STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS - RWWIDERA
“I have worked closely with Randy Widera for more than a decade and truly consider his "out of the box"
problem solving approach to be a large part of my success as a park professional. Randy is one of those
unique individuals who elevates the performance of those around him with his exceptional problem solving
strategies and superior interpersonal skills. I would describe Randy as the "Go to Guy." He is the first guy I
go to for problem solving, number crunching and the solution idea that has evaded everyone else. When
Randy walks into the room I know it will be okay, he usually has the solution to our current challenge in his
briefcase.”
Kirk Lingenfelter, State Park Superintendent, California State Parks
FOUNDER, WEB OF LIFE FIELD (WOLF) SCHOOL (1989 – 1999)
Founded (1989) the innovative non-profit Residential Outdoor Science School, WOLF
School, which to this day serves over 4,500 students annually. Increased enrollment by
an average of 25% annually through effective business planning & marketing strategies
and building a reputation for quality education. Key to the WOLF School success was a
partnership with California State Parks. WOLF utilized State Parks from the Mendocino
Coast to the Sierra Mountains and Monterey Bay as an outdoor classroom for learning
natural and cultural history. WOLF students learned the value of public lands performing service-learning projects to help steward the parks and engaging in citizen
science activities that were used to inform park policy decisions.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FRIENDS OF SANTA CRUZ STATE PARKS (1999 – 2010)
Established Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks (Friends) as a leader in the State of
California in program excellence, outstanding fundraising and synergetic partnering with
California State Parks. Increased organizational annual budget from $500,000 to nearly
$3 million through expanding and diversifying earned-income, fundraising and retail
revenue streams. Generated over 10 million of net funds to program throughout tenure.
Funded annual program growth to serve over 400,000 individuals annually, utilizing 450
volunteers and 14 permanent and seasonal state park interpreters.
PRINCIPLE, BLUE OAK CONSULTING (2010 – PRESENT)
Principal at Blue Oak Consulting, Randy Widera specializes in guiding innovative and selfsustaining nonprofit organizations to achieve excellence. His tailor-made services
support nonprofit leaders to develop and implement effective fundraising campaigns &
programs, earned-income business plans, and nonprofit capacity building. Recent clients
include:
 POST (Peninsula Open Space Trust), State Park Business Planning
 Save the Redwoods League, State Park Business Planning
 Portola and Castle Rock Association, State Park Business Planning
 California State Parks, Business planning, Fundraising Training & CAL training
 Redwood Parks Association, Strategic Planning
Blue Oak Consulting | Randy W. Widera | rwwidera@gmail.com | 831/334-0372
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Together in Pajaro, Business & Strategic Planning
Sonoma Petaluma State Historic Parks Association, Strategic Planning
Angel Island Conservancy, Strategic Planning
California State Parks Foundation, Fundraising, Business, Operations Planning
Benicia State Parks Association, Strategic Planning
NatureBridge, Marketing
San Mateo Coast Natural History Association, Strategic Planning
Fort Ross Conservancy, Strategic Planning
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, Business Planning
Mountain Parks Foundation, Strategic Planning
FoodLab Pacific School, Fundraising
Vida Verde Nature Education, Fundraising and Campaign Management
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Fundraising
Stewards of the Coast and Redwood, Operations Planning
Mendocino Area State Parks Association, Operations Planning
Marin State Parks Association, Strategic and Operations Planning
United Camps Conferences & Retreats, Business and Fundraising Planning
CURRENT RELATED WORK
1) Vida Verde at Hidden Creek, July 2012 – Present: Blue Oak Consulting is the
Campaign Manager for the $6.6 million capital campaign to ensure future programmatic
and fiscal sustainability of Vida Verde Nature Education.
