About Us

WILDCOAST’s strategic, passionate and relentless ecosystem-based approach to conservation is key to our long-lasting impact and success.

Mission

WILDCOAST is an international team that conserves coastal and marine ecosystems and addresses climate change through natural solutions.

Vision

We envision a society in which ecologically sensitive and globally significant coastal and marine ecosystems and wildlife are conserved, restored and sustained for future generations.

Staff

Serge Dedina, Ph.D. - Executive Director

Serge Dedina, Ph.D. - Executive Director

Serge Dedina Serge leads the international team at WILDCOAST, which he co-founded in 2000. A former California State Parks Ocean Lifeguard, Serge was elected to two terms as Mayor of Imperial Beach, California from 2014-2022. His innovative coastal and ocean conservation work has been reported on by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, NBC News, Washington Post, BBC, NPR, Wall Street Journal, and 60 Minutes among others. In recognition of his successful conservation endeavors, Serge received the Surf Industry's Environmental Award, San Diego Zoological Society’s Conservation Medal as well as the California Coastal Commission’s “Coastal Hero” Award. He was also named a UC San Diego John Muir Fellow and honored as a Peter Benchley “Hero of the Sea.” Prior to WILDCOAST, Serge co-founded The Nature Conservancy’s Sea of Cortez and Baja California programs where he developed successful national parks in Loreto, La Paz, and Cabo Pulmo. The author of Saving the Gray Whale, Wild Sea, and Surfing the Border, Serge has been a commencement speaker at UC San Diego and a panelist and keynote speaker at the U.S. National Climate Adaptation Forum, UCLA Institute of the Environment, TEDx San Diego, California Coastal Resilience Conference and the International MPA Conference among others. Serge holds a B.A. in Political Science from UC San Diego, a M.S. in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Ph.D in Geography from the University of Texas at Austin. When he’s not spending time with his wife and two sons surfing and skiing, he is a voice for the coast and ocean, dedicated to impactful conservation and saving our blue planet.

Mónica Franco - Mexico Director

Mónica Franco - Mexico Director

Mónica Franco is the Director of WILDCOAST in Mexico. Based in Ensenada, Baja California, she oversees all of our conservation programs and operations from Baja California to Oaxaca. Monica joined the WILDCOAST team in 2013 as the Magdalena Bay Program Coordinator and later led our federal conservation concessions project where she helped to protect tens of thousands of acres of globally important and carbon sequestering coastal and marine ecosystems. In 2017, she was named Mexico Deputy Director and was appointed the WILDCOAST Mexico Director in 2020. Prior to WILDCOAST, Monica worked for Mexico´s Environmental Federal Agency (SEMARNAT) in the Federal Concessions Department. Prior to that she was employed by Pronatura Noroeste as a field assistant and GIS technician. While doing research on marine mammals for her Master´s degree, Monica did field work for two years throughout the Pacific Islands of the Baja California Peninsula. She also studied for a semester at the University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria on the Canary Islands. She holds a B.S. in Biology and a M.S. in Coastal Oceanography from the Autonomous University of Baja California in Ensenada.

Anne Middleton - Associate Director

Anne Middleton - Associate Director

Originally from Montana, Anne moved to San Diego in 2014 from Cameroon, after having finished a contract with Taylor Guitars on legal and sustainable ebony wood procurement for guitar manufacturing. Anne recently served as Executive Director at ECOLIFE Conservation, a local nonprofit that builds fuel-efficient stoves in rural Mexico and aquaponics systems here in San Diego. Also in San Diego, she was also employed by Sustainability Matters, a local greenbuild firm, and the San Diego County Water Authority. Prior to her tenure in Cameroon, she worked for a non-profit organization in Washington DC, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), whose focus is to investigate international wildlife crime and advocate for legislative solutions. EIA’s investigations in Madagascar led to the first criminal case for the amended U.S. Lacey Act, a ban on trade in illegal wood. Anne has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Oberlin College and a master’s degree of Environmental Science and Management (MESM) from the Bren School at UC Santa Barbara. Having non-profit, public, and private-sector experience, Anne brings a unique set of skills to the team at WILDCOAST. In her time not at work, she enjoys making cakes, taking her dog to the beach, and singing and playing guitar in her bands.

Clark Labitan - Director of Finance and Administration

Clark Labitan - Director of Finance and Administration

Clark Labitan is the Director of Finance and Administration and oversees WILDCOAST’s international financial resources, administration, information technology and human resources. Based in San Diego, he joined the WILDCOAST team in 2010 after spending over 25 years working in financial departments for both for-profit and non-profit institutions. He supports the organization's strategic plan, established financial and operational policies and procedures, implemented online accounting and donor databases and worked closely with program managers to monitor program expenditures are in-line with revenue and are managed to budget and forecasts. Prior to WILDCOAST, Clark held the Director of Finance position at Meals on Wheels-Greater San Diego, and Access to Independence, both San Diego based non profit organizations. Before working in the non-profit sector, he was employed by Bank of America and Security Pacific Bank. Clark holds a B.S. in Accounting from Indiana University Bloomington.

