Reese Baker, owner and founder of The RainCatcher Inc., is a certified permaculture designer who uses a regenerative approach to desert ecosystem management, water harvesting, erosion control, ecological restoration and high desert permaculture in the Santa Fe area for over 22 years. He holds a B.S. in Biology/Botany from The Uni-versity of New Mexico and is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Biology at The University of New Mexico with focus on the bioremediation of urban stormwater. He has taught classes on water harvesting, permaculture, and erosion control at Ecoversity, Plants of the Southwest, Santa Fe Preparatory School, Quivira Coalition, Earthworks Institute, Arboretum Tome, Permaculture Institute, Santa Fe Botanical Gardens, Santa Fe Mater Gardeners, Santa Fe Community College and is currently teaching at The University of New Mexico. The RainCatcher Inc., founded in 2001, is a full service design/build company that focuses on the principles of regenerative human impact and how to utilize water in the southwestern U.S. The RainCatcher uses the implementation of water harvesting, water catchment systems, edible/sustainable landscapes, irrigation, wastewater treatment and reuse, erosion control and restoration to achieve these goals. Reese enjoys spending time with his family, friends and community. As a hobby he studies classical piano with internationally renowned composer and performer, Dr. Falko Steinbach, professor of piano at The University of New Mexico. He is an avid gardener, and loves to be outdoors and in the mountains camping and snowboarding. In his spare time, he is working towards a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with profes-sor Thomas Pless.

Navona Gallegos is an ecologist and permaculture designer from Southwest Turtle Island. She works and educates on the intersection of water, biodiversity, food sovereignty, and nutrition: soil. This work looks like consulting, soil analysis and remediation, site design, and educational workshops and courses. Navona sees building soil as a keystone in stepping into right relation with our ecosystems, accessing more of our innate capacities, and creating abundance for future generations.

Jerry Jacobi has been a resident of Santa Fe for 46 years and served for 12 years on the River Commission (seven as chair) and have been on the Water Conservation Committee since 2019. Jerry is an aquatic ecologist interested in the taxonomy, distribution, and abundance of aquatic macroinvertebrates as they relate to water quality and quantity. He's Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science and Management, New Mexico Highlands University. Previously he was an Environmental Scientist with the New Mexico Environment Department; Associate Professor of Water Resources in the College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; and Resident American Project Director, Smithsonian Institution Foreign Currency Program "Limnological (physical, chemical, and biological) Investigations of Lake Scadar" in Montenegro, former Republic in Yugoslavia.

Beth joined the Water Conservation Committee in 2019 after attending several public outreach workshops sponsored by the Water Conservation Office. Her career focused on environmental preservation and education and she was interested in learning more about the City's water resources and how she could take part in advancing conservation efforts. As a WCC member, she serves on the Outdoor Conservation subcommittee.

BIO CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

Evan, a Canadian expat, moved to Santa Fe in 2021 with his wife to raise a family in this beautiful place she’s called home since childhood. Prior to Santa Fe Evan lived in New York for over 20 years, arriving after graduating with a Master in Architecture Degree from the Dalhousie Faculty of Architecture in Canada. Evan is a registered Architect in the states of New York and New Mexico. He has experience working on internationally recognized institutional projects such as the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University, Skirkanich Hall Bioengineering Research Facility at the University of Pennsylvania and most recently the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago for the Barack Obama Foundation. Each of these projects emphasizes environmental responsibility in design and construction achieving several certifications including ILFI Net Zero, LEED Platinum, and SITES along with various awards for design excellence. Evan is committed to being an active member of his chosen community here in Santa Fe, effecting positive change in whatever ways that he can. This includes teaching Architectural Design Studio at the University of New Mexico and volunteering as a member of the Santa Fe Water Conservation Committee. He strives to create more good than harm and to leave a legacy of which his daughter can be proud.

Carol is serving in her second term on the Santa Fe City Council. Her maternal roots span generations in the Mora Valley of New Mexico.  She has degrees from Colorado College, the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin, and the University of New Mexico Law School. For over thirty years, Carol has worked as a public policy consultant on water, environment, and sustainability issues.  She has been active in the Santa Fe community serving on many non-profit boards. Carol and her husband, Peter, raised two children in Santa Fe and practice law together at The Wirth Law Firm, PC. Her City Committee Assignments include Chair, Finance Committee; Chair, Water Conservation Committee; Chair, Buckman Direct Diversion Board; Chair, Community Development Commission, Member, Public Works, and Public Utilities Committee and Governing Body Parliamentarian.

A long time resident of Santa Fe, having arrived in 1975, for a “summer job” that now has turned into nearly 50 years of residency. Having studied Music Composition in school, it only became the obvious Santa Fe thing to do, which is to go into a completely unrelated field, Construction. He has been a licensed General Contractor in the state for nearly 30 years, and in the last 20 or so years has specialized in the design and construction of  small highly water and energy efficient homes. The is bills second time serving on the board, and is known for his frequently expressed opinions on all sorts of water related issues, as they pertain to the built environment here in Santa Fe, and state wide.

A relative newcomer to Santa Fe, Brandon Vella quickly recognized the unique charm and potential of the city with its blend of unique cultures, natural beauty, and strong community bonds. Passionate about affordability, sustainability, and vibrancy, he envisions a Santa Fe that thrives as a role model city, particularly in the southwest. Armed with a decade of experience in engineering, customer support, sales, marketing, and operations, he is well-equipped to approach the challenges with a stakeholder-centric mindset, emphasizing empathy, active listening, and effective communication as crucial tools in influencing change."