help facilitate volunteer outreach to help protect both farms and natural areas in Solano County. I originate from NE Ohio as a Biologist and drove all the way out here to put my skills and passion to use making an effective and long-lasting impact within the community. It’s important to me that these valuable gems of nature such as the natural tidal wetlands are protected, preserved, and allowed to let them protect us through their natural function: cleaning our waters, providing us with unique and rare species of plants & animals, and protecting us from floods. Here at Solano Land Trust, we have something for everyone! If you’re looking to volunteer yourself or with a group, I’m your guy! I can’t wait to see you out here.

Conservation Project Coordinator

Olivia Freitas

I received my BA in Environmental Studies from San Jose State in June of 2022. While I was in college, I developed my interest in native plants, insects, and restoration ecology. During my senior year at SJSU, I worked for Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Natural Resource program as an intern. My main project was a western monarch butterfly habitat analysis. I am very interested in the relationships between California milkweed and western monarch butterflies and I hope to study this further in graduate school. I am also a multidisciplinary artist who paints, sews, prints, and works with ceramics, and I love learning about minerals and crystals to use for lapidary and metalsmithing projects. I love to garden and propagate native plants, and I have worked on organic farms in the past. I have two cats and in my spare time, I go backpacking, skateboarding, and hiking.

Executive Assistant

Rebecca Scully

Rebecca joined Solano Land Trust in November 2022. Originally from Contra Costa County, one of Rebecca’s favorite things while growing up was learning about our universe. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Cal State East Bay, worked several years in cell biology research, and has provided administrative support for various nonprofit organizations over the past 25 years.

After living in a few different areas around the country, she has made her home in Vacaville for the past twenty years with her husband and two sons. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening with native plants, making jewelry, and traveling with her family. Driven by a love for Solano County land, she takes pride in supporting those who provide research, education, habitat restoration, and recreation in the local community.

Transaction Specialist

Sarah Madsen

California Native outdoor enthusiast with 20 years of direct real estate lending experience and mom to two life-loving boys. In my spare time I enjoy backpacking, camping, hiking, kayaking and climbing. I’m also lifelong Martial Artist, Professional Musician, and waterfall chaser. I’m an animal rescuer and most recently have taken up a love of squirrels. Being born and raised in Solano County gives me a special attachment and knowledge of the area. I’m so incredibly grateful to have joined this team and to be doing my part in conserving this beautiful state and preserving our open spaces for generations to come, my own included. Marrying my love of the outdoors and career experience is a dream come true!