Angela Kemsley - Conservation Director

Angela Kemsley - Conservation Director

Angela Kemsley is the Conservation Director of WILDCOAST. Based in San Diego, Angela manages WILDCOAST's Natural Climate Solutions program in California, leading blue carbon ecosystem restoration, carbon sequestration studies, and climate action planning. She joined WILDCOAST’s marine protected area (MPA) team in 2017 as the Statewide Coordinator of the MPA Watch Community Science Program. In 2018, Angela assumed the role of Conservation Development Manager, before expanding her position to include communications. Prior to joining WILDCOAST, Angela worked for San Diego Zoo Global, facilitating community-based conservation projects in northwest Mexico as well as leading tours of the San Diego Zoo. Angela also worked in the outdoor education department of the San Diego County Office of Education in addition to numerous field research positions throughout North and South America, the Caribbean, and Europe. She currently serves as a board member for the California Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (AEOE). Angela holds a B.S. in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution and a B.A. in Biological Anthropology from UC-San Diego and an M.A. in Biology from Miami University in Ohio.

Ann Wycoff - Development Director

Ann Wycoff - Development Director

Ann Wycoff is WILDCOAST’s Development Director. Based in San Diego she oversees fundraising, donor relations, philanthropic and private sector partnerships. Ann joined the team in 2019 to oversee the organization’s fundraising campaigns and events. She also organizes and leads donor trips to WILDCOAST’s conservation sites in Mexico as well as coordinating Corporate Social Responsibility volunteer experiences. Prior to her work with WILDCOAST, Ann spent 25 years as a travel writer, screenwriter, and book author. She has written for publications such as Travel + Leisure, Outside, Condé Nast Traveler, Coastal Living, Caribbean Travel + Life, San Diego Magazine, Marin Magazine and more. Much of her travel writing has focused on Mexico and California. Ann has also worked as a media and marketing consultant. As a co-founder / producer of an action sports film festival, Ann worked extensively with the private sector and has also fundraised for various nonprofits over the years as a board member of the Berry Good Foundation and WILDCOAST. Ann has a B.A. from Cornell University in Creative Psychology.

Fay Crevoshay - Communications & Policy Director

Fay Crevoshay - Communications & Policy Director

Fay Crevoshay is the Communications and Policy Director of WILDCOAST. Based in San Diego, she joined the team in 2001. As Communications & Policy Director Fay develops strategies and cultivates relationships with key elected and appointed officials, while forging partnerships with organizations from the private and social sectors to implement WILDCOAST’s public policy agenda in Mexico and the United States. Fay’s internationally acclaimed conservation communications campaigns have been reported on by the Wall Street Journal, NPR, New York Times, BBC, CNN, Televisa, among others. Fay created and carried out international campaigns such as “My Man Doesn’t Eat Sea Turtle Eggs,” to stop poaching and reduce consumption of sea turtle eggs and meat. The campaign was endorsed by the Mexican federal government and was credited to be one of the best ocean campaigns in “human history” by scientist and communications expert, Dr. Randy Olson. Fay was responsible for the successful WILDCOAST sea turtle conservation campaigns carried out in partnership with iconic Mexican lucha libre star “El Hijo del Santo” and Mexican rock superstars Maná that received extensive media coverage and public attention in the U.S. and Latin America. She successfully worked to promote the expansion of marine protected areas in California, and developed a campaign with Linkin Park to promote natural climate solutions and mangrove conservation in Mexico. Prior to joining WILDCOAST, Fay was a NPR and El Financiero reporter and ran her own media relations firm. Fay, a native of Mexico City, received a B.A. in Economics from Bar-Ilan University, Israel, a M.A. in Political Science from York University in Toronto, and a M.A. in International Relations from Universidad Las Americas in Mexico City.

Francisco Martínez Vázquez - Mangrove Conservation Director

Francisco Martínez Vázquez - Mangrove Conservation Director

Francisco Martínez Vázquez is the Mangrove Conservation Director. Based in Ensenada, Baja California, he manages conservation projects and management plan updates for the Valle de los Cirios Protected Area and the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, two of Mexico’s largest federal protected area. He is currently managing a mangrove restoration project in Laguna San Ignacio, in a partnership project with the UNDP. Francisco joined WILDCOAST in 2015, and helped to carry out the management plan for the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve as well as carry out stewardship programs for the Valle de los Cirios. Before joining WILDCOAST, he worked as a field supervisor for the National Commission of Forestry (CONAFOR) and as a consultant for wildlife conservation projects for organizations such as Mexico´s Wildlife Consultants and Pronatura Noroeste. Previously, he served as Deputy Director of Fauna in the General Forestry Directorate and Wildlife Interest of SAGARPA in the state of Sonora. He holds a B.S. in Biology from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and a M.S. in Ecosystem Management from the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz.

