Chief Executive Officer

Sam Duran has spent over 30 years in operations and management heading up non-profit conservation organizations specifically programmed toward inner city youth and the environment. As the founding CEO of the Urban Corps of San Diego County, Sam has grown the organization from its original budget of $120,000 to over $5 million. As a board member of the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps, Citizens for Clean Air Policy and Earthshare of California, he is actively involved in statewide conservation efforts and has contributed to the empowerment of youth in the conservation and environmental fields through education and vocational job training.

Currently Affiliations:

• Board Member, Earth Share of California
• Commissioner, City of San Diego Salary Setting Commission
• Board Member, Conservation Corps State Museum
• Board Member, San Diego River Park Foundation
• Member, CALCC (California Association of Local Conservation Corps)

Deputy Director

Cisco Hunter has spent over 20 years working with and representing young adults in both the non-profit and government sector. He is adapt and knowledgeable of management and legislative practices at the Federal, State and Local level, and has worked to develop and implement programs and initiatives to improve the lives of thousands of young adults. Cisco’s experience in the Corps movement includes his work designing and implementing the Chatham-Savannah Youth Conservation Corps, working as a Director with the California Conservation Corps, and his current position as Deputy Director of the Urban Corps of San Diego County. His is a skilled negotiator and public speaker, and has a wealth of experience in marketing and public relations. Cisco earned a Bachelors of Administration Degree from North Carolina Central University.

Director of Development

Anne Bernstein spent 20 years representing the luxury industry in public relations, communications, and public affairs. Traveling throughout the United States and Europe, Anne represented the Golden Door and Rancho La Puerta, working with producers from NBC, CBS, Harpo, ABC and the Discovery Channel, and in the print media Anne worked with the Editors-in-Chiefs of Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Town & Country, Glamour, the New York Times, the Washington Post and more. Anne took on the role of public affairs manager for a brief one-year period and defeated a proposed 130-acre amusement park on rural land adjacent to the Golden Door. Before joining the Urban Corps Anne spent two years in local government working for Mayor Susan Golding.

Director of Environmental Services

Before joining the youth conservation movement, Sam Lopez ran with a gang in the streets of Imperial Valley, east of San Diego. Not any more. For the last 20 years Sam has helped restore the California environment through his work with the Corps’ and along the way has made a positive impact on the lives of thousands of young men and women who were possibly headed into a life of crime. Starting out as a (reluctant) corpsmember with the California Conservation Corps, Sam rose through the ranks to become a crew leader. Through hard work and dedication he went on to be promoted to supervisor, manager, and to his current position as Director of Environmental Services.

Director of Administration

David Rodriguez has an extensive background in political and intergovernmental relations. He was political Director for the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, CEO of the Native American Corporate America Business Conference, and has been involved in youth development and community leadership for 25 years. David has a bachelor's degree in public administration from San Diego State University.

Director of Conservation Services

Erwin graduated from UCLA with a BA in Economics. He spent 2 years in federal government working with US Congressman Jim Bates and 4 years in local government with San Diego City Councilman Wes Pratt. Erwin was appointed by Governor Pete Wilson to the Peace Officer’s Standards and Training Symposium (POST), and also served as a Board Member for the Council on Pilipino-American Organizations (COPAO). Erwin has over 15 years of experience working with underserved youth.

Director of Education

Dan has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Science and Technology. His teaching experience spans more than 18 years, and includes a variety of subjects taught to students of different ethnic, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds ranging in ages from pre-teens to young adults. Dan recently added mathematics to his growing list of credentialed subject areas.

Controller

Mr. Priegel joined Urban Corps San Diego in June 2007. Michael has more than 30 years of accounting experience including 15 years working with not-for-profit organizations as well as federal and state contract compliance auditing.

Mr. Priegel offers an extensive and diverse financial management background including senior management positions with The Atlanta Ballet; The Contemporary Art Museum of Atlanta; Quality Care for Children (an affiliate of Save the Children Federation); Desert AIDS Project, and; ACCION San Diego. After obtaining his BBA in Accounting and Management Information Systems from the University of Wisconsin, Michael began his career with the Department of Health and Human Services as a fiscal compliance auditor.

After obtaining his Master in Public Service Administration, also from the University of Wisconsin, he joined a Chicago based CPA firm where he specialized in not-for-profit accounting systems conversions. His clients included hospitals, universities and colleges, elementary and secondary schools, health and human service providers, and performing and visual arts organizations. While living and working in Chicago he participated in the Executive MBA program at Northwestern University.

Mr. Priegel has been an active community volunteer in Atlanta, Palm Springs and San Diego and has served as event chair for several fund raising events. In addition, he has been on the board of directors for several not-for-profit organizations including: Project Open Hand – Atlanta; The Roar Foundation and; Associated Youth Resources.

He is a active member of the Zoological Society of San Diego, San Diego Humane Society, Pacific Whale Foundation and Environment California.