Alix Hobbs

Acting Executive Director

Heal the Bay's board of directors appointed Alix to the position of Acting Executive Director in September, giving her responsibility for overall leadership and day-to-day management of all facets of the organization. She has been the long-serving Associate Director, overseeing Heal the Bay’s finances, which includes financial management systems, human resources, administration, operations and information technology. Alix has eight years of experience in nonprofit management and continues to find ways to make our organization more efficient and effective. Over the course of her tenure, she has led educational programs, advocacy campaigns and has experience in grassroots and volunteer organizing. Alix started working at Heal the Bay in the summer of 1994. In 2001, she moved back to her home state of New York to work for an environmental and land trust organization dedicated to protecting the Hudson River Valley. In 2006, she returned to Southern California to become our Associate Director, providing strategic leadership to our Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, Science and Policy, Education, and Programs departments. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from California State University, Northridge. In her spare time, Alix enjoys gardening with native and drought tolerant plants and keeping after her chickens, rabbits, dogs and cat (all rescue animals). Send Alix an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x127.

Sylvie Makara

Executive Assistant

Sylvie is Executive Assistant to Associate Director Alix Hobbs. After relocating to Southern California from Ottawa, Ontario in 2005, Sylvie started out at Heal the Bay as an office volunteer but quickly found her niche as an educational programs volunteer and Key to the Sea Naturalist at Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. Sylvie spent most of her life playing, swimming, fishing and boating in and around northern lakes and rivers, but has grown to love the ocean. Sylvie brings with her close to 20 years of varied administrative experience along with an unabashed enthusiasm and love of nature, animals and the environment. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, skiing, hiking. She also ran the last L.A. Marathon. Send Sylvie an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x149.

Antonio Carrera

Network Administrator

Antonio Carrera started with Heal the Bay in its Angler Outreach Program before becoming the Network Administrator. He was born in Lima, Peru, where he grew up and started his college studies. He moved to the U.S. to complete his bachelor’s degree in Information Systems. He’s passionate about the environment and finds that working at Heal the Bay is a perfect balance between utilizing his formal education and contributing towards a better environment. In his free time, Antonio can be found wakeboarding at the Long Beach Marine Stadium or surfing the local break, which keeps him committed to the Heal the Bay cause. Send Antonio an e-mail.

Marc Amaral

Controller

Marc is responsible for handling the bookkeeping and accounting duties for Heal the Bay. Originally from Northern California, Marc moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a specialization in Business Administration. He went on to complete the Certificated Accounting Program at UCLA Extension and successfully pass the Uniform Certified Public Accounting (CPA) Examination. Prior to joining Heal the Bay in 2010, Marc spent 12 years in accounting and financial analysis at UCLA. Two fulfilling years of volunteering at Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium nurtured Marc’s passion for non-profit work and inspired him to pursue a career in the field. He is proud to have found a home with Heal the Bay and looks forward to contributing to its mission. Send Marc an e-mail or reach him at 310.451.1500 x135.

Gabriele Morgan

Receptionist

Gabriele Morgan washed up on the shores of Heal the Bay in the summer of 1996 and has been the face at the front desk and the famous voice on the phone and the voicemail system ever since. As our Receptionist for nearly 15 years, Gabriele is very familiar with all of Heal the Bay’s programs and thus capably gets people where they need to go within the organization. She handles membership questions and helps keep the office running smoothly so all the staff can hit balls out of the park on a regular basis. She additionally dispenses well-intentioned words of hard-won wisdom. When not manning her post as velvet rope/bouncer/concierge, she is most likely to be found in her recording studio. Send Gabriele an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x101.

Tara Treiber

Director of Education

Tara brings her love of the ocean and outdoor exploration, as well as her passion for science and education to her position of Education Director. She came to Heal the Bay in fall of 2005 as the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium’s education manager. Tara has also worked as a classroom teacher, and joined the environmental education world as a member of the start-up education staff of the Oklahoma Aquarium, where she helped to design, develop and implement a broad array of on-site and outreach programs and exhibit graphics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences with a concentration in Ecology from Simon’s Rock College of Bard, and has done master’s work in vertebrate zoology and marine biology at Oklahoma State University and Northeastern University’s East/West Marine Biology Program. When not hiking, paddleboarding or swimming, outside of work, Tara can be found making jewelry and other crafts. Send Tara an e-mail or reach her at 310-451-1500 x110.

