Board Members
Vanessa Caldarelli
Vanessa Caldarelli was raised in a family of conservationists. In 1991 her parents bought 1,000 of the 7,500 acres of Costa Rican rainforest that Eco Era protects. Throughout her upbringing Vanessa was taught about rainforest biodiversity, ecosystems, canopy, and watersheds. She holds a strong knowledge of and affinity to the rainforest, that fuels her motivation and perseverance in land preservation. Vanessa graduated with a B.A. from the University of Oregon in 2014. She lived and practiced at a zen buddhist community, Green Gulch Farm, from 2015-2017. After her father’s passing in 2018, Vanessa became the steward of 1,000 acres of Eco Era lands and the director of Posada Natura. In 2020 she became President of Eco Era.
Bob Buckter
Bob Buckter was born in San Francisco. He attended public schools, including S.F. State, where he graduated in Social Sciences and Business in 1969. Bob spent a portion of his youth traveling around the world, including an around the world trip in 1977. Through these experiences he acquired a deep appreciation for the natural world, and a keen desire to protect it. He founded a painting & contracting business in 1970 in San Francisco, which transitioned to color consulting for a living in 1978 which he still does today. Bob bought, sold, developed, and traded real estate in San Francisco from 1970-1980, then retired at 31 years old. In 1994, Bob went to see Gustavo Caldarelli's rainforest property in Costa Rica, which inspired him to begin buying properties there for the next six years. His land comprises 1,000 of the 2,000 acres that Eco Era protects. Bob has worn many hats, but he is first and foremost a protector of the rainforest.
Adrian De Leon
Mr. De Leon was a co- founder and shareholder of the Los Angeles law firm Worldwide Crossing Law Group. He has extensive experience in EB-5 immigration investments, corporate formation, preparation of Reg S / Reg D offering memorandum, subscription agreements, and cross-border planning for foreign individuals and companies doing business in the United States. Prior to Worldwide Crossing, Mr. De Leon was a law clerk with the Las Vegas law firm, Chesnoff and Schonfeld, P.C., where he worked on several high-profile cases. As a licensed attorney and entrepreneur, Mr. De Leon has served in an executive or advisory capacity for several companies. Mr. De Leon is the founder of Zalophus Global, LLC, a management and consulting firm focusing on cross-border transactions with special emphasis on Asia-United States and Latin America-United States transactions. Mr. De Leon is a special advisor to AI & You, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization focusing on Artificial Intelligence education and training for underrepresented communities.
Mr. De Leon resides in Los Angeles with his family. He is a certified scuba rescue diver and holds ASA 101 and 103 sailing certifications.
Celina De Leon
Celina De Leon, M.Div, is passionate about the interconnection of nature, spirituality, indigenous wisdom, and wellness. She is the founder and director of Circle of Sacred Nature 501(c)3 church, program director of Posada Natura Retreat Center, and founder and co-director of Natura Care Programs. She is also a Stanford graduate, a Fulbright scholar, has a Masters in Divinity from the Graduate Theological Union, and has received professional training in spiritual care through the art of chaplaincy. Her greatest inspiration and influence come from being the mother of her three children.
Jessica Nelson
Born and raised in Southern New Mexico, a call to the water brought Jess to California nearly a decade ago. Jess works as a Creative Director where she expresses her passion for people, stories and humor to support grassroots humanitarian and conservation causes. Jess and Vanessa met as residents at Green Gulch Farm in 2016 where they practiced Zen meditation and wildlife rehabilitation efforts in the surrounding watershed. They developed the Wildland Cooperative together, a program that connects firefighters and first responders to Eco Era's healing lands.
Leo Raderman
Leo Raderman is Founder & Chairman of Psykia Institute. He has over two decades of entrepreneurial and business experience, having founded and run companies including the groundbreaking online film network IFILM.com, the world leader in large-scale and immersive video Obscura and "Silicon Valley's Toy Company" Nukotoys, as well as the non-profits miraclefeet and The Grof Holotropic Foundation (with Dr. Stanislav Grof). He holds a M.A. in Systematic and Philosophical Theology from The Graduate Theological Union at U.C. Berkeley and a B.A. in Psychology and Communication Studies from U.C.L.A.