Staff Bios

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Andrea Gullo

Executive Director
Andrea Gullo joined the Habitat Authority in 2000, and has worked for other local and state park agencies. She holds a master’s degree in Urban Planning from UCLA and is the author of publications regarding human attitudes toward cougars. She has served as President for a local nonprofit organization, and as a Board Member for several other nonprofit organizations in the past. At the Habitat Authority, she is responsible for managing and supervising all agency activities including projects involving trails management, ranger services, outdoor education, resource management, finances and administration.

Michelle Mariscal

Ecologist
Michelle Mariscal joined the Habitat Authority in 2019 and has a master’s degree from the University of California Riverside in Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology. Her thesis research evaluated highway underpasses as wildlife corridors in the Coachella Valley. She previously worked at the Santa Ana Watershed Association supervising biologists, surveying and monitoring for endangered, threatened, and rare species for the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan. Prior to that, she worked at UC Riverside’s Center for Conservation Biology as an ecologist and has many years of progressive experience in a wide variety of fields. She has authored several reports and peer-reviewed manuscripts including those on the topic of climate change. Her responsibilities include coordinating the ecological activities of the Preserve, administrating the agency GIS, and helping to monitor the long-term sustainable health of the natural resources in balance with recreation.

Vacant

Interpretive Programs Coordinator

Marlyn Barajas

Program Analyst

Marlyn Barajas joined the Habitat Authority in 2023. She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach. Previously, as a part of the Covid response team with Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System and Los Angeles County’s Department of Health Services she was a Scheduling Coordinator for Quarantine and Isolation sites and Finance and Logistics Coordinator. As the Habitat Authority’s Program Analyst, Marlyn performs a wide variety of professional, administrative, analytical, and management support within assigned programs including day-to-day operations, records maintenance and coordination, and accounts receivable and payable.

Vacant

Naturalist

Non-staff Contract Services:

Kenn Hughes

Deputy Chief Ranger

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), which contracts with the Habitat Authority for ranger services in the Puente Hills, has employed Deputy Chief Ranger Kenn Hughes since 1993. He is responsible for keeping the Preserve safe and clean through law enforcement, emergency services, maintenance, and education. He provides daily supervision for three other rangers that patrol the Preserve.

Kenn is a graduate from the Rio Hondo Police Academy certified in Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), and has served a two-year position as a Parks and Recreation Commissioner for the City of La Habra Heights. He graduated from the City of La Habra Heights Fire Academy certified by the California State Fire Marshall, as a Fire Fighter I. He is certified by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group and the California Incident Command Certification System, and is state and nationally recognized as an Incident Commander Type IV and Engine Captain. He has over ten years of experience with conducting youth outdoor education Jr. Ranger programs, as well as ten years of experience as a carpenter.

Another ranger that patrols the Puente Hills Preserve is Chief Ranger Gomez.

Other services provided for the Habitat Authority including personnel and financial management are by contract with Board Member agencies.