Board of Directors

Keith began his professional career in law enforcement with the Hayward Police Department in 1988, focusing on investigations and emergency preparedness. After retiring from law enforcement, he led the restructuring of the Public Safety Department at the California College of the Arts, improving responsiveness, hazard mitigation, and campus-wide organization. He holds a BA from San Francisco State University (Magna Cum Laude) and an MBA in Strategic Management from John F. Kennedy University, where he also helped develop a public safety leadership program, teaching courses in Ethics and Change Management.

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Keith describes his core competencies as Team Building, Change Management, Emergency Preparedness, and Networking, with a personal philosophy rooted in “Servant Leadership” and values of integrity, data-driven decisions, and community service. His lifelong passions include gardening—an inheritance from his upbringing as the son of a tenant farmer—woodworking, and philately.

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Keith and his wife, Deanna, have lived near Fort Bragg since 2016 and have been members of the Gardens since 2018. Their connection to the Gardens runs deep, with a cherished memory of being caught in a sudden rainstorm at the Cliff House during a visit while engaged. He remains inspired by the Gardens’ ability to bring people together, nurture curiosity, and provide a living sanctuary for the community.

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Keith’s favorite plants at MCBG span a wide spectrum, including rhododendrons, dahlias, heaths and heathers, begonias, roses, stag ferns, magnolias, vegetables, and fruit trees—evidence of a gardener with both breadth and enthusiasm for the living collection.