Our Team

Katie Newman
Vice President | GLOW

Katie Newman is a horticultural consultant, native plant advocate, and longtime environmental volunteer rooted in Orange County. With a background in California archaeology and habitat restoration, Katie sees landscapes as living archives, holding stories of place, culture, and resilience.

Formerly the Wholesale Sales Manager at Tree of Life Nursery and a board member of the California Native Plant Society (OC Chapter), Katie brings decades of experience in outreach, education, and creative strategy to GLOW. Her work bridges science and storytelling, inspiring others to see native plants not just as beautiful, but essential.

Katie is driven by the belief that nature should be accessible to everyone, and that some places, like the land beside the Environmental Nature Center, are simply too vital to lose. At GLOW, she helps lead a movement to protect open space, amplify community voices, and re-imagine what local stewardship can look like when people and place are in harmony.

Monet Quick
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer | GLOW

A third-generation Orange County resident, Monet Quick has been connected to the Environmental Nature Center for more than 25 years. Her son was part of the ENC Preschool’s inaugural class, where she also helped lead the original parental advisory board, and she continues to support the Center by planning its annual Wine Walk. Professionally, Monet has worked extensively in nonprofit leadership and with an eco-focused developer to create public spaces that blend community, culture, and commerce—always prioritizing sustainability and public input. Growing up between the ocean and the local mountains, she believes nature and green spaces must be protected and thoughtfully preserved in an ever-urbanizing Orange County, ensuring they remain for generations to come.

Angela Samuels
Chief Operating Officer | GLOW

Angela Samuels is the Chief Operating Officer of GLOW, where she brings a rare blend of entrepreneurial grit, creative vision, and deep community roots to the movement for conservation and collective action. A successful business owner in both the wellness and hospitality industries, Angela has spent the past decade building brands that center people, purpose, and place.

At GLOW, she oversees operational strategy, brand partnerships, and community initiatives that drive engagement and impact. Known for her intuitive leadership and ability to turn big ideas into real-world momentum, Angela plays a key role in shaping GLOW’s identity - from bold merchandise launches to grassroots events that unite supporters across Newport and beyond.

Angela’s commitment to environmental stewardship and community resilience is personal and lifelong. She believes in protecting the spaces that nourish us while creating new pathways for people to feel connected, empowered, and inspired.

Valerie Niedringhaus
Chief Financial Officer | GLOW

Valerie Niedringhaus is the Chief Financial Officer of GLOW, where she brings a strong background in business leadership and a deep personal investment in protecting nature and community spaces. A Newport Beach resident and mother of three, Valerie’s children attended the ENC Preschool and continue to participate in ENC camps - giving her a firsthand understanding of the importance of preserving this unique educational and ecological resource.

Valerie was honored as a MemberPower Award Winner by the Envelope Manufacturers Association for her leadership in driving member engagement and organizational growth. At GLOW, she applies that same financial and operational expertise to help guide the coalition’s fundraising, stewardship, and long-term sustainability efforts.

Valerie is motivated by a vision of Newport Beach where open space, nature education, and neighborhood character are not only protected but elevated for generations to come.

Danielle Fink
Director | GLOW

Danielle Fink is a Director at GLOW and the founder of Elle Communications, a purpose-driven public relations agency amplifying voices and brands working toward a more just, sustainable world. With a deep background in environmental storytelling, campaign strategy, and media relations, Danielle brings a powerful communications lens to GLOW’s mission - helping shape a narrative that inspires both action and long-term impact.

A passionate advocate for equity and ecology, Danielle believes that when local communities take the lead in shaping their future, real change follows. At GLOW, she works to ensure that the movement to protect Newport’s remaining open space is seen, heard, and felt far beyond city limits.

Sergio Tellez
Board Member | GLOW

Sergio Téllez is a Senior Community Organizer with the Coastal Corridor Alliance (CCA), where he has worked to defend natural lands and empower neighbors to stand together against harmful development. Like GLOW, CCA demonstrates that grassroots efforts can make big changes. Just as the Randall Preserve was saved through community action, Sergio believes we can overcome today’s challenges by uniting people around a shared vision for conservation. For him, organizing is not only about protecting land but also about strengthening the bonds between people, showing that when communities rise together, both nature and future generations benefit.

Raised on a small ranch in Mexico surrounded by horses, cattle, javelinas, and pythons, Sergio’s father taught him early to respect and care for the natural world. After moving to the U.S. nearly two decades ago, he has been an active volunteer since 2010, always working to connect people with their environment. Now a father himself, Sergio is passionate about instilling stewardship in young people. Whether tending a pesticide-free vegetable garden, composting food scraps with his son, or sharing the joy of hiking, camping, and soccer outdoors, he lives his values every day. In his free time, he also enjoys cooking, running, and exploring with his family, reminding us that caring for the earth is both a responsibility and a source of joy.

Brian Smith
Board Member | GLOW

Brian Smith is the former CEO of UMC, a global agricultural irrigation company founded by his father and now led by his son - representing three generations dedicated to feeding the world. Under Brian’s leadership, UMC expanded its reach to farms across the globe, advancing innovative irrigation systems that supported sustainable agriculture and food security on an international scale.

Now in retirement, Brian is focused on giving back to the community he loves. As a GLOW board member, he offers a legacy-minded perspective rooted in land, family, and stewardship. His decades of experience in infrastructure, operations, and strategic growth inform GLOW’s mission to preserve open space and protect the natural beauty and vitality of Newport for generations to come.