Tannia Frausto Illescas - Climate Change Director

Tannia Frausto Illescas - Climate Change Director

Tannia Cristina Frausto Illescas is the Climate Change Director of WILDCOAST, where she oversees and coordinates our natural climate solutions and blue carbon programs in Mexico and California. Based out of Ensenada, Baja California, Tannia joined WILDCOAST in 2013 as the Oaxaca’s Coastal Coordinator where she initiated a program to protect the coral reefs of Huatulco National Park and helped to conserve globally important sea turtle nesting beaches. In 2015, Tannia coordinated a pioneering RAMSAR Wetlands of International Importance management program with Mexico’s National Commission for Protected Areas (CONANP), as our Conservation Management Coordinator. In 2017, Tannia was promoted to Wetlands and Climate Change Manager and helped to launch our blue carbon mangrove conservation and carbon sequestration work. Prior to joining WILDCOAST, Tannia carried out research and conservation work for the protection of coral reefs and sea turtles. Tannia holds a B.S. in Biology from the Instituto Politécnico Nacional in Mexico City and an M.S. in Marine Ecology from Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior (CICESE) in Ensenada.

Celeste Ortega - Mangrove Conservation Manager

Celeste Ortega - Mangrove Conservation Manager

Celeste Ortega Trasviña is the Mangrove Conservation Manager at WILDCOAST. Based in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Celeste leads our federal conservation concessions program where she helps to protect thousands of acres of globally important and carbon sequestering coastal ecosystems. She also works closely with outfitters, community members and government officials to promote environmental services and best tourism practices for mangroves, birds and marine mammals in communities of Baja California Sur. Celeste joined WILDCOAST in 2017 as the Coastal Conservation Coordinator where she helped to plan the protection of mangrove ecosystems throughout Northwest Mexico. Before joining WILDCOAST, she conducted extensive field work along the coast of Baja California Peninsula and worked as a Technical Advisor of the Conservation Program and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity in the Gulf of California (BioMar), implemented by the German Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ) in collaboration with CONANP. Celeste received a B.S. in Marine Biology from the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur in La Paz. She also received a certification in Environmental Management from the Autonomous University of Baja California.

Mitzi Estefanía Gutiérrez Hernández - Oaxaca Mangrove Restoration Manager

Mitzi Estefanía Gutiérrez Hernández - Oaxaca Mangrove Restoration Manager

Mitzi Estefanía Gutiérrez Hernández is the Mangrove Restoration Manager in Huatulco, Oaxaca. She designs and implements mangrove restoration and management strategies for the coast of Chiapas and Oaxaca and helps lead awareness training + workshops with coastal communities. Before joining WILDCOAST, she worked in the Sembrando Vida program, where she coordinated the restoration of mangroves on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec with community groups. Mitzi has a degree in Biology from the Instituto Tecnológico del Valle de Oaxaca and a Master's Degree in Natural Resources and Rural Development from El Colegio de la Frontera Sur with a specialty in Natural Resources.

Lisa Gilfillan - Ocean Conservation Manager

Lisa Gilfillan - Ocean Conservation Manager

Lisa Gilfillan is the WILDCOAST Ocean Conservation Manager. Based in San Diego, she joined the team in 2020 and is working to conserve Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in California through compliance and monitoring initiatives. Lisa is co-chair of the San Diego County MPA Collaborative and manages the MPA Watch Network, collecting human use data in and around protected areas. Prior to arriving at WILDCOAST, Lisa worked as a guide and tour developer at the SD Zoo Safari Park (2009); an Education Coordinator for I Love A Clean San Diego (2011); as an Education Coordinator at Birch Aquarium at Scripps (2011); and as a fisheries biologist for the National Forest Service (2003). Lisa holds a B.S. from Bowling Green State University and an M.S. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego.

Rosario Norzagaray - Marine Debris Manager

Rosario Norzagaray - Marine Debris Manager

Rosario Norzagaray is the Marine Debris Manager for WILDCOAST based in Tijuana, Baja California. She joined the WILDCOAST team in 2020 and is coordinating efforts to reduce the tsunami of solid waste in the ocean, which impacts more than 100,000 hectares of federal, state and local coastal, island and marine protected areas on both sides of the border between the US and Mexico. Rosario has more than 20 years of experience working in the management of urban solid waste and the development of self-sustaining community projects. She has worked in public administration, the private sector and the social sector, always focused on environmental and community consulting. Rosario is a general nurse from the Autonomous University of Guerrero, has a degree in psychology from the Autonomous University of Baja California and has a master's degree in Environmental Administration from the College of the Northern Border in Tijuana.

Luis Rojas Cruz - Oaxaca Coast Manager

Luis Rojas Cruz - Oaxaca Coast Manager

Luis Angel Rojas Cruz is the Oaxaca Coast Manager. Based in Huatulco, Oaxaca. He joined WILDCOAST in 2018 and helped to protect the Morro Ayuta sea turtle nesting beach. He also carried out environmental education programs for students from indigenous communities located along the southern Oaxaca coastline. Before joining WILDCOAST, Luis worked as a Project Coordination for Tierra Verde Naturaleza y Cultura, based in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas. Luis holds a B.S. in Biology from the Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo.