2) Little Basin Public/Private Partnership, Project Development & Fundraising, June
2009 – Present. Little Basin, once a retreat and campground for Hewlett Packard
employees, is a 534-acre California State Parks campground that was recently added to
Big Basin Redwoods State Park through a donation by the Peninsula Space Open Trust
and Sempervirens Fund. Blue Oak Consulting aided in guiding this innovative approach
in park operations and a public/private partnership that is run by the long established
nonprofit management company United Camps, Conferences, and Retreats (UCCR).
Assignments include revenue generation modeling, capital project development and
funding, new program development and funding, and new revenue generation planning
and implementation.
3) California State Parks Foundation Technical Assistance Center (TAC), February
2012 – Present. Blue Oak Consulting is the lead business and operating planning
consultant for the California State Parks Technical Assistance Center (TAC). To date, Blue
Oak Consulting has given direct assistance in reviewing and developing business and
operations planning that supports proposals for park operations as described in AB42 to
nine California State Parks and their supporting nonprofits.
Technical Assistance Center Work
Blue Oak Consulting | Randy W. Widera | rwwidera@gmail.com | 831/334-0372
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Park Operations Assessments & Planning
 Operations Proposal Assessments: Pro forma development & cash flow modeling
to verify viability and sustainability of proposals.
 Business Planning: Multi-year budget development, market surveys and
organizational capacity needs assessment.
 Operations Planning: Staffing & HR, fiscal accountability & processes, operations
manual creation & development, and vendor & concessions review & analysis.
4) Pajaro Park - Public/Private Partnership, September 2011 – Present. The Pajaro
Neighborhood Park is designed to become an integral part of the social fabric of the
community, creating a sense of pride and ownership. The park will help the community
get to the next level of development – improving the quality of life for the residents of
Pajaro. Blue Oak Consulting has been tasked with forging the public/private partnership
that will fundraise and operate Pajaro Park through facilitating organizational
development and developing a sustainable 5-year business plan.
5) Portola Redwoods State Park Business Plan, February 2013 – January 2014. The
origin, history and future of public lands like Portola Redwoods State Park has, and
always will be, inextricably linked to an engaged citizenry and leadership from public
benefit institutions. The current trend, where governmental agencies, from health care
to education and environmental protection to social justice have struggled to provide
their civic mandates with dwindling resources, has hit the California State Parks System
with distressing force. With the threat of looming park closures as well as a continual
decline of the parks department resources, it has again placed focus on the need for the
private sector to re-engage and support our legacy of stewarding these precious
resources. Blue Oak Consulting is researching and generating comprehensive business
and marketing plans that will enhance the visitor experience by providing appropriate,
high-quality park infrastructure, Increase park visibility and visitorship by encouraging
repeat visitation and attracting new user groups, and increase the financial sustainability
of the park by creating revenue-generating park infrastructure or activities.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Biology, with emphasis in Molecular Biology
University of California, San Diego, CA (Class of 1987)
Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts, with emphasis in Business Management
Menlo College, Atherton, CA (Class of 1984)
AFFILIATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Civic Participation. Commissioner - Parks and Recreation, City of Santa Cruz (February
2012 – Present), Leadership Santa Cruz County Graduate (Class of 2001)
Instructor and Keynote Speaker. Nonprofit management, fundraising, marine biology,
botany, interpretive techniques, children’s interpretation & training for trainers,
Blue Oak Consulting | Randy W. Widera | rwwidera@gmail.com | 831/334-0372
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interpretation in state parks, and leadership - Cabrillo College & UCSC incoming and
transferring students.
Board Member Experience. California League of Park Associations (Past President),
Santa Cruz County Conference and Visitor Counsel, Every Child Outdoors Foundation,
Camp SEA Lab, Kids and Teens Exploring Nature, Monterey Bay Natural History
Association, Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education, and Coastal
Watershed Council
Professional Photographer and Experienced Musician (5Ms Band).
