Officers

Jack Sanchez

I’m the President and founder of Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead (SARSAS).

Born and raised in a home along the Auburn Ravine in Ophir, where my mother was also born, I believe it was in the stars for me to become the founder and president of SARSAS because I lived in the Auburn Ravine as a child and learned to love all its creatures.  Graduating from Ophir Elementary and Placer High School, and returning after college to teach English at Del Oro High School in Loomis for 38 years, has solidified my love of this area and all the Auburn Ravine has to offer.

My experience as a State Park Ranger for twenty-seven summers in the Sierras provided me additional knowledge of our local flora and fauna as well as a keen awareness of nature’s fragile ecosystem.  My mother took me as a little boy on Wildflower hunts each spring which instilled a love of nature in me.

After my retirement in 2001, my wife Valerie and I ventured to Tanzania, where we climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.  After Valerie’s retirement, we continued with our love of hiking through Australia and New Zealand, culminating with the Milford Sound Trek, said to be the most beautiful hike on earth.  Later we hiked through Patagonia, sailed the Strait of Magellan, the Beagle Channel, and Cape Horn, also hiking around Iguazu Falls in Northern Argentina.   We continued to hike extensively throughout Europe, Canada and the US and hike locally as often as possible.

Valerie and I live in Auburn and have two sons, Jeffrey and Jonathan, and two granddaughters, Jessica and Jacquelyn, along with a grandson, Jakob.  My family retains ownership of our original home along the Auburn Ravine where I developed my love of the area.

Gary G. Mapa

I am a Director and Vice President of Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead.

My family moved to Meadow Vista in 1960. I attended Placer Hills Grammar School, graduated from Placer High School in 1968 and attended Sierra Jr. College. In 1977 I obtained my California Real Estate License and have been associated with real estate and real estate consulting ever since. For the past 15 years, and currently, I am a real estate consultant to the Wireless Communication Industry and am actively involved in developing wireless facilities for major wireless companies.

I became aware of the SARSAS opportunity and my desire to see “Salmon and Steelhead” in Auburn has compelled me to share in Jack and Valerie Sanchez’ dream, which will be a reality.

I live in Applegate with my wife, Leslie, also a SARSAS supporter. We have two daughters, a son and four grandchildren. It is for them that I want the Salmon and Steelhead “back” to Auburn. I can be contacted at: gmapa@reatta.com

Stan Nader

I grew up on a farm in rural Lincoln. I attended elementary school in Sheridan and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1966. I attended Sierra College and received my associates of arts degree in agriculture in 1968. From there I went to Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Crop Science in 1971.

I returned to the family farm to co-manage the operation with my father. We grew wheat, barley, Sudan grass, oat hay, rice, safflower, vegetable seeds, and cattle. We also operated a feed store. We operated the farm together for twenty years until there was a family decision to sell the farm for development.

In the mid-70’s I was invited to participate in Class VIII of the Agricultural Leadership Program sponsored by the Agricultural Education Foundation. The purpose of the program was to train people with agricultural backgrounds to become involved in civic activities. So in 1978 I was elected to the local school board and served for eight years. Then in 1986 I was elected to the Lincoln City Council and served for seven years.

After leaving the farm I was hired to manage the composting operation for Nortech (Placer County’s recycling company). I worked there for ten years. From there I formed my own composting company with a friend. We operated that business for seven years.

I have since retired and I am very active in the Lincoln community.

Valerie Sanchez

I am the Treasurer of SARSAS.

Although I grew up as a military brat, moving every three years and living all throughout the United States and Germany, I claim California as my home. I graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in German and English. In 1970 my family moved to California, and in 1971 I began my thirty-one year career teaching German, English and drama at Del Oro High School.

Jack, the president of SARSAS and my husband, and I have traveled extensively, enjoying learning about foreign countries and many parts of the U.S. through hiking. We both have a deep, abiding love of the natural world. I spent my summers when Jack worked as a ranger learning about wildflowers, trees, and wildlife in the Sierra. In my experience nature offers endless joy and beauty, treasures which should be preserved and protected.

I serve as a Board Member and the Treasurer of SARSAS. I hope that my role will contribute to a better world for our sons and grandchildren and extended family. I am looking forward to the day that I can watch salmon spawning in the center of Auburn as my grandchildren delight in one of nature’s most awe inspiring sights.

