Being born and raised in the Bay Area gave Hoelsken the opportunity to explore the numerous lakes, rivers, beaches, and mountains throughout Northern California. “From an early age I have felt a deep connection to nature and animals, and there has always been something special about being in the redwoods,” says Hoelsken. He began his legal career litigating large-scale, complex construction and environmental cases in state and federal courts. He then spent the next several years in the renewable energy sector. He co-founded and served as general counsel to a distributed wind energy project development company, and later was general counsel to a multi-state solar energy business. “My career has always been focused on supporting the greater good and taking practical action on the causes that I care deeply about,” Hoelsken says.
His love of animals led him to focus the next phase of his career on animal-related nonprofits, first as the executive director of a horse rescue and sanctuary in the Napa Valley, and then as the director of operations and in-house counsel to a national service-dog organization supporting veterans with disabilities.
Prior to joining the organization, Jeff was senior counsel at Paragon Legal, where he provided in-house counsel services to both corporate and nonprofit clients. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from UC Berkeley and his law degree from UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.
“It is an honor for me to be part of Save the Redwoods League and to support its critical mission protecting and restoring California redwoods, and connecting people to the peace and beauty of redwood forests.”
