John Steel and his wife, Gail, were invited to a home reception in 2003 and have been hooked on Plant With Purpose’s impactful work ever since. John joined the board in 2013 and has been actively involved on the Executive Committee, Governance Committee, and serving in the role of both Secretary and Chair. 

John spent his career as the V.P. for Zytec Corp and Artesyn Technologies and is an alumnus of the University of Minnesota. He and Gail retired to sunny Solana Beach from Minnesota and have been actively involved at Solana Beach Presbyterian Church. They have been married for over 50 years and have two sons and five grandchildren. John enjoys riding his Harley through California’s diverse landscapes.