Virginia Greb

Key to the Sea Coordinator

Virginia's first introduction to Heal the Bay was at a Nothin' But Sand Cleanup at the Venice Pier in 2011. With a great cleanup under her belt, she took her role as an environmental steward a step further by then volunteering at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium before completing the Aquarist Internship. Now, Virginia is the Key to the Sea Coordinator where she organizes and leads the Teacher Professional Development Workshops for informal and formal educators. These workshops are offered throughout the school year and concentrate on marine conservation, watersheds and local marine life, among other topics. She also coordinates field trips for LA County and inland district schools' K-5th grade classes to spend a day at one of Heal the Bay's four partnering aquaria. These classes learn about local marine animals and pollution solutions while experiencing the beach. A Gulf Coast native, Virginia received her bachelor’s degree in Photojournalism from the University of North Texas. Previously, she worked on a coconut farm and a coffee farm in Hawaii and at the Rainforest & Aquarium Pyramids of Moody Gardens on Galveston Island, Texas. Send Virginia an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x147.

Meredith McCarthy

Director of Programs

As Director of Programs, Meredith works to develop Heal the Bay’s prestigious programs including Coastal Cleanup Day, The Angler Outreach Program, Speakers Bureau, Adopt-a-Beach, and Key to the Sea. As part of Heal the Bay’s new Healthy Neighborhoods, Healthy Environment Initiative, Meredith works with organizations in the Compton Creek watershed to promote community health through environmental health. She sits on the South Bay steering committee for the IRWMP, which gives her an important opportunity to advocate for multi-benefit projects in disadvantaged communities. Meredith is a steering committee member of the Green L.A. Coalition and an active participant in the Urban Ecosystems workgroup. In her free time, Meredith works as a Master Scuba Diver Instructor which gives her the privilege of educating divers about the wonder and responsibility that comes with using a remarkable resource like the Santa Monica Bay and the adjoining waters. Send Meredith an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x116.

Melissa Aguayo

Educational Outreach Manager

As Speakers Bureau Manager, Melissa works with and speaks to different groups about the importance of our ocean and the impacts of marine debris. Melissa recently earned her bachelor’s in International Development from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Although she has always been interested in the environment, it was not until she arrived at UCLA that she was able to explore her activist side. On campus she became a part of multiple environmental organizations and also led a speaker series in which students were able to learn about and discuss current environmental issues. Her position allows her to pursue her passion for education, sustainability and positive change. If you would like to join the Speakers Bureau or are interested in requesting a free lecture please visit www.healthebay.org/speakers. Send Melissa an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x146.

James Alamillo

Urban Programs Manager

Urban Programs Manager James Alamillo came to Heal the Bay as an intern back in 1992. Over the years, James has worked on a number of water quality issues, participated in a myriad of outreach programs, and currently manages Heal the Bay’s Healthy Neighborhoods, Healthy Environment Initiative, and Angler Outreach Program. James now focuses on water quality issues in urbanized watersheds. He received his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Economics from the University of California Santa Cruz and his master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Send James an e-mail or reach him at 310.451.1500 x115.

Eveline Bravo

Beach Programs Manager; Coastal Cleanup Day Manager

Eveline discovered a true passion for the ocean environment through her work at Heal the Bay as the Beach Programs Manager. Her outdoor adventures have not ended since her initiation to cleanup efforts with us. She joined the team in 2007 and has worked tirelessly to educate and activate the general public and hundreds of thousands of volunteers to become watershed and coastal stewards to put an end to marine debris. As our cleanup guru, she has been instrumental in the development and upkeep of our online Marine Debris Database and works with teachers and other groups to effectively utilize the database as a creative learning tool. Eveline serves as an informal instructor in various other Heal the Bay trainings to inspire civic engagement and community leadership as part of our ongoing advocacy efforts throughout Los Angeles County.Eveline is also trained as an official Heal the Bay Speakers Bureau Member (our elite educational squad) to interactively show groups of all ages to be the solutions to ocean pollution. Entertaining and captivating an audience is not foreign to Eveline as she comes from the California Science Center where she also presented science education. Eveline attended UCLA where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. Send Eveline an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x148.

