Our Team

David Garcia

  • David (he / him), a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and software architect, split his time between Mexico and the Bay Area during his formative years before moving to San Francisco full-time in 2003. He founded Off-Grid Retreats with the aim of making nature-based spiritual practices accessible to all, after being inspired by several transformative experiences—especially during a yearly two-week silent retreat on the Lost Coast Trail, where he practiced meditation in the remote wilderness.

Daniel Silveyra

  • Daniel (he / him) is a settler from Monterrey, Mexico. He has been living in Coast Salish land since 2009. Daniel currently works as Director of Operations for the Migrant Workers Centre in British Columbia, Canada. Prior to joining MWC, Daniel worked in multiple Operations leadership, consulting, and project management roles in the non-profit, retail, consulting, and financial services industries in Mexico, Canada, and the UK.

    Daniel received his Bachelor of Economics degree from ITESM (Monterrey, Mexico) in 2005 and his Master of Arts in Economics from the University of British Columbia in 2010. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the old growth forests of BC, dabbling in writing and music, and herding his two cats Akira and Lenú.

Cindy Stack-Keer, CPCC, RD, MPH, RYI

  • Cindy (she / her) is a seasoned consultant and coach known for her innovative approach to guiding emerging leaders through transformative change, particularly in the realm of habits and lifestyle management. With over two decades of experience in lifestyle and professional leadership development coaching her expertise in transforming habits related to weight, stress and chronic health conditions flourished. This extensive experience deeply informs Cindy’s heart-centered work, which extends to leading yoga, mindfulness and self-compassion sessions with incarcerated teenage girls as well as mentoring with Inward Bound Mindfulness Education mindfulness retreats for over 10 years. Cindy currently serves as a senior professional development consultant within the Permanente Medical Groups supporting a variety of leadership development programs, retreats and the Joy and Meaning in Medicine initiative.

    Cindy has over 10 years facilitating trauma-informed yoga within the juvenile justice system and on retreats. She eats plant-based foods 98% of the time. She’s been married for over 20 years and has two daughters who sing in a local band, “The Baylands.” She has lived in Baja California with no running water or electricity for 1-2 mos./yr. for 17 years and worked as a counselor on board Sitmar Cruise Ships. She is also fluent in Spanish.

Anant Sanchetee

  • Anant is a seasoned marketing and communications professional with over 20 years of experience in building and leading successful brands. Currently, he serves as the Head of Marketing & Comms at IonQ, a pioneering company at the forefront of quantum computing.

    Throughout his career, Anant has navigated the ever-evolving marketing landscape to develop impactful strategies that resonate with target audiences. His expertise spans various facets of marketing, including brand management, communications, content marketing, and digital marketing.

    Prior to joining IonQ, Anant held leadership positions at prominent technology companies like Lytro, Meta (formerly Facebook), and Dreem. In these roles, he played a pivotal role in shaping brand narratives, driving engagement, and achieving key marketing objectives.

    Anant's passion extends beyond the realm of marketing. In his free time, he channels his creativity into yoga and breathwork teaching, capturing urban gems through street photography, and enriching his love for poetry.

Ankita Jain

  • Ankita (she / her) is a finance professional with over a decade of experience spanning strategic and financial planning, and revenue operations within the technology industry. Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated her ability to enhance financial transparency and drive organizational growth.

    Currently, she holds the position of VP of Finance and Operations at Awair, a company specializing in delivering innovative clean air monitoring solutions for commercial spaces. Prior to this role, she successfully spearheaded revenue strategic planning initiatives at Intercom and Twilio, where she played a pivotal role in guiding global sales teams and cultivating strategic channel partnerships.

    Beyond her professional endeavors, Ankita is deeply passionate about immersing herself in nature and embracing a mindful lifestyle. Ashtanga Yoga and meditation are integral aspects of her personal practice, bringing her serenity and balance during her free time.

Sibel Fite

  • Sibel (she / her) is a young professional striving to protect our natural environments. She has been living in San Francisco, but grew up in Colorado where she spends much of her time skiing. Sibel currently works at Watershed, working to decarbonize businesses and has previously worked as a Senior Auditor at Deloitte.

    Sibel received her Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Santa Clara University in 2020. In her free time, she enjoys adventuring on her skis, competing in gravel bike races, and doing yoga.

