Nicole DeJonghe
Program Director
Sierra Business Council

Nicole comes to SBC with a passion for working towards a balanced and prosperous Sierra Nevada region. Her strengths include her ability to connect well with others, and her analytical skills balanced with an ability to realize and implement creative solutions. Nicole believes in educating, inspiring, and empowering others with the tools necessary to make positive change.

Nicole brings to SBC a wide range of professional experience, including environmental analysis and social responsibility for Patagonia, serving as a Development Director for Gateway Mountain Center, publishing research on sustainable business practices, and serving as a new construction LEED certification project manager. She has also served as an instructor for Yosemite Institute and Outward Bound along with other outdoor curriculum.

Nicole holds a Masters degree in Environmental Science and Management, with a specialization in Green Innovation and Business (Bren School, UCSB). She holds a second Masters degree in teaching, as well as two Secondary California Clear Teaching Credentials, in Geosciences and Biological Sciences. Her Bachelors of Science is from the University of Michigan, where she double majored in Environmental Policy and Behavior and Resource Ecology and Management.

Nicole also works with a small group of committed individuals in Tanzania, Africa, where they are working to develop relationships and launch a successful school and its accompanied operating systems in a Maasai village.

Nicole has a deep love for backcountry skiing, climbing on granite, and swimming in alpine lakes. She has lived in various locations throughout the Sierra, including Mammoth Lakes and Yosemite (El Portal), and now looks forward to contributing to the healthy evolution the greater Sierra Nevada region.