Stephen Mejia

Urban Programs Coordinator

As the Urban Programs Coordinator for Heal the Bay's Healthy Neighborhoods, Healthy Environment Initiative, Stephen is responsible for coordinating projects that address community health and environmental degradation simultaneously. He earned his bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies at the University of California at Santa Cruz in 2008, where he completed a study on the disproportionate incidence of acute-respiratory illness in low-income communities in Los Angeles. A South L.A. native and son to rural-immigrant parents, Stephen grew up understanding the importance that the built or natural environment can have on individual and community health. You can often find Stephen riding his bike looking for undiscovered paths in L.A. Send Stephen an e-mail or reach him at 310.451.1500 x151.

Edward Murphy

Watershed Education Manager

Edward is in charge of Heal the Bay’s high school curriculum, teaching “Creek 101” and managing the Creek Advocate program. Having been born and raised in Southern California, and earning his degree at the University of California Los Angeles, Edward has a deep passion for this community, and is excited to bring his background in environmental education and civic engagement to its aid. Edward loves the water, spending his free time either surfing the waves or diving its depths and enjoying all that it has to offer. Send Edward an e-mail or reach him at 310.451.1500 x153.

Nancy Shrodes

Volunteer Manager and Outreach Coordinator

As Volunteer Manager and Outreach Coordinator, Nancy is responsible for recruiting and training volunteers, overseeing interns and organizing advocacy events. Born and raised in Manhattan Beach, she has a vested interest in preserving our bay. Her growing passion for ocean conservation resulted in her Environmental Science degree at Tufts University with a focus in marine biology. As part of that program, she spent a summer as an aquarist and education intern at the Roundhouse Aquarium. After another oceans internship at the Conservation Law Foundation in Boston, she returned to Southern California to work as a director for the Fund for the Public Interest. There, she ran a grassroots campaign office whose collaborative efforts with HtB helped to pass historic legislation banning plastic bags in L.A. When she is not encouraging activism and community involvement to protect the ocean, Nancy can be found at the beach playing volleyball, body surfing or sailing. Send Nancy an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x145.

Kirsten James

Science and Policy Director, Water Quality

Kirsten’s work focuses on water quality issues associated with stormwater and wastewater discharges. She also spends significant time as part of Heal the Bay’s legislative team, focusing on marine debris. Kirsten received her bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and her master’s in Environmental Science and Management at the Bren School at the University of California at Santa Barbara. In her spare time, Kirsten enjoys playing beach volleyball. Send Kirsten an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x162.

Sarah Abramson Sikich

Science and Policy Director, Coastal Resources

Sarah is responsible for research, advocacy and legislative efforts related to coastal habitats and marine life, including marine protected areas, coastal power plants and marine debris. Sarah has a bachelor’s in Marine and Freshwater Biology from the University of New Hampshire and a master’s degree from the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Before joining Heal the Bay, Sarah worked at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis. Sarah was a member of the Marine Life Protection Act South Coast Regional Stakeholder Group, where she helped design a network of marine protected areas for southern California. She has also taught in the Global Sustainability Program at UCLA Extension. When she’s not fighting for the ocean, Sarah can be found hanging out at the beach, running or surfing along the Malibu coast. Send Sarah an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x163.

Kathryn Benz

Policy Analyst

As the Policy Analyst, Kathryn is responsible for helping to develop and coordinate Heal the Bay’s local and state legislative campaigns related to water quality, coastal habitats and marine debris. Kathryn hails most recently from Montana, and has several years of experience working for the federal government on water quality and coastal environmental issues in Washington, D.C. In her spare time she likes reading science fiction, watching baseball (go, Nationals!), baking pies, and is trying to learn how to surf. Send Kathryn an email or reach her at 310.451.1500 x 158.

Amanda Griesbach

Beach Water Quality Scientist

Amanda is responsible for programs that monitor water quality at local beaches and strengthen bacterial water quality standards to protect public health. Amanda hails from the land of the cheese and Packers football -- Wisconsin. She has a bachelor's degree in Biology from University of Minnesota and a master's in Microbiology from the University of Wisconsin. Before coming to Heal the Bay, Amanda worked in an industrial microbiology lab. In her free time, she enjoys the beach and yoga. Send Amanda an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x164.

