Appreciation for our Ministers of Welcoming, Collaboration, & Joy
The inaugural series of Good Company Picnics were positive, productive, and fun for the 140 people who attended and contributed to them. Picnickers brought delicious food, with the TOGETHER team’s favorite being Ashley’s lemon turmeric cake (not that we’re choosing favorites, but…). They brought a basket of homegrown meyer lemons, an adorable dog, and an even more adorable 1 year old named Benny. Picnickers talked about work and life, they exchanged contact information, and they laughed. A lot.
All around the Bay Area are people who are champions for regional collaboration. There are 14 such people that we want to enthusiastically thank for serving on the host committees of the 4 Good Company Picnics we held in August, September, and October 2025.
We are grateful for the time, energy, creativity and partnership of:
West Bay Hosts
Rebekah Berkov, Presidio Trust
Erica Williams, Trust for Public Land
Šárka Volejníková, Trust for Public Land
North Bay Hosts
Amy Ricard, Sonoma Ag and Open Space District
Molly Curley O’Brien, WRA, Inc
Tosha Comendant, Land Trust of Napa County + TOGETHER Bay Area board member
South Bay Hosts
Bryanna Whitney, Peninsula Open Space Trust
Eric Lombardo, Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Melina Mahood, Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Jane Mark, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Melissa Hippard, County of Santa Clara Parks Department
East Bay Hosts
Elsa Grandvoinet, East Bay Regional Park District
Sapha Khandwala, Stillwater Sciences + TOGETHER Bay Area board member
Trevor Rice
These amazing people:
- Created TOGETHER Bay Area crossword puzzles for attendees to work on with fellow picnickers.
- Made BINGO cards that encouraged picnickers to meet new people (drive an EV? Play fantasy football?)
- Helped to create a positive culture by warmly welcoming each picnicker as they arrived
- Gave away prizes!
- Reserved the picnic spots and coordinated logistics
- Invited their colleagues to attend and get connected
- Were an absolute pleasure to work with
Our deepest thanks to the outstanding Host Committees and everyone who attended a Good Company Picnic this season.
Shall we do it again?
