Americas Ocean Watch Planning Team
Mark Schrader
PRINCIPAL FOUNDER- CAPTAIN, AMERICAS OCEAN WATCH
A renowned solo sailor, Mark has twice single-handedly circumnavigated the world and was the first American to single-handedly circumnavigate the world via the five Southern Capes in 1982-83. He finished the BOC Challenge in 1987, and became its Race Director in 1990-91. Mark was co-founder of the 2009-10 Around the Americas and Captain of its S/V Ocean Watch for its 13-month expedition. He currently lives in Washington state and is an avid marine conservationist and wildlife advocate.
Dawn Curtis Hanley
PRINCIPAL- MANAGING DIRECTOR
Dawn served as Project Director for the original Around the Americas Expedition, putting to work her more than 20 years’ experience in successful brand management, sponsorship activation, marketing and communications experience, with specific expertise in project management. She has worked in the fields of tourism, hospitality and media and has produced numerous award-winning events and marketing campaigns. Dawn was also Director of Marine Operations for Sail Boston 1992, the largest maritime/tourism event in the history of New England, attracting 225 vessels and 7+ million visitors.
Jennifer Bender, Ph.D.
OCEAN & MARINE SCIENCE EXPERT
As a Boston based environmental scientist, Dr. Jennifer Bender passionately seeks to bridge gaps between scientists, policy makers, and the public for marine and coastal zone issues. She currently serves as the Director of the Sustainable Marine Aquaculture Program at UMass Boston and the Executive Director of the Marine Studies Consortium. Dr. Bender also consults with a variety of organizations including: NOAA, the UN Ocean Decade program, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the National Science Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Stellwagon Bank National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and SeaAhead, a bluetech startup platform.
Rob Lippincott
MEDIA, TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION EXPERT
Rob is passionate about using 21st century technology to transform the process of learning to inspire curiosity, cultivate creativity, build resilience and sharpen critical thinking. Rob has held positions such as SVP Education Strategy and Partnerships for PBS, SVP for Pearson Education, GM of the Family Education Network and SVP, Product Development for Discovery Education. He has also served in leadership positions in schools and businesses where he has built and applied media and communications technology to education. He is a pioneer in multimedia and internet design for K-12 audiences.
Doug Levin, PhD., Chief Onboard Scientist
Doug is the Chief Innovation Officer at the Center for Environment and Society at Washington College in Chestertown, MD, creating hands-on programs that connect students and teachers with their watershed. Doug’s career includes oil seep detection in Cartagena, advising on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, seafloor analysis to optimize global locations for oil rigs, pipelines, and transoceanic communication cables and searching for Cortez treasure in Veracruz and submerged beaches present before Noah's (biblical) deluge in the Black Sea.
Michael Sutton, Ocean Conservation Leader
Michael Sutton is an internationally respected ocean conservation leader with extensive experience in public policy, environmental advocacy, global campaigns and nonprofit governance. Mike currently serves as Executive Director of the Goldman Environmental Foundation. He was also a member of the California Fish & Game Commission, where he helped create the nation’s largest network of marine protected areas. Mike founded the Center for the Future of the Oceans and helped establish ocean conservation programs at The David and Lucile Packard Foundation and The World Wildlife Fund.
Sue Pasieka, Global Strategic Alliances
Sue has over 20 years experience building strategic partnerships for leading consumer brand, technology and digital media companies. She is passionate about helping companies activate their Corporate Social Responsibility missions and has held a variety of leadership positions at companies including MITX, the Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange, Ziff Davis and TechTarget working with leading companies including Dell EMC, Accenture, SAP, TJX, Dunkin Brands and CVS Health.
Additional Advisors:
Dr. Peter Auster, Undersea Research Scientist and Technology Specialist
Giovanni Carosso, Ph.D., Research Scientist
Jennifer Dalton, Strategic Partnership Development
Mike LaRhette, Strategic Partnership Development
Henry P. Huntington, Ph.D., Scientist, Conservationist and Arctic Expert
Julie Morse, Conservation Scientist and Ornithologist
Les Valsquier, Communication and Systems Coordinator
Paul Reynolds, CEO of FableVision and Storyteller
Molly Salatich, Brand Strategist
Corinne Durocher, Marketing and Events
Stuart Farrell, R/V Ocean Watch Operations