- Author: Elizabeth Bezark
The Business Operations Center (BOC) team gathered with county directors (CDs) from Cooperative Extension offices statewide on May 22 in the 2nd Street building in Davis.
To kick off the BOC's activities, CDs joined their BOC Business Partner Teams to compete in a game of BOC Jeopardy! Su-Lin Shum, BOC director, presented a range of skill-testing questions (in the form of statements) related to fiscal close, purchasing, travel and entertainment, contracts and grants, and even BOC's variety of training opportunities.
An example from the Travel and Entertainment category was "Business purpose and attachments of agenda and attendee list." If you guessed, "What additional documentation is needed when submitting business meeting entertainment expenses?” you'd be correct. Useful information for any ANR employee submitting work-related entertainment expenses.
Shum prepared the CDs and area directors for fiscal close, including important dates to pass on to UCCE office and program staff. She covered the new Aggie Enterprise Catalog Approval Routing Instructions, which BOC developed to streamline procurement efficiency for directors and their offices.
After answering questions, Shum updated the group on the ANR Credit Card Machine Program, and explained policies regarding retirement events, gifts and required purchasing processes/approvals.
Tracy Roman, BOC associate director, updated the CDs and area directors on the monthly trainings she offers for office managers and other UCCE staff. In addition, BOC staff discussed many top-of-mind topics with the directors in their portfolio teams.
“There were lots of smiles and laughter shared during this high-energy, interactive and educational session,” Shum said. “The BOC team is grateful to have had this face-to-face time with the people they work with and serve.”
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
Ryan Tompkins, UC Cooperative Extension forestry and natural resources advisor for Plumas, Sierra and Lassen counties, passed away on May 6 while receiving treatment for cancer. He was 49.
On topics ranging from reforestation to forest health to fire resilience, Tompkins, who became a UCCE advisor in 2019, was respected and admired by his peers and the many communities he served.
“Ryan's presence was a source of joy and inspiration for me,” said Yana Valachovic, UCCE director and forest advisor for Humboldt and Del Norte counties. “His kindness and gentleness were unparalleled. Our virtual coffee sessions, where we discussed our challenges and joys, were always a highlight of my day. His ability to communicate complex information with clarity and fun was a testament to his amazing talents and personality.”
David Lile, UCCE director for Lassen, Plumas and Sierra counties, said, “Within the UCCE Plumas-Sierra staff, Ryan was a leader, friend and confidant. His humor, whether in the form of an impromptu Halloween costume or a stunning fire demonstration, never failed to raise office spirits.”
In his ANR town hall presentation in 2022, Tompkins described his work making communities more resilient to wildfire, showing photos of the Dixie and Fly fires that he had taken from his house in Quincy.
Tompkins started his own Firewise community in his neighborhood of 36 residences. After joining UC ANR, he set his sights on making the entire town of Quincy, over 2,000 residences, a Firewise USA Site and achieved it in May 2021.
That year, the Plumas County Fire Safe Council recognized Tompkins' accomplishments in making the community more fire-resilient.
“Ryan Tompkins has been a huge part of the progress made with the Quincy Firewise USA initiative,” Mike Flanigan of Flanigan-Leavitt Insurance wrote in his nomination letter. “He successfully received certification in his own neighborhood – Galleppi Ranch. He is thorough and keeps the committee focused. We on the Quincy Firewise Committee are very grateful for Ryan's professional input and support.”
When tackling a new problem, Ricky Satomi, UCCE forest advisor for Sutter, Yuba, Butte and Nevada counties, often called Tompkins, who was “always ready to jump in with a helping hand or cheerful affirmation.”
“Ryan exemplified the spirit and purpose of extension, always finding an inventive path to lift all through the challenges we face,”Satomi said. “His expertise and tenacity have been a guiding force for state and federal efforts on wildfire, reforestation and workforce issues. His research and teachings have mentored entire generations of forestry professionals across the state – to say nothing of the dedication he brought to building wildfire and community resilience in Plumas County. Ryan was a cornerstone of forestry in California and inspired all around him to be the best version of themselves.”
Prior to joining UCCE, Tompkins served as the forest silviculturist and vegetation program manager at the Plumas National Forest, where he designed, planned and implemented landscape-scale forest restoration projects. He held forester positions for 16 years with the U.S. Forest Service, worked in the fire effects program with the National Park Service, and taught forest ecology and management as associate faculty in the Environmental Studies Department at Feather River College.
He earned master's and bachelor's degrees in forestry from UC Berkeley.
“I especially enjoyed my time with Ryan during our CARET [Council on Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching] trip to Washington, D.C. in 2023,” said Vice President Glenda Humiston, “and I will greatly miss him – as a consummate Cooperative Extension advisor and as a wonderful person.”
Valachovic vividly remembers Tompkins calling her about his cancer diagnosis.
“He shared that he did not want a pity party and that he had had an amazing life,” she recalled. “Like all things about Ryan, he took it with grace and humility.”
She added, “I think about him daily and reflect on ‘what Ryan would do' in this or that situation. What comes to mind is to smile, give compliments and find joy in each task or interaction.”
Tompkins is survived by his wife Michelle Coppoletta and their sons Emmett and Sterling.
Those wishing to send well-wishes to Tompkins' family may mail cards totheUCCEPlumas-Sierra office, care of Samantha Brown, 208 Fairgrounds Road, Quincy, CA, 95971. A memorial for Tompkins on July 14 is being coordinated by the Plumas TREX Incident Management Team at Michelle Coppoletta's request. Please direct questions to hannah@thewatershedcenter.com. A college fund for Emmett and Sterling has been established.