Francisco Martínez Vázquez - Mangrove Conservation Director

Francisco Martínez Vázquez - Mangrove Conservation Director

Francisco Martínez Vázquez is the Mangrove Conservation Director. Based in Ensenada, Baja California, he manages conservation projects and management plan updates for the Valle de los Cirios Protected Area and the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, two of Mexico’s largest federal protected area. He is currently managing a mangrove restoration project in Laguna San Ignacio, in a partnership project with the UNDP. Francisco joined WILDCOAST in 2015, and helped to carry out the management plan for the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve as well as carry out stewardship programs for the Valle de los Cirios. Before joining WILDCOAST, he worked as a field supervisor for the National Commission of Forestry (CONAFOR) and as a consultant for wildlife conservation projects for organizations such as Mexico´s Wildlife Consultants and Pronatura Noroeste. Previously, he served as Deputy Director of Fauna in the General Forestry Directorate and Wildlife Interest of SAGARPA in the state of Sonora. He holds a B.S. in Biology from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and a M.S. in Ecosystem Management from the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz.

Rebeca Melendez - Coral Conservation Manager

Rebeca Melendez - Coral Conservation Manager

Rebeca Meléndez Rosas is the Coral Conservation Manager at WILDCOAST and is based in La Paz, Baja California Sur. She oversees our coral reef conservation program by leading monitoring efforts with researchers, outfitters and protected area staff to improve the management of corals and aquatic ecosystems in federal protected areas through Mexico´s Pacific coast. Rebeca first joined WILDCOAST in 2017 as Conservation Coordinator for Northwest Mexico. Before joining WILDCOAST, she carried out conservation and research projects in Cabo Pulmo, Los Cabos and in fisheries refugees in Baja California Sur. Rebecca holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur and an M.S. in Conservation of Natural Resources and Rural Development from El Colegio de la Frontera Sur in México.

Yolanda Garces Nicholson - Operations and Human Resources Manager

Yolanda Garces Nicholson - Operations and Human Resources Manager

Yolanda Garces Nicholson is the Operations and HR Manager at WILDCOAST. Based in San Diego, she manages WILDCOAST’s day-to-day Operations, and Human Resources functions and ensures that the organization's practices meet regulatory standards and nonprofit best practices, and align with its mission . Yolanda joined the WILDCOAST team in 2015. Prior to that she worked in the private sector for many years as executive assistant to CEOs, CFOs and Directors in the packing and paper industry. Yolanda holds a B.S. in Accounting from the Universidad de Carabobo in Valencia, Venezuela, and a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership and Human Resources from Brandman University.

Rafael Paredes Montesinos - Wildlands Manager

Rafael Paredes Montesinos - Wildlands Manager

Rafael Paredes Montesinos is the Wildlands Manager based in Ensenada, Baja California. He works on management and conservation strategies to protect coastal desert ecosystems, dunes, estuaries, sandy beaches, rocky points and the biodiversity of wild lands of the Baja California Peninsula, one of the largest preserved desert regions in the Pacific Ocean coast of North America. Before joining WILDCOAST he worked for 8 years for the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) in Chiapas and Baja California, coordinating biological monitoring programs in coastal wetlands and community training operations. He also worked alongside PRONATURA SUR as coordinator of mangrove restoration through hydrological rehabilitation actions, and training of community groups. Rafael has a degree in Biology from the University of Sciences and Arts of Chiapas and has just completed his master's degree in management of arid zone ecosystems from the Autonomous University of Baja California in Ensenada.

Paula Tussie Berdichevsky - Mexico Communications and Public Policy Manager

Paula Tussie Berdichevsky - Mexico Communications and Public Policy Manager

Paula is the Mexico Communications and Public Policy Manager at WILDCOAST. She is responsible for seeking direct contact with politicians and policy makers in Mexico City, to promote public policy in favor of mangroves and other blue-carbon ecosystems. She was born and lives in Mexico City. Paula holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science by the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM). Before working in WILDCOAST, she has worked on research and evaluation of social and educational programs and policies, both on the academic and private sector. She’s also been a volunteer in the Tierra Linda Reserve, in the Peruvian Amazon, where participated in a reforestation program; and at Enlace Rural, an organization that works hand in hand with rural communities in Mexico. As part of her work in Enlace Rural, she worked with the women of Saucillo, a community in the Hidalgo Mountain Range, teaching diverse courses to promote their empowerment within the community. Her biggest passion is the environment and nature, and she seeks to continue studying to devote her professional career to environmental policy.

Rosa Osuna - Administrative Manager, Mexico

Rosa Osuna - Administrative Manager, Mexico

Rosa Osuna is the Administrative Manager, Mexico at WILDCOAST where she oversees all of our finances, human resources and administration. Based in Ensenada, Baja California, Rosa joined the Mexico team in 2009 when WILDCOAST opened an office in Ensenada. Prior to joining WILDCOAST, she was an administrative assistant for transnational conservation projects at the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) in 2005, and Assistant Director of Financial Resources at the Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education in Ensenada (CICESE) in 2007. Roa holds a B.A. Business Administration from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California in Ensenada and a Specialization in Finance from Universidad Autónoma de Baja California in Tijuana.

