The Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy welcomes Anthony Portantino and Jim Osterling to its board of directors and Matt DeVoll in the role of president.

A resident of La Cañada Flintridge, Portantino comes to the board with a wealth of experience in the political and environmental arenas. He served two terms on the La Cañada City Council and was mayor of La Cañada Flintridge for two terms. He was the president of the League of California Cities Mayors and Councilmembers Department, a boardmember of the Los Angeles County Division of the League of Cities and the California Contract Cities Association. He served in the California State Assembly for the 44th District for six years. He also served on the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory Committee. He currently serves on the California Film Commission and is a visiting fellow at USC’s Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics.

A lifelong outdoorsman, Jim Osterling will be serving as AFC’s treasurer, a role for which he is well suited because of his prior career as a CPA. Osterling has worked in the field of real estate finance for 33 years. As a real estate developer, he brings valuable perspective as AFC looks to save more privately owned natural open space. He is committed to land preservation and is currently involved in several local open space efforts.

“We are honored to have Anthony’s experience and expertise to guide us in our mission to address critical environmental wildlife corridor issues in the San Gabriel and Verdugo mountains,” said Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy Chief Executive and General Counsel John Howell. “Jim Osterling’s expertise in land transactions and real estate finance is proving very valuable to achieving our land conservation goals.”

Incoming President Matt DeVoll is president and CEO of Verticalive, an early stage technology company involved in cloud computing. He has previously served AFC as a financial advisor.

The Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy is a non-profit land trust. It preserves land and restores habitat in and around the San Gabriel and Crescenta Valleys, thereby protecting natural areas for birds and wildlife and providing access and educational experiences for the community