Career Conversations with Trinity County Alumni 06/01/2020 – 06/05/2020


Eric Horstman

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

12:10 – 12:50 pm

Trinity High School Alumni

Conservation Consultant

Eric Horstman was born at Trinity General Hospital on July 21, 1963. At the age of six an accidental house fire took the life of his brother Christian and cousin Davey ¨Tub. ¨ Eric survived, with third degree burns on over 60% of his body and spent more than 10 years in reconstructive plastic surgery.

Eric developed an early interest in natural history and initially explored and documented the flora and fauna around his home.  Later he would begin to hike, backpack and fish the Trinity Alps Wilderness with friends and family including Jim French, former county school’s supervisor.

Eric’s first job in natural resources was with the Youth Conservation Corp in Trinity County. He later went on to work seasonally with the Bureau of Land Management on a land surveying crew, and with the Forest Service taking part in a study of the Spruce Budworm, a major pest of Douglas Firs as well as Foreman of the Trinity Alps Wilderness Patrol.

After earning his bachelor’s degree, Eric joined the Peace Corps, and was asked to stay on in Ecuador to work as Director of the Pro Forest Foundation – a position that administers a 15,000-acre protected forest called Cerro Blanco on the outskirts of Ecuador’s largest city, Guayaquil.  Ecuador is one of the 17 megadiverse countries worldwide that between them support 50 to 65% of all the world’s species. Cerro Blanco has jaguars, howler monkeys, great green macaws and huge ceibo trees with their smooth, green trunks. Eric worked for 28 years in Cerro Blanco.

Eric has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies and two Masters degrees in Zoology and Natural Resource Management. He has traveled the globe extensively and currently resides in the city of Guayaquil with his wife Sonia and son Eric William.


Join the Conversation by  Phone

1 669 900 6833

Meeting ID: 875 0698 2207

Password: 256447

Lily Stokely

Hayfork High School Alumni

Naturopathic Physician

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

12:10 – 12:50 pm

Dr. Lily Stokely is a naturopathic physician who specializes in treating eating disorders. She graduated from Hayfork High in 2006 and the University of California, Berkeley in 2010 with a degree in dietetics. Lily is the proud founder of her current medical practice, One Connection Healthcare, which employs other naturopathic physicians in Seattle, Washington. In her spare time, Lily enjoys backpacking, gardening, and playing with her German Shepherd.


Join the Conversation by Phone

1 669 900 6833 

Meeting ID: 832 9889 6553

Password: 407778

Tawnya Rourke Kelly

Hayfork High School Alumni

Landscaper/Owner of Heartstead Home & Garden Services

Thursday, June 4, 2020

12:10 – 12:50 pm

Back in the day, many days ago, Tawnya began her own garden at the age of 12.  Strawberries in a barrel, raised beds full of broccoli, burgeoning tomato plants. All of this in the heat of her mountain valley town in Northern California.  Tawnya is the 4th generation of folks who helped settle that little farming valley, and has dirt in her veins.  

From 4-H and FFA, her own childhood backyard full of turkeys, sheep, dogs, cats, and a beautiful garden, to her permaculture design course at Sandy Bar Ranch in Orleans, CA to her lush acre full of food and beloved chickens here in north east Kalispell, MT, Tawnya has found herself lucky enough to create a livelihood around doing what she does best…playing in the dirt! 

Tawnya’s first passion (after family, hunting, hiking, writing and a good burger of course!) is growing food!  She is a permaculture trained gardener with five years experience growing veggies, herbs and ornamentals in northwest Montana.  She has owned and operated her landscaping business for four out of those five years, and maintains 15-20 properties every growing season, primarily in Whitefish, MT.


Join Conversation by Phone

1 669 900 6833 

Meeting ID: 821 0676 0264

Password: 232658