Growing up in Orange County, Elizabeth Jensen remembers how a clear day would allow her to look out across the ocean and see an island amid the open water. The first time she got to visit Catalina, that mythical place across the water, was with a group of girlfriends in high school.

“We had a really nice time,” recalled Jensen. “Unfortunately, I got seasick on the ride over.”

She was nervous to repeat that part of the experience when she was asked to come to the Island for an interview for the Catalina Island Conservancy’s chief financial officer position. Fortunately, the boat ride and the interview went smoothly. She got the job.

“I always tell people you can do finance and accounting anywhere, so why not do it somewhere where there is a mission attached to the organization, where you’re helping people or the planet,” she said. “I really feel that finance and accounting is a huge support to being able to accomplish the mission.”

Prior to starting work at the Conservancy in April, Jensen was the chief financial and administrative officer at Goodwill of Orange County. In her three years with the nonprofit, she oversaw the fiscal management across 22 retail locations and e-commerce operations, annual audits and tax reporting, and served as the liaison to the organization’s Finance, Audit and Investment Committees.

Earlier, Jensen served as chief financial officer of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, where she stewarded the financial resources of its parishes and schools in support of the strategic plan and mission. She oversaw finance, accounting, investments, internal audit, information technology and risk management. She’s always been passionate about giving back. Through her work with the Conservancy, Jensen said she’s grateful to live out her philanthropic values in a beautiful work environment.

“The Island has such beauty,” she said. “The waters are crystal clear, you can see the fish swimming in the water, you can see the growth of the native plants, witness the bison roaming and see the foxes running around. You feel so far from the mainland. You feel like you’re on vacation. It’s such a special place.”

In her first week on the job, Jensen joined a Conservancy Eco Tour that deepened her perspective.

“Our naturalists pointed out the Catalina Island mountain mahogany tree, which is here in the garden, and every time I walk past it, I just stop and stare at it,” she said.

In her new role as Conservancy CFO, Jensen is focused on supporting this special place by developing a strong operating budget that can successfully carry out the Conservancy’s mission across its three pillars of conservation, education and recreation.

“We’re going to take a look at historical trends and forecast future revenues and expenses, to help us develop our strategy,” she said. “The leadership team is looking at the top three to five priorities of the organization, and that’s where we’re going to put our focus. Attaching numbers doors. And she will be doing a lot more of to those priorities is going to help us make good business decisions.”

And though she’s a number cruncher, the digits she’s staying away from, for now, are 38.5.

“I don’t think I’m ready for the TransCatalina Trail,” she said. “I’m not a hiker, I walk. I have a nice 5-mile walking path at home that I walk. But I need to start my hiking era.”

When she’s not on the walking path, Jensen said she’s likely out shopping with her three daughters or enjoying time outdoors as she works with her team on the Island.