 

Jim Holmes, Placer County Supervisor, District 3:

Thank you for visiting the SARSAS website. I am one of the newest members of SARSAS Board of Directors, but have worked with SARSAS since its inception. I was born and raised in the Auburn area and have watched the effects SARSAS has made to restore salmon and steelhead to the Auburn Ravine and feel privileged to now be a part of that effort.

I consider it an honor and a privilege to represent Placer County’s Third Supervisory District. The Third District includes a portion of North Auburn (home of the Placer County Government Center), the scenic and rustic communities of Ophir, Newcastle, Penryn, the Town of Loomis (where a small town is like a big family) and the majority of the City of Rocklin. As a former Wolverine, I am pleased to say that Sierra College, one of the top community colleges in the state, is in my district.

As the Third District Representative to the Placer County Board of Supervisors, I promise to be active in the community, to be available, to listen to all sides of the issues and make common sense decisions that are in the best interests of current Placer County citizens and future generations.

My greatest goals during my term of office are to preserve and protect the agricultural heritage of our beautiful county and insure quality, customer friendly government services.

Listening to your concerns is the most important part of my job as your Supervisor. Please feel free to contact me at my office (530-889-4010) or by electronic mail (jholmes@placer.ca.gov).

I was elected in 2004 and assumed my seat on the Board of Supervisors January 4, 2005. I am currently serving my3rd term. I represent the 3rd District, an area that includes a portion of North Auburn, Ophir, Newcastle, Penryn, Loomis and the majority of Rocklin.

An Auburn native with more than 29 years of business experience, I have been dedicated to community service throughout my adult life, serving on: The Auburn Union Elementary School District Board; The Placer Consolidated Fire Protection District; The North Auburn Municipal Advisory Council, founding member; The Highway 49 Business Association, founding member;The Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce; The Boys and Girls Club and Teen Center of Auburn Program Administer.

I went to local schools, graduating from Placer High School and Sierra College. I have a bachelor’s degree in political science from Humboldt State University.

My wife, Pat, and I, have two daughters, Stacy and Amy, a son, John, and granddaughters Amber, Mandy, Lyla, and Mia.

Thomas Beattie

I am a lifelong resident of Placer County. I grew up in Newcastle and attended local schools-Del Oro, Sierra College, U.C. Davis. I received a B.A. in history at Davis and graduated from Hastings School of Law in 1976. For over 30 years I was employed as a criminal prosecutor for Placer County and the Office of the Attorney General. I retired in 2011.

I reside in Auburn near Placer High School. I have lived there for over 36 years. I am currently active in the Placer County Master Gardeners, the local chapter of Audubon, and the Sierra Club. My current interests include gardening, cycling, and fitness training.

Robert Hane

I am the North Ravine Restoration Coordinator for SARSAS.

I was born in Chico, CA, where my parents owned a lumberyard and cabinet shop. They also owned property in Orlando, CA. We eventually moved to the ranch there. The state used eminent domain to claim this property for the building of Interstate 5. When this took place we moved to Sacramento.

I graduated from Howe Elementary School and Encina High School. Then I enlisted in the U. S. Army. I went to Vietnam in 1965. After I returned to the states I was stationed at Fort Campbell Kentucky with the 101st Airborne Division. After being discharged, I returned to Sacramento and worked as an Operating Engineer for thirty-five years.

My wife and I moved to Auburn in 1969 and started a Christmas tree ranch. I was president of the 49er Fruit Trail and Christmas Tree Lane for twelve years. Also, I was a member of the Junior Livestock Fair for the Gold Country Fair for five years.

I first became interested in SARSAS after reading an article in the Auburn Journal about Jack Sanchez and John Rabe trying to save small fish by watering a creek with a garden hose. I am an avid fly fisherman and have been since I was thirteen years old. I have recollections of my parents fishing for salmon in Butte Creek. My dad used a pitchfork and my mom held a gunnysack. They were standing knee deep in the creek with thousands of salmon around them.

As a SARSAS member, I would like to help make it possible for Jack Sanchez’s dream to come true.

William Wauters

Placer County resident since 1949.Newcastle Grammar/Placer High/Sierra College. Main trades in construction, building contractor .

Always active and outspoken poltically and environmentally, very left wing, yet I was asked to run for the ARD board by the old League of Placer County Taxpayers, Wally Remlin and Dan Sokel!  ARD was corrupt and very inefficient at the time.

