Current Executive Director at the Bird Rescue Center, Ashton Kluttz completed her BA in Environmental Studies at Washington College (Chestertown, MD), and became a Registered Veterinary Technician in January of 2018. She began her career as a wildlife rehabber at the Marine Mammal Center, where she served as a Stranding Intern (i.e., rescue and triage response). 

From 2009-2013 she worked at the Bird Rescue Center as a Shift Supervisor then took a position as Veterinary Assistant during 2012-2013 where she completed the hours required to attain certification as a Vet Technician. In the fall of 2013, she returned to BRC as Manager of the Rehabilitation Hospital and Director of Avian Care.  In 2019, Ashton advanced to the role of Executive Director.

Jeremy Dwight Nichols graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, receiving a B.A. degree with a major concentration in physics. His working career was spent in Silicon Valley as an engineer at several major electronics firms. At one of these firms, he met Laura Cline, who became his wife in 1976. He retired in 1997 and moved to Sonoma County, where he lives in a rural setting with his wife and two cats.

Retired from a long career in international marketing and communications, Sam joined BRC’s Board of Directors in 2018. Having been a Bird Rescue Center ‘spouse’ for over 15 years (her husband, Brad Marsh is a long-time volunteer and the Raptor Release Coordinator) — it seemed time to make her involvement official. For many years she has put together presentations used in BRC’s outreach activities.

Janet Bosshard came to live in Sonoma County in 1974 to work for the Sonoma County Office of Education. After working as a vocational teacher assistant, she moved on to work for Marin County Parks and Open Space. Janet started in the Landscape Division and was promoted to Supervising Ranger, at McInnis Park, in 1981. After 28 years with Marin County, she retired and her passion for plants and wildlife led her to be a member of several environmental groups in Sonoma County. In the ensuing years, she has been an active member of Madrone Audubon, Sonoma Land Trust, Pepperwood Preserve, and a Bouverie Preserve docent.

Originally from Utah, Laura came to California in 1970. She worked for Hewlett-Packard for just under 25 years in marketing, manual revisions, and post-sales support for customers around the world.

Her love and respect for nature was instilled at an early age by her father, to the extent that and even now she would rather sit by a stream and watch the water striders magically walk on water than go to an amusement park.

After retiring from Silicon Valley and moving here to Sonoma County, she saw a piece in the newspaper asking for volunteers for Bird Rescue Center. She answered the call in February of 2005 and has been with the organization ever since.

More than six years ago, Dave Laurice joined the Bird Rescue Center as a Raptor Handler because he wanted to hold an owl like the people he had seen at the Sonoma County Fair. He soon realized this place would mean a lot more to him than that as he learned about more about these animals, their ecology, and our place in helping them. As a biologist and teacher of 21 years, Dave’s relationship with birds has furthered his dedication to the environment, his knowledge of our local wildlife, and his ability to teach stewardship to the young people and the community that he serves.

Julie is a high-energy executive with an established expertise in fundraising and management and a focus on nonprofit best practices leading to sustainability and growth. She has built both development departments and entire non-profits, collectively raising millions of dollars for the organizations she has represented.

David founded North Point Advisors in 2004 with the mission to create value for its clients by providing exceptional mergers and acquisitions advice and services. Since its founding, North Point has advised on over 100 transactions representing over $20 billion in transaction value and has become the leading M&A advisory firm to the consumer industry. At North Point, David has represented many industry-leading brands including Landry’s, Jimmy John’s, Teavana, Starbucks, Peanuts, Massage Envy, Taco Bell, Papa John’s, Edible Arrangements, Snap Fitness and Kosta Browne Winery.

A force to be reckoned with, Heidi is a serial entrepreneur and has created and operated five companies in the consumer space: FX Wave (electronics), Sofspin (personal care), tWibbles (toy), Teavana (as a retail franchisee) and Jimmy John’s (as a restaurant franchisee). Heidi has appeared on television interviews, QVC, and in magazines like Good Housekeeping. She currently owns eight Jimmy John’s restaurants in the greater Tacoma, Washington area.

Heidi was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and grew up near Lake Minnetonka. She attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and left college her junior year to join her father’s business as a sales representative for electronic components.

Originally from Omaha, Nebraska Hal graduated from the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. He joined his family’s business, Harry A. Koch Co. in 1983. One of the top 50 insurance agencies in the country, his career at Koch involved managing surety bonds (financial guarantees), contractor property and casualty insurance, and equity portfolios. Hal’s advancement within the company culminated in his becoming CEO in 1992. He led Koch Co. until its sale in 2004.

Hal is the Equity Manager and trustee for the extended Koch Family Trust. From 1992 until 2004, Hal also served on the board of the Food Bank of Nebraska, a nonprofit organization with an operating budget of $2,000,000 annually. In 2002, Hal was elected Board Chair and oversaw the work in both South Dakota and Nebraska, managing the funding efforts for the Food Bank and ensuring funding for its ultimate move to a new facility.