Jack Sanchez 
I'm the President and founder of Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead (SARSAS).  I was born in my grandmother’s home in Ophir and grew up in my parents’ home on the Auburn Ravine.  I graduated from Ophir Elementary School, Placer Union High School and California State University Sacramento with degrees in English, German, and philosophy and then taught English at Del Oro High School in Loomis for thirty eight years.  I worked as a State Park Ranger Permanent/Intermittent for twenty seven summers in the Sierra Area.  

I retired from teaching in 2001, and my wife and I climbed Mt.Kilimanjaro.  When my wife Valerie retired, we hiked through Australiaand 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, and hiked around Iguazu Falls in northern Argentina. We continue to hike locally as often as possible.

Valerie and I currently live in Auburn and have two sons, Jeffrey and Jonathan, and two grand daughters, Jessica and Jacquelyn and a grandson, Jakob. My mother Myrtle still lives in Ophir on the Auburn Ravine in the home, in which I grew up. 

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 PlacerHills 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

Scott Johnson
In 1979 at age 25 I moved to Auburn with my wife Ellen McKay.   We both grew up in Oakland CA.  Ellen and I each operate our own small service businesses in Western Placer County.  As a boy scout I began a lifelong interest in plant and animal communities and how humans interact with those communities.

I have been a community organizer since I was a teenager, working on social justice and environmental issues all my life.   I volunteer on numerous electoral campaigns for candidates as well as propositions.   I feel keeping an eye on development and resource issues in our community is part of being a good citizen and that advocating for the rights of those who do not have a voice is our moral responsibility.

Much of what shapes my actions in the community comes from my study of the writings of one of my favorite authors, the late Associate Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.

Randy Hansen
I am on the Steering Committee of Save Auburn Ravine Salmon and Steelhead (SARSAS). I was born and raised on a family fruit growing operation in Loomis. My father Bob, brother Eric and I (4th generation) continue to grow fruit there. 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.

Greg Nelson
My name is Greg Nelson and I am Public Outreach Coordinator in the SARSAS organization. I have grown up in Placer County, spending my childhood and adult years in and out of the Auburn Ravine.  I have fished, boogey boarded, hiked and when I was a toddler I was found in the middle of the Auburn Ravine, out back from my Grandma's house, at one with the water.

I presently live in Penryn with my wife and two daughters.  There is not a more perfect system ever made than that of the anadromous fisheries. Man has done his best to halt it so I felt the need to help so that my girls and their children continue to enjoy and be at one with the Auburn Ravine.

Valerie Sanchez
Although I grew up as a military brat, moving every three years and living all throughout the United States and Germany, I claim Californiaas 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.

John Rabe
I am a Board member of SARSAS.  I moved to Newcastle along with my wife IZZY in 2005 and built our home on the banks of the Auburn Ravine.

I am retired after having worked for forty years in education. I taught for five years and was a school principal for thirty five years.  Three of the schools I administered became California Distinguished Schools and one was named a Nationally Distinguishd School.  I am honored to have been named a member of Who's Who Among Outstanding American Professionals and named an Outstanding Elementary School Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

I have been employed since I was nine years old so the label, "retired" didn't seem to fit.  I currently serve on three Boards, but SARSAS is my real love.  I, along with the other SARSAS members, are dedicated to our mission, and we WILL return salmon and steelhead to the Auburn Ravine.    

jrabe1@sbcglobal.net

Kathleen Harris
I was raised in Applegate/Auburn and am a product of all local schools including Sierra College.  I graduated on the Dean’s List at Heald BusinessCollege, lived and worked in the Bay Area for several years, then relocated back to Auburn to take my place as the third-generation executive for our family business, Harris Industrial Gases, established in 1936 by my grandfather.  I’m President and a stockholder of this California Corporation and have been ‘at the helm’ for 31 years. 

