Kaila was born and raised in Ben Lomond, California, a small town nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains. She grew up camping, fishing, hiking, and horseback riding with her family. She attended Cal Poly earning a B.S. in Animal Science with a concentration in Livestock Production and Rangeland Resources, and a M.S. in Watershed Hydrology and Soil Conservation.
Kaila has years of experience in bioengineering, erosion control, and stream restoration from working with an environmental consulting firm in Northern California, acting as a Research Assistant at Cal Poly and assisting a non-profit in local stream restoration in Sacramento River tributaries.
Kaila managed The Land Conservancy's Restoration Program from 2005 - 2008 implementing dunes ecosystem management plans, major fish passage projects, and a variety of wetland & stream restoration techniques. After an 18-month sabbatical traveling in the U.S. and abroad, Kaila has returned to this role once again.
Kaila has presented papers at International Erosion Control Association annual conferences and is a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC). She has also worked closely with ranchers and farmers in improving grazing and crop production practices to minimize erosion and improve water quality.
In her spare time, Kaila runs a small professional photography business. She also enjoys horseback riding, sailing, kayaking, cooking, gardening, yoga, and walking with her dog, Copper. She is passionate about conserving our natural resources and finding innovative ways to help us live in and improve the environment we call home.