Steering Committee

Carrie Schneider, Canyons Campaign Co-Chair
Carrie Schneider is a biologist whose main goal is protecting the unique and fascinating qualities of San Diego’s natural habitats. She holds a Ph.D from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a Research Development Leader in pharmaceutical product development at a San Diego biotechnology company. She led the Environmental Systems subcommittee for the City Wide Canyons Sewer Maintenance Task Force, whose proposed improvements to City procedures for accessing sewer infrastructure in open space parks were adopted by the City Council in 2002. She founded the Friends of Switzer Canyon in 2000, and continues to lead volunteers who have achieved restoration of more than two acres of upland and stream-side habitat. Carrie contributes to the Herbarium collections at the San Diego Natural History Museum as a trained parabotanist serving in the Plant Atlas project. She was president of the San Diego chapter of the California Native Plant Society from 2002-2004, where she continues to serve as a board member, and was a founding member of the Sierra Club Canyons Campaign.

Janice Barnard
Janice Barnard is currently a Document Management Representative for Standard Register providing technology, software and consulting to primarily the Healthcare industry. Her experience includes twelve years in the Document Management industry with ten years employment at Xerox Global Services and Xerox Business Services.
Janice has been involved as a volunteer for environmental groups for the last fifteen years. Her experience includes Sierra Club Executive Committee (Portland), Sierra Club Event Coordinator for Clean Rivers Campaign (Oregon), campaign outreach for the Bear & Cougar Initiative (Oregon), volunteer for the Nature Conservancy (Oregon) in cataloging field research, Sierra Club Canyon Campaign Advisory Board (San Diego), and Sierra Club Canyons Coalition meeting coordinator. She has been a member of the Sierra Club for 17 years. Additionally she has been a volunteer and event chair for Friends of the County Animal Shelter (FOCAS) and is currently a volunteer for community events for San Diego Humane Society. Janice attended California State University, Long Beach and earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a designation in Finance. She also attended University of Oregon and earned her M.S. degree in Applied Information Management.

Eric Busboom
Eric is the founder and CEO of Clarinova Software, a rapidly growing software startup committed to improving the ways that retailers and consumers interact through web applications. Eric’s extensive knowledge of software has come from many years of experience in working with multiple software startup companies in diverse industries. He has also held several leadership roles within the telecommunications industry working for QUALCOMM, Inc.
After software, Eric’s second passion is philanthropy. Eric resides in beautiful San Diego with his wife and son where he is focused on rebuilding the environmental community. He is very active in San Diego Social Venture Partners and is the lead partner for the Canyons Campaign. Eric holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Harvey Mudd College and continues his lifelong commitment to learning and teaching others through his philanthropic efforts and by using technological innovations to improve the quality of business and life.

Susan Stone Hayes
Susan is active as a volunteer in many community organizations. She currently serves as a trustee of the Washington National Cathedral Association, and sits on the operating board of St. Paul’s Senior Homes and Service here in San Diego. She is a member of San Diego Social venture Partners, and has been involved with the Canyons Campaign since the beginning of that affiliation. She is also a member of the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation’s Women’s Fund. She is working with the Escondido Creek Conservancy to raise support for a new interpretive center designed by James and Drew Hubble. Susan has a degree in Art History from Finch College, New York City. After growing up as an Army brat, she lived for many years in Tucson, Arizona and love the Sonoran desert, where she still owns property. She has lived in Rancho Santa Fe for over 25 years.

Kevin Johnston
As one of the leaders of the Friends of Normal Heights Canyons, Kevin Johnston volunteers to help organize restoration, environmental planning, and hikes in the canyons. He works as a Land Use/Envrionmental Planner for the County of San Diego Department of Planning and Land Use – Regulatory Division. Kevin has a B.A. in Geography from Michigan State University and a Master’s Degree (MCP) in City Planning from San Diego State University. Kevin enjoys hikes throughout the County, and is also a member of the Cuyamaca State Park Volunteer Trail Maintenance Unit. Earlier in his career, Kevin served as a high school teacher for five years in the Detroit and Chicago Public School Districts. He taught courses in Travel and Tourism, Geography, and Computer Technology at Golightly Career and Technical Center and Tilden High School.

Michael Kole
Michael Kole has been a university professor, consultant, author and seminar leader in accounting and financial analysis. His education includes: a Bachelor of Management Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Ph.D. in Accounting and Information Systems from the University of Massachusetts. He has authored three books, a manual and several publications; gave numerous invited presentations, and developed and led a broad array of workshops. Michael was awarded grants from the Coopers & Lybrand Foundation, State of New Hampshire, Rider University, and four consecutive grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities on the impacts of economic growth in New Hampshire. He was founding member of Save Our Shores, a New Hampshire environmental group. He is treasurer and a member of the Board of San Diego Social Venture Partners, a philanthropic organization.

Robert Eric Wishner, DVM
Robert Wishner has been a practicing veterinarian for almost twenty years. When not engaged in clinical medicine and surgery, he has pursued management positions in human orthopedic implant sales, marketing, product development and applied medical research. He has helped turn around troubled companies, while bringing to market advancements in shoulder joint prostheses, trauma and spinal implant devices, and biologically active bone graft substitutes.  Robert now holds the position of Director of Veterinary Services at the Escondido Humane Society. When not caring for the hundreds of animals in residence, he has been an active fundraiser for the organization. Robert acquired an AA degree from Simon’s Rock Early College, upon his eighteenth birthday. He holds a BS in Zoology and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University. Robert also plays drums and percussion in the Hillcrest Wind Ensemble, the Heliotrope Ragtime Orchestra and in pick-up dixieland jazz and blues bands.