Our board of directors and officers
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Board members and officers serve without compensation.
100% of every dollar donated to Friends of Palomar Mountain State Park goes directly and exclusively towards the support of Palomar Mountain State Park. |
Rosemary Johnston, President [email protected]
Retired non-profit executive who has been visiting the park for 40 years. She and her husband have owned a cabin on Palomar since 1997 and often camped in the park with their four children. Now they visit the park with their nine grandchildren. Also has a background in journalism and fundraising that will aid her in this new position. "I think Palomar Mountain State Park is a jewel in the crown of our state park system and an underutilized recreational destination for nature lovers in Southern California. We aim to heighten its profile in the community and make it more user friendly." 
Sharon Dall, Vice President [email protected]
California native, long-time resident of Palomar and former park employee at Palomar (as were her father, husband and daughter) and other California state parks. Now retired, avid horse rider and active in community organizations, both on Palomar and at Borrego Springs, her other seasonal home. "Palomar Mountain State Park has always been near and dear to me. I started camping there before I can remember. Making the weekend trip from Santa Ana and then from Carlsbad, my parents and grandfather fell in love with the place. When I was 4, they bought a lot on the mountain and started building the cabin that I live in today. Palomar is 'home'. I am very happy and proud to be back serving PMSP as a member of the Friends of Palomar Mountain State Park board." 
Michael Walsh, Treasurer [email protected]
San Diego native, 30-year veteran of the biotech industry with a focus on personalized medicine and specialty pharmaceuticals. Founded Prometheus Laboratories Inc., and Proprius Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and now serve on several private company boards. Married to my beautiful wife Christie for 20+ years and the proud parents of three fantastic teenagers. "Having grown up in San Diego and camping at Palomar Mountain State Park as a kid, and then later camping and fishing at Doane Pond with my own kids, I think we all realized how important it was to work to save the park from closure. Now, with the fantastic support of the community, we have an opportunity to really improve the experience at Palomar, for future generations." 
Dawna Joy Summers
Dawna Joy Summers worked at the Palomar Mountain Christian Conference Center, which is located adjacent to Palomar Mountain State Park, for five years in the 1980s. She has led 'kid hikes' at the Dixon Lake Campground in Escondido for seven years and taught 'nature labs' at her children's elementary school. She is a frequent visitor to the park and values the importance of exposing children to the outdoors. Dawna has worked as a medical transcriber at Palomar Hospital for more than 30 years. 
Russ Babcock, Secretary
Russ Babcock is a bilingual criminal defense attorney who has practiced law in San Diego for more than 30 years. He has a full service criminal law firm and divides his practice between trials and appeals in both state and federal court. He loves the outdoors and is a frequent visitor to Palomar Mountain State Park. "It's really a hidden gem in San Diego," he said," a slice of the Sierras and the Rockies right in our backyard." 
Walt Johnston, Ex Officio Board Member
Walt Johnston camped for years with his wife Rosemary and their four children at state and national parks in California and Arizona. He recently retired after 40 years as CEO of Teague Insurance Agency of La Mesa and has been active with the USD Alumni Association for almost five decades. He loves outdoor photography and always brings his camera with him when he visits Palomar Mountain State Park, often with one or more of their nine grandchildren. |
