Yosemite Association Staff

John Friedrich, Education & Programs Director
Pete Devine, Resident Naturalist
Todd King, Retail Director
Angie Sberna, Accounting Director
Carolyn King, Office Manager
Laurie Stowe, Wilderness Center Manager
Tom Arfsten, Sales Station Supervisor
Nicole Brocchini, Museum Store Supervisor
Susan Hasty, Membership & Volunteer Coordinator
Holly Kuehn, Warehouse Coordinator
Denise Ludington, Accounting Coordinator
Noel Morrison, Marketing Manager
John Samples, Warehouse Assistant
Matt Seiler, Retail Operations Manager
Shelly Stephens, Inventory Manager
Cindy Wohler, Valley Sales Supervisor

John Friedrich, Education & Programs Director

John Friedrich has 20 years experience in non-profit organizational leadership and related endeavors, the majority of which has been in the environmental field.  While living in Washington, DC, John founded Community Harvest, an organization that worked to connect local, family farmers with low-income communities and operated an urban organic farm. Before joining the Yosemite Association, John worked most recently in the Sierra Nevada Alliance Land Use program and served as Program Director for the League to Save Lake Tahoe.

John moved to Mariposa County in 2007 with his wife Kim, daughter Rosie and their dog Riley.  John is looking forward exploring more of the Yosemite wilderness, and working with long-time and new Yosemite Association members to leave the Park in better condition for our children and grandchildren.

John can be reached at jfriedrich@yosemite.org, or 209-379-2646, x. 11

Pete Devine, Resident Naturalist

Originally from Boston, Pete Devine has been a naturalist, teacher and administrator in Yosemite for about 20 years.  During about 15 years while overseeing Yosemite Institute's education program it was Pete's privilege to have taught YA field seminars.  He has directed YA’s education programs for the past five years.  In 2009 Pete was honored with the prestigious Howard Bell Award by the Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education.  Pete and his wife, Sonni live in El Portal and they love hiking, bicycling and skiing in the park.  Pete truly appreciates Yosemite’s visitors and has an inordinate fondness for Steller’s Jays. 

Todd King, Retail Director

Todd King was born and raised in the Yosemite gateway community of Mariposa. His parents moved the family to Custer, South Dakota when he was 12 years old. After graduating valedictorian from high school, Todd moved to Seattle, WA. After attending two years at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C., he pursued hospitality work opportunities in Alaska while he mulled over a career path. One exciting opportunity led to another and soon he found himself spending summers in Alaska working for Holland America Cruise Line as a Tour Director and winters on Saint John, U.S.V.I., working at Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort, as the Asst. Front Office Manager. In 2005, Todd returned “home” to Mariposa to live and spend time with his grandmother. While serving tables at the local fine dining restaurant, Todd was introduced to his future wife, Carolyn, who was visiting her parents and on her way to Southern California after graduating from Sonoma State University. Todd convinced her to stay a while and see what the country life had to offer. A year and a half later, he found himself happily married and in search of a new career path. In April of 2007 he joined the Association team as the Retail Department’s first Operations Manager. One year later he was privileged to accept his current position as Retail Director. His favorite time in Yosemite is during the winter and spring months – despite the driving conditions. Todd, his wife, Carolyn, and their daughter, Chloe, live in Lushmeadows, a small and charming forested community just outside Mariposa. His hobbies include reading, spending time with his two dogs, Annabelle and Dozer, camping, and quality pale ales (and the occasional fine scotch). He’s also known as somewhat of a Merced-River-Rat.

Angie Sberna, Accounting Director

Angela Sberna, started working as Accounting Director of Yosemite Association in April 2008.  Born and raised in the Philippines, she came to the U.S. in November 2001 to marry a long-time Yosemite employee, Dean.  Before her move to YA, she worked for DNC as Treasury & Assets Supervisor.  She and Dean live in Midpines with their two children Cyrus and Marion.  She loves winter in Yosemite.  She likes to read, swim and will soon be biking once she masters her skills. She’s passionate about her family and friends.

Carolyn King, Office Manager

My name is Carolyn King.  I am the Office Manager and have been with the Yosemite Association since October of 2007.  I was born and raised in the Bay Area in the small town of Atherton.  In high school I moved to Mariposa with my family once they retired from doing business in the Bay Area for over 35 years and quickly fell in love with our mountain community.  After graduating from Sonoma State University in 2004, I returned to Mariposa where I met my husband, Todd.  My husband and I live in Mariposa, and spend our summers at the Merced River with our two dogs.  My favorite area in Yosemite is Tuolumne Meadows due to its natural and unmatched beauty and majesty.  My other hobbies consist of cooking, skiing, fishing, and swimming.

Laurie Stowe, Wilderness Center Manager

Our Wilderness Center Manager Laurie Stowe fell in love with Yosemite upon moving here in 1993, and began work with the Yosemite Association in 1994. During her early years in Yosemite, Laurie devoted her free time to rock climbing and backpacking throughout the Sierra Nevada mountain range. After completing the John Muir Trail in 1996, Laurie found a way to incorporate her love of the backcountry with her support for Yosemite Association through her work at the Valley Wilderness Center. Laurie has supervised Yosemite Association’s wilderness operation since 2001. Originally from Southern California, she now lives in the foothills outside of Yosemite National Park. Laurie continues to enjoy exploring Yosemite and the wonderful community around her.

