Board of Directors

Ruth Lansford was raised in Long Island, New York where she lived next to wetlands. She moved to Playa del Rey in the early 1960’s where she found she was once more neighbor to a wetland. After heirs of Howard Hughes’ estate announced development plans in the wetlands, Lansford formed the Friends of Ballona Wetlands in 1978. The Friends fought the proposed development but the California Coastal Commission approved it. Then, in 1984 the Friends, led by a determined Lansford, filed suit. After more than 6 years in litigation and negotiation, a settlement was reached with the subsequent landowner, (Maguire Thomas) which preserves 340 acres of wetland and surrounding habitat. The Friends continued to push for more acreage to be saved, and in 2003 the State purchased the remaining Ballona acres west of Lincoln from Playa Vista, the new owners. Playa Vista partnered with the Friends in the design and successful reconstruction of a 26 acre Freshwater Marsh beginning in 2001 and completed in 2003. Today the Marsh is a model of success with over 180 species of birds inhabiting the Marsh.  The Friends is also committed to sound science for salt marsh restoration, having been appointed stewards of the land by the State in the 1980’s, and under Ruth’s guidance has performed dunes restoration for more than a decade with over 50,000 volunteers.  The Friends also has developed 3 successful award winning education programs engaging thousands of children every year in the wetlands. Ruth is currently leading the Friends in a partnership with Playa Vista and Loyola Marymount University in the design of a Discovery Center, along the newly created 25 acre riparian corridor east of Lincoln, that will introduce the public to Ballona at the trailhead of the Ballona Wetlands ecosystem. For all of Ruth’s outstanding efforts for over 3 decades to preserve and protect the Ballona Wetlands, in 2006 she won the prestigious National Citizen Planner of the Year award from the American Planning Association (APA), having won the state award in 2005.

Dr. Pippa Drennan grew up in South Africa and earned her PhD from University of KwaZulu-Natal with a specialty in mangrove/estuarine biology. She is on the faculty at Loyola Marymount University and teaches plant biology and ecology, frequently involving her LMU students in special projects at Ballona Wetlands. She has served as a botany consultant for the Friends for the past four years and Board Member since 2001. Dr. Drennan also enjoys nature photography and she and her family travel worldwide.

Lisa Fimiani became an avid bird-watcher while growing up in Buffalo, New York. In 1986 she moved to Los Angeles, where she joined the Domestic Television Sales division of Paramount Pictures. In her last position at Paramount she served as vice president of Sales Administration and Program Lineups, and after 18 years with the Company recently left to form her own consulting firm. She has been a member of the National Audubon Society since living in Buffalo. In June of 2006 Ms. Fimiani stepped down after serving 6 years on the Audubon California Board, and joined the Board of the Los Angeles Audubon Society chapter as treasurer. A Docent at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh since it was formed in 2003, Ms. Fimiani joined the Friends’ Board in 2005, where she plays an active role and currently serves as secretary.

Jacob Lipa is the President of Psomas. As President, he brings the firm’s skills and expertise together in a range of fields from civil engineering, information technology, natural resources and groundwater hydrogeology to governmental affairs and advocacy, construction management and land surveying. His leadership enables the firm to bring value to clients through a deep understanding of technology and local, regional and state governmental and political systems. Mr. Lipa has more than 27 years of experience in civil engineering, hydrological studies and construction management, both in the United States and abroad. As President Mr. Lipa is responsible for the development of corporate goals and objectives, corporate business planning, strategic program development and results measurement. Mr. Lipa joined the Friends’ Board in October of 2006. He is also directly involved in local and national politics and supports many community activities and causes, such as Heal the Bay. He is an active member of a number of prominent professional associations, including ACEC and ULI.

