We are looking for people that are passionate about Carmel-by-the-Sea and aren’t afraid to push forward to get things done quickly and efficiently. We are passionately persistent, don’t let things get in our way, and enjoy inspiring others to get involved to help out.
We have discovered that, over time, little things can make a big difference. You can help with light gardening, adopting a median island, or helping to pick up litter. You could also make a financial donation of any size from our home page. What also helps is encouraging and thanking our volunteers when you see them workig around town!
Leader, Scenic Pathway Restoration Project
Born and raised in Indiana, Shirley earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from Ball State University. She fell in love with Carmel-by-the-Sea in the early 1970s, moved here in 1973, and bought her first cottage two years later, which she still owns and uses to store the many landscaping tools used on Scenic Pathway.
Upon arriving in Carmel, there were few teaching opportunities available so she pivoted to real estate, earning her license and launching a new career as a Realtor. Over the next 30 years she sharpened the skills she once used in teaching—goal-setting, discipline, and organization. She viewed real estate as education, helping clients learn what they needed to make smart decisions.
In nearly 50 years on the Peninsula, Shirley has led multiple beautification efforts. In 2020, she jumped at the opportunity to take a leadership role in restoring the world-famous Scenic Pathway. Since then, she has led nearly weekly sessions with volunteers and professional gardeners, transforming it to a clean, well-tended, and beautiful place. She also created the Pick Up Posse concept and has played a key role in messaging, planning, and fundraising for projects along the Pathway.
Leader, Downtown Detail
Volunteer, Downtown and Scenic Pathway Pick Up Posse
Co-Creator Carmel Cares Business Partner Program
Kelly grew up on the Monterey Peninsula, living at the Presidio of Monterey and in Carmel. A graduate of Santa Catalina School and the University of Southern California, she earned a B.A. in Sociology and played on USC’s Women’s Tennis Team for two years. Her early career was in Corporate Real Estate, specializing in the Relocation Industry, including time as an Account Manager for GE.
After leaving corporate life, she raised her son Sean in Los Angeles and pursued interests in travel, photography, tennis, cycling, and polo. She also invested in and redesigned several real estate properties, including her homes in Montecito and Santa Ynez.
In 2018, Kelly returned to Carmel full time, reconnecting with the natural beauty of her hometown. She quickly became a core volunteer leader with Carmel Cares, founding the Downtown Detail team and organizing weekly clean-up efforts that have visibly improved the village. Known for her enthusiasm and leadership, Kelly also co-created the Carmel Business Partner program and has volunteered with Meals on Wheels.
Kelly embodies the spirit of volunteerism—positive, dedicated, and always ready to make a difference with a smile.
Leader, Cigarette Litter Recycling Program (aka: Butt Brigade)
Co-Creator Carmel Cares Business Partner Program
With over 25+ years in the real estate industry, Carol Crandall has developed a stellar reputation as one of the top real estate agents for Carmel and the Monterey Peninsula. Leveraging her expertise in this real estate market and her loyalty, integrity, and professionalism, Carol is sought out by Silicon Valley tech founders, community leaders and people who appreciate the life that Carmel has to offer. The most important reason that people choose Carol is that she truly cares. Carol loves her clients and treats them like part of her family. You don’t step into her office; you step into her home, which has become a popular spot for impromptu Carmel Cares meetings.
Carol brings that caring attitude to Carmel Cares where she embraced the job of leading the charge to capture and recycle every single cigarette butt in the village as the leader of Carmel’s effort with Keep America Beautiful’s Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (CLPP). She has managed the process of putting 55 new cigarette receptacles in key hot spots around the village and makes sure they are regularly emptied and the butts recycled with Terracycle.
Carol has also been instrumental in developing the Carmel Cares Business Partner Program and is a regular, along with her miniature poodle Emma, on the Downtown Detail team. As she says, “Once you see the problems around town clearly, you cannot unsee it, and it is important for all of us to take steps to become part of the solution.”