Mike Grimmer

Beach Report Card Program Manager

Mike provides extensive database analysis and GIS work for both Heal the Bay’s Stream Team and Beach Report Card® (BRC) programs. Mike is responsible for disseminating the weekly BRC information. He is also the lead author on Heal the Bay's annual and end-of-summer BRC report. Mike has a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Pepperdine University. He first joined Heal the Bay as a Stream Team volunteer in 2000, where he participated in water testing and mapping areas of impaired habitat in the Malibu Creek watershed. Send Mike an e-mail or reach him at 310.451.1500 x111.

Dana Roeber Murray

Marine & Coastal Scientist

Dana works on marine and coastal resources projects, including Marine Protected Area (MPA) research and education, and advancing policy recommendations before agencies on issues such as coastal climate change adaptation, ocean wildlife conservation, industrial ocean intakes, fisheries management, and coastal land-use planning. She also developed and manages Heal the Bay's MPA Watch citizen science monitoring program. Dana's worked in the environmental field for over 10 years - as a Peace Corps Volunteer in communities managing an MPA, researching protected areas for the World Wildlife Fund, and surveying marine life as a diver for Reef Check. A Southern California native, Dana has a bachelor's degree from UCLA, and a master’s degree in Environmental Science and Coastal Marine Resource Management from UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School. Dana enjoys volunteering, traveling, and SCUBA diving around the world, and can be found locally sailing along the coast, diving in kelp forests, or playing on the beach with her daughter, Coral. Send Dana an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x139.

Frankie Orrala

Angler Outreach Program Manager

Frankie was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the Angler Outreach Program at Heal the Bay. As Outreach Coordinator, Frankie handles organization of fieldwork, distribution of resources, outreach and management of data collected. Frankie develops nontraditional partnerships within the Spanish-speaking community and provides direct outreach at various tabling events. You will also find him frequently giving bilingual television interviews about issues that Heal the Bay is working on. Before joining Heal the Bay, Frankie worked as a Fishing Observer for the Ecuadorian National Fishing Institute in the Galapagos Islands. His work involved being onboard a Japanese-Ecuadorian fleet to determine quantity of fish caught and fish weight. He filmed underwater to measure effects of fishing on populations of sea cucumbers and lobsters. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Guayaquil in Marine Biology. Send Frankie an e-mail or reach him at 310.451.1500 x156.

Katherine Pease

Watershed Scientist

Katherine is responsible for water quality and biological health assessment efforts in the Malibu Creek Watershed. She leads volunteer monitoring efforts, represents Heal the Bay in watershed stakeholder groups, and assists in policy recommendations. Katherine has a background in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a bachelor's degree from Barnard College and a Ph.D. from UCLA. For her dissertation, Katherine studied the impacts of invasive crayfish on native frog tadpoles in the Santa Monica Mountains and became passionate about local watershed issues. Prior to joining Heal the Bay, she assisted on a crayfish removal project in Malibu Creek and taught at UCLA and in 7th grade LAUSD classrooms. In addition to exploring streams, Katherine also enjoys hiking and camping. Send Katherine an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x 141.

Serena Lomonico

Angler Outreach Team

Serena works as part of our Angler Outreach Team to educate the public about contaminated fish. Serena is finishing her B.S. at UCLA studying Environmental Science with minors in Conservation Biology and Spanish. Her hometown of Dana Point is mainly responsible for her love and appreciation of the ocean. She has worked with the Dana Point Ocean Institute and Laguna Beach Ocean Foundation as a Tidepool Educator. One of her recent favorite trips was spending five weeks in Mo’orea, French Polynesia on the UCLA Marine Biology Quarter, developing and executing original research projects about tropical fish and ecology. She strives to unite her passions for speaking Spanish, educating people about the environment, and spreading knowledge about the ocean. If you are interested in becoming a part of our Angler Outreach Team, contact Frankie Orrala at 310.451.1500 x156 or send Frankie an e-mail.

Vanessa Alcantar

Angler Outreach Team

Vanessa was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Pico-Union. She received her bachelor's at UCLA in Geography/Environmental Studies with a minor in geospatial information systems and technologies (GIST). In high school she volunteered for Heal the Bay beach cleanups, and several years later she's proud to be part of the Angler Outreach Program. Vanessa is currently attending Cal Poly-Pomona for graduate school. She will be earning her masters in Agriculture Science-Plant Science.  She will focus her graduate research in wetland restoration. In her spare time she loves to spend the day at the beach, travel, cook, hike, participate in habitat restoration efforts or play/watch basketball. If you are interested in becoming a part of our Angler Outreach Team, contact Frankie Orrala at 310.451.1500 x156 or send Frankie an e-mail.

