Field Studies: Naomi Fraga, Ph.D.; Director of Conservation Programs (nfraga@calbg.org): Naomi joined the staff in 2001 and is responsible for programmatic leadership and management of the Conservation Program.  Naomi earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in Botany from Claremont Graduate University and her B.S. in Botany from Cal Poly Pomona.  Naomi is broadly interested in plant conservation and her research focus includes floristics, rare plant biology, reproductive biology, and systematics of monkeyflowers.  You can learn more about Naomi's research on her website.

Lab Studies: Carrie Kiel, Ph.D.; Lab Manager & Conservation Geneticist (ckiel@calbg.org): Carrie earned her doctoral degree from Claremont Graduate University (Class of 2016). Her dissertation was titled: "Unraveling relationships among the morphologically diverse and taxonomically complex ‘justicioid’ lineage (Acanthaceae) and the evolution of androecial form in New World Justicia".

Restoration: Janell Balmaceda, M.S.; Restoration Project Manager (jbalmaceda@calbg.org): Janell joined the CalBG staff in 2025 and oversees on-the-ground restoration projects. She earned an M.S. in Conservation Science from the University of Minnesota and a B.A. from Biola University with a minor in Environmental Science. She is passionate about stewarding California's native ecosystems through habitat restoration, invasive species management, and conservation.

Nursery: Frank Obregón, Nursery Manager (fobregon@calbg.org). Frank joined CalBG in 2025 and oversees the on-site nursery, nursery staff, and associated propagation projects. Frank earned a B.S. in Plant Science from Cal Poly Pomona in 2019 after transferring from Long Beach City College. Frank has diverse conservation & horticultural interests, including a passion for carnivorous plants, plant breeding, ethnobotany, and conserving public lands.  

Seed Conservation: Cheryl Birker; Seed Conservation Program Manager (cbirker@calbg.org): Cheryl has a degree in Biology with a concentration in Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation Biology from California State University Fullerton. She started in May of 2014 as a seed collector for the BLM Seeds of Success Program, then worked in the Restoration Nursery growing native plants for restoration and mitigation projects. Cheryl has been managing the Seed Conservation Program since August 2016.