People
Meet the People behind Pacific Legacy
Click each block below to see all the people who make up the talented team at Pacific Legacy, Inc.
Principals & Corporate Officers
Hannah Ballard, MA, RPA
Chief Executive Officer
Principal
Senior Archaeologist
Hannah Ballard received her MA in CRM from Sonoma State University and BA in Anthropology from UC Berkeley. She has over 30 years of experience in California and Hawai‘i, specializing in historical archaeology. She has managed hundreds of projects and on-call contracts for private, local government, state, and federal clients assisting them in meeting their regulatory obligations. Ms. Ballard is passionate about establishing a positive, productive work environment and client relationships while meeting project and client goals.
Samantha Schell, BA
Chief Operations Officer
Director of Business Development
Principal
Samantha Schell has over 25 years of experience in CRM in California. She earned her BA in Anthropology from UC Berkeley. She has expertise in the identification and analysis of osteological remains. Her experience includes both precontact and historical archaeology. She manages the Caltrans District 10 on-call among many other projects of all sizes. As Director of Business Development, Ms. Schell has been instrumental in securing hundreds of contracts ranging from large multi-year on-calls to small local government and private projects. Her work supports Pacific Legacy’s goal of providing diverse, interesting and meaningful projects and supporting client goals.
Mara Mulrooney, PhD
Chief Financial Officer
Principal
Senior Archaeologist
Mara Mulrooney holds a PhD from the University of Auckland. She has over 20 years of experience as a professional archaeologist and has worked throughout the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands. She has managed hundreds of archaeological projects, ranging from archaeological inventory surveys to data recovery investigations and archaeological monitoring projects. Dr. Mulrooney maintains a close working relationship with the State Historic Preservation Division, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and numerous community groups in Hawai‘i.
Principal Investigators
Our Principal Investigators are key personnel who oversee and manage projects large and small. They wear many hats, including supervising staff and assisting in corporate management.
Our Principal Investigators meet the Secretary of Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards as Principal Investigators for Archaeology. They have decades of experience in cultural resource management and are widely known throughout the discipline for their knowledge and capabilities.
R. Scott Baxter, MA, RPA
Principal Investigator
Senior Archaeologist
R. Scott Baxter holds a MA in Anthropology from the University of Nevada, Reno. He is an experienced archaeologist, historian, and architectural historian. He specializes in historical archaeology, industrial archaeology, and the Chinese and Japanese overseas diaspora. Mr. Baxter has worked in the cultural resource management industry for over three decades, with experience in California, Nevada. Tennessee, Michigan, and Baja California. He is involved in historical research and architectural history and is passionate about advancing our archaeological and historical knowledge of underrepresented communities and public outreach.
Graham Dalldorf, MA, RPA
Principal Investigator
Senior Geoarchaeologist
Graham Dalldorf holds an MA in Geography from the University of Oregon, Eugene. He is an experienced geoarchaeologist and archaeologist. He has worked in the academic and CRM fields for nearly three decades. Mr. Dalldorf serves as a Geoarchaeologist, Project Supervisor, Principal Investigator, and Safety Officer for Pacific Legacy, supervising numerous geoarchaeological projects which identifies where deeply buried archaeological deposits lacking surface manifestation are a concern. He is passionate about integrating concepts of soil science, geomorphology, and landscape evolution to further historic preservation goals and guide compliance efforts for clients.
Amy Kovak, MA, RPA
Principal Investigator
Senior Archaeologist
Amy Kovak holds an MA in Anthropology from The Pennsylvania State University. Ms. Kovak’s more than 30-year career includes academic research and cultural resource management in California, Nevada, Guatemala, and Honduras. As a Pacific Legacy Principal Investigator, Ms. Kovak has managed, directed, and authored reports for cultural resource inventories, testing and evaluation, and data recovery projects. Ms. Kovak has worked with a variety of local, state, and federal agencies, as well as assisting private companies with CEQA and Section 106 compliance. She is the Contract Manager for a multi-year Caltrans North Region On-call contract.