Carlos Callado - Blue Carbon Conservation Coordinator

Carlos Callado - Blue Carbon Conservation Coordinator

Carlos Callado is the Blue Carbon Conservation Coordinator at WILDCOAST based in San Diego, CA. Carlos is the field coordinator for WILDCOAST’s U.S. Blue Carbon Program, where he oversees the research, restoration, and advocacy of blue carbon ecosystems in Southern California. He holds the title of visiting scholar at Scripps Institution of Oceanography where he collaborates with partner organizations and researchers to better understand the carbon storing power of blue carbon ecosystems. From 2018-2020 he was an intern on WILDCOAST’s conservation team. He also volunteered as a research assistant at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. B.A. Environmental Policy, UC-San Diego.

Gabriela García Vázquez - Oaxaca Coast Coordinator

Gabriela García Vázquez - Oaxaca Coast Coordinator

Gabriela García Vázquez is WIDCOAST’s Oaxaca Coast Coordinator, in Huatulco, Oaxaca. She promotes training and social awareness in relation to the protection of coral, sea turtle, and mangrove ecosystems among communities on the Oaxaca coast. Gabriela first joined WILDCOAST in 2020 as a fellow in the “Young Building the Future” program. During that year, Gabriela was trained in the Mangrove Conservation and Coral Conservation programs in La Paz, Baja California Sur (BCS). Before joining WILDCOAST, Gabriela was part of the “Sharks and Rays” project and was in charge of the logistics of field trips and sampling in artisanal fishing fields in different regions of BCS. Gabriela is a Biologist from the Faculty of Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and has a Master of Science in Marine Resource Management from the Interdisciplinary Center of Marine Sciences of the National Polytechnic Institute.

Omar Perez - Accounting Coordinator

Omar Perez - Accounting Coordinator

Omar is the Accounting Coordinator at WILDCOAST. He joined the WILDCOAST team in 2008. He’s a former business owner and has also worked in the government and corporate business sectors. He has a strong background in bookkeeping, accounting and other business fields. He assists with the managing and administration of the HR, Payroll, Benefits and organization Operations functions. He also handles and assists with the bookkeeping and accounting responsibilities.

Lillie Mulligan - Ocean Conservation Coordinator

Lillie Mulligan - Ocean Conservation Coordinator

Lillie is the Ocean Conservation Coordinator based out of San Diego, CA. Lillie works to support WILDCOAST's in-field conservation efforts including MPA compliance initiatives, MPA Watch, M2 RADAR, wetland restoration, and outreach. She received a B.S. in Environmental Systems with minors in Sociology and Climate Change Studies from UC-San Diego in the Spring of 2022. Lillie continues to follow her passion for surfing as she leads a women’s surf collective at UC-San Diego, Betty Boarders, which she helped cofound in 2020.

Sara Leal - Media and Public Relations Coordinator

Sara Leal - Media and Public Relations Coordinator

Media and Public Relations Coordinator Sara coordinates the logistics of our activities for timely dissemination in traditional and digital media in Mexico. Sara helps make graphic records of our activities to tell stories to the media and as evidence of the work being done for the recovery of solid waste in Tijuana. Sara also helps coordinate media tours and press conferences that help raise awareness in the community about waste management and recovery in Tijuana.

Mario Alberto Quiles - Accounting Coordinator - Mexico

Mario Alberto Quiles - Accounting Coordinator - Mexico

Mario Alberto Quiles, with over 30 years rooted in Ensenada B.C., boasts a technical professional career in Financial and Tax Accounting, complemented by a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. With a wealth of experience spanning more than 15 years in local companies, Mario held pivotal roles in accounting, administration, and management. Further expanding his expertise, he contributed significantly during his 7-year tenure in two banking institutions with both national and international reach. As the Accounting Coordinator at WILDCOAST, Mario is instrumental in steering the ship. He assumes responsibility for computing employee payroll and diligently oversees compliance with legal policies in the scrutinization of travel expenses, purchases, and overall expenditures. In essence, Mario meticulously ensures that every financial operation within the organization is accurately documented, enabling timely tax submissions and a streamlined financial landscape.

Andrea Musuy Méndez García - Mangrove Restoration Coordinator

Andrea Musuy Méndez García - Mangrove Restoration Coordinator

Andrea Musuy is a Mangrove Restoration Coordinator at WILDCOAST based in La Paz, Baja California Sur (BCS). Andrea helps promote trainings and workshops and engage communities in conserving and restoring mangrove forests in the Bay of La Paz, BCS. She also helps conduct research and collect data to drive future management of mangrove ecosystems. She works closely in collaboration with the Guardians de El Conchalito, a women’s collective in La Paz that protects and conserves its local mangrove habitat. Andrea has helped support studies on mangroves in El Conchalito and El Mogote and strengthened the knowledge of Guardians de El Conchalito. She has a Marine Biology degree and graduated from the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur.

