Farewell, Dare and Nathan!

This fall, the Conservancy says goodbye to two very important people: Dare Delano and Nathan Serrato.

For more than a decade, real estate attorney Dare has been a key part of the Conservancy team — a steady, calming influence who helped guide us through many difficult transactions, contracts and decisions. Dare’s counsel was essential to create the Harmony Heights Preserve and the Bottle Peak Preserve, to name a few. She handled multiple complex transactions that led to the creation of Keithley Preserve, Sardina Preserve, Mountain Meadow Preserve, and many other preserves. She has been the rock we could lean on to help untangle any complicated, legal issue.”

A stellar lawyer, Dare has a parallel passion to become a full-time writer. We are proud to support her next adventure to fully focus on her writing and teaching careers. Dare will be teaching “Literature and the Law” at the UCSD Extension this winter, and will continue to teach fiction writing workshops for both adults and high school students. Dare’s novel, Abilene, was short-listed as a finalist for the Faulkner-Wisdom Creative Writing Competition and is represented by Jennifer Thompson of Nordlyset Literary Agency. Her children’s book, Odus and the Long Way Home — an adventure based on The Odyssey — won the San Diego Book Award for Best Published Children’s Book in 2014 and a Gold Moonbeam Children’s Book Award. Today, Dare is working on her second novel as well as the next book in her children’s series. We can’t wait to add to her stars on Amazon!

While he’s been with us for just three years, Nathan Serrato made his mark as the Conservancy’s Marketing and Volunteer Manager. A multi-talented photographer, graphic artist, website designer, writer, editor, and all-around communications wizard, Nathan helped us develop and implement our first-ever communications’ strategy and refine our brand. His work with volunteers made everyone feel welcome and appreciated. With his guidance, the Conservancy is better known and understood in the community. Nathan will be missed on many levels, including his role as staff prankster, a position that will never be replicated.

Nathan is also leaning into his passion to develop a business life-coaching LGBTQ+ people. We know he will do well in his new role, but hope we can borrow his old skills from time to time for a special Conservancy project.

While we are sad to see them both go, we are excited to see them evolve in the next stage of their careers and will be cheering them on from the sidelines.