Anmarie Medin, MA, RPA
Principal Investigator
Senior Archaeologist
Anmarie Medin holds an MA in Cultural Resources Management from Sonoma State University and has over three decades experience in California precontact and historical archaeology and cultural resources regulations. Prior to joining Pacific Legacy, she held senior positions at Caltrans and the California State Historic Preservation Office, where she developed statewide research programs and a deep understanding of complex regulatory compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA. She brings a unique perspective in understanding differing roles and responsibilities and working across lines to find mutually satisfactory solutions.
Lisa Shapiro, MA, RPA
Principal Investigator
Senior Archaeologist
Lisa Shapiro holds an MA in Anthropology from California State University, Chico and has over four decades of experience in precontact archaeology in CRM and academia. Ms. Shapiro has worked with Pacific Legacy since 1995 and is Principal Investigator in precontact archaeology. She has extensive experience in archeological field and lab procedures, human osteological analysis, and has participated in or managed investigations throughout California, Nevada, Oregon, Florida, the Hawaiian Islands, and American Samoa. Ms. Shapiro directs and manages cultural resources projects for federal, state, and local agencies including extensive experience with Caltrans.
Justin Wisely, MA, RPA
Principal Investigator
Senior Archaeologist
Justin Wisely holds an MA from California State University, Chico. He is an archaeologist and archaeobotonist, specializing in starch grain analysis and phytolith studies. Mr. Wisely has over 15 years of experience in California and Nevada. He has conducted archaeological surveys, testing, and data recovery excavations, authored reports and publications, and managed archaeological monitoring for local, state, and federal clients. He is experienced in coordinating and consulting with clients, agencies, and Native Americans, manages staff workloads, staff acquisition, proposal and budget preparation, report preparation, and contract management. He is a co-leader of Pacific Legacy’s Folsom office.
Senior Archaeologists
Our senior archaeologists oversee and manage a range of projects, from large complex inventory surveys to detailed data recovery investigations. Most of our senior archaeologists meet the Secretary of Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards for Archaeology.
Members of our management team are widely known throughout the discipline for their knowledge, expertise, and capabilities. We have trained specialists in geoarchaeology, starch grain analysis, zooarchaeology, biological anthropology, Section 106 compliance, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), archival, ethnographic and oral historical methods, and laboratory and curation methods.
José Marrero Rosado, MA
Senior Archaeologist
Mr. Marrero Rosado has over 10 years’ experience in archaeology in California and the Caribbean and is currently completing his PhD in bioanthropology at UC Berkeley. He is a trained bioarchaeologist with experience in excavation of historic period and precontact sites, construction monitoring, archival research and burial recovery. His lab experience includes cataloguing, and artifact and skeletal remains analysis. Mr. Marrero Rosado has over 10 years of osteological analysis experience and has led burial recovery efforts with teams of over 15 people.
Shauna Mundt, MA, RPA
Senior Archaeologist
Shauna Mundt is an historical archaeologist with expertise in mid-19th to mid-20th century and holds an MA in Applied Anthropology from California State University, San Jose. Since joining Pacific Legacy in 2018, she directed and authored reports on numerous state and federal projects including surveys, testing, data recovery, and monitoring. She has taken lead roles in projects for FEMA, Caltrans, and PG&E. As a volunteer she assisted with collections at the Oakland Museum of California, the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, and produced original digital museum exhibits for Rosie the Riveter WWII/Home Front National Historical Park.
Federico Poggiali, PhD, RPA
Senior Archaeologist
Federico Poggiali is an archaeologist with a decade of experience in academia and CRM in California, Europe, and the Middle East. He holds a PhD in archaeology from the University of Liverpool, England and he specializes in precontact archaeological resources, including the Paleoindian period, lithic technology, archaeobotanical remains, specifically wood charcoal analysis, and hunter-gatherer subsistence. He works efficiently on teams and independently at all levels of archaeological investigation. He has participated in and directed projects for Caltrans, PG&E, and FEMA as well as for local government projects in compliance with CEQA and Section 106 of the NHPA.
