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Growing up in the Midwest, Eric’s love of nature and waterways was established early at a summer camp with a focus on extended wilderness tripping in the north woods.  After crafting his own unique degree at The Ohio State University, Eric began his professional career with over a decade of experience managing and booking musicians at high-profile events around the globe.  Following years of life in the Midwest he relocated to the Nevada City region in 2012.  Prior to Wild & Scenic, Eric was the owner & manager of an award-winning essential oils and aromatherapy products company with his wife.  Eric brings with him to Wild & Scenic a deep well of experience in operations and logistics, event production, marketing, and sales. Eric has been a member of the WSFF team since 2019, starting as an On Tour Coordinator and working a variety of roles over the past five years before moving into the Festival Director role in April 2024.

Today Eric continues to be an avid outdoorsman.  He is an enthusiastic photographer, especially long exposure, astrophotography, and exploring the use of instant film.  He enjoys sharing his vision and the natural beauty of our earth to help connect others in appreciation and gratitude for the natural world.  In his spare time, Eric enjoys getting outside and exploring the region with his wife & dogs in a variety of ways including hiking, camping, canoeing, skiing, & soaking in hot springs.

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Diana Arbex, Operations Manager (530) 265-5961 ext. 232

Diana, originally from Brazil, brings a wealth of arts administration experience to her role as Operations Manager at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival. She holds a BA in Graphic Design from Rochester Institute of Technology and, while she continues to apply her design skills, she has shifted her focus to the administrative side of the creative sector. Influenced by Brazil’s vibrant cultural landscape, Diana combines her education and experience to bring a solid foundation in artistic practice and organizational management.

Diana served as a gallery manager in rural Brazil, where she promoted regional and indigenous artists. She also worked as a programmer at a traditional cultural center in Rio de Janeiro, refining her expertise in event coordination and cultural programming. Most recently, she spent two years as an executive assistant and program coordinator at the Nevada County Arts Council, where she gained valuable insights into the local community.

In 2023, Diana was awarded the Individual Artists Fellowship from the California Arts Council through YouthSpeaks, underscoring her ongoing commitment to cultural practices and community empowerment.

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Michael Huth, On Tour Manager (530) 265-5961 ext. 230

Michael was born and raised playing sports and running around the marshes and woodlands of Southern Wisconsin. He went to college in Milwaukee, earning his BFA in Marketing/Business Administration.  After college he moved to Southern California to pursue the entertainment industry.  Having spent a considerable amount of time in the entertainment industry, working as a talent agent, business affairs manager, and producer, he realized his true skillset was people and building connections to strengthen individuals, startups, and established multi-faceted companies.

In moving west Michael found his true passion to apply that skillset though was elsewhere. Somewhere up on Sierra Mountain ridgelines or down in a winding slot canyon riverbed his priorities changed. In seeing the drastic changes to his favorite locations in such a short time he decided to leave entertainment and pursue environmental impact projects. The goal became to help be a bridge between industries, connecting sustainable initiatives and community-focused solutions, with an emphasis on coexisting with our impact on the environment. Michael is a certified natural builder in anything cob or earthen material related, and currently working on permaculture projects where he lives and helps build a 33 acre farm co-op with friends here in Grass Valley.

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Rebecca Walters, On Tour Coordinator 

Aaron grew up swimming and playing in the creeks and rivers near his coastal home in a small town in Humboldt County. Predictably, he found his way to working as a raft guide. He was a raft guide on rivers throughout the Sierra Nevada for nearly ten years.

Predictably, he found his way to working as a raft guide. He was a raft guide on rivers throughout the Sierra Nevada for nearly ten years, and even met his wife (also a guide) while working on the South Fork of the American. In addition to guiding, Aaron worked ski patrol and construction. After many years playing and working seasonally, the future began to call.Aaron is a Geographer at heart. He has completed three degrees in Geography; a BA at the University of Colorado at Boulder, a MA at the University of Denver, and a PhD at the University of Oregon. His academic training and research are in fluvial geomorphology and remote sensing. Aaron has taught a variety of courses including remote sensing, geomorphology, climatology, and geographic information systems. In addition, he has been involved in river research projects across the western US, and internationally. Aaron’s drive to protect and improve the health of the West’s watersheds led him to SYRCL.

Initially Aaron was SYRCL’s Watershed Science Director. In 2023, he became SYRCL’s Executive Director. When not working, Aaron can almost certainly be found outdoors playing on the water with his wife. Whitewater kayaking and rafting, skiing, surfing, and mountain biking keep Aaron busy year-round. Aaron also enjoys cooking and baking.

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