Board of Directors

Linda Ruffing, Board President

Linda Ruffing has been involved with the Noyo Center since its inception - first in her capacity as the City of Fort Bragg’s Community Development Director, and then as City Manager. Linda is a professional land use planner with decades of experience on the Northern California coast. She currently has a private planning practice. Linda joined the Noyo Center Board of Directors in December 2019 and became Board President in 2023.

Wendi Felson, Board Vice-President

Wendi Felson knew before she moved to Fort Bragg in 2016 that she wanted to be part of the Noyo Center. In December of that year, she started volunteering as a docent at the Crow’s Nest once a week. She also volunteers with the Beach Survey Program, Science Talk presentations and other events. Wendi currently works as the Volunteer Coordinator and has contributed greatly to the growth of our volunteer program. She is a retired UCSF Clinical Laboratory Scientist after 27 years at San Francisco General Hospital.

Monique Larsen Jensen, CPA, Board Treasurer

Monique is a Certified Public Accountant with over 30 years of experience. Currently she is a consultant with RGP, a global consulting firm, serving Fortune 500 companies in the Technology and Life Sciences industries. In 1987 Monique and her husband Marc fell in love with the Mendocino Coast, and in 2015 they built their retirement home in Fort Bragg. Her focus as a board member is to help build a sustainable economic future for this amazing stretch of coastline. The Noyo Center, being a hub for knowledge-sharing, exploring and educating the public, can act as a catalyst for the new blue economy opportunities.

Donna Worster, Board Secretary

Donna has been a strong supporter of the California Coast since moving to Fort Bragg in 1966. Her background has been in the insurance industry, in tax preparations, a board member of four non-profit organizations, and a young female fraternal organization leader. She has served as a Mendocino County Grand Juror for three terms. Her focus as a Board Member is working to assure that the Ocean Science Center is built as both a place of ocean research and community pride. And as a home for "Betty" the blue whale bones to rest into perpetuity.

Robby Bruce

A longtime resident in Elk, Robby spends a good portion of his year as a commercial fisherman based in Sitka Alaska. As a active member of the United Fishermen of Alaska, Robby has participated in many negotiations regarding regulation of our fisheries and creating sustainable harvest measures.

Ginny Feth-Michel

Ginny had been a resident of the Mendocino Coast since 2010. Before making Mendocino her home, she often vacationed in the area—camping, hiking, and biking in and around Fort Bragg. Following the birth of her grandchildren, Ginny and her husband, Kevin, relocated to Washington, D.C. A Certified Public Accountant, Ginny built a diverse career that included roles at large public accounting firms, work as a sole practitioner, and serving as Vice President of Finance and Human Resources for a national natural foods’ distributor. She also held various positions in local government, including Assistant City Manager for the City of Fort Bragg and Assistant Finance Director for the City of Ukiah. In June 2025, Ginny retired to focus on traveling and spending more time with her family.

Glenn Goodman

Glenn Goodman is a frequent visitor to the Mendocino Coast and enjoys outdoor activities in nature, especially hiking, gardening, and biking. He worked in the environmental cleanup arena for 25 years before he and his wife, Fran, founded a San Francisco Bay Area residential construction firm, GGD, Inc., and is excited to be helping the Noyo Center create the La-Bone-story and assist in the plans for the future Ocean Science Center. Glenn serves on the Board of 2 other non-profits, all focused on natural habitat protection, rehabilitation of wild animals, big and small, and education around those passions.

Mary Meline

Mary moved to the coast 8 years ago from the Chico area where she was an educator for 25 years. Because of her love of learning, she took Tanya Smart’s class in Marine Mammal Biology and her love for those animals was born. She has volunteered at Crow's Nest, the Discovery Center, and she and her husband have hosted the “Music in the Redwoods” fundraiser each summer since 2022. She is also a member of both the Education Team and Fundraiser Team.