Our board consists entirely of volunteers. 100% of donations are put towards mitigation.
Jack Zittrer—CEO
I have been a sea creature my entire life. Fishing and diving all over the world has brought me a profound respect for our oceans and its inhabitants. I received my diver certification at age 14 and have never looked back. I have spent many years battling invasive plant species in California for the Department of Forestry. It was an easy decision to sell my business in pursuit of another invasive species and an opportunity to get back to the ocean, which has never stopped whispering in my ear.
Michele Zittrer—Vice President
I grew up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, swimming and fishing in lakes, rivers, and streams. I knew almost nothing about oceans and ocean life. When I was 18, I found myself having a strong passion for sea turtles, even though I had never come into contact with one. I started to teach myself about the life of oceangoing turtles. A few years later, I met my husband Jack who has a fierce love for the ocean. Learning the ecology of ocean life with him and taking many trips together over the last 25 years, I have found an intense love to be in and around the ocean. I am so excited to be involved with the preservation of our reefs and look forward to making a difference for our lives and our children’s lives as well as teaching future generations about how to take care of fragile reef ecosystems.
Lee Barger—CFO
I fell in love with the ocean off the coast of Maine during my first certification dives when I was a youngster. The abundance of lobsters and flounder on the ocean floor ignited my curiosity to explore the vast ocean. I have recorded dives in lakes, rivers, and oceans across the globe. As a teen, I recorded many dives in the Cayman Islands where I was treated to a spectacular abundance of life. As years passed, I noted the degradation of the reef and the life it supports due to higher water temps, overfishing, and lack of conservation. In 2017, my family and I made a trip back to Cayman to participate in a cull tournament. Cayman and its dive community are at the fore front of culling efforts in the Caribbean. This experience renewed my passion for further conservation of our Caribbean coral reefs through culling and consuming these tasty invaders.
Cheri Barger—Secretary
Growing up in and around the ocean, I instantly knew it would forever hold a special place in my heart. In 1996, I received my Open Water Dive Certification, which led to working with the San Francisco Aquarium in collaboration with the conservationists and marine biologists of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. In 1999, I received my Advanced Diver Certification in Dahab, Egypt. In 2000, I moved to Maui to pursue my Master Diver Certification and spend as much time under the surface as possible. In 2017, I received my PADI Lionfish Specialty Certification in the Cayman Islands. I am honored to sit on the board and support this nonprofit, whose mission is the education and conservation of some of the most important and beautiful reefs on this planet.