MEET THE TEAM
Staff
Dr. Mitchell Coleman, Executive Director
Mitchell grew up in Bakersfield and has been connected to Tejon Ranch since childhood, first visiting through Scouts BSA and developing an early appreciation for the landscapes he now helps steward. In 2015, he conducted his master’s thesis research on the Ranch through a grant-supported project and also interned with the Conservancy, experiences that helped shape his long-term connection to the organization and its mission.
After completing his master’s degree in 2017, Mitchell joined the Conservancy as a staff biologist. From 2019 to 2025, he served as Conservation Science Director, overseeing science and stewardship programs, coordinating research projects, and serving as the Conservancy’s designated conservation easement monitor. He was appointed Executive Director in December 2025.
Mitchell’s academic background is in plant physiological ecology, particularly in saline ecosystems. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Westmont College, an M.S. in Biology from CSU Bakersfield, and a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology from UC Riverside.
Beyond his scientific background, Mitchell is a passionate ambassador for Tejon Ranch. He is dedicated to sharing the Ranch’s ecological and cultural richness with visitors, students, supporters, and community partners, and is committed to guiding the Conservancy into its next chapter of science, stewardship, public access, and education.
In addition to his work with the Conservancy, Mitchell serves on the boards of the California Living Museum (CALM) and the California Botanical Society. Outside of work, Mitchell enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking, photography, world travel, native and vegetable gardening, and caring for two dogs, two snakes, and a few freshwater aquariums. You can often find him deep in a Studio Ghibli film or playing a game from the Legend of Zelda series.
Andi Campognone, Public Engagement Director
Starting her career as a photographer, Andi quickly became immersed in the intersection of art, culture, and community – a throughline that has shaped her work for more than three decades. Before joining the Tejon Ranch Conservancy in May 2026 as Director of Public Engagement, she built a widely recognized career in contemporary art and civic programming, serving in leadership roles with museums, local government, and cultural institutions across Southern California. Through this work, she developed a strong belief that storytelling, shared experiences, and inclusive programming are essential to helping people connect with and care for the places they call home.
At the Conservancy, Andi oversees public programs, communications, partnerships, and outreach efforts that expand opportunities for visitors, students, and supporters to experience and learn from Tejon Ranch. Her work includes developing interpretive and educational programming, coordinating events, and helping shape the Conservancy’s public voice.
Beyond her professional background, Andi is deeply committed to conservation in both her personal and professional life. She serves as a director on the Bear Valley Springs Wildlife Coalition and is certified in native landscaping, grounding her outreach work in practical, place-based stewardship. She is passionate about connecting people to the ecological and cultural richness of Tejon Ranch and strengthening the Conservancy’s growing work in public access, interpretation, and education.
Reema Hammad, Public Access and Education Manager
Reema started at the Conservancy in 2016 as a docent after completing her California Naturalist certification. In 2018, she was hired as a Public Access and Education Assistant, where she helped lead hikes and tours on the Ranch. Now, she serves as the Public Access and Education Manager, overseeing various activities on the Ranch for both the public and educational purposes. Being on the Tejon Ranch has provided Reema with the opportunity to further pursue her passion and career as a landscape and nature photographer.
Monica Uriaz, Staff Biologist
Monica grew up in Bakersfield with a deep appreciation for the high biodiversity and endemicism found in the San Joaquin Valley. She obtained her B.S. in Biology from California State University, Bakersfield, and continued onto graduate studies at her alma mater in the Fall of 2024 to pursue an M.S. in Biology with a focus on plant physiological ecology. During this time, Monica joined the Conservancy through a valley oak restoration internship. This internship granted her the opportunity to focus her ongoing master's thesis research on the factors limiting valley oak seedling recruitment in the southern San Joaquin Valley.
In the Spring of 2025, Monica began her new role with the Conservancy as the Biological Technician. Her main duties include the monitoring of 10 active conservation easements on the Ranch and assisting with administrative tasks. She is excited to continue her master's research while helping to preserve the precious ecosystems of Tejon Ranch.
Blake Bastain, Operations Manager
After 26 years as a high school English teacher, Blake joined the Tejon Ranch Conservancy in April 2026 as Operations Manager, bringing with him a lifelong passion for education, community, and the outdoors. His love for the natural world began during his college years exploring, hiking, and camping throughout the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains east of Sacramento. While he still serves as an adjunct instructor for the Bakersfield College English Department, Blake is excited to bring his decades of experience as an educator into a new kind of classroom — the landscapes of Tejon Ranch.
As Operations Manager, Blake plays a vital behind-the-scenes role supporting the Conservancy’s day-to-day operations, public programs, and organizational logistics. A true jack-of-all-trades, he helps keep the Conservancy running smoothly while also supporting outreach and visitor engagement efforts across the Ranch.
Blake is especially passionate about helping people build meaningful connections to the outdoors through education, exploration, and shared experiences. He is excited to help visitors of all ages safely experience and appreciate the ecological and cultural richness of Tejon Ranch.
Senior Docents
Mark Duffel
Born and raised in East Bakersfield, Mark always saw Tejon Ranch as a familiar presence on the horizon. Family friends worked and raised their families on the Ranch, though at the time there was little understanding of the extraordinary landscape beyond its role as a backdrop to everyday life. More than sixty years later, that familiarity has grown into a deep appreciation for the beauty, history, and ecological significance of the largest privately owned property in California.
After retiring from a career in the transportation industry, Mark began looking for a meaningful way to contribute his time and photography skills. Through a friend who was already volunteering as a Conservancy docent, he became involved with the Tejon Ranch Conservancy. Today, he serves as a volunteer docent and photographer while also managing the Ranch’s trail camera array.
Like many involved with the Conservancy, Mark wears many hats in support of the organization’s mission. Through leading public access tours and assisting visiting researchers, he hopes to help others discover the remarkable landscapes, wildlife, and history of Tejon Ranch and experience the place through a new perspective.
Dick Taylor
In early 2017, Dick and his wife Cheryl attended a wildflower tour on Tejon Ranch, an experience that sparked his interest in becoming more involved with the Conservancy. Soon after, he enrolled in the California Naturalist Training Program offered through the Tejon Ranch Conservancy, attending classes while still working full-time. He quickly realized that conservation education and public engagement were passions he hoped to pursue more deeply after retirement, which came the following year.
Today, Dick is actively involved in wildlife camera monitoring, public access tours, and citizen science projects across the Ranch. He is especially passionate about the rich history of Tejon Ranch, its wildlife, and the character of the landscape itself, from its geology to its native vegetation.
Dick greatly enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for the Ranch with visitors and helping guests develop a deeper appreciation for the remarkable landscapes and biodiversity of Tejon Ranch.
Don Britton
Don first became familiar with the Tejon Ranch Conservancy in March 2022 when he joined a Cross Ranch Tour led by his longtime friend, Dick Taylor. The experience immediately sparked a fascination with the Ranch’s landscapes, wildlife, and history, and he soon began asking how he could become involved as a volunteer docent himself.
After retiring in January 2023, Don officially joined the Conservancy as a volunteer the following year. Today, he assists with public access tours, wildlife camera maintenance, and invasive plant control efforts across the Ranch.
For Don, time spent on Tejon Ranch offers a sense of solitude and escape from the pace of everyday city life. He especially enjoys connecting with nature through the Ranch’s remarkable scenery and wildlife and values every opportunity to experience and photograph the landscapes that make Tejon Ranch so unique.