Matthew King

Communications Director

Matthew is responsible for communicating Heal the Bay’s mission and activities to the general public. He oversees our branding, public messaging, pro-bono advertising and PR relationships and media relations, among other duties. He grew up on the beaches of Santa Monica, where his father served as an L.A. County lifeguard for more than 30 years. Before joining Heal the Bay, he served as a vice president of The Hollywood Reporter and as an editor at the Los Angeles Times. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with an English degree and later earned his master’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California. He says there are obvious overlaps between the worlds of publishing and non-profit environmental work – a sense of mission, communicating effectively and developing new audiences. An avid surfer, Matthew sneaks out to El Porto and Bay Street as often as he can. Send Matthew an e-mail or reach him at 310.451.1500 x137.

Ana Luisa Ahern

Interactive Campaigns Manager

Ana Luisa manages Heal the Bay’s social media efforts and online outreach activities. She also documents events and programs using video and photography. Ana Luisa is from Washington, DC and spent part of her childhood in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. She holds a BA in art history and photography from Barnard College in New York City and also studied at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, The Netherlands, and Center for Development Studies in Trivandrum, India. In 2004, Ana Luisa returned to Honduras to co-found a youth leadership organization called the Organization for Youth Empowerment (OYE). Most recently, she worked in a marine protected area off the north coast of Honduras training Garifuna youth in eco-tourism practices and conducting research dives and data collection with park marine biologists. She is an avid scuba diver, marine life enthusiast (especially blennies), and loves hiking with her partner and their Honduran island dog, Chimi Chewy. Send Ana Luisa an e-mail, follow her on Twitter @HealTheBay or reach her at 310.451.1500 x167.

Anne Bergman

Communications Manager

Anne Bergman helps manage media relations and content creation for Heal the Bay. She is a recovering entertainment journalist, having worked as an editor for both The Hollywood Reporter and Variety, and as a reporter for the Los Angeles Times Calendar section. She eventually segued into the nonprofit world, joining the California Community Foundation and later USC, as a publications and communications specialist. She holds a B.A. from UC Santa Barbara in Film Studies and an M.A. from USC's School of Journalism. As a mom, she religiously consults Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card before allowing her two children to enter the ocean. She also donates her time as a social media coordinator to a local family-oriented nonprofit that encourages volunteerism. Send Anne an e-mail, follow her on Twitter @anniegb, or reach her at 310.451.1500 x166.

Bobby Feingold

Digital Content Manager

Bobby is responsible for Heal the Bay's digital content and online presence. An Atlanta native, Bobby got his bachelor's degree in journalism from Northeastern University in Boston, then interned at Interview Magazine in New York before studying abroad in Paris. Ou la la! He returned to Atlanta in 2009 to work as the Associate Digital Editor of his hometown's longtime alt-weekly newspaper, Creative Loafing, where he packaged digital content, managed social media and blogged about news and culture. Having lived along the East Coast all his life, Bobby got bitten by the West Coast bug and relocated to L.A. in 2012. He now likes to explore the city's sprawl, hike the Santa Monica Mountains and hang by Venice Beach. Send Bobby an e-mail, follow him on Twitter @senorbobby or reach him at 310.451.1500 x165.

Danielle Portnoy

Advancement Director

As Advancement Director, Danielle works to ensure our incredible programs at Heal the Bay are funded and that the organization will remain strong and sustainable for years to come. She oversees our diverse income strategy including grants and foundations, major donor stewardship, third party events, corporate giving, membership management, and the Bring Back the Beach annual gala. Prior to Heal the Bay, Danielle managed fundraising at the American Cancer Society as a Regional Director for Relay For Life. She holds a bachelor's degree in TV Production and Politics & Law. Raised on the East Coast and imported to L.A. 10 years ago, Danielle has become an active triathlete and loves an early morning ocean swim! She has two rescue dogs, and you may often find her with an extra foster pup in tow. Send Danielle an email or reach her at 310.451.1500 x126.

