Board of Directors
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
John Criste
Property Committee Co-Chair
John Criste, President & Principal Planner, Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc. was elected to the FODM board in 2018.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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