- Author: Saoimanu Sope
In late April, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources hosted its first regional meeting for UC Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists based in Southern California. The meeting, hosted by Daniel Obrist, vice provost, and Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty, director for county Cooperative Extension, brought together 50 participants over two days for networking and collaboration.
Based on feedback collected from ANR's Statewide Conference in April 2023, academics indicated a desire to meet more frequently opposed to waiting for the conference that occurs every five years. As a result, ANR is hosting regional meetings throughout California to provide an in-person opportunity for academics to discuss their research projects, interact with senior leadership, gain clarity related to merit and promotion, strengthen communication skills and network.
On the first day, academics had the option to attend an Impact and Outcome Writing Workshop presented by Martin Smith, Emeritus Professor of Cooperative Extension at UC Davis. The session also included an interactive segment, facilitated by Katherine Webb-Martinez, director of program planning and evaluation, and Christina Becker, program policy analyst for PPE, that broke down impact reporting into theory and application.
To end the day on a social note, attendees were invited to dinner where they could continue informal discussions and networking. During that time, academics got to interact with senior leaders, including Obrist and Schmitt-McQuitty, county and Research and Extension Center (REC) directors such as Rita Clemens for Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange counties, and Jairo Diaz of Desert REC, as well as statewide support staff like News and Information Outreach in Spanish (NOS).
“A key opportunity of these meetings is to build peer networks with colleagues and collaboration opportunities in the regions. So many of our academics are new to ANR, and the regional meetings allow us to welcome and onboard new colleagues and get to know each other,” Obrist said.
The meetings are also beneficial for those transitioning into a new academic role within ANR. Natalie Levy who currently works as a specialist for water resources at South Coast REC, participated in the meeting with her new position, soil health and organic materials management advisor, which begins June 3, in mind.
“It was helpful to have senior leadership present. I spoke to Lynn the most and she gave me good feedback about developing a new program and my research interests,” Levy said. “I also liked the session discussing merit and promotion because it gave me a framework to use as I step into a new role.”
The morning of the second day, academics participated in a poster session to share their research with colleagues. Attendees also engaged in discussions to understand and address regional needs, build new partnerships and engage senior leadership for support.
“I learned a lot about my colleagues from the poster session. I felt more connected to their work because I could visualize how we can collaborate,” said Ashley Hooper, urban community resiliency advisor for Los Angeles County. “It can be isolating for advisors who don't have counterparts in other counties or in ANR. Seeing how others are managing their programs during the poster session gave me reassurance that I'm on the right track in my position.”
In the afternoon, academics heard from Vice President Glenda Humiston, who addressed ANR's budget and career pathways for academics. Niamh Quinn, human-wildlife interactions advisor for Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties, presented on the merit and promotion process to remind academics that “swallowing the eBook” (Guidelines for UC ANR Academics Preparing the Thematic Program Review Dossier) is the best way to learn how merit and promotions work within ANR.
Finally, Saoimanu Sope, digital communications specialist, showed academics how to leverage social media as an extension tool. Ricardo Vela, program manager for News and Information Outreach in Spanish, and Miguel Sanchez, broadcast communications specialist for NOS, described how to produce videos using a smartphone.
“It was useful to see colleagues from other counties, especially those who work in different disciplines,” said Quinn, who, like Hooper, is programmatically isolated given her program niche. As someone who uses social media for her program, Quinn described the social media presentation as informative. “I felt better educated and equipped to make improvements afterwards,” she said.
The regional meeting schedule is as follows:
Region 3: May 30-31, at UCCE San Joaquin County Building in Stockton
- Counties: San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Mariposa, Mono, Inyo, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern
- RECs: Kearney, Westside and Lindcove
Region 5: June 10-11, at UC Santa Cruz
- Counties: Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey
Region 2: Sept. 12-13, Central/Northern Sierras, specific location TBD
- Counties: Tehama, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Yolo, Solano, Sacramento, Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne
- REC: Sierra Foothills
Region 1: Feb. 26-27, 2025, Redding, specific location TBD
- Counties: Del Norte, Siskiyou, Modoc, Humboldt, Trinity, Shasta, Lassen, Mendocino, Lake and Plumas-Sierra
- RECs: Intermountain and Hopland
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
There is still have time to vote on wording for a refreshed version of UC ANR's Principles of Community. The survey takes about 10 minutes and can be found here.
Principles of Community statements are living documents showing the actions and behaviors an organization aspires to achieve in creating inclusive, welcoming spaces.
As a community, we have shown pride through our commitment to the Principles of Community 2.0. Colleagues from more than 23 county offices and business units have shared their thoughts and creativity to further cement our commitment to showing respect to each other. Please share your preferences for the Principles of Community by June 28.
- Author: Jennifer Sedell
“Kudos to all for giving us these impact stories,” said Vice President Glenda Humiston.
“These are what capture stakeholders, lay audiences, legislators and policymakers at all levels. They want to know what's in it for them.”
The Program Planning and Evaluation unit collaborated with UC ANR academics, program staff and Strategic Communications to compile more than 50 vignettes that highlight the impact of our organization statewide during 2023.
The stories are organized by the seven public value statements.
Feel free to publicize UC ANR's efforts and impact by sharing the annual report via email or social media with friends, the public, policymakers and potential donors.
The annual report is posted online on the UC ANR "About" page and the direct link is ucanr.edu/2023annualreport. A few printed copies of the annual report are available.
If you have any questions about the annual report, please contact Jennifer Sedell at jennifer.sedell@ucop.edu.