Paul Morris has served on numerous institutional technology and strategic/business boards and councils. He achieved Master of Science degrees at both University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and George Washington University in Washington DC, in Computer Science and Project Management, respectively. He completed his BS in Biological Sciences at the University of California at Irvine.  Paul recently moved to Santa Cruz to join the Bay Federal Credit Union as Chief Information Officer. 

Sally lives in Santa Cruz and works as a Human Resources management consultant for organizations around the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast. Her expertise is in executive coaching, employee relations, infrastructure setup, compensation and recognition program development, change management and executive team facilitation in public and privately held companies as well as non-profit organizations. She has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University and has held senior management roles in Engineering, Information Technology and Human Resources. In addition to her consulting activities, she is currently the VP of Human Resources for CoWare, Inc., a San Jose based software company with five major sites around the world. She is a running, surfing, golfing and skiing enthusiast. Since her children are now teenagers and their schools are less in need of volunteer time, she was looking for a new way to give back to the local community. When she met Laura and Jen, and learned about SOS, she found their passion for the organization infectious. The mission of SOS is consistent with her beliefs and supports her desire to live and play on our beautiful coast.

David lives in Santa Cruz and currently works in Employee Relations for a public agency responsible for land-use, congestion management and public transportation services within Santa Clara County. He brings to SOS an extensive background in marketing communications, community outreach and oversight of public educational programs serving diverse communities. In addition to his professional responsibilities, he has been active in supporting community services within our region serving on the Santa Cruz City Public Works Commissioner, City Green Energy Subcommittee, and housing workshops. He is currently a Santa Cruz City Transportation Commissioner. He has a degree in political science from San Jose State University and a MBA with a concentration in International Marketing and Marketing Management from Santa Clara University. David is an attorney with a J.D. from Santa Clara University. David and his wife Monica have two daughters and enjoy bike riding and spending time at the beach.

Dr. Wallace “J.” Nichols spent his youth exploring oceans and forests, resulting in a fascination for genetics, animal migration, human culture and conservation.  These are the areas he studied during his undergraduate years at DePauw University, graduate studies at Duke University and University of Arizona, academic research as a Fulbright Fellow, and as a research associate at the California Academy of Sciences.  
In 1998 he founded Grupo Tortuguero, an international grassroots movement dedicated to restoring Pacific sea turtles and to sustainable management of ocean fisheries.  In 1999 he co-founded and for five years directed WiLDCOAST, an international conservation team dedicated to the protection of coastal wilderness.  Currently, J. works with several universities and organizations to advance ocean protection, and is also spearheading the Ocean Revolution, a program that inspires, involves and mentors the next generation of ocean conservation leaders.

Sylvia is currently the  principal of Ann Soldo Elementary School in Watsonville. She attended schools in Watsonville and had the opportunity to teach, as a bilingual teacher,  in the kindergarten room she attended as a child.  Sylvia is an alumnus of Stanford University, UCSC and San Jose State University. She has served as the Director of Federal and State Programs and as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Establishing cultural proficiency to ensure equitable access for all students is an area of deep interest to Sylvia and she has written articles on this topic for educational journals. Sylvia currently serves as the chairperson on the City of Watsonville Personnel Commission. Sylvia and her husband have two daughters and two granddaughters who love to walk along the Elkhorn Slough.