Bob Shanman was elected to the Friends’ Board in 1997. His involvement with the Ballona Wetlands goes back to 1977 when he first took up bird watching. In 1980, he began leading walks at Ballona Creek for the Los Angeles Audubon Society chapter. Shanman was directly responsible for involving the National Audubon Society at the Ballona Wetlands. Beyond his Friends’ Board service as current treasurer, he continues to lead monthly Audubon bird walks, is involved with several school programs, and helps fundraise for South Bay Wildlife Rehab. In 1995, Shanman opened Wild Birds Unlimited in Torrance, CA, which is part of a national franchise. He is a registered Civil and Geotechnical Engineer in California.

Michael Swimmer joined the Friends’ Board in July of 2006. A registered Landscape Architect (ASLA) in Los Angeles since 1976; Mike graduated Cal Poly Pomona in 1970, with a B.S. in Landscape Architecture; receiving his Masters Degree in 1988 from UCLA in Architecture and Urban Planning, specializing in Energy Conserving Design. He started his own "design-build" office in 1973, after 2 years apprentice work in Landscape Architecture. Mike is the winner of 7 major Design Awards, including First Place Award in California for the Disneyland Hotel in 1977. The scope of Mike’s projects includes: Master Plan for 17 acre camp in Idyllwild; Master Plan for Solstice Canyon, California, Mountains & Recreation Conservancy; protection of 50 acre wetland, Mammoth Lakes; many hotel and shopping center projects, including Century City Shopping Center in 1989; and many large and small residential projects all over the Los Angeles area and in Idaho, Michigan, and Arizona. Mike consulted for the Friends with the late Mary Thomson, former volunteer director of restoration and Friends’ Board member, in the 1980’s, and has been a life long admirer of the Ballona Wetlands, kayaking Marina del Rey harbor and the Ballona channels.

Catherine Tyrrell is vice president and director of water quality management for Psomas, and a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) AP (accredited professional). Ms. Tyrrell has extensive knowledge of California's water quality regulations, stormwater management activities and watershed management approaches. Prior to joining Psomas, she was director of coastal and environmental affairs for Playa Vista. While at Playa Vista, she created a conservancy to oversee operations, monitoring and maintenance of the master-planned community's freshwater marsh system. She also oversaw development and implementation of the freshwater marsh operations and maintenance manual. In addition, Ms. Tyrrell was responsible for coastal permitting for transportation and restoration projects within the coastal zone. Previously, Ms. Tyrrell was the assistant executive officer for surface water programs with the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. Among other activities, she led the effort with the State Water Resources Control Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to coordinate health and water quality monitoring statewide. She also led in the development of the stormwater management permit for the region. Prior to that, she was the executive director of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project -- one of the first watershed projects in Southern California with a surface water quality focus. Ms. Tyrrell holds a bachelor's degree from of the University of California, Irvine and a master's degree in urban planning from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is a past board member of the Ballona Wetlands Foundation and the past president of the Ballona Wetlands Conservancy. Ms. Tyrrell sits on the Planning and Land Use Committee of the Westchester-Playa del Rey Neighborhood Council. She and her husband, who have three grown children, moved to Playa Vista in March of 2006, and Ms. Tyrrell joined the Friends’ Board of Directors in August of 2006.

Emeritus Board of Directors

Tim Rudnick has been a member of the Friends since its inception in 1978, and has been a Board Member for nearly 15 years. A Venice activist and marine naturalist, Rudnick’s interest and expertise lie in the connection between the wetland ecosystem and the ocean. He has played an integral role in educating local residents about the importance of preserving Ballona. Rudnick also takes students on boat trips and teaches them about marine ecology through the Venice Oceanarium, which he founded.  (Emeritus 2006).

Ed Tarvyd has been a member of the Friends’ Board of Directors since the organization’s inception in 1978. A seasoned marine biologist, Mr. Tarvyd has been a professor at Santa Monica College for over 39 years. As a member of a UN organization, CITES, (Convention in International Trade of Endangered Species), he helps determine what is endangered on a worldwide level. Mr. Tarvyd has traveled extensively throughout the world including Tahiti, Africa, Oman, and most recently, the Galapagos Islands, leading research trips and teaching about these unique ecosystems. He is also one of the premiere experts on coral reef ecosystems in French Polynesia.  (Emeritus 2006).

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