Kelvin Saint García - Sea Turtle Conservation Coordinator

Kelvin Saint García - Sea Turtle Conservation Coordinator

Kelvin Saint García is a field technician for WILDCOAST’s sea turtle programs based in Oaxaca. In 2019, he was a fellow partner of the Federal Future Youth Building Program with WILDCOAST, in 2020 he became a field technician where his main activities consist of monitoring of olive ridley turtle arrivals at Morro Ayuta Beach, and collaborating with the staff of the Mexican Turtle Center to help protect more than a million olive ridley turtles that come to nest along the beaches of Oaxaca. Kelvin is a Biotechnologist engineer and graduated from University of Veracruz.

Devon Lukasiewicz - Marketing Coordinator

Devon Lukasiewicz - Marketing Coordinator

Based in Oceanside, CA, Devon serves as the Marketing Coordinator for WILDCOAST. She works to build the organization's brand and broaden its reach across the marketing landscape. She received her B.A. in Diplomacy and World Affairs from Occidental College and has dedicated her career to leveraging creativity to drive marketing strategy. Prior to joining the team at WILDCOAST, she worked with a variety of companies and orgs including TreePeople and the Chumash Science Through Time project at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts and Education Center. She's also done volunteer work with Exposure, a nonprofit dedicated to women, trans, and nonbinary skateboarding. When she isn't working, you can find her surfing, knitting, snowboarding, gardening, or fighting for her life in Jiu Jitsu class.

Joe Cooper - MPA Contractor

Joe Cooper - MPA Contractor

Based in San Diego County, Joe has spent his life both recreating and working along California’s coast. His knowledge of the local San Diego County waters, fishing, boats, and underwater remote operated vehicle (ROV) have contributed greatly to WILDCOAST’s successful management of San Diego County Marine Protected Areas. Joe's contributions to WILDCOAST projects include providing access to on-water boat based surveys that help support ongoing MPA enforcement and compliance projects and policy initiatives, underwater ROV operations for community outreach and Explore My MPA Project activities, and general consulting services for water-based activities and programs. Joe started as a volunteer for WILDCOAST in 2014 and has played a critical role in advancing the local management of MPAs as a member of the San Diego County MPA Collaborative. Prior to his work with WILDCOAST, Joe coordinated land tracking of mountain lions for a UC Berkeley funded study in San Diego County. When not working on his boat or ROVs, Joe enjoys fishing, surfing, and backcountry exploring.

Omar Meclish - Wildlands Community Ranger

Omar Meclish - Wildlands Community Ranger

Omar Meclish has been our community park ranger in the Valle de los Cirios coastal reserve since 2017. Omar helps monitor the area and register visitors, ensuring they are adhering to our sustainable visitation guidelines to help minimize their impact on sensitive coastal wildlife habitat. Originally from El Rosario, Baja California, Omar comes from a deep-rooted fishing tradition in the region.

Samantha Campbell - Ocean Conservation Senior Intern

Samantha Campbell - Ocean Conservation Senior Intern

Based in San Diego, Sam assists with WILDCOAST's research, education, and outreach efforts. Additionally, she creates content for social media and marketing. Prior to WILDCOAST, Sam worked and volunteered with Summit Land Conservancy in her hometown in Utah and created an award-winning short documentary. Sam is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science from UC San Diego and is working towards combining her focus on environmental issues with her love for film/photography.

Warren Bergman - California Oceans Intern

Warren Bergman - California Oceans Intern

Based in San Diego, Warren supports conservation projects as an intern with WILDCOAST's California Ocean Team. Warren is currently a student studying at UC San Diego with a major in Environmental Systems and a minor in Marine Science. In his spare time, Warren enjoys hiking, playing music, and going to the beach.

Kamila Perla - California Oceans Intern

Kamila Perla - California Oceans Intern

Based in San Diego, Kamila contributes to our organization as a WILDCOAST intern. Prior to WILDCOAST, Kamila served as the Associate Vice President of Environmental Justice Affairs at UCSD, directing their own team of students to bring environmental awareness to the Triton community through social events, projects, and panels. Kamila's passion for the environment alongside social justice drives their work for environmental justice and bringing awareness to ongoing environmental issues. They are majoring in Environmental Systems; Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution with a minor in Latin American Studies.

Katelyn Lucius - California Oceans Intern

Katelyn Lucius - California Oceans Intern

Based in San Diego, Katie contributes to WILDCOAST as an Ocean Conservation intern. Katie is a senior at UC San Diego majoring in Environmental Chemistry and Political Science. She has aspirations to go to law school and combine her interests in policy and conservation. She has a love for the outdoors and in her free time loves to visit her friend Katie (the penguin) at the Birch Aquarium.

