Conservancy Staff

Brian Teng is the Operations Manager for the Park Nurseries. Having grown up in the Bay, he has a deep love for the people, places, and plants that make this region home.

Chris Spence is Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships. In this role, Chris supports many of the organization's key partnerships and external relationships.

Robert Lieber directs the Interpretive Sales program for the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, which is responsible for the exhibits and merchandise in visitor centers and stores throughout the parks, as well as their design, staffing, operation.

Ryan Curran White is the Senior Content Marketing Manager for the Parks Conservancy.

Cathie Barner, AIA, has more than three decades of experience managing large-scale civic projects across the U.S. She currently serves as Vice President of Park Projects for the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.

Ernesto Pepito is the Associate Director, Youth Leadership, at Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. He supports a number of outreach, volunteer, and internship initiatives and projects that promote youth leadership for thriving parks, healthier communities, and a more environmentally just society.

Chris has worked with raptors for 15 years and one of his first field jobs was as an intern for the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory. After leaving, Chris finished his BS in Biology at Virginia Tech. He received his MSc and PhD working on Swainson's Hawks in California examining a number of aspects of their ecology, conservation and population dynamics.

Yakuta was born and raised in India, and her love affair with nature began during her first trek to the Himalayas.