Staff
Ellie Routt -Executive Director
Ellie Routt
Ellie Routt is an Amador County native. She attended Santa Rosa Junior College and Humboldt State University where she specialized in several natural resources options. Ellie's favorite courses were in Sustainable Agriculture, Botany and Soil Science and she eventually received a degree in Rangeland Resource Science. Ellie has volunteered with various federal, state, and local agencies working on projects ranging from exotic plant eradication to rotational grazing studies, to native landscaping design.
In 2006 Ellie moved back to Amador County to work with the Mother Lode Land Trust as their Executive Director.
Ellie has two boys, Collin and Isaac. The three of them love working outside in the garden, going camping and fishing, and reading stories to each other. Through her work, Ellie hopes she can protect areas that were an important part of her childhood so that her children and her children’s children can enjoy those same places.
Carolyn Mendoza—Administrative Assistant
Carolyn Mendoza - Administrative Assistant Carolyn is from San Jose where she was born and raised. Carolyn and her husband moved to Pine Grove nearly twenty years ago. Though she was able to work from home for four of those years Carolyn decided to retire after twenty-seven years with the same company. Carolyn and her husband spend most of their free time visiting with their children and grand-children. “I wanted to have more time with my family and enjoy my new environment while getting to know about the community where I lived”. There was an opportunity for Carolyn to work part-time for Central Sierra Resource Conservation and Development, (CSRC&D) which was a non-profit. She was employed by them for eleven years. Working for CSRC&D provided the knowledge and experience of how communities and people can benefit from their association with a community based non-profit organization. Through her non-profit experience and contacts Carolyn was able to continue working in the non-profit field with Mother Lode Land Trust (MLLT). She is responsible for the daily management of the office and grants once they are awarded to MLLT. “It is a rewarding experience to see how the land in our communities can be preserved and enjoyed in perpetuity for generations to come”.
Amanda Brashear- Stewardship Director
Amanda Brashear
Amanda Brashear has a B.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Vermont and a M.A.S. in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Denver. In Colorado, she worked in military lands management where she prepared natural resource management plans, impact assessment documents, and designed mitigation projects for military properties in the West.
After moving to California, Amanda worked as a planner for the CA Department of Conservation and a scientist for CA Department of Fish and Wildlife. Amanda volunteers with the Amador County Master Gardeners program and in local schools. She enjoys skiing and exploring the outdoors with her family. Amanda is happy to call Amador County home and to help conserve the open space, habitats, and working lands of the Mother Lode region.
Bradley Booker—Property Manager
Bradley was raised in Amador County, and after 20 years of living across the nation, he returned with a family to a small farm in Drytown. Bradley serves as a Director for Amador Trail Stewardship, a local non-profit group working to increase recreational trail access in the region and serves on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for the Amador County Transportation Commission (ACTC). Bradley performs public land management and recreational area consultations for Non-profits, local and national agencies including the city of Ione, Amador County Recreation Agency, and the USFS. He enjoys mountain biking, snowboarding, fishing, hiking and most outdoor activities.
Alicia Barber—Archivist and Store Manager
Alicia Barber grew up in Auburn, California, where she developed a fondness for all things old by frequenting yard sales and thrift stores. She went on to earn her bachelor's degree in Interior Design from Chico State University and then worked as a merchandiser for Crate and Barrel. At the Mother Lode Land Trust, she is combining her love of antiques with her professional skills to catalog, preserve, and display the beautiful antiques left by the Chichizola and Cunio families. She is passionate about her work and believes that these antiques are an important part of the region's history.
Christopher Wright-Policy Director
Christopher Wright grew up in rural Calaveras County where his family has owned land for four generations. He spent his childhood hunting, fishing and hiking in the Mokelumne River Watershed. He continues to live in Calaveras with his wife and two children. Chris received a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Humboldt State University(2002)and his Masters Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies(2022)from Southern Utah University. Chris served one term as Calaveras County Supervisor representing the rural District 2 region of Calaveras County. He has extensive experience in land use and environmental policy at the local and state level.