Karin Hall

Executive Director

Karin is Executive Director of Heal the Bay and she joined Heal the Bay in 2002 as Associate Director. Karin brought 15 years of Fortune 500 business and strategic planning, marketing, public affairs and political/grassroots organizing experience to Heal the Bay. As Executive Director, she oversees all day-to-day operations of this $5 million organization with a staff of 50, 45 board members and the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. She also sits on the Board of Sustainable Works and Beads of Courage. Karin’s passions include a love of the water, be it sailing, scuba or her newest joy, paddleboarding. Send Karin an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x108.

Alix Hobbs

Associate Director

As Associate Director, Alix is in charge of Heal the Bay’s finances. Alix has years of experience in nonprofit management. Additionally she has led programs, advocacy campaigns and has experience in grassroots organizing. Alix started working at Heal the Bay in the summer of 1994, and became hooked on environmental advocacy work. 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 moved back to Southern California to become our Associate Director. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from California State University, Northridge. When not healing the Bay, Alix is an avid gardener growing natives, her own vegetables and her new favorite, succulents. Send Alix an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x127.

Sylvie Makara

Executive Assistant

Sylvie is Executive Assistant to both Executive Director Karin Hall and 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 works concurrently for the Heal the Bay’s Angler Outreach Program and as our Network Administrator. He was born in Lima, Peru, where he grew up and started his college studies. He moved to the U.S. about eight years ago to complete his bachelor’s degree in Information Systems. He’s always been 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 310.393.6149 x103.

Halima Dominguez

Angler Outreach Team

As part of our Angler Outreach Team, Halima educates anglers about locally-caught seafood and what is safe to eat. She was born and raised in Spain and after getting her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biology with an emphasis in Ecology from the University of Seville, Spain, she began a career in heritage interpretation. Before joining Heal the Bay, she trained environmental educators and interpreters, in several places in Southern Spain and the Canary Islands at Teno State Park. Halima, along with Angler Outreach teammate Diana Ramirez, designed our prototype Angler Outreach Tip Card, showing fish affected by DDT and PCBs in the Bay. In her free time, she can be found traveling or volunteering for local environmental causes. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Halima is out enjoying nature as often as she can. 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.

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.

Saira Gandhi

Volunteer and Internships Coordinator

Saira organizes our volunteers and interns, teaches our orientations and coordinates and attends a myriad of tablings at various events to spread the word about Heal the Bay’s projects. Saira graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles with a degree in International Development Studies. She first learned the ropes of organizing volunteers through her involvement in student activism. Saira led campaigns for student government, directed volunteers for the UCLA Jazz Reggae Festival and the Mighty Mic! Human Rights Awareness Concert. She was also the External Affairs Director for E3: Ecology, Economy, Equity, a student group dedicated to building a culture of sustainability on the UCLA campus. Send Saira an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x145.

Maria Larsen

Angler Outreach Team

After moving from Argentina to California in 2007, Maria joined Heal the Bay’s Angler Outreach Team in order to educate the fishing community in Los Angeles County.  Maria informs anglers about the risks involved with eating contaminated seafood.   She earned her bachelor’s degree in law in Argentina.  In her free time she can be found at farmers’ markets picking up good veggies and fruit, at home making chocolates and at the beach, playing with her little daughter. 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.

Amber Maron

Environmental Education Associate

As the Environmental Education Associate, Amber is involved in all aspects of Heal the Bay's education programs, primarily coordinating the Key to the Sea program for elementary school students and teachers. She began her Heal the Bay career at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, where she still enjoys teaching classes on a regular basis. Amber earned her Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the University of Washington, and her Master’s in Psychology, concentrating in Animal Behavior and Conservation, from Hunter College in New York City. Amber is also a certified yoga teacher, and spends time learning to stand-up paddleboard, growing vegetables and traveling to warmer waters as much as possible. Send Amber an e-mail or reach her at 310.451-1500 x252.

Edward Murphy

Secondary Education Coordinator

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.

Diana Ramirez

Angler Outreach Team

As part of our Angler Outreach Team, Diana works to educate anglers at several piers about contaminated fish. Her background in art and graphic design has helped her to create the prototype for the US Environmental Protection Agency and SGA tip cards explaining which fish are safe to eat, as well as to contribute an original work of art for auction at Heal the Bay’s Bring Back the Beach Gala. Originally from Colombia, she is now pursuing her passion for fashion design, incorporating environmentally friendly natural fibers into her design. 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.

