2025-2026 Speaker Profiles
Eric Schramm
Forty years at the everyday whim of mushrooms has taken Eric Schramm, proprietor of Mendocino Mushrooms, on a journey of understanding and wonder for the earth, mushrooms, our lives and connections.
Eric runs his operation from his five-acre property outside Fort Bragg during the fall and winter months and from the road in his mobile mushroom buying station in the Mount Shasta area in the spring. He's been foraging, buying and selling thousands of pounds of mushrooms for more than 30 years. There are numerous articles and videos available to learn more about this mushroom pioneer and all-around great guy.
Articles:
"The Mushroom Man Eric Schramm discusses current bizarre ”shroom season"
"Is Eric Schramm Northern California’s Ultimate Forager?"
"Eric Schramm, the Mushroom Man"
Eric runs his operation from his five-acre property outside Fort Bragg during the fall and winter months and from the road in his mobile mushroom buying station in the Mount Shasta area in the spring. He's been foraging, buying and selling thousands of pounds of mushrooms for more than 30 years. There are numerous articles and videos available to learn more about this mushroom pioneer and all-around great guy.
Articles:
"The Mushroom Man Eric Schramm discusses current bizarre ”shroom season"
"Is Eric Schramm Northern California’s Ultimate Forager?"
"Eric Schramm, the Mushroom Man"
Michael W. Beug, Professor Emeritus
I completed my Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Washington in 1971 and spent 32 years at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington where I taught chemistry, environmental studies, mycology, and organic farming. I started mushrooming in 1968 and my photographs now have appeared in well over 80 books and articles on mushrooms. In 1974 I joined both the Pacific Northwest Key Council and the North American Mycological Association (NAMA where, I served on the Education Committee, was chair of the Toxicology Committee, chair of the Editorial Committee, and past editor of the Journal McIlvainea and am now active on the medicinal mushroom committee). I won the 2006 NAMA Award for Contributions to Amateur Mycology. With coauthors Alan and Arleen Bessette, I wrote Ascomycete Fungi of North America: A Mushroom Reference Guide, University of Texas Press, 2014.
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My book, Mushrooms of Cascadia: An Illustrated Key to the Fungi of the Pacific Northwest, Second Edition, Ten Speed Press, was published in 2024. My speaking schedule, updates to our knowledge of western fungi, and links to podcasts and videos are found on my website https://www.mushroomsofcascadia.com.
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Alan Rockefeller
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Alan roams the globe studying mushrooms—has microscope; will travel. Based out of Oakland, CA, Alan does DNA sequencing, photography, identification for iNaturalist (44,000 IDs in 2020!) and is also one of the most knowledgeable people on the planet concerning psilocybe mushrooms and their distribution.
Much of his photography is on display in Mushroom Observer and iNaturalist, as well as on his Facebook page, along with lots for great tips on how to photograph mushrooms and advice on gear. You'll also find links to his published articles. |
Chad Hyatt
Chad Hyatt is an expert forager and classically trained chef who has made a name for himself in northern California and beyond, sharing his delicious spin on wild mushroom cookery. He has cooked in a variety of restaurants and private clubs around the San Francisco Bay area. Chad can often be found foraging for mushrooms, putting on wild mushroom-themed dinners, teaching mushroom-related classes, and attending mushroom festivals around the United States. He is passionate about cooking approachable comfort food based on local, seasonal ingredients, and, of course, wild mushrooms.
Chad's second edition of his wildly popular cookbook, The Mushroom Hunter's Kitchen, contains new recipes, updates to recipes and more. |
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