Randy Widera of Santa Cruz was named the 2025 Annual Honorary Ranger by the California State Park Rangers Association recently.
According to California State Park Rangers Association, Widera dedicated his more than 37-year career to the enhancement and preservation of the California State Parks by creating lasting connections between all Californians and their common natural and cultural heritage.
“From introducing children to the wonders of nature, to inspiring adults to become environmental stewards, Randy has worked to strengthen others’ appreciation for the value of preserving and enhancing State Parks,” California State Park Rangers Association said in a release. “Randy brings together elected officials, community leaders, philanthropists, parks personnel, and many others to create opportunities and innovative approaches to build support for parks.”
Widera is a graduate of Aptos High School and UC San Diego. He works with parks throughout California, as the director of programs for the California Parks Foundation, and lives in Santa Cruz, with his wife, Julie, and family.
The association said Widera’s background, values, and life’s work demonstrate all the characteristics befitting this award. Among his many accomplishments, Widera was instrumental in the restoration of Pigeon Point Lighthouse. He leads the Yosemite Slough Project at Candlestick, partnering with numerous entities to transform a superfund site into a vibrant and vital habitat and recreation area on the edge of the city. He has been an instructor at the State Parks Training Center for over 30 years. He served as the executive director of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, and president of the League of California Park Associations and in 1989, Widera founded the Web of Life Field School. Since 2019 he has worked at the California State Parks Foundation, first as Director of Philanthropy, and now as Director of Programs.
The California State Park Rangers Association is an organization of current and retired park professionals who bring their experience and expertise to advocate for the stewardship of the California State Park System.
Brie Reiter Smith to assume full-time role as Driscoll’s vice chair
Effective January 2026, Brie Reiter Smith will formally step into the role of Driscoll’s vice chair full-time. Smith, the daughter of Executive Chairman J. Miles Reiter, was first selected by the Driscoll’s Board of Directors to serve as its next vice chair in March.
In her new capacity, Smith will take on a range of responsibilities including principal interaction with shareholders, participation in agenda development, meeting planning, and leading specific aspects of board meetings. Amid a 14-year career with Driscoll’s, Smith plays an important role in representing both family ownership and management to the people of Driscoll’s and its broader community.
Smith and her husband, Brian, began as blueberry farm workers and later became growers in Chile. When Driscoll’s operations in Chile faced significant challenges, she was asked to take over as managing director, where she led the turnaround of a loss-making business to break-even performance, while also helping to establish Driscoll’s operations in Peru.
Upon returning to the United States, Smith assumed leadership of the U.S. Northern District. She later led a redesign of the company’s quality system, creating economic incentives for better-tasting berries and improving the speed and clarity of feedback to growers. For the past four years, she has led the Product Leadership team at Driscoll’s of the Americas, where she redefined the role and created a blueprint now being adopted across the enterprise and with grower partners.
“Brie has demonstrated exceptional leadership, resilience, and vision throughout her career,” said J. Miles Reiter in a release. “Her ability to navigate complex challenges while staying grounded in our company’s values makes her uniquely qualified for this role. Brie’s appointment as Vice Chair is a natural progression, and I have every confidence in her continued impact on Driscoll’s future. As her father, my wife Rosanne and I are so proud of Brie and what she has brought to our common effort.”
Bay Federal Credit Union announces promotion of Brooke Morley
Bay Federal Credit Union is proud to announce the promotion of Brooke Morley to senior vice president, Chief Lending and Product Officer. In this expanded role, Morley will lead the strategic vision, strategy and execution for the credit union’s consumer, mortgage, indirect, deposit, card and servicing portfolios. She will focus on delivering innovative financial products and services while ensuring exceptional member experiences, regulatory compliance and sound risk management practices.
Morley will oversee product design, lending strategy, portfolio management and service delivery, while working closely with the Chief Business Services Officer to align business lending with enterprise-wide credit and product strategies. She first joined Bay Federal in 2008 as assistant vice president, Lending. After gaining additional leadership experience at other credit unions, Morley returned in 2021 as vice president, Asset Management.
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