Nina Borin

Development Manager, Corporate Relations and Special Events

Nina sets her sights on securing support from businesses through our Corporate Healer Beach Program, Benefit Promotions and Events, and annual gala, Bring Back the Beach. On her way to Heal the Bay, Nina worked in entertainment and nonprofits raising awareness and funds through media, community outreach and special events for the Women's Media Center, Los Angeles Music Center, B'nai B'rith, Thespian Society and even the Department of Homeland Security. She also served on the board of directors for the California Wildlife Center. Growing up on the beaches of the Santa Monica Bay, when a pelican or dolphin sighting was rare, it is with gratitude and a personal sense of duty to continue protecting our coast that Nina joins Heal the Bay. Her philosophy about fundraising: When it's important, and you're passionate about a cause, it's easy to ask the community for support. So if you enjoy the ocean, you're likely to hear from Nina! Send Nina an email or reach her at 310.451.1500 x124.

Spencer Campbell

Development Manager, Major Gifts

Spencer manages relationships with Heal the Bay's Major Donors. Prior to joining Heal the Bay, he spent six years in the development department for the Natural Resources Defense Council where he handled a variety of fundraising responsibilities. Previously, he worked for environmental education programs within the Orange County Department of Education and at the Hawaii Nature Center on the beautiful island of Maui. Spencer earned his bachelor's degree from UC Santa Barbara in Environmental Studies. His passion lies in outdoor exploration. In his spare time you can find him surfing, hiking, or planning the next great adventure. Also, keep an ear out for him strumming the guitar, plucking the banjo or experimenting on his ukelele. Send Spencer an email or reach him at 310.451.1500 x123.

Hallie Jones

Development Associate

Hallie works in the Development Department as our Membership Manager. Born and raised in Laguna Beach, Hallie still lives in the OC with her two children, a rescue dog, a crazy cat and a red-eared slider. After getting a degree in English from the University of California at Los Angeles. she began a career in advertising. Hallie first encountered Heal the Bay when she worked as a pro-bono account executive on a Heal the Bay advertising campaign in 2000. In 2001 she left advertising and came to Heal the Bay as a Public Affairs Manager. In 2003 she became Heal the Bay’s Communications Director, and stepped down from this position when her first child was born in 2005. She spends her free time on the beach, camping, gardening, and reading, when she’s not wiping noses and making peanut butter sandwiches. Send Hallie an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x112.

Sheila McSherry

Foundation Grants Manager

Sheila has been securing foundation and corporate grant support for Heal the Bay’s programs since 2005. Sheila is a South Bay native and spent her youth hanging out at Torrance Beach, roller skating along the Strand, and taking in endless summer rock festivals. While a journalism student at University of California at Santa Cruz, she developed an interest in environmental and social justice issues. Before joining Heal the Bay, she worked in public health, publishing and the music industry. Sheila is also a musician and recording artist and currently sings for a Los Angeles-based garage rock band. Send Sheila an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x160.

Lee Myers

Data Manager

Lee manages Heal the Bay’s membership data. He grew up in the waves and mountains of Santa Monica where he developed a strong love for the natural beauty and health of the area. After earning a master’s degree from the University of California at Los Angeles and teaching for a time, Lee was drawn to the science-based activism of Heal the Bay. In his 16 years with the agency, Lee has seen dramatic improvements in our Bay and growth in Heal the Bay’s data management needs. As a father of three boys, Lee is driven by his belief that Heal the Bay's work rejuvenates and fosters a thriving natural ecosystem for a well-educated and passionate next generation. Send Lee an e-mail or reach him at 310.451.1500 x161.

Heather Doyle

Aquarium Director

As Aquarium Director, Heather is in charge of Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium’s operations and fundraising. Heather has several years experience in senior nonprofit management through Junior Achievement and the Girl Scouts both in the USA and Europe. Additionally she holds a BA in Biology from Rhode Island College and is just finishing her Masters in General Biology through Mississippi State University’s Distance Learning program. Heather’s passion for science education comes from a long line of science educators in her family. Her father was a Biology professor for over 37 years and her grandfather a high school science teacher. When not advocating for the Aquarium, Heather loves art, snowboarding and hiking. Send Heather an e-mail or reach her at 310.393.6149 x107.

