Our team is your solution
At SEEDS, our strength lies in our people. Our founding team brings together a rare mix of technical, scientific, and social expertise, all united by a shared commitment to sustainability, equity, and systems-level impact.
We are engineers who build resilient infrastructure, scientists who analyze complex environmental systems, and social thinkers who ensure solutions benefit real communities. With deep academic credentials and hands-on project experience, we understand how to move from vision to implementation thoughtfully, collaboratively, and effectively.
Environmental engineering
Partner
Humberto Flores-Landeros, M.S (he, él)
Humberto Flores-Landeros is a groundwater researcher specializing in recharge, aquifer sustainability, and applied hydrogeophysical analyses. His work focuses on evaluating recharge potential using advanced geophysical techniques, developing spatial decision-support tools, and modeling groundwater sustainability strategies under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
Humberto has contributed to technical reports and pilot studies on managed aquifer recharge across the San Joaquin Valley, including stormwater infiltration via vertical drains and the integration of electromagnetic surveys with site-specific soil and lithological assessments. His research combines hydrogeological fieldwork, computational modeling, and geospatial analysis to identify opportunities for effective groundwater storage and management.
Through his doctoral work and collaborations with agencies, irrigation districts, and private partners, Humberto has gained experience bridging scientific methods with practical implementation, helping stakeholders plan and optimize groundwater recharge projects at both farm and basin scales.
Environmental Science Lead
Co-founder partner
Leticia M. Classen-Rodriguez, PhD (they, elle)
Leticia is a proud Puerto Rican. They have a PhD in Biology and BS in Environmental Science. They are also a lead author on the California’s Climate Change Assessment for the San Joaquin Valley Region and a coauthor of the novel land repurposing study “Water, environment, and socioeconomic justice in California: A multi-benefit cropland repurposing framework“, among many other relevant works.
Leticia is bilingual in Spanish and has plenty of experience with community engagement.
K-12 Education Lead
co-founder partner
Anna Gurevitz, MA (she, her)
Originally from Arizona, Anna began life in California’s Central Valley as a graduate student at the University of California, Merced, earning an M.A. in World Cultures in 2017. Specializing in bioarchaeology, the study of skeletal remains at archaeological sites, Anna enjoyed her research but discovered a new passion while leading workshops for middle and high school students about the field. This experience inspired her to shift her career toward education.
Anna went on to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching with a science teaching credential from the University of Southern California in 2020. She then joined Strategic Energy Innovations (SEI), an environmental nonprofit, as Associate Contracts Manager before transitioning from a volunteer role at SEEN to become its full-time Executive Director. In this role, Anna works to advance equity in access to quality, critical education.
Project Coordinator
K-12 educator
Jeniffer Amezquita-Marin (She/Her/Ella)
Jeniffer, a UC Merced graduate with a degree in Environmental Science, brings her passion for the outdoors to her role as Project Coordinator and educator at SEEDs. She has contributed to programs such as ¿field curious? and the Yosemite Leadership Program (YLP), fostering meaningful connections between people and nature. Her journey began as a student engaged in hands-on outdoor learning, research, and leadership. Today, she is dedicated to inspiring that same sense of wonder and environmental responsibility in others.
Economic and Spatial Data Scientist
Economic and Spatial Analyses
José M. Rodríguez-Flores
José M. Rodríguez-Flores’s work focuses on assessing the feasibility and multiple benefits of agricultural water conservation actions, such as crop switching, land repurposing, fallowing, and transitions to non-agricultural land uses. José’s work takes an interdisciplinary approach to water and land management, examining strategies to advance groundwater sustainability and climate resiliency. His recent work emphasizes cropland repurposing as an approach to achieve water conservation and build more resilient landscapes, while supporting communities’ access to safe drinking water and healthy environment and local economy.
José has worked supporting the implementation of California’s Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program and contributed to multiple publications examining trade-offs, governance challenges, and developing decision-support tools. Through collaborations with communities, researchers, agencies, and practitioners, he aims to inform about effective and equitable investments for long-term water sustainability and climate resilience
Community organizer
Irene Cacho
Irene Cacho is a Community Organizer born and raised in Merced County, she loves to swim in Merced River and enjoyed camping trips with her parents and family members at a very youth age. Also Irene loves to take weekends drives to the mountains near Yosemite. Irene worked for Merced County as a Family Community Development Partner for twenty four years before retiring in November 2023. Just recently Irene received her Community Health Worker – Promotora certification from UC Merced PACE, she is a strong advocate for her community and county. Her passion is to encourage positive healthy youth development
Robotics, AI, and Automation Lead
Co-Founder Partner
Jose Luis Susa Rincón (he, él)
Dr. Jose Luis Susa Rincon is the founder and one of the principal consultants of SEEDS, specializing in AI/robotics strategy, government relations, and technology program management for defense contractors, research institutions, and technology companies. With a proven track record of securing $10M+ in government funding and establishing strategic partnerships with federal agencies, national laboratories, and international research organizations, Dr. Susa Rincon helps clients navigate complex procurement processes, develop winning proposals, and implement cutting-edge technology solutions that address critical national and commercial challenges.
Drawing from his extensive experience as a Senior Project Manager at Siemens Corporation and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Dr. Susa Rincon provides comprehensive consultancy services including technology roadmap development, cross-functional team leadership, regulatory compliance guidance, and international partnership facilitation. His expertise in Advance Automation, Artificial Intelligence, and autonomous systems, combined with his multilingual capabilities and global network spanning government institutions, universities, and industry leaders across five countries, positions him as a trusted advisor for organizations seeking to accelerate innovation, expand market reach, and achieve mission-critical objectives in today’s competitive technology landscape.
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California Merced
M.Sc. Robotics, École National d’Engénieurs de Brest (ENIB), France
B.S. Electrical Engineering, Colombian School of Engineering
Water and Climate change
Co-founder Partner
J. Pablo Ortiz-Partida, PhD (he, él)
Pablo Ortiz is Senior Water and Climate Scientist for the Climate & Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. In his role, he takes the lead in identifying and developing analytic and research projects that further his team’s water-related priorities. Dr. Ortiz also works on developing strategies for vulnerable sectors and populations in California to cope and adapt to the current and projected impacts of climate change, particularly related to water impacts.
Doctor in Hydrology and Water Resources | University of California, Davis
Sustainable Engineering Lead
Co-Founder partner
Ángel S. Fernandez-Bou, PhD (he, él)
Angel’s work centers on sustainability, recognizing that both people and nature must thrive together. As part of a dedicated team, Angel develops innovative solutions to preserve the environment, strengthen economic resilience and prosperity, enhance quality of life in rural areas, and create climate-focused strategies. His team’s work has been published across multiple platforms, from policy briefs for decision-makers to scientific papers and bilingual resources for community groups.
A key focus of Angel’s efforts is translating science and local needs into actionable change. This includes leading engineering projects about Nature-Based Solutions that improve the local environment and contribute to a more resilient and clean energy grid, and Socioeconomic projects to expand local opportunities. Angel holds a PhD in Environmental Systems from UC Merced, a Master in Biosystems Engineering and Water Resources, and a BEng in Agricultural Engineering.
