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
The Executive Director of WILDCOAST, Serge has guided the innovative and successful conservation efforts of our international team since 2000, when he co-founded WILDCOAST with Dr. Wallace “J.” Nichols. Based in San Diego, Serge’s conservation achievements include: helping to stop efforts to build large-scale tourist resorts and marinas in national parks and protected areas throughout Northwest Mexico; launching a wildly successful “Don’t eat sea turtle” campaign referred to by author Randy Olsen as “the best ocean campaign in human history”; helping to develop millions of acres of coastal and marine protected areas in California and Mexico including the largest private coastal wilderness reserve in the Californias; developing a campaign with rock superstars Linkin Park around natural climate solutions; starting our pioneering conservation program in Oaxaca; and pushing WILDCOAST to break new conservation ground by addressing climate change through large scale blue carbon mangrove and salt marsh conservation and restoration projects. Serge’s conservation and environmental work have been reported on by Newsweek, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, NBC News, Animal Planet, San Diego Union Tribune, Washington Post, BBC, National Public Radio, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, San Francisco Chronicle, Televisa National News, TV-Azteca National News, CBS News, 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. Serge was named a UC San Diego John Muir Fellow in 2013 and was honored as a Peter Benchley “Hero of the Sea” in 2016. Before co-founding WILDCOAST, Serge was the founding Director of The Nature Conservancy’s Baja California - Sea of Cortez Program where he initiated successful efforts to protect Loreto Bay National Park, Espiritu Santo Island Reserve and Cabo Pulmo National Park. While earning his doctorate in geography, Serge and his wife Emily Young carried out research for the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission on conservation and development in the gray whale lagoons of Baja California Sur. They also discovered plans by the Mitsubishi Corporation to build a 500,000-acre industrial salt facility on the shore of Laguna San Ignacio and then helped to defeat the project. Serge also worked as an environmental planner in San Diego, evaluating the impact of large-scale development projects such as airport expansion, binational transportation infrastructure, military base construction, state highways and residential development. Serge grew up in Imperial Beach, California, and spent his childhood and college years successfully helping to preserve the Tijuana Estuary and South San Diego Bay as National Wildlife Refuges. Serge is an avid surfer, swimmer and former State of California and City of Imperial Beach Ocean Lifeguard. He was elected Mayor of Imperial Beach, California, in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. The author of Saving the Gray Whale, Wild Sea; and Surfing the Border, Serge has published articles on conservation and environmental issues in the Journal of Borderlands Studies, Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, Sacramento Bee, California Coast & Ocean, Surfer’s Journal, Surfer’s Path, and Drift, and was the coastal columnist for Southern California AOL Patch news sites. 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.
Zachary Plopper - Associate Director
Zachary Plopper - Associate Director
Zach Plopper is WILDCOAST's Associate Director and oversees WILDCOAST's international conservation programs and operations. Based in San Diego, he joined the team in 2008 as the organization's Wildlands Conservation Program Manager, helping to conserve hundreds of miles of wilderness coastline on the Baja California Peninsula. Working with local landowners, Mexico’s National Commission for Protected Areas, and international funders, this effort included the creation of the Valle de los Cirios Pacific Coast protected area, one of the largest private protectorates of coastal land in North America. In 2012, Zach became WILDCOAST's Coastal and Marine Director and helped develop the management framework for California's marine protected area network. He worked with state legislatures, tribes, and fishing communities to pass two state bills, AB 298 and AB 2369, that strengthen enforcement across the state’s MPAs. In 2015, his role expanded as the team's Conservation Director to support the growth and management of WILDCOAST's conservation work in the U.S. and Mexico. Zach has consulted with NOAA and USAID to support coastal and marine spatial planning in the Philippines and Ecuador, was co-chair of the San Diego County MPA Collaborative from 2012 to 2019, and serves as one of five global members of World Surfing Reserve’s Executive Committee. In 2014, Zach led efforts to establish the Bahia de Todos Santos World Surfing Reserve in Ensenada, Mexico, the world’s 6th WSR. He was also a board member of the United Athletes of the Pacific Ocean, a non-profit dedicated to promoting cross cultural surfing experiences among youth. Prior to working with WILDCOAST, Zach worked as an ocean lifeguard, teacher, and a professional surfer. Zach was the 2003 National Scholastic Surfing Association's collegiate state champion and surfed at the professional level on the World Surf League's World Qualifying Series. He has written for a variety of news, surf, travel, and lifestyle publications including the San Diego Union-Tribune, Transworld, Slide, and The Surfer's Path. Zach holds a B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning from UC San Diego, and an M.A. in Urban Planning from UCLA.
