SHIP SPEED WATCH - Key Persons

Addison Bauer

Job Titles:

Multimedia Specialist

Addison Bauer is originally from south Louisiana. She joined the creative team at Oceana in 2022 as the Multimedia Specialist. She is a graduate of Spring Hill College where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design. She has a strong passion for design and using her skills to improve the world around her. She spent her last semester of college creating her senior seminar that focused and explored the idea of using Graphic Design for positive social change, which influenced her to seek a career in the non-profit sector. She looks forward to gaining experience at Oceana, while fighting to save the oceans. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, cooking, going to art museums, and running.

Agata Mrowiec

Job Titles:

Communications Manager for the Global Fisheries Transparency Coalition
Communications Professional

Agata Mrowiec is a Communications professional with a decade of solid experience gained in PR agencies, NGO sector and international organization. She joined Oceana for the first time in 2014 to strengthen communications efforts of the European team. She served as a Senior EU Communications Officer at Oceana Brussels office until 2019. During that time, she had a unique opportunity to undergo a short on-the-job training at Oceana HQs in DC, where she gained further experience from her fellow communications colleagues. At the end of 2019 Agata moved to Rome, where she was a communications lead for +45-year-old fisheries development programme at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Her work focused on corporate communications and communications for development, for which she was in charge of designing and implementing Programme communications strategy and related communications activities in partner countries in Africa and the Bay of Bengal. Agata has recently come back to Oceana to take on a new challenge as the communications manager for the newly formed Global Fisheries Transparency Coalition. Based at Oceana Europe HQs in Madrid, she's leading communications aspects of the Coalition's work in areas related to fisheries' transparency, illegal fishing and human rights' abuses on a global scale. Aside from her native language of Polish, Agata speaks English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.

Alex Aines

Job Titles:

Marine Scientist, Responsible Fishing Campaign
Oceana As a Marine Scientist

Alex Aines recently joined Oceana as a Marine Scientist on the Responsible Fishing Campaign. Alex will be working with the team to ban the sale and trade of shark fins, defend our key domestic fisheries management law, and protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. Alex grew up as an avid SCUBA diver which drove her interest in marine biology. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from Santa Clara University and a master's degree in Coastal Environmental Management from Duke University. For her master's research, she worked with NOAA to look at the tiger shark diet in the northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico (zero license plates were discovered in any stomachs if you were wondering). Alex has also completed marine research and policy work in the Bahamas, South Africa, Florida, California, North Carolina, and Maryland. Most recently, Alex worked with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in Monterey to assess the status of California's marine recreational finfish fisheries. She worked on designing surveys in the field, statistically analyzing data, and evaluating management options. While currently based in Monterey, Alex will be moving to the D.C. area, where she is originally from. She is excited to be part of the team!

Alexcia Best

Job Titles:

Campaign Associate

Alison Merow

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Senior Manager of Donor Communications

Andres Perotti

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Staff Attorney

Anna Baxter

Job Titles:

Communications Specialist

Anna Baxter is Oceana's Communications Specialist. Originally from Delaware, Anna grew up on the water and is an avid boater and water sports enthusiast (hello wakeboarding, kneeboarding, and skiing). She developed a passion for the oceans at a young age and to this day enjoys snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking, and more. Prior to coming to Oceana, Anna worked as a travel publicist in New York City representing leading companies and wanderlust-inspiring destinations. She graduated with her B.A. in Public Relations from Hofstra University on Long Island, NY. When she's not working, Anna loves hiking, playing (winning) board games, practicing guitar, and watching cringeworthy reality TV.

Anna Gelderd

Job Titles:

Senior Advisor for External Affairs

Anna George

Job Titles:

Manager, Executive Office

Anna George joined Oceana in October 2018 as part of the US offshore drilling campaign before transitioning into her role as Executive Assistant in the Office of the CEO. Prior to joining Oceana, Anna was an Outdoor Wilderness Guide responsible for leading backpacking and camping trips throughout California's national and state parks. Anna graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and a minor in Conservation Biology. In her spare time, Anna loves going to musicals, doing crafts and spending time outside.

Anna Weshner-Dunning

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Field Representative, Mid - Atlantic

Anne Jastrzebski

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Illegal Fishing & Transparency Fellow

Annie Weis

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Senior Director for Global Events

Ashley Blacow-Draeger

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Pacific Policy and Communications Manager

Becca Antonopolos

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Senior Data Systems Administrator

Ben Enticknap

Job Titles:

Pacific Campaign Manager and Senior Scientist

Ben Enticknap is Oceana's Pacific Campaign Manager and Senior Scientist, based in Portland, Oregon. With more than two decades of expertise in marine science and policy, he runs Oceana's campaigns to protect ocean habitats, recover marine wildlife, and advance responsible fisheries management. Ben helps to coordinate and lead Oceana's at-sea expeditions off the U.S. West Coast and Alaska, making exciting discoveries and advancing conservation. He also has a strong interest in Arctic Ocean conservation, and he currently serves as Oceana's representative as an observer to the Arctic Council. Prior to joining Oceana, he worked for the Alaska Marine Conservation Council to protect deep-sea habitats in the Gulf of Alaska, Aleutian Islands, and Bering Sea. Mr. Enticknap also worked with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to study and monitor wild salmon runs, and he had the pleasure of working hard on commercial fishing boats. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Oregon and he studied at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston.

