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Our Staff
Paul Tebbel, Executive Director Paul was Patagonia's first Environmental Affairs Director from 1987 to 1995. Since his Patagonia days, Paul has spent 11 years in Nebraska, as the manager and director of the Rowe Sanctuary. While there he represented Audubon in Platte River negotiations and successfully raised the funds and built the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center. He also served as executive director of The Wildlife Center, New Mexico’s largest wild animal hospital and wildlife education center before coming to Sacramento and FOR. Paul grew up in the suburbs of Detroit and attended Northern Michigan University where he studied biology. Paul earned an MS in Zoology from the University of Western Ontario. He likes to birdwatch, raft and is well known for his presentations on Sandhill Cranes.
Ron Stork, Senior Policy Advocate
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Steve Evans, Conservation Director Steve supervises Friends of the River's conservation staff and provides overall direction for its conservation programs. Steve was hired by Friends of the River in 1988 and has served as its Conservation Director since 1990. He has more than 30 years of conservation policy experience in public lands and resource issues. He successfully encouraged federal agencies to identify more than 3,000 miles potential Wild & Scenic Rivers and has played a key role in the legislative expansion of the federal and state Wild & Scenic Rivers Systems in California. Steve co-founded and has served on the steering committees of many of the coalitions administered by Friends of the River, including the California Wild Heritage Campaign, the Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign, and the California Hydropower Reform Coalition. He previously was Executive Director of the Butte Environmental Council in Chico. Steve is an avid hiker, rafter, and outdoor photographer.
Ron is a national expert in flood management, federal water resources development, hydropower reform, and Wild & Scenic Rivers. He joined Friends of the River as Associate Conservation Director in 1987 and became its Senior Policy Advocate in 1995. Ron was presented the prestigious River Conservationist of the Year award by Perception in 1996 for his work to stop the Auburn dam. In 2004, he received the California Urban Water Conservation Council’s Excellence Award for statewide and institutional innovations in water conservation. Prior to coming to Friends of the River, Ron was Executive Director of the Merced Canyon Committee, where he directed the successful effort to obtain Wild and Scenic designation for the Merced River. He is a former member of the Governor's Flood Management Task Force and currently represents Friends of the River on the Sacramento Regional Water Forum. Ron holds a BS degree in Plant Science from UC Davis and he loves to visit and botanize in California’s wild places.
Kelly Catlett, Hydropower Reform Policy Advocate 
Carolin Atchison, Southern California Organizer Carolin focuses on protecting wild and scenic rivers in the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles she recently completed a successful campaign to win local support and passage of the Eastern Sierra & Northern San Gabriel Wild Heritage Act. Prior to joining FOR in 2007, Carolin conducted community outreach, organizing, public relations, and fundraising efforts for a land trust in Calabasas and environmental non-profits in Los Angeles. She has also worked on conservation-oriented ballot measures in Southern California and on Cape Cod, and for the Vice-Chair of the Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture in Massachusetts. Besides working to protect beautiful rivers and streams, Carolin loves to go hiking, read good books, and to do photography. 
Alexandra Borack, Conservation Advocate Alexandra holds a B.S. in Resource Management from UC Berkeley. Prior to joining FOR in 2009 she worked for several years with the Planning and Conservation League as Central Coast Project Manager to lead projects in the Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. Her organization's effort to work with state agencies and private water companies to remove the San Clemente Dam on the Carmel River furthered her interest in river health and riparian restoration, especially where dealing with the politics and policy necessary for clean and healthy waterways. While studying law at UC Davis, Alexandra learned of the Klamath river basin and the conflict between federal, state, tribal, and local interests. This sparked her current advocacy for restoration of the Klamath river and the fight to remove hydropower dams in the damaged ecosystem. When not busy with the river, Alexandra enjoys hiking, biking, and playing the flute in the Sierra forests (the acoustics are amazing!).
Tyana Maddock, Rafting Program Coordinator Tyana was hired by Friends of the River in 2005. She coordinates FOR’s River Quest program, which provides a whitewater team building and environmental education experience for at-risk youth, as well as the Rafting Program, which involves over 100 volunteer guides and activists in educating the public about rivers. Tyana is an environmental educator with sixteen years of experience in wilderness training, outdoor education, and youth programs. She graduated from CSU Chico with a self-written degree in Conservation Biology and Cultural Ecology. She is an avid thespian, musician, dancer, adventurer, and can be found in the company of her partner in crime, Taz the miracle dog!
Johnnie Carlson, Operations Director Johnnie was hired by Friends of the River in 2004. He keeps the office and its systems functioning smoothly, provides administrative support to the Executive Director and Board of Directors, coordinates office volunteers and internships, edits our news magazine Headwaters, maintains our website, manages human resources, payroll, and our accounting department. Johnnie was formerly an Executive Assistant at Californians Against Waste, Legislative Associate for the California State Student Association, and logistics specialist for the U.S. Army and California National Guard. 
Dana Shokes, Bookkeeper & Membership Associate Dana Shokes joined Friends of the River in 2007. She manages membership contributions, payroll, processes accounts payable and assists with the bookkeeping for the organization. She also maintains the member database and accounts for FOR's members. Dana is a Certified Public Bookkeeper through the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers and also has a QuickBooks Certification. Dana grew up in Seattle and lived for many years in San Diego. Before FOR, she worked as a bookkeeper for 10 years. Dana says she absolutely loves her job here at Friends of the River!
Mandi Hawley, Operations Associate Mandi began as an office volunteer in July 2008 and joined FOR's staff in November 2008 as Operations Associate. Mandi manages our membership mailings, trip reservations, and enjoys hiking and whitewater rafting. She discovered her passion for rivers and environmental conservation right here at Friends of the River. She is currently pursuing an engineering degree at Sac City College and plans to take guide training this summer to join our community of volunteer rafting guides.
Bill Duarte, Finance Director Bill has been the Finance Director at Friends of the River since 2004. He holds a MS in Tax Law from Golden Gate University and a BA in Philosophy from Cal State University East Bay. Bill currently lives and works in Paradise, CA with his wife Breege.
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