SCCC Awards 2023
Environmentalists of the Year 2023
Sustainable Development Advocacy
Kathy Pons & Sonia Taylor
Kathy Pons (Glen Ellen) is a founder and current president of the Valley of the Moon Alliance (VOTMA), a group that advocates for wise stewardship of the natural resources and sustainable growth in the Valley of the Moon corridor, and provides oversight of major development projects, water issues, and winery/event venue density.
Kathy was involved in forming the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Management Plan before the state mandate of GSAs, measuring water levels in volunteer wells to collect data about local groundwater levels. She focuses on the community impacts from development of traffic along Highway 12 through Sonoma Valley as well as planning for wildfire evacuation plans. Kathy’s long term and continued commitment to preserving and protecting the Valley of the Moon from on-going development pressures has led to tangible results in achieving these goals. Kathy and her allies will continue to express the concerns of the community with projects such as Kenwood Ranch, Sonoma Developmental Center, Hanna Housing Project and the Elnoka development.
Sonia Taylor (Santa Rosa), environmental, affordable housing and sustainable development advocate, will be recognized for her activism on many fronts. An indefatigable researcher with an insider’s knowledge of how government operates, Sonia works behind the scenes in the permit and planning process and has been involved with crafting policy positions on – among others – the Santa Rosa General Plan, Chanate Road development, and fire safety. Her graphic design skills have benefited many progressive campaigns. Sonia’s defense of CEQA, insistence on government transparency and enforcement of environmental protections have enlightened the public as well as decision makers.
Lifetime Environmental Achievement Award
Margaret Briare (Bodega Bay): According to her colleagues at Bodega Bay Concerned Citizens, Margaret Briare has been an unsung heroine of the Bodega Bay environment for more than 30 years. Her many accomplishments include helping protect a heron rookery on Bay Flat Rd from destruction, mapping wetlands, resolving code violations by the Harbor View development, and pressuring legal council for the California Coastal Commission Counsel to address violations of Coastal Act regulations. “Saving the Sonoma Coast (especially Bodega Bay) has been a longtime goal of mine since spending time here as a child when the bay was being dredged and the marina was being built.”
Norman Gilroy (Glen Ellen) is a tireless champion of the environment. “Retired” to the Sonoma Valley after 30 years with The Institute for the Human Environment, where he worked on environmental problem solving internationally, he has defeated proposals for a huge Amazon warehouse and a LPG tanker storage yard.
At the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), he served on the local Policy Committee and on CAFF’s statewide Board. He helped implement new earthquake-compliant facilities for Sonoma Valley Hospital, served for nine years on the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission, and now serves on the Advisory Committee for the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA). His current passion is saving the land and resources at the former Sonoma Developmental Center from over-development.
After decades of experience as an architect and planner, leading projects from design to completion, Norman has a brilliant capacity for synthesis of concepts and finding breakthrough solutions to complex issues. He is a team player who can gracefully bring people together by focusing on common goals and long-term impacts.
Youth Environmental Award
Galen Freed-Wilhelm: According to Tony Passantino of the Sonoma Ecology Center, Galen Freed-Wilhelm, is “An exceptional young individual whose unwavering dedication to environmental conservation, profound passion for reptiles, and remarkable accomplishments within our community warrant the highest recognition.”
Galen’s fascination with the natural world and his special interest in reptiles, set him apart as a contributor to understanding local biodiversity. He has documented an impressive 1,145 individual species on the Sonoma Developmental Center property, and he conducts regular naturalist walks at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, captivating audiences of all ages with his expertise and infectious passion. Demonstrating his commitment to the safety of both humans and animals, Galen relocates rattlesnakes from the Sugarloaf Ridge State Park campground to safer habitats.
In his own words, Galen says, “I have loved exploring and learning about nature since the time I could walk. I really like teaching people about animals and their behaviors, especially helping them overcome their fears.”
The Sonoma County Environmentalist of the Year Award, initiated in 1975, recognizes people who made outstanding efforts to protect natural resources in Sonoma County, directly or indirectly, or advanced their better stewardship. The Ernestine I. Smith Lifetime Environmental Commitment Award initiated in 1994, was granted to persons recognized by the SCCC as having devoted a major part of their lives working for the conservation and improvement of the natural environment. Additionally the SCCC has made awards for Young Environmentalist of the Year; for Outstanding Educators, Projects and Programs; and for Special Recognitions.
In 2016 the SCCC Board merged the Sonoma County Environmentalist of the Year Award with the Ernestine I Smith Lifetime Environmental Commitment Award. This award is now called the Ernestine I. Smith Sonoma County Environmentalist of the Year Award. Ernie Smith was one of the key early Conservation Council leaders and a long-standing Sonoma County environmentalist. This award recognizes Ernie’s inspirational legacy, her generation of trail-blazing environmental leaders, and environmental trail-blazers of today.