Elena Reese, MA
Senior Archaeologist
Ashley Schmutzler, MA, RPA
Senior Archaeologist
Ms. Schmutzler is experienced in historical and precontact archaeology. She holds an MA in Anthropology from the University of California, East Bay. Her responsibilities include management of staff and resources for construction monitoring, archaeological testing, surveying, data recovery, resource identification, lab analysis, Native American consultation, burial treatment, research and technical reporting. She has worked on numerous precontact burial sites within the Greater Bay Area. Ms. Schmutzler has also managed, analyzed, and assisted with the curation of materials from both historic and precontact sites.
Will Shapiro, MA, RPA
Senior Archaeologist
William Shapiro has worked in the archaeology/cultural resource management industry for over 40 years, with experience throughout California, Nevada, Hawai‘i, central Florida, southern Oregon, American Samoa, Wake Island and Saipan in the Northern Marianas. He holds an MA in Anthropology from California State University, Chico. Mr. Shapiro has worked on numerous federal, state, and local agency projects and is familiar with historic preservation laws and regulations at the federal, state and local level. He is known for his professional expertise as well as his ability to work well with clients, project participants, and indigenous people. A 5th generation Californian, Mr. Shapiro is particularly interested in northern California history, prehistory and ethnography.
Ena Sroat, BA
Senior Archaeologist
Ena Sroat holds a BA in History and a BA in International Relations from Brown University. Ms. Sroat has over 15 years of experience supervising and managing cultural resource management projects throughout the Hawaiian Islands. She has managed and conducted large-scale archaeological surveys, data recovery, and monitoring programs for construction projects, including substantial archaeological work in urban Honolulu. She has extensive experience in report writing, laboratory data and artifact analysis, archival research, and community engagement.
Aleck Tan, MA, RPA
Senior GIS Analyst
Aleck Tan holds an MA in Maritime Studies from East Carolina State University. She specializes in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data collection, management, processing, and visualization and leads Pacific Legacy’s GIS team. She is skilled in efficiently gathering and organizing field and spatial data, documenting workflows, and creating GIS tools to improve processing time. Ms. Tan is also trained in underwater archaeology and is certified as a NAUI Master Diver and AAUS Scientific Diver.
Archaeologists & Technicians
Each of Pacific Legacy’s offices are staffed by archaeologists with decades of experience in cultural resource management. Our team brings a range of specialized skillsets to Pacific Legacy’s highly collaborative work environment. In addition to field experience, they are skilled in research, laboratory analyses, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Samara Albuquerque, BA
Archaeological Technician
Samara Albuquerque holds a BA in Anthropology from SUNY University of Buffalo. Ms. Albuquerque has participated in large-scale data recovery projects in urban Honolulu as well as long-term archaeological monitoring projects and has participated in archaeological surveys throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Ms. Albuquerque has also contributed to Cultural Impact Assessments and Ka Pa‘akai Analyses for various projects in Hawai‘i.
James Conner, BA
Archaeological Technician
Caleb Fechner, BA
Supervisory Archaeologist
Caleb Fechner has worked in the cultural resource management industry for nearly two decades. Mr. Fechner holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of California, San Diego. He is an adept field archaeologist with experience conducting site recording, testing, data recovery, monitoring, laboratory data and artifact analysis, archival research, and report writing. Mr. Fechner has conducted projects throughout the Hawaiian Islands and has also led projects in the Marianas Islands in Micronesia.