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 WILDCOAST conservation partnerships with iconic wrestler “El Hijo del Santo” and Mexican rock superstars Maná emphasize the urgency to stop the consumption of sea turtles. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Angela Kemsley - Conservation and Communications Manager
Angela Kemsley - Conservation and Communications Manager
Angela Kemsley is the Conservation and Communication Manager of WILDCOAST. Based in San Diego, Angela manages the California statewide MPA Watch community science program, a network of over 15 organizations collecting human use data in and around marine protected areas, as well as supporting WILDCOAST’s communications and development campaigns. 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.
Cory Pukini - California Conservation Manager
Cory Pukini - California Conservation Manager
Cory Pukini is the California Conservation Manager of WILDCOAST where he oversees wetland and riparian restoration projects at San Dieguito and Batiquitos Lagoons and leads marine protected area (MPA) enforcement and compliance initiatives including the innovative M2 RADAR project. Based in San Diego, he joined WILDCOAST’s conservation team in 2016 as the Conservation Coordinator focused on advancing and institutionalizing San Diego County MPAs. In 2019, his role at WILDCOAST expanded to include management of California’s network of MPAs and U.S. based blue carbon initiatives. Prior to joining WILDCOAST he worked for the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii as part of the Hono O Na Pali predator control team. Cory has also held positions at California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State University, Chico, Turtle Bay Exploration Park, and the Utah Department of Natural Resources. He currently serves as co-chair of the San Diego County MPA Collaborative. Cory holds a B.S. in Environmental Science with an option in Applied Ecology and an M.S. in Biological Science, both from California State University, Chico.
Tannia Frausto Illescas - Climate Change Manager
Tannia Frausto Illescas - Climate Change Manager
Tannia Cristina Frausto Illescas is the Climate Change Manager 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.
Francisco Martínez Vázquez - Wildlands Conservation Manager
Francisco Martínez Vázquez - Wildlands Conservation Manager
Francisco Martínez Vázquez is the Wildlands Conservation Manager. 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 - Corals Conservation Manager
Rebeca Melendez - Corals Conservation Manager
Rebeca Meléndez Rosas is the Corals 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.
Celeste Ortega - Mangroves Conservation Manager
Celeste Ortega - Mangroves Conservation Manager
Celeste Ortega Trasviña is the Mangroves 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.
Luis Rojas Cruz - Oaxaca Manager
Luis Rojas Cruz - Oaxaca Manager
Luis Angel Rojas Cruz is the Oaxaca´s Conservation Manager. Based in Huatulco, Oaxaca. Hge 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.
Lisa Gilfillan - Ocean Conservation & Education Coordinator
Lisa Gilfillan - Ocean Conservation & Education Coordinator
Lisa Gilfillan is the WILDCOAST Ocean Conservation and Education Coordinator. Based in San Diego, she joined the team in 2020 and is working to conserve Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in San Diego County through youth engagement, public outreach, monitoring, and stewardship. Lisa is developing materials for the statewide MPA Collaboratives in California, expanding on and developing new community partnerships, and creating new youth conservation opportunities. 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.
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.
