May 2026 eNewsletter - Past, Present, and Future
Introducing AMLT’s New Board President: Mark Mondragon
The Amah Mutsun Land Trust is thrilled to announce Mark Mondragon as the new President of the AMLT Board of Directors. As a longtime Tribal leader, public servant, and advocate for cultural and ecological stewardship, Mark brings decades of experience to this role at a pivotal moment in AMLT’s growth.
Mark’s lifelong commitment to service took root when, after 17 years in the restaurant industry, he joined the Carmel Highlands Volunteer Fire Department, launching a fire career that would span more than three decades.
Starting as a volunteer firefighter, Mark quickly rose through the ranks, from seasonal firefighter to fire captain to Battalion Chief, and later became the San Mateo and CAL Fire Battalion Chief Fire Marshal. His leadership extended across multiple fire districts on the Monterey Peninsula, including his role as Fire Prevention Chief of the Pebble Beach Community Services District.
Although he officially retired in 2021, Mark continues to serve as a part‑time fire inspector, offering his expertise to help keep Monterey Peninsula communities safe.
Mutsun Leadership
Mark joined the Amah Mutsun Tribal Council in 1998, stepping into the role after his father passed. Before his father’s death, he asked Mark to look out for the family and help guide. It’s a promise Mark has honored every day since.
In the more than two decades Mark has served on Council, he has experienced trials and tribulations, wins and losses, growth and change. Believing that it’s imperative to both honor the past and move forward, he has witnessed significant accomplishments made by the Tribe, all of which are grounded in hard work and a deep sense of community. In 2025, Mark was appointed Vice Chair of AMTB and has helped guide the Tribe through a period of renewed focus on governance, cohesion, and revitalization.
Mark and AMLT: Past, Present, and Future
Mark served on the Tribal Council when the Amah Mutsun Land Trust was founded. The Tribe recognized that it needed a way to reclaim land that had been forcibly taken and decided to take a somewhat novel approach: creating a Tribal nonprofit land trust to support the Tribe, protect ancestral lands, restore cultural stewardship, and strengthen the Tribe’s ability to care for Mother Earth.
Now, as he steps into the role of Board President, Mark is committed to ensuring the Tribe and AMLT remain aligned, minimizing complexity, clarifying roles, and ensuring that both can grow and prosper together.
Mark brings a steady, forward‑looking perspective to AMLT’s Board leadership, while also recognizing that the path ahead will include challenges and require adaptability. However, he believes that if we stay focused on our “North Star,”, we will build a strong, unified community rooted in shared purpose.
As Board President, Mark is committed to advancing AMLT’s next chapter by:
• Seeking additional funding to support long‑term stewardship and organizational stability
• Establishing stronger governance that supports clarity, accountability, and collaboration
• Redefining needs and goals to reflect the Tribe’s evolving priorities
• Growing AMLT’s collective impact network across the region
As AMLT enters a time of vast opportunity and growth, we are grateful for Mark’s steady guidance, his commitment to community, and his belief in what we can accomplish together.
Welcome aboard, Mark!