Elected 2 terms on ARD board. I have been chair and know what an elected is supposed to do, and not; Look up Ralph Swan.

Past member PARC board.

Canyon Keeper volunteer member since 1999. I cordinate the public speakers.

Member Trails Advise com for the Cap to Cap trail.

Sierra Club member for decades.

Currently active in Friends of the Bear River and Friends of Placer Lrgacy.

References to ask; Jack and Valerie, Scott Johnson, Tom Beattie, Gary Mapa, Marylin Jasper,Jim Holmes,Otis Wollan, Loren Clark,Jennifer Montgomery, John Krogsrud, Dean Prigmore, Rex Maynard, Tom Toy, Dick Warren, Roger and Sue Grogan, Jim Ferris, Gordy Ainsleigh, Ed Weiss, Evan Jones, Mike Lynch.

SARSAS fits right in my interest areas at this important time.

Randy Hansen

I am a SARSAS Board Member and Liaison to Fish Friendly Farming . I was born and raised on a family fruit growing operation in Loomis. I attended Loomis and Placer Elementary Schools and graduated from Del Oro High School and U.C Berkeley with degrees in Biology and Entomology.

For the past 34 years, and currently, I have been a self-employed Agricultural Consultant. I specialize in Integrated Pest Management for fruit growers including organic and sustainable practices such as Fish Friendly Farming. I am on the Technical Committee of the El Dorado County Subwatershed Group – a part of the Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition.

I live in Placerville with my wife Joyce. We have two children, a daughter and a son.

 

Jim Ferris

Education and Career Synopsis, plus.

Raised in Ithaca in upstate New York: attended Ithaca High School (National Honor Society, Student Council VP,  lettered in multiple-sports).

Yale (BA in English, Dean’s List, debate club, University middle weight boxing champion, football and Rugby teams (got killed by UCLA and Cal in Rugby), handball champion.

Stanford Graduate School of Business (MBA)

Army duty (signal corps training with 8-year reserve duty)

Market Research Corporation of America (MRCA) in San Francisco. (client service executive)  MRCA was at that time the second largest firm in the world in the consumer research business (second to A.C. Neilson).

General Foods Corporation headquarters in White Plains, NY; Brand management in Coffee Marketing Division. Recruited across town to…

Nestle Corp (US headquarters) Chocolate Marketing Division. Brand manager on Quik and Nestles Morsels products; New Products Manager for division.

Recruited as VP. Marketing and Sales for Plus Products in LA. (Plus was largest U.S. distributor of supplements and nutrition products sold to the health food market). I developed line of products for sale to super markets (first time ever)  While at Plus, I worked on a public stock offering. The company was subsequently sold to pharma company,

Joined American Dietary Labs/Signet Labs in Burbank as CEO. Both firms were fully owned subsidiaries of Marion Labs, a NY Stock exchange Pharmaceutical firm headquartered in Kansas City. When they decided to consolidate ADL and another of sub in K.C., I resigned in order to stay in CA.

I became President of privately owned Curtis Laboratories,  an L.A. based manufacturer of nuclear medical diagnostic products. Firm had been losing money. I succeeded in turning the company’s profitability around within a year; then arranged for the founder/owner to sell out to a large eastern Pharma company. Hence, I was truly unemployed for the first time in years.

I decided to start my own consulting business, Ferris & Associates, specializing in marketing, sales, marketing research and new product development.  Have worked over the years since for over a hundred clients—large and small. Billion dollars companies to start ups.

Moved from La Canada-Flintridge to Auburn 29 years ago and am now officially retired (except part-time consulting with selected clients).

Have been an active volunteer in Auburn since arriving. Joined Gold Country Rotary (having previously founded a new day-break club in Montrose, CA) Started the Canyon Keepers  22 years ago. Co-authored Canyon Hikes book and have arranged for monthly meeting speakers for 21 years. Just joined the Board of Directors for Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead (SARSAS).

Was first elected in 2008 to Auburn Recreation District (ARD) board of directors and have served three terms to date and have been selected chairman three times (and am currently).

Married (35 years) to Norma. We have 4 children, eight grandchildren and one great grand child.

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Have traveled extensively, including Europe and parts of Asia (e.g. India. Pakistan and Nepal), and New Zealand.

My current passions: Save Auburn Ravine Salmon & Steelhead (SARSAS) and helping market a business client’s invention.