Our Team

ACE is a grassroots, volunteer collective who are passionate about the preservation and development of conscientious properties and businesses of Mendocino County providing services to the community in ethical and sustainable ways.

Our vision is to promote, empower and sustain a dynamic community life, and a new agrarian lifestyle, rooted in the support of our ecosystem, and invested in resilience and adaptability. We couldn’t do this work alone, so here is the team:

Cody Bartholomew (President)

Born and raised on Ridgewood Ranch, Cody Bartholomew is committed to empowering his community as they have empowered him. He holds a BS in Construction Management, a General Contractor license, an RCFE Administrator license, and is pursuing a Masters in Business Administration. Mr. Bartholomew is the current president of the Golden Rule Church Association, the managing agency of famed Ridgewood Ranch, as well as Board President of ACE. In his free time, Cody practices fine woodwork. 

Lucy Kramer (Vice-President)

Lucy Kramer’s passion for supporting equitable, just, and healthy communities brought her to Mendocino County in 2012 to study sustainable agriculture. After she earned her degree in Environmental Studies from University of the Pacific in 2015, she moved to Ridgewood Ranch full time and has since built a career working on myriad projects in community wellness and placemaking through North Coast Opportunities in Lake and Mendocino Counties. Miss Kramer is a current graduate student at Sonoma State University working toward a Masters in Public Administration. 

Tim Cooper (Treasurer)

Tim Cooper is the manager of The Golden Rule Mobile Village and RV Park and resident of the ranch. Managed farm supply businesses for 35 years with a B.A. degree in finance from Sonoma State University. Tim currently holds the title of President of Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation.

Timothy Ward

Tim Ward spent 9 years in outdoor science/leadership education as a teacher, program director, and development director. Subsequently, he spent another 9 years as owner/operator of a local farm business, the co-director of a farm school, and was very involved in local food system development. Since 2019 he has been remodeling buildings with the Ridgewood Community Builders team. He holds a BA in Environmental Studies and Economics from UC Santa Cruz

Ace Barash

Ace Barash has practiced primary care in Mendocino County since 1982. Having had a private practice, worked in the hospital emergency , the inpatient ward, and as chief medical officer, he now does community medical outreach on behalf of Adventist Health.

Doug Kell

Doug Kell is definitely a California person! Born and raised in Southern California, Doug graduated from UC Santa Cruz, did some truck driving and commercial fishing around the state, but has mostly been a ceramic sculptor in Northern California. Doug is now happily retired.