Jim Montgomery
President/VP of Rewilding Projects
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Jacob A. Varvarigos
Board Member, VP Project Development
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Mary Simun
VP/Biologist & Education Lead
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Mara Lang
VP/Operations
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Aga ChenFu
Communications
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Cameron Gray - Board Member, IT Manager, Hermosa Greenbelt Restoration Project Co-Lead

Cam grew up in a suburb outside of Boston, where he started growing vegetables in his backyard more than 20 years ago. He has kept a garden in some form ever since, building gardens at apartments throughout the years and continuing that passion after moving to the South Bay. His love of growing fruits and vegetables pairs naturally with his love of cooking, allowing him to create his own little “farm-to-table” meals for friends using ingredients he has grown himself. He is also a member of the Hermosa Beach Community Garden.

Cam’s involvement with the Hermosa Greenbelt Restoration Project began when he spotted Jacob working along the trail during one of his daily walks with his dog and stopped to ask how he could get involved. Professionally, Cam works in technology and cybersecurity and enjoys using that experience to support the Conservancy in addition to volunteering in the field. He enjoys being involved in his local community and finding ways to give back, and is excited to help preserve and improve the South Bay’s green spaces while supporting the native plants, wildlife, and community that rely on them.

Julian Chasin - Board Member, Treasurer

Julian Chasin grew up in Columbus Ohio, attended Northwestern University and earned a BA in Economics.  After spending time working in Chicago, he moved to LA, meeting his future wife and starting a job with McDonnell Douglas, later Boeing, as a programmer analyst. Soon after moving to Torrance, he found some extra time to volunteer at the Madrona Marsh putting out the newsletter for Friends of Madrona Marsh and participating in weekend restoration work.  Julian was also part of a ‘Green Team’ at Boeing, later joining Ann Dalkey in planting, watering, and weeding the PVPLC Adopt-a-Plot at Vicente Bluffs.

Never allowing himself to get bored, he trained in Accounting and QuickBooks to help small companies and nonprofits. Julian currently manages the recordkeeping for Los Serenos de Point Vicente, and the PV/SB Audubon Society chapter.  He also raises vegetables at a Community Garden plot in Torrance with his wife Chiyoko.

He’s happy to join the board and also participate as a volunteer with SBPC, which he sees as a rising force to bring ecological awareness to the South Bay, and a force for pushing for significant needed environmental changes.

Jasmine Schläfli - Secretary

Jasmine has always been passionate about nature and wildlife. She loves traveling and exploring the green, wild corners of our beautiful planet, preferably on foot or by bike. Originally from Switzerland, she moved to Redondo Beach in 2024. Immediately drawn to the area's parks and beaches, she "stumbled" upon the South Bay Parkland Conservancy and their important rewilding work in the South Bay. She joined the volunteers at the Esplanade Bluffs, where she learned about the native flora and fauna of her new home. She enjoys being part of an organization that helps these species thrive.

An experienced freelance recruiting and organizational development consultant, Jasmine has helped build efficient organizational structures and processes that leverage the strengths of those involved in small- and medium-sized businesses, helping them to successfully achieve their shared vision. As secretary of the board, she brings her expertise to support the successful implementation of the SBPC’s important mission.

Carl Leach - Nursery Co-Lead, Restoration Co-Lead HWP

A lifelong environmental activist, Carl led student environmentalists  in a variety of projects, including Santa Monica Trail,  Ballona Wetlands   and Madrona Marsh Preserve restorations. 

On behalf of the South Bay Parkland Conservancy he helped establish volunteer groups to maintain habitats, created one of the first student Native habitats at Mira costa high school, and led the construction of the first community garden in Redondo Beach. He has quickly become an integral part of the Pollinator Initiative and Co-Leads the Nursery Operation.

Ami Brasili - Redondo Beach Community Garden, Education

Ami Brasili is a resident and parent in North Redondo Beach. She owns Beta Wave Aquatics, where she works as a private swim instructor, coach, and aquatic fitness trainer. Ami is also an avid home gardener and has experience working on various farms throughout California. She has served as the lead docent for the BCHD LiveWell Garden and has been the Health and Wellness Chair for the PTA at Madison Elementary.

Currently, she is developing a Garden Program at Adams Middle School, which aims not only to teach students how to grow food but also, as a passionate environmentalist, to introduce them to the broad range of careers related to environmental sustainability. Ami oversees the educational programming and hosts garden clubs for the RBCG.

Jeanne Bellemin - Project Lead, Alondra Park Island Native Plant Garden

Jeanne developed great affection for California native plants through many visits to Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (now, California Botanic Garden). She earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Zoology from Cal Poly Pomona. In 1974 she moved to Redondo Beach and began teaching at El Camino College. As part of her Environmental Biology class at El Camino College (located adjacent to Alondra Park), Professor Bellemin decided to include a hands-on requirement - a volunteer project working five hours during the semester in a park or natural area like Madrona Marsh near the campus, improving the local environment by helping to build trails or in the local mountains or picking up trash on the beaches.

In 1998, she explored the possibility of a California native plant garden on the closed island in the lake at Alondra Park. She made it official with the Torrance County Parks and Recreation Department. Since then, there have been monthly workdays, and with El Camino students' help, the Alondra Island Native Plant Garden thrives.

Betty Starr - Project Co-Lead Hermosa Greenbelt Restoration Project
President, Hermosa Garden Club

Betty’s love for gardening started young, growing up on a Christmas Tree Farm. Her passion for saving the environment stemmed from watching all the trees in her neighborhood get cut down to put up tract homes. This makes her especially pleased to be part of the South Bay Parkland Conservancy’s efforts to create habitat for all the native creatures that live here. To paraphrase a famous saying, “Think global, garden local.”