In 2008, after four long years, I saw the completion of Ashley MemorialDog Park, built in memory of my daughter.  Other community activities have included an 18-year membership in Soroptimist International of Auburn, membership in Auburn’s 49er Lions Club, Charter president of the North Fork Lions Club, Executive board member for Placer SPCA, president of the Ashley Memorial Dog Park Foundation, president of the Grand Oaks Homeowner Association, steering committee member of Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital’s Faith & Fantasy Ball and Auburn’s Black & White Ball, member of the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce, member of Sutter Auburn Faith’s Interdisciplinary Practice Committee, and most recently board member and recording/corresponding secretary of SARSAS.  I co-founded the Sierra Nevada Lyme Disease Support Group and am currently a pro-bono patient advocate for victims of this disease.

What little spare time I have is dedicated to family, my pets, hiking, sewing and crafts, book and magazine proofreading and editing, and helping promote the local ‘Think Auburn First’ project.

My hiking buddy, Jack Sanchez, was instrumental in teaching me to ‘just say no’ and then immediately recruited me to work for SARSAS.  Thanks, Jack….

Arry Murphey-Frank 
I am the Political Outreach Coordinator for SARSAS. I am privileged to live on 10 acres bisected by Auburn Ravine. Every day I watch herons fish, see deer, bobcats, otters and many other woodland creatures us the Ravine as their road, their source of water, food and shelter. I consider myself and my family to be the caretakers of our stretch of the creek. I have a degree from UC Davis in physical geography with an emphasis in geomorphology.

Ron Ott PhD, PE
Ron Ott has been involved in stream, river, and lake restoration projects for anadromous fisheries for 43 years.  As the Fish Facility Coordinator for the California Bay Delta Program (CALFED) for 12 years he served on multiple agencies’ technical teams that studied and planned fish facilities on the streams, river systems, and the Delta in California. His last assignment for CALFED was to serve as the Deputy Director of Science.

He started his career working for the California Department of Water Resources, then joined a major international consulting firm CH2M HILL and served as Director of Environmental Sciences, followed by Director of Water Resources and lastly the Director in Integrated Water Management. Ron also started his own firm, Ott Water Engineers, which specialized in anadromous fishery restoration projects, especially fish passage projects.  He has led science and engineering studies for water supply, water quality, and fisheries on major river and estuary systems throughout the US. Projects included river basins such as the central valley and Delta, California; the greater Seattle/Puget Sound area, Washington; the Suwannee River, Florida; the Columbia River, Washington/Oregon; Cook Inlet streams, Anchorage Alaska; and the Wisconsin/Fox River system, Wisconsin.

Dr. Ott received his BS in Civil Engineering from the California State University at Chico. He later received three advanced degrees in science and engineering from Stanford University, including specialties in hydrology, hydraulics, and water resources. He is a registered civil engineer in eight states and has published extensively in professional journals and conference proceedings. He has received several awards from the American Society of Civil Engineers for his publications on fish passage engineering.

Catherine DuChene, MBA, CPM
Catherine DuChene, is an accomplished business professional.  She leads the industry in multi-media messaging, small business infomercials, commercials and preparing a marketing focus.  Her team consists of award-winning producers from CNN, Children’s Television, Independent Film Festivals and other state of the art media venues.  Before opening ImageCraft Studios in Citrus Heights, Cathie spent ten years as the operations and project manager for an international Bay Area design firm specializing in corporate identity, collateral systems, branding and design. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Richmond Arts and Culture Commission, Frame of Mind Films and the San Leandro Parks and Recreation Commission.  She is currently a commissioner for the History and Arts Commission in Citrus Heights.  Her familiarity with segmented markets includes small business, pharmaceutical, construction and non-profits as well as high-tech.  Cathie has provided each company with services essential for their growth, transition, and product launch. 

ImageCraft Studios believes a good media piece organizes and presents information in a compelling manner. The visual as well as the audio, educates, stimulates, entertains, inspires and persuades.  We help you speak with a unique voice and build a strong and memorable identity.