Emmaline Irvine, MA
Archaeologist
Emmaline Irvine holds an MA in Applied Archaeology from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and is experienced in field, laboratory, and museum settings. Ms. Irvine has worked with Indigenous communities and culturally sensitive materials for projects in Hawai‘i and French Polynesia and is familiar with NAGPRA and Section 106 compliance. She has contributed to archaeological projects across the Hawaiian Islands, including data recovery investigations, archaeological monitoring, and archaeological inventory surveys, including subsurface testing in urban landscapes.
Victoria Luckinbill, BA
Archaeological Technician
Victoria Luckinbill holds a BA in Anthropology from California State University, Sacramento. Ms. Luckinbill is experienced in fieldwork, reporting, and laboratory analysis including in historic period and precontact artifact identification and cataloging, zooarchaeological taxonomic and taphonomic identification, and lithic identification. She has contributed to archaeological survey reports and community outreach and State Historic Preservation Office letters.
James McIntosh, BA
Supervisory Archaeologist
James McIntosh holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Mr. McIntosh has over two decades of cultural resource management experience in Hawai‘i and the Pacific. Since joining Pacific Legacy in 1998, he has directed large and small crews in multi-phase projects including archaeological reconnaissance surveys, inventory surveys and testing, and data recovery excavations. He has also assisted the U.S. Army, Army Corps of Engineers, Marine Corps, and Air Force with NHPA compliance.
Daniel Mehert-Ab, BA
Archaeological Technician
Daniel Mehert-Ab holds a BA from the University of Colorado, Boulder and is an experienced archaeological field technician. Mr. Mehert-Ab has worked in the CRM sector in Wyoming and Hawai‘i. He has completed extensive inventory surveys, participated in large excavations, and has completed NHPA compliance documents and forms. Mr. Mehert-Ab has specific experience in making recommendations of eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places.
Matt Morton, MSc
Archaeologist
Matthew Morton holds an MSc from the University of York, England. Mr. Morton has archaeological experience in California and Texas. He has experience with archaeological excavations, pedestrian surveys, artifact and soil flotation analysis, and digital and physical archiving. He has contributed to reporting and preparing GIS deliverables using ArcGIS.
Joseph Panuska, BA
GIS Specialist
Joseph Panuska holds a BA in Anthropology from Southern Methodist University. Mr. Panuska is proficient in the full ESRI suite, including ArcGIS Pro, Field Maps, and ArcGIS Online, and has specific experience in analyzing LiDAR data and complex sets of geospatial data. He has analyzed spatial data and prepared GIS deliverables for a wide range of projects ranging from detailed data recovery investigations to large pedestrian surveys based in both Hawai‘i and California.
Nicholas Varela, BA
Archaeological Technician
Gabriella Wilson, BA
Archaeological Technician
Skylar Young, BA
Archaeological Technician
Business & Administration
Scott Strimling, BA, CPA
Director of Finance and Business Management
Charon Stoesser, BA
Office Manager
Charon Stoesser holds a BA in Communications with a minor in Anthropology from St. Mary’s College of California. Mrs. Stoesser is an integral team member conducting pre-field logistics including staff coordination, travel arrangements, overseeing client protocols and approval requirements. She solicits and secures other necessary components of fieldwork such as vendors and subcontractors. She maintains staff calendars and supports hiring efforts.
Jerry Song, BA
Staff Accountant
Jerry Song earned a BA in Business with a focus in Human Resources Management from the University of Pheonix. Ms. Song is experienced in accounting, finance, tax compliance, and human resources. She brings over 10 years of hands-on expertise managing multi-million-dollar budgets, streamlining financial operations, and supporting organizational growth across various industries. She collaborates cross-functionally to ensure financial accuracy and regulatory compliance.
Terra Kiser, BA
Accounting Specialist
Samantha Ross, BA
Accounting & HR Specialist
Samantha Ross holds a BA in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources at California State University, Sacramento. Ms. Ross manages a wide range of functions such as subcontractor invoices, payroll processing, employee expenses, and ensuring the efficient operation of internal administrative processes.