Leader, Village Pick Up Posse
Volunteer, Downtown Detail and Scenic Pathway Protectors
Median Minder
Terry was born in Washington DC. She served as a Military Police Officer in the United States Army. Terry returned home to D.C. and worked as a Telephone and then Cable Technician.
Leader, Volunteer Management
Volunteer, Scenic Pathway Pick Up Posse
Median Minder
Jen Thompson is a proud 7th-generation Californian, born and raised in Carmel. A graduate of Carmel High School and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she has always felt a deep connection to the natural beauty and tight-knit spirit of our village. Jen’s path to service began with over 20 years as a San Francisco Police Officer, where she earned a reputation for integrity, courage, and helping others.
After retiring in 2019, she returned home to Carmel, ready to give back. Since joining Carmel Cares in 2024, Jen has become a trusted leader. She heads the Downtown Pick Up Posse, organizing regular cleanup events that help keep our streets clean and welcoming. Her energy and consistency have inspired others to join in.
Beyond her PUP work, Jen leads weekly cleanups after the Farmers Market and on the Scenic Pathway. She’s also spearheading an effort to revitalize the magazine kiosks throughout town.
Jen lives in Carmel Woods with her partner Terry and their dog Henry. Whether walking Henry along Scenic or rallying volunteers downtown, Jen brings the same dedication and heart to Carmel Cares that defined her law enforcement career—and we’re lucky to have her.
Leader, Scenic Pathway Pick Up Posse
Leader, Beach Pick Up Posse
Volunteer Downtown Pick Up Posse & Median Minder
Cari spent her childhood in California before relocating to Texas with her family. During her early college years at Stephen F. Austin State University, she met her husband, Chris, who is also a Carmel Cares volunteer. “During our honeymoon, we visited Carmel for the first time, and it was then that we both fell in love with its beauty and charm,” she reminisces. “From that time forward, we dreamed of one day calling Carmel home.”
Upon graduating from Baylor’s College of Dentistry, Cari and Chris moved to San Diego, where Cari practiced restorative and cosmetic dentistry in La Jolla. Once Cari retired, they began dividing their time between their renovated cottage in Carmel and San Diego. In 2020, they decided to make Carmel their permanent residence.
Now retired, Cari enjoys golf, social clubs, the outdoors, and spending time with friends and family, while continuing to pursue her and Chris’ love for travel. She writes fantasy-adventure novels for children, each novel featuring a different country and an endangered animal. Cari believes volunteering is the perfect way to give back to the community. “I have been blessed with so much in life. I am passionate about what makes Carmel such a special place, and I want to help preserve it for future generations.”
Leaders, Vista Lobos Park Restoration
Andi is originally an “LA girl” and moved to Carmel in 1976. She taught school for a number of years, raised two daughters, and now is enjoying her two young grandchildren. Andi has a very active life playing bridge and golf, baking unique cookies, and walking their Havanese puppy. She is excited to be involved in restoring the downtown Vista Lobos Park.
Leaders, Carl Cherry Center for the Arts Restoration
Married for 60 years, Nance and Denny have built a life rooted in love, service, and community. They have two children, seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren, many living nearby. Denny, a retired veterinarian, now volunteers as a docent at the Carmel Mission and as a starter at Poppy Hills Golf Course. Nance, a devoted “professional volunteer,” has long supported teens and now teaches Argentine Tango in Carmel and beyond—earning her nickname, “Tango Nance.”
During COVID, they discovered a new way to give back—beautifying overlooked spaces in their neighborhood. Nance, raised on a farm, found joy in pulling weeds and planting succulents, becoming one of the city’s first official Median Minders.
Their most ambitious effort has been the transformation of the Carl Cherry Center’s Sculpture Garden. Once overgrown and neglected, the garden is now a peaceful sanctuary, thanks to their tireless cleanup, pruning, and planting. Meandering paths, benches, fruit trees, and cymbidium orchids now welcome visitors. Ongoing care is supported by Carmel Cares and generous donations, and a new irrigation system has made Nance’s efforts more sustainable.
Still walking the beach most days, Nance and Denny continue to find joy in giving back and creating beauty for all to enjoy.
