The Trust for Public Land Appoints Guillermo Rodriguez California State Director

The Trust for Public Land today announced that Guillermo Rodriguez has joined the organization as California State Director. As head of the state office, he will be responsible for developing and leading The Trust for Public Land’s programmatic activities throughout the state.

The California program is one of The Trust for Public Land’s largest. Founded In 1972 and based in San Francisco, the nonprofit pursues active park creation programs in the Bay Area, Southern California and has helped conserve more than 438,000 acres for parks and recreation across the state. Recent projects include the reconstruction of Boeddeker Park in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, the enlargement of popular Runyon Canyon Park in Los Angeles, and the protection of Ackerson Meadow as the largest expansion of Yosemite National Park in nearly 70 years.

Since 2011, Rodriguez had served as the Policy and Communication Director for the Department of the Environment, City and County of San Francisco, where he oversaw government relations, strategic communications, and media relations. Previously, he was CityBuild Director of former Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, tasked with developing workforce training programs for economically disadvantaged residents and with attracting and generating “green collar” jobs for San Francisco.

“Guillermo’s experience and passion for environmental causes and for working with diverse communities to create healthier and more sustainable neighborhoods makes him the right person to lead The Trust for Public Land in California,” said Philip A. Ginsburg, General Manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. “Our department and The Trust for Public Land have a strong and long-standing partnership, and I am thrilled to continue our work with Guillermo in this new role.”

Before joining the City, Rodriguez’ private sector experience included senior director-level positions at Pacific Gas and Electric Company. From 1992-1998, he served as Executive Director of the Latino Issues Forum, a nonprofit public policy and advocacy institute. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Rodriguez holds a Certificate of Financial Analysis and Management from UC’s Haas School of Business.

“From my experience in city government, especially working with disadvantaged communities, I understand the huge difference parks and access to open space can make in people’s everyday lives,” Rodriguez said. “Working with the talented and dedicated staff at the state and national level and with our advisory board, I look forward to helping to advance The Trust for Public Land’s vital work in California.”

Will Rogers, President of The Trust for Public Land, extolled Rodriguez experience. “Guillermo’s more than 20 years of nonprofit policy and advocacy work and his extensive experience managing government programs make him the ideal choice for this important role in our organization.”

About The Trust for Public Land
The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live near a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. To support The Trust for Public Land and share why nature matters to you, visit www.tpl.org.