Milena Marino - California Oceans Intern

Milena Marino - California Oceans Intern

Based in San Diego, Milena contributes to the organization's team of interns, assisting with organization events as well as working on a smaller project for her undergraduate senior project within the Environmental Systems program. Prior to WILDCOAST, Milena worked for the County of San Diego as an Emergency Readiness Ambassador and currently works for Lake Cuyamaca Recreation and Parks as a Tackle Shop Ranger. Milena is an avid lover of the outdoors and is currently finishing her undergraduate degree in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution with a minor in Anthropology - Climate Change & Human Solutions.

Board of Directors

David Price - Board Chair | President of the PriceSmart Foundation and Vice President of Environmental and Social Responsibility

David Price - Board Chair | President of the PriceSmart Foundation and Vice President of Environmental and Social Responsibility

David Price is the President of the PriceSmart Foundation and Vice President of Environmental and Social Responsibility (ESR) at PriceSmart Inc., the largest operator of retail warehouse clubs in Central America, the Caribbean, and Colombia. In his dual role at PriceSmart David leads the PriceSmart Foundation towards its vision of creating an environment of opportunity and access for communities in countries in the region where PriceSmart has its business. In addition, David leads the company's ESR team in advancing PriceSmart's strategy and goals towards a more sustainable future. Prior to his tenure at PriceSmart, David served as a Faculty Member for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and worked at Price Philanthropies Foundation as a Program Officer. David has a Masters of International Affairs from UC San Diego and a BS in Public Policy from The University of Southern California. David is passionate about exploring and protecting wild places and spends his free time surfing and adventuring in California and beyond.

Dominique Cano-Stocco - Vice Chair | Executive Director of External & Government Affairs, Verizon

Dominique Cano-Stocco - Vice Chair | Executive Director of External & Government Affairs, Verizon

Dominique Cano-Stocco serves as the Executive Director of External and Government Affairs for Verizon in Southern California. Dominique has served in a public affairs capacity for over twenty years in high profile organizations like The White House, U.S. Department of Transportation, Pepperdine University, UC San Diego and Oceana. She has advised individuals and organizations on how to pass conservation laws and has provided advocacy and lobbying expertise on a variety of marine conservation matters at the federal, state and local level. She has a bachelor's degree in political science from UC San Diego, and a master's in advanced studies degree in marine biodiversity and conservation from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Dominique is a proud Hawaiian and Californian who loves the beach, stand-up paddle boarding and is committed to conserving the world's oceans in her free time. She lives in San Diego with her husband, daughter and dog "Sunshine." Fun Fact: Dominique is a Shark Geek & has appeared on Discovery Channel's Shark Week.

Craig Gaunce - Treasurer | CPA, Gaunce & Associates, CPAs APC

Craig Gaunce - Treasurer | CPA, Gaunce & Associates, CPAs APC

Craig is a CPA with Gaunce & Associates, CPAs APC, a small Solana Beach accounting firm specializing in individual and small business tax compliance, tax planning, financial reporting, and attestation services. Craig grew up in Carlsbad and studied Accounting at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Craig began his professional career in Orange County as an Audit Manager with RSM US LLP and joined Gaunce and Associates in 2014. Craig and his wife, Megan appreciate all that San Diego has to offer and can be found hiking the local trails and surfing.

Josh Chatten-Brown - Secretary | Attorney, Chatten-Brown & Carstens

Josh Chatten-Brown - Secretary | Attorney, Chatten-Brown & Carstens

Josh Chatten-Brown is an attorney with Chatten-Brown & Carstens, an environmental and land use law firm with special expertise in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Endangered Species Act, water and air quality laws, and other California environmental laws. As an avid surfer, Josh has a long-standing interest in water quality and coastal issues. Josh has extensive experience traveling in Baja California and is a fluent Spanish speaker.

Emily Welborn Guevara - MS Environmental Science and Management

Emily Welborn Guevara - MS Environmental Science and Management

Emily is a San Diego native and has dedicated much of her education and career to conservation and climate policy throughout Southern California. Most recently, she managed the Environment Initiatives at The San Diego Foundation. She has a BA in Chemistry and Environmental Studies from Whitman College, and a Master's of Environmental Science and Management from UC Santa Barbara and was WILDCOAST’s first intern back in 2001. You can usually find her sharing her favorite outdoor spots around San Diego with her husband and two young children.

Doug Sheres - Doug Sheres - Founder, Beach Street Development and Desert Wave Ventures

Doug Sheres - Doug Sheres - Founder, Beach Street Development and Desert Wave Ventures

Active in finance, real estate, politics, and conservation for more than 25 years, Doug is a founding partner at Beach Street Development and Desert Wave Ventures. Prior to Beach Street, Doug was a Senior Partner at Rice Hall James & Associates and founder of Paramo Capital Partners. He has served as Director at Nature and Culture International and Firewire Surfboards, and he was the Mayor of Solana Beach from 2000-2004. A long-time surfer, fisherman, and explorer of Mexico’s coastlines, Doug resides in Del Mar, California, with his wife and three boys.