Ernestine I. Smith Sonoma County Environmentalists of the Year
2023 Kathy Pons and Sonia Taylor
2022 Marylee Guinon, Judith Olney & Deborah Eppstein
2021 Don McEnhill
2020 Rick Coates, Chris Poehlmann and Maya Khosla
2019 Woody Hastings
2018 Chris Brokate
2017 Teri Shore
2016 no award
2015 Kimberly Burr and Larry Hanson
2014 Stephen Fuller-Rowell
2013 Dennis Rosatti
2012 Steve Birdlebough
2011 John Herrick
2010 Jane Neilson
2009 David Keller
2008 Daisy Pistey-Lhyne
2007 Anne Hudgins and Suzanne Doyle
2006 Dave Henson and Keith Kaulum
2005 Rue Furch
2004 Peter Ashcroft
2003 Pavitra Crimmel
2002 Margaret Pennington
2001 Diane Hichwa
2000 “Look around, there’s on within 10 feet”
1999 Peeter Vilms
1998 Christa Shaw
1997 Mark Green
1996 Sandra Elles
1995 Krista Rector
1994 Juliana Doms
1993 Richard Charter
1992 Dick Day
1991 Joan Vilms
1990 Elizabeth Eddins
1989 Dee Swanhuyser
1988 Helen Libeu
1987 Carol Vellutini and Brenda Adelman
1986 Bill and Lucy Kortum
1985 David and Shirley Thatcher and Len Swenson
1984 Clark Nattkemper
1983 Barbara Meyn
1982 Joel Hedgpeth
1981 Ken Stocking
1980 Ernie Smith, Martha Bentley and Iva Warner
1979 Virginia Hechtman
1978 Chuck Rhinehart
1977 John Crevelli
1975 Chuck and Jean Hinkle
Special Recognitions
2020 Janina Turner and Jamie Nakama, Inspiring Youth; Duskie Estes, Local Produce Rescue
2018 Caitlin Cornwall and Betty Young, Leadership in Post-Fire Ecosystem Regeneration
2014 Wendy Krupnik, Queen Bee
2012 Duane De Witt, Outstanding Grassroots Environmentalist
2008 Iva Warner
2007 City of Sebastopol Sustainability Program
2006 Portia Sinnott, Environmental Innovator of the Year (LITE Initiatives)
2005 Pat Wiggins and Keith Kaulum (COAAST founders)
2004 Ann Hancock
2003 Ann Stroberger
1998 Frances Tanti
1997 Teresa Ramondo
Sonoma County Young Environmentalist of the Year
Initiated in 2011, this award is granted to younger people who are stepping up to help protect and restore our environment.
2023 Galen Freed-Wilhelm
2011 Jessica Jones, Student Vice President of Santa Rosa Junior College
Lifetime Environmental Achievement Award
Initiated in 1994, this award is granted to persons who are recognized by the SCCC as having devoted a major part of their lives working for the conservation and improvement of the natural environment in Sonoma County.
2023 Margaret Briare and Norman Gilroy
2022 Willard Richards
2021 Cea Higgins, Michele Luna, Richard Retecki
2019 Pat & Ted Eliot
2014 Anne Teller and family, Oak Hill Farm
2012 Roger Raiche
2009 Betty Guggolz and Betty Burridge
2008 Brenda Adelman
2007 Bernie Album
2006 Peter Leveque and Phyllis Schmitt
2005 Marty Griffin and Ken Stocking
2003 Barbara Biebush
2002 Martha Bentley
2001 George Ellman
2000 Dick Day
1999 Bill Kortum
1998 Chuck Rhinehart
1997 Len Swenson
1996 Clark Nattkemper
1995 Barbara Meyn
1994 Ernestine Smith
Outstanding Educators, Projects and Programs Award
Initiated in 1990, these awards are granted to persons, projects and programs recognized by the SCCC as having used special innovation and insight to teach students – young and old, about the environment.
2014 STRAW: Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed
2012 Nichole Warwick, Sebastopol schools
2011 Conservation Corps: North Bay
2010 Daily Acts (Trathen Heckman)
2009 Cotati Creek Critters (Jenny Blaker and Wade Belew)
2009 Pachamama Alliance
2008 Cool Schools Program, Climate Protection Campaign (Maitreyi Siriguri)
2008 Leadership Training for a Sustainable Future and Sonoma Academy Youth Program (Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy)
2007 Michael Teller
2007 In Our Own Backyard and Adventures in the Big Outdoors (Land Paths)
2007 Sonoma County Conservation Action
2006 Danny Bever, Jeff Tobes, Wendy Losee, and Tina Poles
2006 The Student Commute Project (Analy High School AP Statistics Class)
2006 Environmental Pilot Program (Oak Grove Union School District)
2006 Bouverie Preserve Docents and Audubon Canyon Ranch (Madrone Audubon)
2006 Russian River State Parks Environmental Education Program (Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods)
2005 Bonny Stene
2004 Dave Casey and John Klobas
2003 Fred Hall
2002 Krista McAtee
2001 North Bay Science Project (Sharon Janulaw)
2000 Sharon Mansfield
1999 Marci Cook and David Neubacher
1998 Kathy Angell and Mike Heffernan
1997 Tom Furrer, Jennifer Creeth and Ron Head
1996 Chris Peterson, Paula Fogarty, Kathy Angell, Anne Harris, and Leslie Supan
1995 Kathy Vyenielo