Tara Crow

Programs Manager

Tara brings her love of local marine life to overseeing our outreach to the public, from public visiting hours to the Aquarium’s Micro Biologist classes for young children. Tara started volunteering at the Aquarium in 1999 while working on her bachelor's in Biology from the University of Southern California. The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium’s location makes it easy for Tara to enjoy spending time outdoors and take in all that Southern California has to offer. Send Tara an e-mail or reach her at 310.393.6149 x102.

Nick Fash

Education Specialist

Nick teaches elementary through college level students at our Aquarium. He conducts teacher professional development workshops and develops curriculum. Nick earned his bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management from Cornell University with a focus in Fisheries Biology and Management. Prior to moving to Southern California and joining Heal the Bay’s staff, he conducted Salmonid research on the great lakes and Alaska. Nick is an ardent diver and underwater photographer and his images have frequented the pages of Heal the Bay publications and website, research papers and other mediums. They can be viewed at http://nickfash.com. In his spare time, Nick enjoys cooking delicious sustainable seafood dishes. Send Nick an e-mail or reach him at 310.393.6149 x108.

Amanda Jones

Education Specialist

As part of the teaching team at the Aquarium, Amanda educates students of all ages. She earned her bachelor's degree in both Biology and Secondary Education and went on to obtain her tenure while teaching Biology to grades 9-12 in Kansas. While a classroom teacher, she developed, implemented and evaluated science curriculum for the school district. Amanda also taught English as a Second Language (ESL) in Kobe and Tokyo, Japan. Before joining Heal the Bay, Amanda was President of a non-profit organization at a military base in northern California. In her free time, she enjoys arts and crafts, walking, learning Japanese and studying anything arachnids. Ask her to show you her pet tarantulas, Fancy and Chewy. Send Amanda an e-mail or reach her at 310.393.6149 x106.

Wyatt Miller

Public Educator

Wyatt co-develops and teaches youth environmental education programs. He also supports our theme weekends, aquarium displays and other presentations, including supporting public visitor hours and birthday parties by leading story time and arts and crafts projects. He earned his master’s degree in Marine Science at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology. Before joining the Aquarium, Wyatt taught marine science to grade school children. He has worked a number of other diverse jobs as well, including molecular research technician and professional clown. He is grateful to be able to work in a field he loves, promoting ocean appreciation, protection and awareness. Send Wyatt an e-mail or reach him at 310.393.6149 x113.

Randi Parent

Outreach Manager

Randi, a former newspaper reporter from Boston, coordinates with educators, event planners and others who wish to prepare a program or use the facilities at our marine science center. Randi also acts as liaison with various city agencies. Additionally, she puts her writing skills to work by contributing pieces to Heal the Bay’s online and print newsletters and assists with publicity for the Aquarium. Send Randi an e-mail or reach her at 310.393.6149 x105.

Jenna Segal

Volunteer Coordinator

Jenna recruits, trains, schedules and manages all of the Aquarium's volunteers. Jenna is originally from Massachusetts, and earned her B.S. in Biology from Northeastern University. She began her career at Heal the Bay as an Aquarium volunteer herself, in October 2010 and as an MPA Watch steward. During her free time, you can always find Jenna outside biking on the beach or simply enjoying the California sunshine. Ask her about octopus intelligence for some interesting stories and facts. Send Jenna an e-mail or reach her at 310.393.6149 x114.

Jose Bacallao

Operations Manager

Jose and his team are responsible for the collections, care and maintenance of the exhibits, life support systems and the living organisms at the Aquarium. A South Bay native, he is proud to have grown up along the shores. Jose has worked as a Marine Science Educator and as an Aquarist since 1995. He began his young adult career in the aircraft maintenance industry and quickly realized that his heart belonged to the sea. A South Bay resident, when not in the water, Jose can be found snowboarding, playing music, playing dominos and watching the Lakers win NBA championships. Send Jose an e-mail or reach him at 310.393.6149 x111.

Hear Jose talk about his favorite animal

Jackie Cannata

Aquarist

While studying Marine Biology at UCLA, Jackie found her second home interning with the aquarist team at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. After graduating, she worked as an outdoor educator teaching at different sites around California and traveling abroad during the off-seasons. Now as an Aquarist, she helps take care of the amazing animals and exhibits in hopes that people will be inspired by what the ocean has to offer. In her spare time, Jackie loves to SCUBA dive, take photographs, play soccer, and hang out with her friends and family. Send Jackie an e-mail or reach her at 310.393.6149 x104.