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

Speakers Bureau 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

After receiving her bachelor’s from the University of California at Los Angeles in Philosophy, Eveline decided to join the Heal the Bay team. Her position with the organization focuses on educational beach cleanup programs that work to address marine debris issues in the Santa Monica and San Pedro Bays. As Beach Programs Manager, she is in charge of our Adopt a Beach, Nothin’ but Sand and Coastal Cleanup Day programs. Eveline says that it wasn’t until she became a student at a magnet high school with an outdoors club that she learned to appreciate the natural world. Through the club she learned to sail, kayak, hike, fish, raft, canoe and even ski. Heal the Bay and her work in Compton Creek then changed Eveline’s perception of where nature can be found. Send Eveline an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x148.

Frankie Orrala

Angler Outreach Coordinator

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.

Kirsten James

Water Quality Director

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

Coastal Resources Director

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.

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 development, once-through cooling in power plants, fisheries management, and coastal land-use planning. She also developed and manages Heal the Bay's MPA Watch citizen science monitoring program. Dana has worked in the environmental field for over 10 years - as a Peace Corps Volunteer working with communities managing an MPA, researching protected areas for the World Wildlife Fund, and surveying underwater species 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 Resources 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 backpacking on the Channel Islands. She looks forward to conserving our oceans for future generations, and more recently found inspiration for her work through her daughter, Coral. Send Dana an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x139.

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.

Susie Santilena

Environmental Engineer - Water Quality

Susie represents Heal the Bay at various stakeholder, technical advisory and regulatory scoping meetings. She is an engineer in training (E.I.T), with a background in environmental civil engineering. She received her bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly Pomona in the environmental option of Civil Engineering. She interned for two years in landfill planning and air quality sections of a public engineering firm. Susie has a master’s degree from Stanford University in Environmental Engineering. While at Stanford, she focused her studies on water and energy resource sustainability and helped develop an Integrated Disinfection Design Framework (IDDF). Susie hopes to use her position at Heal the Bay to further encourage sustainable urban water use and improve the coastal environment for human and marine life, and plans to obtain her Professional Engineering license and LEED accreditation in the process. In Susie’s free time you can find her participating in various forms of art, dance and music. Send Susie an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x189.

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.

Natalie Burdick

Marketing Director

Natalie is responsible for marketing at Heal the Bay where she now combines her technology interests with her environmental and advocacy passions to drive constituent acquisition and development activities that support education, community action and advocacy campaigns. Natalie comes to Heal the Bay after an executive career in technology product management and marketing for business-to-business CRM software. Before joining the senior team of an open source, Java development tools start-up in 2005, she volunteered as a member of our Speakers Bureau. Two years later, she left technology behind for the non-profit world. When not supporting fundraising and communications efforts, you can find her playing with her two dogs, photographing, gardening, traveling abroad or exploring Southern California's diverse art and food culture with her husband. Natalie graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles (go Bruins!). Send Natalie an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x126.

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 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 or reach her at 310.451.1500 x166.

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 Esplanade, 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 co-fronted a Los Angeles-based garage rock band for nearly 10 years. 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.

Katherine Nevels

Development Manager

Kate Nevels is Heal the Bay’s Development Manager. Kate brings seven years of development experience to Heal the Bay from diverse nationally recognized non-profits. She has a proven track record of successfully soliciting donors, sponsors, in-kind donations, foundation support and planned giving prospects. Kate manages Heal the Bay’s major donor campaign as well as corporate sponsors for the annual Bring Back the Beach gala event. A native of Los Angeles, Kate attended Marlborough School, where she helped coordinate beach clean-ups for Heal the Bay. After graduating from Indiana University, Kate moved back to Los Angeles where she began her career in non-profit development. When she isn’t fundraising, you will find her spending time with friends and family, traveling the world with her boyfriend Spencer, horseback riding, wakeboarding and cheering on the Lakers and the Dodgers. Send Katherine an e-mail or reach her at 310.451.1500 x159.

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.

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.