Heidi Dewar, Ph.D. - Fisheries Research Biologist, Southwest Fisheries Science Center

Heidi Dewar, Ph.D. - Fisheries Research Biologist, Southwest Fisheries Science Center

Heidi Dewar is a fisheries research biologist in the Life History Program at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center. She completed her Ph.D. at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1993 where she worked on the physiology of tropical tunas. She has since worked in a range of disciplines and species and has worked closely with fishers. Her overarching scientific interest is in how the interplay between physiology and the environment determine the movements and behaviors of fish. She currently works with a range of highly migratory species collecting biological data to support management, specializing in species like sharks, tunas, opah, and billfish. Her broader interests include reducing waste and adding value across the seafood supply chain and working with coastal and island communities towards sustainable marine resource management.

Dovi Kacev, Ph.D. - Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Dovi Kacev, Ph.D. - Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Dovi Kacev is an assistant teaching professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. He received his Ph.D. from the Joint Doctoral Program in Ecology at San Diego State University and UC Davis and received a BS in Biology and Economics from UCLA. His research interests are focused on better understanding the movements and ecology of pelagic fishes, particularly sharks. He grew up on the beaches of South Africa and San Diego, and loves anything that allows him to spend time in the water. His current work allows him to share his passion for the ocean with undergraduate students who are (hopefully) going to save the planet in the years to come. He started working with Wildcoast as an intern back in 2005 and has been impressed with their work ever since!

Laura Araujo Moreno - Director of Programs - World Design Capital

Laura Araujo Moreno - Director of Programs - World Design Capital

Born and raised in Tijuana, B.C., she is bilingual and bicultural. She is Binational Communications and Public Affairs Advisor with 35+ years experience in Project Management, Public Affairs and Community Engagement. Laura holds a BA in Graphic Design from the Universidad Iberoamericana NE – Tijuana (1982-1986, 1st Generation) and Associate in Arts/Graphic Design from Southwestern College - Chula Vista (1981-1983). Her work experience includes: Director of Binational Affairs for Tijuana Innovadora (2013-2022), Director of the Tijuana Innovadora Leadership Program (2011- 2014) and Director of the Volunteer Program during the Tijuana Innovadora events 2010, 2012 and 2014; Director of Client Relations at CAPTA (2009-2011) a business consulting firm in Tijuana, where she also co-created the volunteer recruitment and training program for Tijuana Innovadora in 2010, and the Tijuana Innovadora Leadership Program in 2011; Public Relations & San Diego Liaison for Business Conexion Magazine (2008-2009); Creative Director at Eikons Design and Communication formerly Alvarez, Hodoyan y Assoc. (1995-2001); and was a Faculty member of the Graphic Design Department at the Universidad Iberoamericana (1985-1994). She is a member of the WILDCOAST Board of Directors (2019- ); member of the South County EDC Board of Directors (2020- ); member of the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership Board of Advisors (2020- ); member of SANDAG’s Committee on Binational Regional Opportunities - COBRO (2016- ) and Staff Volunteer at San Diego Comic Con International since 2010. She has been an active promoter of Tijuana throughout her career.

Jill Gartman - San Dieguito Lagoon Committee

Jill Gartman - San Dieguito Lagoon Committee

Jill is a Texas transplant who moved to San Diego in 1998 for a job relocation as Director of Attorney Hiring at Fish & Richardson, an international intellectual property law firm. She is Vice Chair for the San Dieguito Lagoon Committee for the City of Del Mar, is a member of the Environmental Women’s Group Rachel’s Network, and serves on the Conservation Committee of the North County Coastal Group for the Sierra Club. Previously, she was the U.S. Director of Operations for a conservation non-profit, Nature & Culture International. She enjoys gardening, hiking, and exploring nature with her family.

Indra Gardiner Bowers - Co-Founder/CEO, 62Above Creative Digital Branding Agency

Indra Gardiner Bowers - Co-Founder/CEO, 62Above Creative Digital Branding Agency

For more than 25 years, Indra has led clients with strategic thinking and execution. Indra is a founding partner at 62ABOVE a creative shop focused on solving marketing problems with unexpected solutions that work. She has worked across many fields including tech, non-profit, and cannabis and brings a deep background in hospitality, having grown up in the business, receiving her degree in the field, and working for Marriott for more than five years. She is the firm’s sustainability champion and also sits on the board of Business for Good San Diego.

Mary Kay Faryan - Retired DOD Regional Environmental Counsel at Department of the Navy, Office of the General Counsel

Mary Kay Faryan - Retired DOD Regional Environmental Counsel at Department of the Navy, Office of the General Counsel

Mary Kay Faryan has an extensive environmental law and policy background, having worked as an advisor for the Department of Defense and the US Environmental Protection Agency for 33 years. She started her career in the Great Lakes Region with the USEPA in Chicago, and she later moved to San Francisco and then San Diego with the US Navy. Currently residing in Southern California, Mary Kay remains dedicated to water quality protection and natural resource conservation, enjoying coastal activities with her family of 5.

Advisory Council