George Swartzlender

Project Manager | Tribal Initiatives

As Project Manager, George Swartzlender works with our inter-tribal team to manage restoration projects across northern California and supervises three crews as they carry out detailed ecological prescriptions. George recruits and manages tribal staff as Lomakatsi strives to grow workforce capacity, sustainable ecosystem restoration programs, training opportunities and wrap-around support in the region.

George is an enrolled member of the Kosealekte Band of the Ajumawi-Atsuge Nation (Pit River Tribe). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Oregon University.

George joined the Lomakatsi team in August 2021 and has since dedicated his professional life to restoring the land. He works closely with tribal and agency partners to incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge into long-term projects, and his role is central to building capacity for ecological restoration across thousands of acres of ancestral lands by managing vocational, on-the-job training and employment.

As a crew leader, George brings extensive knowledge of the diversity and complexity of local fire-adapted ecosystems and helps organize regular training for crew members to develop necessary skills for on-the-ground work. Outside of work, George enjoys fishing and running.