“Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

CalTrout has grown tremendously over these last few years, helping us become a trusted organization in Californian freshwater conservation. To achieve our goals, we rely on a dedicated team of staff. 

We’re pleased to announce that four new staff members recently joined our organization. Please welcome the following people to California Trout:
Derek Berlin─ South Coast Public Engagement Specialist
Christine Davis─ North Coast Project Manager
Lucy Fellner─ Events and Administrative Coordinator
& Gien Gip─ Development Associate

We invite you to get to know our new employees through their bios and answers to the question “What are you most looking forward to working at CalTrout?”

Derek Berlin, South Coast Public Engagement Specialist

Derek will be providing a needed ongoing presence for our organization in Los Angeles. Beyond his experience in conservation, Derek brings to his work a background in multilateral engagement, having spent nearly a decade managing relationships with foreign governments at global financial services firm JPMorgan Chase, and previously working for the US Departments of State at the United Nations, the Department of Defense, as well as at the Council on Foreign Relations.

From Derek: “Beyond supporting the concrete outcomes and innovative work of CalTrout in general, I am most excited by the opportunity to learn from my new colleagues and to build meaningful relationships with our great partners and supporters in the South Coast region and across the state.”

Christine Davis, North Coast Project Manager

Christine began her research career helping a marine mammal NGO monitor killer whale predation on Chinook salmon in Washington State. She has since worked a combined 12 years as a research and restoration science technician and for The Forest Service in Washington and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park and Point Reyes National Seashore in California, and as a Project Manager and Science Advisor for an international NGO in Borneo, Indonesia.

With her new role at CalTrout, Christine is most interested in supporting climate resilient riparian landscape planning where TEK and biodiversity are prioritized.

Lucy Fellner, Events and Administrative Coordinator

Lucy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara. Outside of work, she enjoys swimming and spending time in nature.

From Lucy: “I am looking forward to being a part of an organization that is doing such impactful work.”

Gien Gip

Gien had a career in medical malpractice and risk management before she fell in love with philanthropy and fundraising. She comes to CalTrout with a deep development and fundraising background, having worked at Tides Foundation, UCSF, SF LBGT Center, San Francisco State University, and most recently, Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco.

She is excited to work at CalTrout and do her part, in the words of her family, “to save the world.”