Efrain Olachea - Conservation Policy Manager (Mexico)
Efrain Olachea - Conservation Policy Manager (Mexico)
Armando Efraín Olachea is the Manager of Public Policy in Mexico at WILDCOAST. Based in Ensenada, Baja California, his conservation policy work at WILDCOAST has included strengthening environmental governance of wetlands in Mexico through the creation of the Wetlands Committee of Baja California. He helped to secure federal protection in Mexico for two species of endangered corals. Efrain joined WILDCOAST in 2008 as coordinator of the Wildlands Program where he helped to protect tens of thousands of acres of pristine Baja California coastal wilderness in one of Mexico’s largest private conservation areas. In 2013, he became the coordinator of operations and legal strategies. Before joining WILDCOAST, Efrain was a legal advisor for tourism development in Baja California Sur. Efrain holds a B.A. in Law from the Tecnologico de Baja California; has a specialization in Project Management from CETYS University; and a M.S. in Environmental Law and Public Policy from the Universidad del Medio Ambiente in Mexico.
Zayra Peña - Wildlands Technical Assistant
Zayra Peña - Wildlands Technical Assistant
Zayra Peña, Wildlands Technical Assistant. Based in Ensenada, Zayra supports our Wildlands conservation program and is involved in our mangrove restoration project in Laguna San Ignacio project as well as community outreach in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve. Prior to joining our program, she worked as Conservation Specialist for Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas, A.C. (GECI) coordinating logistics and analyzing data from field trips to Guadalupe Island and later she worked as a Project Coordinator for the Forest Management Program of Baja California in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the University of Baja California (UABC). Zayra holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from the Autonomous University of Baja California in Ensenada.
Yolanda Garces Nicholson - Executive Assistant
Yolanda Garces Nicholson - Executive Assistant
Yolanda Garces Nicholson is the Executive Assistant at WILDCOAST. Based in San Diego, she manages our Executive Director’s busy calendar, appointments and travel arrangements, and is the main liaison with the board of directors. She takes on many administrative duties in the office, keeping everything running smoothly in addition to supporting fundraising events, communications, activities and meetings.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 she is currently pursuing a master’s in Organizational Leadership and Human Resources from Brandman University in San Diego.
Rosario Norzagaray - Border Coordinator
Rosario Norzagaray - Border Coordinator
Rosario Norzagaray is the Border Coordinator at WILDCOAST and is based in Tijuana, Baja California. She joined the WILDCOAST team in 2020 and is coordinating efforts to reduce the tsunami of ocean-bound solid waste that impacts more than 100,000 acres of federal, state and local coastal, island and marine protected areas on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Rosario has more than 20 years experience working in urban solid waste management, and developing self-sustaining community projects. She has also worked in public administration, the private sector, municipal public services and environmental impact consulting. Rosario holds a B.S. in Nursing from the Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, a B.S. in Psychology from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, and an M.S. in Environmental Management from the Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Tijuana.
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.
Yehuda Ben-Hamo - Social Media Outreach & Marketing Coordinator
Yehuda Ben-Hamo - Social Media Outreach & Marketing Coordinator
Based in San Diego, Yehuda contributes to our organization's branding, marketing + outreach, and assists in fundraising. Prior to WILDCOAST, Yehuda worked with Nomadik Co. as a Product Manager & Sustainability Coordinator and coached competitive surfing at the high school and collegiate level. Yehuda is very active on behalf of environmental + humanitarian issues and organizations and holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from California State University San Marcos.
Jonathan Tarín - Accounting Coordinator, Mexico
Jonathan Tarín - Accounting Coordinator, Mexico
Jonathan Tarín Diaz is WILDCOAST´s accountant in Mexico. Based in Ensenada, Baja California, he oversees financial reporting for our conservation projects in Mexico. Prior to joining WILDCOAST in 2014, Jonathan was an accounting consultant for Global Alliance Consultants. Before that he was an intern for the Internal Revenue Service of Mexico (Servicio de Administración Tributaria). He holds a B.A. in Accounting from the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California in Ensenada.
