Mapping Unit
Esther Essoudry (she/her)
At Coastal Commission since 2018

• Click to read about Esther:

  A first-generation college graduate from an immigrant family, Esther started at community college, transferred to university, and after graduate school discovered her place as a Geographic Information Systems specialist in a California Sea Grant fellowship with the State Lands Commission. The fellowship brought together her technical knowledge with her calling to public service, and when it was finished she applied for an opening at the Coastal Commission to continue working for the state while exercising her passion for environmental protection.
  
  Through GIS, Esther applies her interdisciplinary environmental science background to her technical work, creating web-based tools to assist other staff to make informed decisions.
  
  Esther.Essoudry@coastal.ca.gov

Legal Department
Karla Galvez (she/her)
At Coastal Commission since 2012

• Click to read about Karla:

  Karla oversees the legal department's statewide recorded documents program. As an attorney, she works with property owners, government agencies and nonprofit organizations to implement the agency's mission to protect the California coast and to enhance the public's ability to access it.
  
  She began her career as a corporate and commercial real estate transactions attorney in private practice. As a lifelong ocean enthusiast, she developed a passion for ocean conservation after becoming a scuba diver and witnessing the precipitous degradation of coral reefs due to climate change and other human activities.
  
  Karla.Galvez@coastal.ca.gov

North Coast District/Records Management
Vail Krygsman (she/her)
At Coastal Commission since 2020

• Click to read about Vail:

  Growing up visiting beaches in Southern California and caring about beach conservation, Vail did not consider these passions beyond a personal interest until the Covid-19 pandemic catalyzed a career change from the restaurant industry to something that connected to her more emotionally. She explored jobs in regenerative agriculture and searched for ways to contribute to environmental protection, discovering the Commission's efforts in their environmental justice program and coastal access equity.
  
  Vail jumped into her role without prior experience in public service or coastal management, but her background in English and Digital Communications at college and in restaurant management provided her with the skills to be a staff services analyst. She works on many different tasks including district and statewide admin support, monthly commission meeting production, and records archiving and management. Her team provides her with immense support, as she continues to expand her understanding of environmental practices. She appreciates being at an organization that engages the public, works with California Native American communities, focuses on environmental justice, and employs women in positions of influence to ensure coastal protection.
  
  Vail.Krygsman@coastal.ca.gov

Coastal Access Program
Linda Locklin (she/her)
At Coastal Commission since 1977

• Click to read about Linda:

  Linda manages the statewide program for public access to the coast. She began her career at the agency as a graduate student intern and worked up through the Coastal Program Analyst civil service series. Reflecting on her over 40 years at the Commission, Linda feels fulfilled in her contributions to public service and environmentalism, also appreciating the chance to work near the coast.
  
  In her role, she works with property owners and government agencies to protect and expand coastal accessways and the California Coastal Trail. Law and policy changes have also shaped Linda's job and the coastal access program she oversees. For example, since the adoption of its Environmental Justice Policy, the Commission places a greater emphasis on equitable coastal access and making sure programs for coastal access consider and address the additional barriers that communities of color, low-income families, and inland areas face when accessing the coast.
  
  Linda.Locklin@coastal.ca.gov