OUR TEAM
Save Our Shores is comprised of a small team of passionate environmentalists who share a strong connection to our ocean and, in particular, our Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. We thrive on enjoying all that the Sanctuary has to offer and protecting it for generations to come. We are scientists, ecologists, educators, conservationists, and members of the Monterey Bay community.
Katherine O’Dea- Executive Director
As a nonprofit leader, conservationist, and sustainability expert, Katherine has tackled environmental challenges from coast to coast for the last 25 years. She has worked for environmental organizations including Business Social Responsibility, GreenBlue, and the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. Katherine is an expert on product and packaging sustainability and identifying pathways for abating plastic waste which comprises so much of the debris in our marine environments.
At Save Our Shores she focuses on the organization’s vision and strategy and influencing policy to ensure a healthy Monterey Bay now and for decades to come.
Favorite Marine Activities: Boogie boarding and kayaking
Email: katherine@saveourshores.org
Rod Caborn- Development Director
Rod comes to Save Our Shores as an esteemed local fundraiser and development consultant. Originally from Lowestoft, England, he has lived in the Santa Cruz Area for over thirty years. As a professional emcee and auctioneer, he is well-known for his public advocacy and community-building and has raised over $30 million for local and Bay Area non-profits and schools.
Rod focuses on uniting the local community around Save Our Shores’ mission and aspirations in order make financial resources available for the organization.
Favorite Marine Activities: Running along the coast, surfing, and swimming
Email: rod@saveourshores.org
Elva Sprattling- Finance and Operations Manager
Elva grew up in Guadalajara. Her first working experience was with the hardware and tools sector in administration and dealing with exports, Incoterms, and ISO standards at a global level. After college she lived in Europe for two years while earning her MBA and working for one of the BIG 4. She’s lived most of her adult life in the United States and has worked over the hill for the private sector and locally for the California Superior Court and Santa Cruz County.
Elva brings her 20+ years of managerial, operational, and financial accounting experience to Save Our Shores. She is in charge of operational and financial management in accordance with Federal, State, local business, and labor laws as well as grants and contracts to make the organizations’s conservation efforts a reality!
Favorite Marine Activity: Whale watching
Email: elva@saveourshores.org
Emily Pomeroy- Program Manager
Emily is originally from New York state and has called Santa Cruz home for the last two years. She is passionate about connecting others to the natural world and encouraging people to help protect our environment through education and interpretation.
At Save Our Shores, Emily teaches marine conservation at schools in the Monterey Bay region and leads beach cleanup events which helps students understand their role in protecting the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Favorite Marine Activities: Kayaking and photographing marine life
Email: emily@saveourshores.org
Nia Carrico-Diener- Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator
Nia is a California native who grew up in the Bay Area and now calls Santa Cruz home. Before joining the Save Our Shores staff, she was an active Sanctuary Steward and volunteer with the organization. She has a strong passion for helping the environment and a desire to educate the public on current environmental issues and volunteer opportunities through SOS.
Nia oversees Save Our Shores’ public and volunteer programs. She engages our trained volunteers and is always looking for enthusiastic members of our community to join help out!
Favorite Marine Activities: Swimming, sea glass hunting, tidepooling, and kayaking
Email: nia@saveourshores.org
Featured photo by Michael Langhans