Beth White Collins

Job Titles:

Senior Director, Global Information Technology

Brian Langloss

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Senior Manager of Institutional Giving

Brianne Mecum

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Senior GIS and Policy Analyst

Caitlynn Birch

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Pacific Marine Scientist

Carie Wilt

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Director, Digital Marketing

Carolina Quijano

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Senior Manager of Events

Catherine Uden

Job Titles:

Field Representative
Senior Field Representative, South Florida

Catherine Uden is the Field Representative for Oceana in South Florida. She has been involved in ocean and coastal conservation in Broward County for over 10 years. She has experience in campaign management and grassroots organizing leading successful campaigns to reduce plastic pollution, protect coastal habitat, and ensure public beach access. Prior to working for Oceana, she served as Chair of the Surfrider Foundation Broward County Chapter, and has been a strong coalition partner in Oceana's work to stop seismic airgun blasting and offshore drilling in the Atlantic. She enjoys educating the public about how to take action and the importance of engaging with their elected officials. Catherine has a passion for educating others, especially our youth, about ocean conservation issues. She has 15 years of experience as a teacher in the Broward County Public School System. Catherine received a P3 Eco Challenge Award for Environmental Stewardship in her school. Through her work as an educator, she has worked with youth environmental clubs, taught environmental activism, trained youth in engaging with city sustainability boards and lawmakers, and collaborated with the next generation of ocean advocates at the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit in Sarasota. Her passion for the ocean comes from her background as a stand-up paddleboarder. She has developed a love and appreciation for marine animals, and for protecting Florida waters from plastic pollution, a problem she sees firsthand at her home beach. She has enjoyed stand-up paddle racing and surfing, teaching others to paddle, leading stand-up paddle board waterway cleanups, and exploring the ocean with her husband and two sons. Catherine believes strongly in a quote by David Suzuki, "unless we are willing to encourage our children to reconnect with and appreciate the natural world, we can't expect them to help protect and care for it."

Chandler Iley

Job Titles:

Executive Assistant
Executive Assistant for Global Development

Chandler Iley is Oceana's Executive Assistant for Global Development and joined Oceana in December 2022. Chandler has a master's degree in healthcare administration from the Carilion Clinic, a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology and health sciences from Virginia Commonwealth University, and is certified as an emergency medical technician. Prior to working for Oceana, Chandler worked for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for two years. Post-undergraduate, Chandler worked as an ocean rescue lifeguard in Corolla, North Carolina on the Outer Banks and as a ski patrolman in Park City, Utah. While working as an emergency healthcare responder in North Carolina and Utah, Chandler developed a unique relationship with Earth and the abundant natural beauty surrounding him. Chandler's eagerness to protect the Earth's exquisite natural life is like waves breaking on sandy shores; unwavering and infinite.

Chanyong Pak

Job Titles:

Executive Assistant

Cheryl Eldemar

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Pacific Business Manager

Christy Leavitt

Job Titles:

Plastics Campaign Director

Christy Leavitt is Oceana's Plastics Campaign Director. In this role, Christy oversees Oceana's U.S. campaign to reduce single-use plastics. For more than two decades Christy has advocated and organized for strong environmental policies at the national, state and local levels. Prior to joining Oceana, she worked at Environment America, most recently directing the organization's Environmental Defense campaign to defend federal protections for the country's public lands, climate, oceans and water. Her previous positions with Environment America include Field Director, Federal Clean Water Advocate and Partnerships Director. In these roles, Christy ran national field campaigns, lobbied federal decision makers, built strong coalitions and engaged new allies, trained and developed staff, researched and wrote reports on pollution and generated media coverage. Earlier in her career, Christy worked with college students training them to be effective activists and organizers as director of Free The Planet! and as a campus organizer with the Student PIRGs. She graduated cum laude from Occidental College with a bachelor's degree in American studies.

Claudia Davis

Job Titles:

Campaign Associate

Claudia Deeg

Job Titles:

Oceana Science and Impact Fellow
Science and Impact Fellow

Colleen Sullivan

Job Titles:

Illegal Fishing and Transparency Fellow

Connor Fagan

cf..@oceana.org

Job Titles:

Federal Policy Manager

Corinne Leard

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Social Media Specialist

Cory Gunkel

Job Titles:

Senior Communications Manager
Senior Communications Manager for Oceana

Cory Gunkel is the senior communications manager for Oceana's illegal fishing and transparency and offshore drilling campaigns. Cory was born and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and received his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi. He began his professional career as a general assignment reporter, covering everything from city council meetings to community events, before shifting into sports journalism full-time. Shortly after moving to D.C. in 2017, Cory transitioned to the nonprofit communications space, where he worked as a communications professional for the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and The Pew Charitable Trusts. Before joining Oceana, he served as senior communications specialist for American Humane. When he's not working, Cory enjoys reading, exploring the outdoors with his wife Karen, and visiting D.C.'s vast array of museums. He is an avid fan of the New Orleans Saints and finding a stray onion ring in his order of French fries.

