We Pride Ourselves on our Collective Expertise.
Meet the Team
President and CEO
Mike Carr
Director of Human Resources
Stewart Halstead
WOLF School Outdoor Education Director
Heather Butler
Marketing & Advertising.
Laura Chamberlin
Finance & Accounting Director
Lili Young
Director of Communications and Reservations
Tina Heck
We offer a wealth of experience.
Our team spirit allows us to collaborate and exchange information to achieve the best outcome for your organization.
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Mike Carr
Mike is a seasoned executive with over two decades of experience in strategic leadership, currently serving as the President & CEO of UCCR. Since joining the organization in 1998, he has developed a deep expertise in collaborating with government agencies and nonprofit organizations to devise innovative business solutions for the sustainable management of camp, conference, and retreat properties.
Mike specializes in aligning operational strategies with long-term property viability, ensuring that these natural sites are preserved for their environmental value and role in enhancing diverse user groups' experiences. His approach involves a comprehensive understanding of property owners' values, detailed financial assessments, and implementing environmental restoration strategies. These include removing invasive species, stream and habitat restoration, and creating fire-defensible spaces.
Mike’s passion lies in developing business plans that boost property usage and revenue while prioritizing natural resource conservation for future generations. His leadership ensures that properties under UCCR’s management maintain their ecological integrity and continue to serve as valuable assets to the environment and the communities that benefit from them.
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Stewart Halstead
Stewart brings a wealth of experience in benefits management and employee relations and a proven track record of strategic leadership to support organizational goals. With an in-depth knowledge of Federal and State labor laws, he consults on HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance and operational facility efficiency.
Human Resources Management
Expertise in developing, monitoring, and managing compensation plans, conducting employee reviews, maintaining personnel records, and overseeing day-to-day.Benefits Administration
Competent with employee benefits, worker’s compensation, employment insurance programs, and health insurance policies, handling accident claims while making strategic recommendations to optimize benefit programs.Employee Relations & Compliance
Strong background in conducting staff orientations, auditing personnel records, processing background checks, addressing employee concerns, and fostering positive relations.Training & Development
Experience in designing and delivering training programs on HR policies and compliance to support continuous staff development and alignment with objectives.
With experience in nonprofit and private sector settings, Stewart excels at handling and mentoring those for complex HR issues with discretion, attention to detail, and a commitment to the highest levels of service and confidentiality.
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Laura Chamberlin
As a strategic and results-oriented Director of Marketing, Laura specializes in expanding business development and driving growth by identifying new opportunities. With a comprehensive background in marketing, she has successfully leveraged digital platforms to enhance brand visibility and engagement with customers.
Laura’s strengths lie in the development and execution of targeted marketing campaigns, including email campaigns tailored to diverse and emerging audiences. She excels at producing compelling content and creating marketing collateral.
Committed to implementing industry best practices, Laura monitors key performance metrics and delivers marketing activities within budget. With a keen eye for crafting marketing presentations that communicate value and resonate with customers, she consistently delivers high-quality marketing solutions that align with organizational goals and enhance customer engagement and satisfaction.
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Lili Young
As a results-driven finance leader, Lili brings a robust skill set integrating strategic financial planning with hands-on expertise in accounting systems, budget development, and risk management. Her ability to navigate complex financial landscapes has consistently led to achieving organizational goals in nonprofit environments.
Lili’s approach is rooted in continuous improvement, transparency, and a commitment to excellence in nonprofit financial operations.
Strategic Financial Leadership
Proven expertise in preparing comprehensive financial reports, including forecasting income, expenses, and earnings. Adept at translating data into actionable insights that guide financial planning and business strategy.Systems and Policy Development
Highly skilled in leading financial infrastructure development to support multi-state operations, ensuring regulatory compliance and fiscal integrity.Budgeting & Forecasting Excellence
Extensive experience managing all facets of the budgeting process, including rate setting, cash flow analysis, and financial forecasting in the camp and retreat industry.Insurance & Risk Management
Knowledge of camp and retreat insurance protocols, including workers' compensation, property coverage, and liability management.Technological Proficiency
Ability to leverage technology to optimize processes and ensure data accuracy. Lili excels in NetSuite, the most powerful ERP Accounting software for NPOs which helps our customers benefit from the latest tools.Cross-Departmental Collaboration
Strong collaborator with property owners, site directors, and board members. Effective at providing financial leadership for new business development and expansion initiatives.Ethical and Professional Leadership
Committed to leading with integrity and professionalism, maintaining confidentiality, and fostering an environment of trust and respect. Recognized for strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills, essential for navigating complex financial challenges.
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Heather Butler
Heather Butler is a seasoned leader in environmental education, serving as the Director of WOLF School since 1999. With a strong academic foundation from Stanford University, holding an A.B. in Human Biology and Comparative Literature, and a Teaching Credential from Chapman University, Heather brings a blend of scientific knowledge and educational expertise to her role. Her experience spans over two decades, during which she has successfully advanced WOLF School's mission of connecting youth to nature by incorporating state standards and NGSS-aligned curriculum into the school's outdoor programs.
As a strategic program developer, Heather has ensured that WOLF School meets the evolving needs of educators and administrators while preserving its core values of providing inspiring and impactful outdoor learning experiences.
Her leadership extends to her work as a past president of California’s Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (AEOE) and as a former board member of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, reflecting her commitment to environmental stewardship and education at a statewide level.
Heather's career is driven by her passion for outdoor education, combining nature, hands-on learning, and mentorship for both students and teachers. Her unique ability to integrate environmental science with engaging outdoor experiences has made her a leader in her field.
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Rev. Tina Heck
As a dynamic and detail-oriented Director of Communications and Reservations, Tina brings a wealth of experience leading high-performing teams and enhancing customer service operations and reservations to achieve organizational goals. Her exceptional ability to train and manage a Reservations Department ensures top-quality service delivery, which fosters a culture of continuous improvement through training and performance monitoring.
With a strong focus on collaboration, Tina works closely with Site Directors, Administrative staff, and cross-functional teams to streamline processes, improve workflow, and implement effective reservation strategies. Tina can set clear goals, monitor quality control, and introduce innovations that enhance customer satisfaction and internal efficiencies. She takes pride in her role as a department liaison, aligning customers' needs with UCCR’s mission.
A skilled communicator passionate about training others in the art of hospitality in the camp and retreat industry, she is committed to improving the customer experience and strengthening internal processes. She consistently contributes to the organization's overall effectiveness and success through strategic leadership and hands-on management.
Mike has expert leadership and experience in educating others to run proficient and thriving camp and retreat centers.
Expert Leadership
Lili brings a robust skill set integrating strategic financial planning with hands-on expertise in accounting systems, budget development, and risk management
FINANCE & ACCOUNTING
Laura is committed to implementing industry best practices, monitoring key performance metrics, and delivering marketing activities within budget.
MARKETING
Tina is a skilled communicator passionate about training others in the art of hospitality in the camp and retreat industry.
COMMUNICATIONS & RESERVATIONS
Stewart consults on HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance and operational facility efficiency.
HUMAN RESOURCES