After five and a half years with The Sierra Fund (TSF), Amber Taxiera is beginning a new chapter with the national nonprofit American Rivers, at their office in Nevada City, CA. We wish Amber well, and we thank her for all the ways she made our organization better.
Amber came to TSF in 2013 through the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) program, which matches service-minded individuals with conservation organizations across the Sierra. During her time as an AmeriCorps member, Amber provided key capacity to TSF’s Environmental Health Outreach Program, which aimed to help Gold Rush communities understand and reduce exposure to mining toxics, including mercury, lead, arsenic and asbestos.
In 2014, TSF hired Amber as a staff member to continue leading outreach efforts and to organize major events, including our biennial Reclaiming the Sierra conference. Amber’s constant desire to grow her capacity and learn new skills landed her in an administrative role as Operations and Finance Coordinator, managing TSF’s database, websites and Donor Advised Funds.
Amber is extraordinarily organized, detail-oriented and committed to evaluating and improving processes, which made her the ideal candidate for the myriad positions she held at TSF – and earned her the affectionate title of “Logistics Queen.”
At her going away celebration, TSF CEO Izzy Martin praised Amber’s keen eye for design and branding, commenting “She often reminded TSF about the importance of using consistent styles, images and messaging both online and in print. Amber was instrumental in developing key outreach materials, including our five year strategic plan and organizational brochure.”
We will miss Amber not only for her problem solving and innovation, but also for her lighthearted spirit and ability to make us laugh. Best of luck, Amber, and don’t be a stranger!
