Staff Members

Grant D. Werschkull, Executive Director
Grant began working on Smith River watershed issues in 1977 as a consultant to the California Department of Fish and Game’s Wild and Scenic Rivers Program. Since then, Grant has worked as staff and consultant for a wide range public and private sector clients throughout California including the Nature Conservancy, Redwood National Park, the interest-based Water Forum negotiations in the Sacramento region, and Lopez Agricultural Services. Grant received his M.S. in Ecosystems Management from Antioch University West and his B.S. in Resource Recreation Management from Oregon State University's School of Forestry.

Patty McCleary, Deputy Director
Patty McCleary shares the responsibility of managing the Smith River Alliance with Mr. Werschkull. Patty is also the Project Manager for the  Pacific Shores Conservation Project — an effort to acquire lots from willing sellers for inclusion in the Lake Earl Wildlife Area — which includes the largest coastal lagoon in the lower 48 states. Patty has over 20 years of experience working on conservation issues for non-profit organizations. She was the Pacific Program Director for the Land Trust Alliance; a Project Manager for the Trust for Public Land; served as Executive Director for the Washington Water Trust; and as National Conservation Representative for the Sierra Club. Patty received her B.A. from the U.C. California at Santa Barbara.

Darell Warnock, Rock Creek Ranch Caretaker
Darell has served as the caretaker of Rock Creek Ranch since 2001. In this role he has overseen a series of capital improvements designed to prepare Rock Creek Ranch for public use. An accomplished painter, Darell works in oils and specializes in paintings of rivers and landscapes. Darell is also a competent field biologist and for the last several years has conducted at-sea surveys for marbled murrelets for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Darell studied Fine Arts at the University of New Mexico in Alburqerque.