Board of Directors

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Dr. Robert Reed

Chair

Dr. Robert Reed, Medical Director, VCA Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital joined the Friends Board in January 2021, and became Chair in Jan. 2024. Robert is a Certified California Naturalist and serves on our Programs Committee.

Tara Bravo

Tara Bravo Mulally

Vice Chair and Marketing Committee Chair

Tara Bravo, Sr. Vice President, CV Strategies was recently elected the Friends’ Board in 2021. Tara is also currently serving on the Marketing/Development Committee.

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Matthew Gonda

Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair

Matthew Gonda, CPA and CGMA, CEO of Gonda + Co. joined the FODM Finance Committee in 2019 and was elected to the Board of Directors in September 2020.

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Deborah McGarrey

Secretary

Deborah McGarrey, Public Affairs Manager, Southern California Gas joined the Board in 2014, served as Board President in 2017 and 2018, and now is on Friends’ Marketing Committee.

Robert G. Berriman

Retired, currently serves on the Palm Springs International Airport Commission. FODM Volunteer beginning in 2015, Bob is now a member of the Property Committee and is the Land Monitoring Lead.

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Kathy Coleman

Kathy Coleman, Co-CEO, Sunnyland Kansas LLC. was elected to the Friends’ Board in 2018 and served as Board Vice President in 2020. Kathy also serves on the Marketing/Development Committee.

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John Criste

Property Committee Co-Chair

John Criste, President & Principal Planner, Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc. was elected to the FODM board in 2018.

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Rebecca Driscoll

Past Chair

Rebecca Driscoll, President, Keith Driscoll Farms, Inc joined the Friends’ Board in 2014 and served as President (Chair) Nov. 2020 - Dec. 2023. Rebecca also serves on the Marketing/Development, Fundraising, and Finance Committees.

Melina Duarte

Fundraising Committee Chair

Melina Duarte is the Founder and Principal Consultant of MyDuarte Strategy Group. Melina joined Friends’ Board in June 2023. Melina serves on our Social Justice Committee.

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Gordon Fidler

Gordon Fidler, Retired is the volunteer leader for FODM trail maintenance and construction. He was elected to the Board in 2016 and now serves on the Property Committee.

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Robert Hargreaves

Robert Hargreaves, Attorney and Partner with Best, Best & Krieger was elected to the FODM Board in 2012 and served as Board President in 2015 and 2016. Bob currently serves on the Finance and Social Justice Committees.

Stephen D. Hockett

Programs Committee Chair

Stephen Hockett, Principal (retired), Fairfax County Public Schools Virginia, moved to the Coachella Valley seven years ago.  Stephen joined the Friends Board in May 2022, and is working with our Programs and Finance Committees.

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Anne J. Kane

Anne Kane, Attorney with Cosgrove, Cosgrove and Humphery serves on Friends’ Marketing/ Development Committee. Anne joined the Board in March 2020. She served as Board Secretary November 2020- February 2023.

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Cheryl McKinley

Cheryl McKinley, Retired began her board service with Friends in 2012 and served as Board President in 2019 and 2020. She serves on the Programs and Social Justice Committees.

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Joan Taylor

Property Committee Co-Chair

Joan Taylor, Conservationist is a founding member of Friends of the Desert Mountains. Joan has served Friends in many roles since 1987. Joan served as Treasurer of the Board in 2020-2023.

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P. Sienna Thomas

Social Justice Committee Chair

Sienna Thomas, Whitewater Preserve Ranger joined the Friends Board in September 2020. Sienna also serves on the board of the Malki Museum in Banning.

Board Members Emeritus

Ted Lennon