Kerry Hastings
PROGRAM MANAGER
Kerry Hastings joined Smart Growth California in 2016 as Program Manager. With nearly 20 years of nonprofit experience, Kerry has served as a volunteer, fundraiser, program staff, Executive Director, consultant and Board member of various nonprofits throughout California. Her passion for community empowerment, social justice, and equitable development has fueled her drive and commitment to her community.
For a large part of her career, Kerry worked as a community organizer, supporting residents to use their voices for sustainable change in their neighborhoods and cities. She has extensive work in the housing space, working as an organizer on housing and homelessness in Orange County, as Executive Director of Housing Long Beach, and launched the Housing Solutions Network in Jefferson County, WA. She has worked with many diverse communities on the myriad issues impacting their health and wellbeing, and has a personal and professional commitment to social change for those most impacted by the greatest challenges of today’s world.
Kerry holds a Master of Arts in Cultural Studies from the University of London and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Media Studies from Azusa Pacific University.
Kriselda Bautista
Program associate
Kriselda Bautista (she/they) joined Smart Growth California in 2022 as Program Associate. She has Bachelor of Arts degrees in Urban Studies and Criminology, Law & Society from the University of California, Irvine and brings with her 7+ years of experience supporting sustainable community development projects with nonprofit organizations, local governments, and state agencies. She is excited to continue supporting the work of Smart Growth California advancing equity in communities throughout California.
Kriselda is an advocate for mental health and well-being, and in her free time, she enjoys going on walks, gardening, and tinkering with DIY projects.
Ron Milam
DIRECTOR
Ron Milam joined Smart Growth California in 2014 as the coordinator of the Los Angeles Funders’ Collaborative and since fall of 2017, has directed Smart Growth California. Ron brings 17 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit sector, having served over 150 sustainability-oriented organizations as a consultant.
Ron is skilled at developing leadership, building stronger teams, improving organizational effectiveness, and facilitating collaborative change. He brings an understanding of issues related to transportation, land use, climate, housing, water, the environment and racial equity. He served as the founding executive director of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. Under Ron’s leadership, the organization grew from an idea into a 1,000 member organization.
Ron studied planning, public policy, and management at the University of Oregon, and has a Masters in Organization Development from Pepperdine University, where he wrote his thesis on managing collaborative change efforts in Southern California.
Nina Bohlen
FOUNDING Director, Smart Growth California
Nina Bohlen helped to found Smart Growth California in 2009 and served as its director until fall 2017. Read more about Nina’s leadership.