Leader, Tag Team
Leader, Carmel Owls
Volunteer, Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)
CERT Team Member
Paul was only six weeks old when his parents first brought him to Carmel-by-the-Sea. After a mouthful of fine, pure white, yummy sand, he was addicted. He returned from Silicon Valley in 2000 to Northwest Carmel to enjoy the fresh ocean air and forest lifestyle amongst new friends.
Paul has a saying: “No stickers. No flyers, No graffiti, No exceptions.” During his daily morning walks through town with his Husky to enjoy a freshly-brewed macchiato, he’s often the first to enjoy new ‘artworks’ that appear on Ocean Avenue or down at Del Mar parking, beachside, including flyers taped or stapled to trees and buildings. And he’s just as quick to remove them without exception.
Paul’s other environmental activities beyond Carmel-by-the-Sea include the removal of washed up nets from the beaches of the Andaman Islands, India and Gili Air, Indonesia. He’s also removed truckloads of plastic flotsam from the island beaches of Utila and Roatan, Honduras and in the ancient village of Malana high in the Indian Himalayas where in all instances he’s hired local crews, porters and support trucks to magnify his efforts.
Paul is the quintessential Carmel-by-the-Sea Volunteer. He is also a member of Carmel-by-the-Sea VIPS (Volunteers in Police Service) typically walking every Thursday at the Farmers Market in uniform, or responding to Carmel CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) callouts for Monterey peninsula storms, floods, fires or missing persons. He loves being part of the sticker- and graffiti-free beach community.
Leader, Carmel Crafters
Brian Steckler is a retired IT executive with extensive experience in government, industry, and the U.S. military. He holds advanced degrees in IT Management and Business Administration. His career included work with startups, AT&T 5G deployments for the Department of Defense, and disaster response roles with AT&T and the Information Technology Disaster Resource Center.
Brian founded and led the Hastily Formed Networks Center at the Naval Postgraduate School, supporting communications in major disasters like Katrina and the Haiti earthquake. As an NPS faculty member for 15 years, he taught cybersecurity and disaster response, and led projects with NATO, CAL-Fire, and international partners. After retiring from his career in the Navy Brian founded an internet ISP and software firm.
As a volunteer, Brian started and operates the Monterey Peninsula arm of the Project Healing Waters program that uses fly fishing to assist disabled veterans. He is also a professional woodworker with his company Outtathewoods. His passion for building beautiful things led him to volunteer with Carmel Cares, leading a team that creates handcrafted display cases and other legacy pieces from his Carmel Valley woodshop. He is also active the Monterey Peninsula Woodworkers Guild.
Leader, Forest Theater Project
Co-Founder
In June 2024, Dale stepped down from the Carmel Cares board and December, 2025 his role as President and Chief Caring Officer to focus on public service. He now serves as Carmel’s Mayor while remaining an active unpaid volunteer as Leader of the Forest Theater Project.
Dale grew up in Southern California, developed an early passion for building and always enjoying working hard though high school and college years. After taking engineering undergrad requirements he earned a BS in Business and an MBA from USC. He went on to found and lead international retail software companies, consulting with over 250 major retailers and managing a 250-person global team.
He and his wife Margaret discovered Carmel 20+ years ago and moved here full-time ten years ago, completing five custom homes that reflect their love for the village. In retirement, Dale turned his focus to volunteering and community improvement.
He volunteered at the Chamber Visitors Center and co-created 12 local GPS audio tours. He then joined the Carmel Residents Association board in 2018, helped modernize its operations, and strengthened resident-business ties.
In 2018, Dale founded Carmel Cares, which became a full-time volunteer organization in 2020. Under his leadership, it has significantly improved the town’s beauty and safety, earning him local awards for civic leadership. He also is the Grant Manager for Carmel Gives, which has distributed over $2.5 million in grants to over 140 nonprofit organizations and is currently the Mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Leader, Scenic Pathway Protectors
Margaret is not only the Carmel Cares Executive Director, she also manages the team on the Scenic Pathway every Wednesday morning. The Scenic Pathway is one of Carmel’s most cherished walking paths and her team makes sure that it sparkles!
