Back Country Land Trust

Our projects are as diverse as our talents. Our Board of Directors, Advisors, and Staff have experience as educators, administrators, fundraisers, financial advisors, counselors, project managers, and are, of course, avid outdoor enthusiasts.

George Barnett, President, Executive Director

A former Eagle Scout and Assistant Scoutmaster, Mr. Barnett graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering.He is a former member of the National Rifle Association, is married to his first wife, has three adult sons, and one grandchild. He is a retired executive of a private international oil company. His experiences include design engineering & construction and operations of refineries, chemical plants and oil field facilities in Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Far East.  He was the chief executive of major petroleum product manufacturing and retail companies in South East Asia, the Far East and in China. George is an active member of the Trails and Parks sub-committees of the Alpine Planning Group, an officer of the Alpine High School Citizens Committee and chairman of Supervisor Jacob's Revitalization Sub-Committee for active parks and recreation in Alpine.

Patrick Waters, JD, Secretary

Mr. Waters is Deputy General Counsel of Novatel Wireless, Inc., a Nasdaq-listed wireless data modem provider, where he focuses on corporate finance and strategic investments. Prior to joining Novatel in 2001, he was a corporate associate at the law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. Born and raised in Washington DC, he received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University in New York, a Masters degree from Yale University, and his law degree from Northwestern University in Chicago.

Ann Pierce, Treasurer, Education Director

Besides serving on the board of BCLT, Ann is a member of the Alpine Union School District Board of Trustees.  Having been a resident of Alpine for more than 30 years,  she been actively involved in local schools since 1989. In 2005, Ann enrolled as a graduate student at SDSU in the School Counseling program, which is focused on the needs of a diverse, multi-cultural student body. In Summer 2005, she was chosen to be a collaborator in the Native American Scholars & Collaborators Project (NASCP). NASCP prepares Master's level graduate students in counseling and specialist level graduate students in Psychology who are committed to serving Native American students. She graduated in 2007 with her Master’s in School Counseling, and a PPS credential. Believing that our young people are our most valuable natural resource, Mrs. Pierce continues to work with students and teachers to promote the use of Wright's Field for educational enrichment and service learning, while expanding the land trust’s efforts to educate students further east in our neighboring mountain communities.

Timothy Todaro, CFA

A partner with Rice Hall James in San Diego, Mr. Todaro is a Chartered Financial Analyst. He created an endowment fund for the land trust to ensure  we have sufficient funds to manage the organization and our conservation lands long into the future. Mr. Todaro is an avid cyclist and rides both on the road and trails in San Diego's back country. Mr. Todaro has been effective in attracting major donors to the land trust and is the Chair of Back Country Land Trust's Finance and Investment Committee.

Charles David Stout, Ph.D., Resource Director

Dr. Stout, a Research Scientist at Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, together with his wife Yolaine, is a founding member of the Back Country Land Trust Board of Directors. Dr. Stout is an accomplished molecular biologist, with a specialty in crystallography. Dr. Stout is additionally the Back Country Land Trust's principal public funding grant writer, helping to secure the number one and number three rankings for the Wright's Field acquisition through the California Department of Transportation's competitive Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program (EEMP). Dr. Stout leads research relative to the flora and fauna on Wright's Field and additionally serves on the Finance Committee.