Leadership & Staff
Dedicated Stewards of the Forest
San Bernardino Peak
PETER JORRIS, President
Peter Jorris co-founded the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust in 1995. He is a former land surveyor and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He worked as volunteer for the organization for twelve years before joining the Board of Directors in 2007.
Polly Sauer, Vice President
Polly Sauer joined the Board of Directors in 2012. Polly enjoyed a career overseas for 20 years as a worldwide business development and marketing consultant. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications and Theatre Arts from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point.
JENNIFER HEICHBERGER, Treasurer
REVEREND, RANDY BUECHELER, Director
Reverend, Randy Buecheler is the Senior Pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church of Lake Arrowhead and is on the Board of the church's two schools on the mountain, Mount Calvary Early Education Center in Lake Arrowhead and Kids Corner School in Running Springs. He has been a member of the Rotary Club of Lake Arrowhead for over 20 years. Pastor Buecheler is also an avid hiker and backpacker in the local mountains and around the world.
CRAIG CARPENTER, Director
Craig Carpenter joined the Board of Directors in 2022 and brings experience in geospatial and mapping expertise. He holds a Master's Degree in Geographic Information Systems and is active in his local community of Arrowbear, located in the San Bernardino Mountains.
KARLA KELLEMS, Coordinator, Membership and Outreach
Karla supports staff and assists with facilitating communications between staff, partners, affiliates, members, and the community. Karla holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology.
KEVIN KELLEMS, Director
Kevin Kellems holds the position of Director Land and Operations for the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust. His chief function is identifying the top acquisition sites, prioritizing each project and carrying out all complex real estate transactions. Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology.
SUE ELLEN KNAPP, Secretary
NICHOLAS REKSTEN, Director
Nicholas Reksten is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Economics at the University of Redlands, California. His primary teaching and research field is the economics of environment and climate change. He holds a PhD in Economics from American University.
SANDY STEERS, Director
For the past 22 years, Sandy Steers has served as executive director of the Friends of the Big Bear Valley, an educational environmental nonprofit organization, focused on protecting Big Bear Valley's special habitats and species and connecting people with nature. Her training and background are in biology, neuro-linguistic programming and connecting spirituality with science.
“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.”
- Mahatma Gandhi