Darla Guenzler has led numerous policy, research and collaborative projects on improving the use and management of land protection and management tools, and has developed regional conservation plans and funding strategies. She was previously Associate Director of the Bay Area Open Space Council and is a frequent instructor on land trust issues.

Harry Pollack has over 30 years of experience. He manages the transactions and develops and maintains his company`s relationships with its clients. He has been active as a speaker at conservation conferences and has assisted with the establishment of the California Council of Land Trusts. He is also a partner in the law firm of Pollack & Davis, where he concentrates on negotiating real estate and other business transactions.

KEYNOTE PRESENTER

William Hutton is a recognized expert in nonprofit and tax law, with an emphasis on the tax aspects of land conservation and preservation, including conservation easement planning. He is counsel to both national conservation organizations and local and regional land trusts, and advises individuals and corporations on the income and estate tax consequences of conservation transactions. In addition to his work for the firm`s clients, Mr. Hutton is a Professor of Law Emeritus at the University of California Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. He has lectured at virtually every major national tax conference, and he has taught summer courses to Internal Revenue Service, Justice Department and Treasury attorneys. He was a founding board member of Conservation International and presently serves on the board of Ecotrust.

FACULTY

Michele Clark is responsible for negotiating and closing the conservation easement transactions at the California Rangeland Trust (CRT). She joined CRT in 2004 after serving as regional counsel to the Trust for Public Land. Prior to that, Michele enjoyed a successful career as a partner with McDonough, Holland & Allen in Sacramento. Michele has taught a variety of real estate conservation courses at seminars sponsored by the Land Trust Alliance, CCLT and the Great Valley Center.

Ellen Fred serves clients in various areas of tax law, focusing primarily on land conservation transactions and nonprofit tax issues. Prior to establishing her solo practice, she was with the San Francisco law firm of Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass, where she practiced for four years in its land conservation section. Ms. Fred is also an Of Counsel attorney with the law firm of Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge in Traverse City, Michigan.

Kate Kelly provides land use, project management, and governmental relations consulting services to public agencies, land trusts and other nonprofits. She has over 18 years of experience in land use and environmental planning, public policy, conservation transactions, economic development and organizational management. During her eight years as Yolo Land Trust`s Executive Director, Kate worked extensively with government agencies, the development community, landowners and stakeholders to craft, implement and refine mitigation policies and programs.

Walter Moore oversees all functions of the Land Department, including acquisition, management and disposition of all Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) properties. Prior to joining POST in 1995, he was an associate with the law firm of Thoits, Love, Hershberger & Mclean, where he specialized in real estate  transactions and litigation. Mr. Moore is Chair of the California Council of Land Trusts Policy Committee and former Chair of the Bay Area Open Space Council.

Bob Neale oversees the management of his Trust`s conservation lands and the direction of the conservation easement stewardship program. Before coming to SLT in 2004, Bob worked with Sustainable Conservation as Director of the Partners in Restoration Program, an innovative approach to streamlining regulatory review for conservation projects. He started his career in conservation with the Peninsula Open Space Trust as its Land Manager.

Michelle Passero has over 12 years of experience working in land conservation, environmental law and policy, with particular expertise in forest and climate policy and related conservation transactions. She has written and contributed several articles analyzing legal issues related to the emerging greenhouse gas emissions trading market and forest conservation. Currently, she is leading TNC`s policy efforts to establish a comprehensive role for forests and natural systems under the California Global Warming Solutions Act.

Robert "Perl" Perlmutter focuses his practice on local initiatives and referendums, green building, land use, CEQA, NEPA, the Clean Water Act, Federal and California Clean Air Acts, California Endangered Species Act, general planning and zoning laws, conservation easements, the Political Reform Act, and open meeting laws. He advises and represents environmental organizations, public agencies, and community groups in administrative proceedings in state and federal courts.

Paul Rowan provides independent appraisal services to leading regional park districts and land trusts in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has over 25 years of appraisal experience including habitat, open space and agricultural lands. He has presented at numerous conservation easement seminars in California on valuation issues.