CONTACT
Randy W. Widera
108 West Avenue
Santa Cruz, California 95060
Phone: (831) 334-0372
Email: RWWidera@Gmail.com
Website: http://www.blueoaknonprofits.com/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/randywidera/
RECOMMENDATIONS
“I have had the privilege or working with Randy Widera for over 20 years. I can honestly say he is one of
the most creative, forward thinking, and collaborative individuals I have ever met. Santa Cruz District
State Parks has one of the best interpretive operations in California and this is due in large part to Randy's
efforts in both program design and fundraising. His skills, talents and leadership abilities have been key to
the success of our interpretation and education programs.”
Elizabeth Hammack, State Park Interpreter III, West Valley College Adjunct Professor
“Randy Widera is amazingly multi-talented, energetic and passionate. He has endless creativity and
enthusiasm. While Randy’s experience is primarily from the non-profit world, he understands and
respects the constraints we face working in state government. That makes him an ideal partner in this era
of public-private endeavors.”
Donna Pozzi, Chief of Interpretation and Education, California State Parks
“UCCR/WOLF School’s successful management of Little Basin Cabins and Campgrounds can be traced back
to the involvement of Randy Widera. From the start, Randy brought knowledge, vision and considerable
support to our work at Little Basin. With his continuing support of the project, it is blossoming into a
wonderful opportunity for Californians and a great example of a public/private partnership.”
Heather Butler, Director, UCCR/Web of Life Field School
“Randy's expertise with State Parks and Non-profits is matched by his great passion for the outdoors and
outdoor education. He successfully launched outdoor education schools in the past and is currently
consulting with Non-Profit organizations to promote their success. I would recommend Randy for any
organization that is seeking strategic growth.”
Victor Quiroz ll, Operations Director, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks
Blue Oak Consulting | Randy W. Widera | rwwidera@gmail.com | 831/334-0372
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“In a highly competitive environment, Randy was selected by our Board of Directors to work with
Mountain Parks Foundation to retool our long-term strategic plan and help us develop a comprehensive
roadmap to expand the effectiveness of our fundraising efforts. From day one, Randy’s professional
experience, depth of knowledge, process facilitation skills and energetic presence have been instrumental
in moving us forward in exciting new ways.
Mountain Parks Foundation is extremely impressed with Randy’s skills and responsiveness to our
organization’s needs. We wholeheartedly recommend him to other non-profits.”
Brenda Holmes, Executive Director, Mountain Parks Foundation
“I worked with Randy at Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks for over a year when I was Interim Executive
Director. Randy had been the Executive Director for quite a few years and had set in place many
wonderful and detailed processes, procedures, and documents that had led to the success of Friends and
were easy to follow to maintain successful kiosk operations. In fact we used to call it "The Friends Way to
Run Kiosk Operations". My nonprofit consulting practice is with social enterprise, so I am familiar with
nonprofits who attempt to run businesses, often not very well. I was so totally impressed with what
Randy had developed that I discussed with him many times the fact that this should be the template for
any State Park Partner organization that would want to run Operations in parks in a way that truly
benefits both State Parks and the organization. The partnership with the Superintendent enabled us to
meet, discuss, and figure out together a feasibility proposal for a new product, service, or operation that
Friends might take over and how it could benefits the parks in an open atmosphere where the
Superintendent could decide "yes" or "no" to the new idea with no hurt feelings.
Randy's knowledge of the intricacies of what the parks need in a partner/vendor, how parks need to
operate as a public resource, combined with excellent business acumen has led to wonderful success. He
also realized exactly what was needed behind the scenes in screening and supervising seasonal workers,
so that all processes and procedures were always followed. He had designed tracking software for daily
reports and updates so that we would always know the key metrics. This was especially important when
so much cash is handled from showers, entrance fees, gift shops, etc. It truly was amazing to see over the
13 months that nothing ever came up that he had not already thought of, planned for, and had a
process/solution for.”
Jan Cohen, Interim Executive Director, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks
Blue Oak Consulting | Randy W. Widera | rwwidera@gmail.com | 831/334-0372
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