Susie Harrington

  • Susie (she / her) teaches meditation nationwide and is the guiding teacher for Desert Dharma, which serves many communities in the Southwest near her home in Moab, Utah. She has trained in the Insight tradition since 1989, and in 2005 was invited into teaching by Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, and Guy Armstrong. She has also received teachings from many others, including Tory Capron, Adyashanti, and Tsoknyi Rinpoche. She often offers retreats outside, believing nature to be a profound teacher, and a gateway to our true self. Her teaching is deeply grounded in the body and often emphasizes the expression of mindfulness in speech and daily life. Susie brings the skills of inquiry, relational dharma, and the psychological/spiritual interface to her teaching, informed by her ongoing study of the Diamond Approach by A.H.Almaas and as a graduate of Hakomi Therapy (a somatic psychotherapy modality). She offers a two-year intensive program, Dharma in Daily Life, where she delights in mentoring the innate qualities of heart and wisdom in everyday practice. Her practice is rooted in periods of long retreat both indoors and outdoors, which offer nourishment and inspiration for her teaching. She was an outdoor professional for over 30 years, including years as a river guide, mountaineering guide, and backcountry ranger, and now finds her greatest delight in sharing her love of the dharma and the natural world.

Kirsten Rudestam

  • Kirsten (she / her) works as an environmental educator, wilderness guide, and meditation teacher. She has been practicing Buddhist meditation since 2001 and teaching contemplative practices since 2006. She is trained as a vision fast guide through the School of Lost Borders and a facilitator in Joanna Macy’s “Work that Reconnects.” Kirsten also has a PhD in Environmental Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz where she studied water policy and management, feminist political ecology and environmental justice. Strongly committed to experiential practice as a mode of radical environmental pedagogy, she has fifteen years of experience teaching courses in Environmental Sociology and Environmental Justice at colleges and universities. She offers individual mentoring and programs in meditation, deep nature connection, ceremony, and radical resilience.

Rochelle Calvert

  • Rochelle, PhD, CMT, SEP, licensed clinical psychologist, certified mindfulness teacher, somatic experiencing practitioner has a devoted love to share the power and healing potential of mindfulness, somatic awareness and nature. She has studied and taught mindfulness for the past 20 years and knows personally the transformational potential. To share the love of these healing practices she has published a book Healing with Nature: Mindfulness and Somatic Practices to Heal from Trauma.

    Dr. Calvert leads courses and retreats in mindfulness, somatic experiencing and Awake in the Wild, nature-based mindfulness. She also facilitates professional trainings in mindfulness for clinicians. She is the director of the Ecotherapy Program at SouthWestern College and New Earth Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is a certified mindfulness teacher with the Mindfulness Teaching Institute, the International Mindfulness Teachers Association and Awake In The Wild organization.

    Rochelle is the founder and clinical director of New Mindful Life, which offers mindfulness, nature-based, and somatic experiencing therapies. She teaches individual meditations with nature that assist in healing from trauma. She supports her clients and takes them into nature with the aid of Bertha Grace, a Sprinter van that serves as a mobile therapy office.

    Rochelle now lives in Taos, New Mexico and has a private practice in both Taos New Mexico and San Diego, California.

Charles Higgins, MSW

  • During his career as a nonprofit leader, Charles (he / him) led organization transformation and strategic planning efforts that managed change and opened up new opportunities. Along the way, he developed a dedicated practice of Hatha yoga and Mindful Meditation that built his awareness of the fundamental elements of well-being, emotional intelligence and happiness. As an executive director of six nonprofit organizations during a 20-year career, he worked with and learned from dozens of staff, consultants, board and volunteer teams.

Asha Kimball

  • Asha (she / her) strives to support regenerative systems that benefit the planet and society. She enjoys seeding and nourishing Off-Grid Retreats connections, communications and protocols. She collaborates with teachers and land stewards to weave together, accessible and affordable, mindful experiences in nature. From Hawai’i, Asha is at home in and near the Pacific Ocean, growing food / medicine and spending time on trails and in community.

Tara Siegel

  • Tara (she / her) is a Native New Yorker now living in Studio City, CA. With 6+ years of experience, she develops, implements and executes strategic marketing plans in order to attract new community members and retain existing ones. In her spare time, she enjoys going on hikes, writing, surfing, and continuing her yoga practice.

Cindy Lauren