Our Team

Our team is made up of dedicated professionals with decades of experience in ecological restoration planning, permitting, and implementation, and nonprofit management. Every member of the Ecological Workforce Initiative is passionate about the positive impact training, certifying and ultimately bringing respect to restoration trade workers will have on our communities and our environment.

Tyler Pitts Headshot against a yellowish green background

Tyler Pitts

Executive Director

  • Tyler’s background spans leadership in the nonprofit sector, expertise in green workforce development, and more than a decade designing and managing conservation field projects. With a unique blend of collaborative leadership and social entrepreneurship, he works to strengthen EWI’s strategy, programming, partnerships, and operating systems in service to a bold mission: aligning the health of our environment and economy.

    Tyler holds an MBA from Cal Poly, a Nonprofit Management Certificate from UC Irvine, and a B.A. in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz. He was named to the North Bay Business Journal's "Forty Under 40" in 2020 and previously served on the board of Fire Safe Sonoma.

Headshot of Sally Bolger, wearing a light blue jacket, outdoors with greenery in the background.

SALLY BOLGER

Partnerships and Programs Director

  • An electric vehicle technology entrepreneur, nonprofit executive director, restoration project manager, and charitable giving advisor, Sally brings her career-long focus on implementing cutting edge environmental solutions to lead the Initiative – nurturing the partnerships, developing the programming, and establishing the strong organizational foundation that are needed to implement the high-level change for which we are aiming. LinkedIn

Eric Buenrostro Headshot against a green background

ERIC BUENROSTRO

Training Program Director

  • Throughout his career as an ecological restoration construction worker, safety coordinator and bilingual/bicultural educator, Eric has honed his extraordinary talent for connecting people of all ages and backgrounds to the environment and has strengthened his dedication to creating opportunities for life-sustaining and fulfilling careers. Eric’s breadth of professional experience and personal commitment to the communities we serve helps enhance EWI’s relevancy, accessibility, and educational effectiveness for all.

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Elly Grogan

Development Consultant

  • Elly works closely with EWI’s leadership to build support and resources for our mission and goals.  She has dedicated her career to supporting community well-being through nearly twenty years of service in the philanthropic sector and brings experience in grantmaking, fundraising, and nonprofit program management to the team. Elly is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) and holds a master’s degree in International and Multicultural Education from the University of San Francisco, and bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and International Studies from the University of Oregon.

Headshot of JIM ROBINS, smiling man with sunglasses on his head, outdoors in a natural setting with trees and a cloudy sky.

JIM ROBINS

Trainer and Curriculum Developer

  • As a respected water resource and regulatory compliance expert, restoration practitioner, and educator Jim has the unique perspective of one involved in the complete life cycle of restoration projects – from inception through implementation. Jim brings his ability to see how providing well-crafted ecological training and building an educated ecological workforce can positively impact project outcomes and facilitate successful implementation of the State’s Cutting Green Tape Initiative.