Courtney Gross

Job Titles:

Director of Development

Courtney Milley

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Campaign Associate

Deborah Brownlee

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Director of Operations, GOS

Dedria Taylor

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Controller

Demi Holloway

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Development Associate

Elanor Watts

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Pacific Administrative Assistant

Emily Conklin

Job Titles:

Program Manager, Sailors for the Sea

Emily Porterfield

Job Titles:

Associate, Global Fisheries Transparency Coalition

Emoke Ciorogan

Job Titles:

Web Developer

Eric Bilsky

Job Titles:

Assistant General Counsel
Senior Attorney

Eric Bilsky is Oceana's Senior Attorney and Assistant General Counsel. Mr. Bilsky has fought for marine conservation in a range of cases and issues. He has worked with Oceana since its founding in 2001. Prior to joining Oceana, Mr. Bilsky served as an attorney with the Ocean Law Project at Earthjustice and a Legal Practice Professor at the University of Michigan Law School. Mr. Bilsky's work to protect marine wildlife from the impacts of destructive fishing and climate change pollution includes advocacy for an international trade agreement to prohibit overfishing subsidies, litigation and advocacy to protect marine habitat from destructive fishing, participation in the landmark Oct. 3, 2007, petition to the EPA to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from marine shipping, and Oceana's November 15, 2007, petition to protect the U.S. Atlantic loggerhead sea turtle from threats from fishing fleets and global climate change. Mr. Bilsky earned the following degrees: a B.A., magna cum laude, with distinction in Philosophy, from Yale College (1985); a Masters degree in Philosophy from UCLA (1987); and a law degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School (1991).

Erin Fleck

Job Titles:

Field Director

Geoff Shester

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California Campaign Director

Gib Brogan

Job Titles:

Campaign Director, Fisheries

Gillian Spolarich

Job Titles:

Senior Manager, International Communications

Hermina Glass-Hill

Job Titles:

Oceana 's Georgia Senior Field Representative
Senior Field Representative, Georgia

As Oceana's Georgia Senior Field Representative, Hermina builds on-the-ground support for Oceana's U.S. campaigns in the coastal state of Georgia.

Hunter Miller

Job Titles:

Field Campaigns Manager, Southeast United States

Hunter Miller is Oceana's Field Campaigns Manager, based in Florida. For the last decade, Hunter has helped lead efforts to educate, organize, and advocate for our oceans, climate, and Florida's coastal communities. As a Field Campaigns Manager, he helps lead a team of field representatives and works across Oceana's U.S. campaigns, building support for local, state, and national policy change. Hunter regularly works with coastal community stakeholders, fishers, businesses, ENGO partners, and elected officials to build power to protect and restore our oceans. During his time at Oceana, Hunter has helped to successfully defend against former President Trump's proposal to dramatically expand offshore drilling in Federal waters, built support and helped pass a federal ban on the sale of shark fins, and passed local and state policies aimed at combatting the plastic pollution crisis. He also works to defend our nation's blue ribbon, science-based fisheries management law, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and supports efforts to save the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale from extinction. Hunter is a sixth-generation Floridian and has a B.S. in Public Administration from Flagler College.

Ian Feldmann

Job Titles:

IT Helpdesk Assistant

Ignacio Mira

Job Titles:

Analyst
Grant Analyst

Isabella Dubrow

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Human Resources Associate

Jag Griffiths

Job Titles:

Executive Assistant, Global Marketing and Communications

Jamie Karnik

Job Titles:

As Pacific Communications Manager
Pacific Communications Manager

As Pacific Communications Manager, Jamie Karnik informs and engages the public about Oceana's campaign work off the U.S. west coast from the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean to the warm shores of California. He previously worked for Oceana from 2007 - 2010, supporting campaigns to protect forage species in Oregon and California, close important habitat areas in Alaska and off the west coast to destructive bottom trawling, support a prevention-based approach to protect the Arctic from potential industrial fishing, and numerous other Oceana campaign successes that led to meaningful protections for the oceans. After a few years away where he worked on renewable energy issues, maritime safety and with a small media firm creating short documentaries and other materials, Jamie returned to Oceana in 2018. He is glad to be back, working side by side with remarkable colleagues on a crucial mission at such an effective organization. Jamie spends his spare time on the trails, mountains and waters of Southeast Alaska, enjoying the natural world and remembering our place in it and our role in passing on a shared legacy for future generations.