Tom Arfsten, Sales Station Supervisor

Tom Arfsten was born in Brooklyn, New York. His current position is Valley Complex Supervisor for the Yosemite Association and has worked for the Yosemite Association since 1999. He lives in Mariposa, CA. What Tom likes about Yosemite is that it continually teaches lessons in humility and connectedness to nature: as John Muir said, when you examine anything by itself, you find that it is hitched to everything else in the universe. His passion is helping others, and volunteering: Tom is on the Board of Directors, and acts as the Saturday night host for the Sixth Street Cinema, a non-profit educational organization in Mariposa. Tom is also on the Mariposa County Health Department Tobacco Education Committee, helping young and old learn about tobacco and health. He regularly performs a living history program as Galen Clark for the Sierra Club. Tom has also written a book that teaches people how to write their life stories. Tom enjoys reading, writing, and singing.

Nicole Brocchini, Yosemite Museum Store Supervisor

My name is Nicole Brocchini.  I was born in Mariposa, and live just outside Yosemite in the community of Midpines. In 1997 I started working weekends for the Yosemite Association in the Yosemite Museum Store, today I am the Museum Store Supervisor. One of my many hobbies that I love is creating jewelry from beads, gemstones and other materials. Sometimes the jewelry that I make for fun ends up for sale in the Museum Store! Working in Yosemite, I am connected to my Native American heritage, and I love being in the place where my ancestors once lived and still enjoy.

Susan Hasty, Membership & Volunteer Coordinator

Suzy is a recent transplant to Mariposa from Santa Cruz, California, where she worked as a high school and college art teacher.  Fortunate to be in a family with a four-generation cabin close by, she has been enjoying the grandeur of Yosemite all her life.  She spent her honeymoon fly fishing in the back country above Hetch Hetchy and her two daughters began backpacking and fishing in first and third grades.  As an avid traveler, Suzy welcomes meeting new people and experiencing different cultures.  As a landscape painter, she loves hiking to a favorite area with her painting gear to capture a scene that holds a lifetime of wonderful memories.

Holly Kuehn, Warehouse Coordinator

My name is Holly Kuehn.  I am a Midwest (Madison, Wisconsin) girl at heart but migrated with the hippies in the early 1970s to live in California.  After living in various places, I finally moved to Yosemite in 1984.  I have been living in El Portal on and off for the last 15 years.  I started with the Yosemite Association in 2004 as a Warehouse Assistant and am now the Warehouse Coordinator.  I love Yosemite --obviously I keep coming back.  I find joy and serenity in the granite rocks and feel lucky to be able to live next to the mighty Merced River. (The swimming is great).  My passions are hiking, running, yoga, and meditating.  I have always said, Yosemite is a place one has to experience and you will understand the reasons for the peace and serenity it can bring into one's life.

Denise Ludington, Accounting Coordinator

My name is Denise Ludington and I am the Accounting Coordinator for the Yosemite Association.  I was raised in the city of San Francisco.  I left the city to live as close to the mountain wilderness as possible.  My home for the last 21 years is El Portal where my husband and I have raised our 3 daughters.  I love swimming in the Merced River for my lunch breaks, making music, and spending as much time as I can in the wilderness of Yosemite.

Noel Morrison, Marketing Manager

Noel Morrison joined the Yosemite Association staff in July of 2008 after graduating from UC Davis with a degree in Design. She is a longtime resident of Mariposa county and spent much of her childhood exploring Yosemite. Her favorite time to be in the park is in the autumn when the weather begins to cool and everything is changing. She enjoys day hikes around the park with her husband Bryan, and especially enjoys hiking to the top of Vernal Falls and having lunch by the pools at the top. Noel recalls her fondest memories of Yosemite are of ice skating in Curry Village with her family as a child every winter.  Outside of Yosemite her favorite activities include volunteering for the local community theater as costumer and actress. She is also an avid traveler and gardener.

John Samples, Warehouse Assistant

My name is John Samples.  Originally from Oklahoma, I moved to California when I was 14 and I have lived on the west coast since.  I am currently the Warehouse Assistant for Yosemite Association and have worked here since April 2008.  I live in Mariposa and some of my hobbies and interests are gardening, music, and doing stained glass work.  One of my favorite things about Yosemite is watching the changing seasons and different types of weather patterns that go along with the different seasons.

Matt Seiler, Retail Operations Manager

Matt Seiler is the Retail Operations Manager for YA, and has been with the Association since May of 2008.  He is originally from Phoenix, Arizona, and recently moved to Midpines, California where he lives with his family.  Matt is an avid cyclist and hiker, and also enjoys playing banjo in his spare time.  He is new to the Sierra, but is enthusiastically exploring the area.  He enjoys the solitude of the Tioga backcountry and the Eastern Sierra most of all in the Yosemite region.

Shelly Stephens, Inventory Manager

My name is Shelly Stephens.  I’m originally from Salt Lake city, UT and have been in the area since 1980.  I am the Inventory Manager for Yosemite Association and have been with the organization since 2001.  I live in Mariposa with my husband and 2 children.  I enjoy reading and spending time with my family.

Cindy Wohler, Sales Information Assistant

My name is Cynthia Wohler and I am the Valley Sales Supervisor for Yosemite Association. I live in Mariposa with my husband and son. I also have (2) daughters and (2) grand daughters who live in Southern California where I am originally from. My true passions in life are spending quality time with my children and grandchildren and of course exploring Yosemite with my wonderful husband. My favorite sight (so far) in Yosemite has got to be Half Dome but the beauty, grandeur and pure peace that is Yosemite will always be the best part for me.