The Team

The Malama Kai Foundation is managed by a Board of Directors who contribute their time to the organization. The Board works with diverse partners to achieve the organization's marine education and conservation goals.

 
 

THE BOARD

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Carolyn Stewart, President

Carolyn is President of Malama Kai Foundation and has provided foundational leadership and inspiration since its inception. She is also the Vice President and a principal consultant for Marine and Coastal Solutions International, Inc., a small consulting firm specializing in planning, management and policy analysis for marine and coastal resources.

 

Teri Leicher, Vice-President

Ms. Leicher is an owner of Jack’s Diving Locker, an ocean recreation company in Kailua-Kona. She has been active in coastal and reef protection issues in West Hawaiʻi and throughout Hawaiʻi for over 20 years, and played a key role in the development of the Hawaiʻi Day-Use Mooring Program and in the installation and maintenance of day-use moorings along the coast of West Hawaiʻi.

 
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Victoria Martocci, secretary

Victoria is a trainer, educator, and Operations Manager at Extended Horizons Scuba on Maui, where she has been an active part of Maui's conservation community since 1998. She is also the project manager for Maui's Day-Use Mooring Program, where you might see her captaining the mooring repair boat, or even hopping in the water to change out tackle on one of the moorings!

 
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Riley Coon, board member

Captain Riley E. Coon, is a 3rd generation member of the sailing Coon Family, founders of Trilogy Excursions established in 1973. In Riley’s current role as both a Captain and Director of Operations, he likes to involve Captains and Crew in learning about and helping out with the Day Use mooring buoy program. Many of the mooring lines used around Maui have been spliced by Trilogy crew! Being Born and Raised on Maui and working in the ocean activity industry from a young age has given him a deep appreciation for Maui’s ocean resource. Riley is Married to Jenny Coon, and has a 1-year old daughter, Kaia. Riley has also served on the Board of Directors for the Lahaina Restoration Foundation since 2014.

 
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Christopher Hawkins, board member

Christopher Hawkins has spent more than two decades in the coastal management field. He has broad experience in the principles of coastal marine ecology and artisanal fisheries and expertise in conservation planning and monitoring, human dimensions research, and program evaluation. His approach to resource conservation is rooted in a social values model and he has worked for local and federal government agencies, universities, and non-profit organizations. Chris has a bachelor’s degree in Marine Environmental Management and Safety from Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He earned his Master’s degree in Tropical Coastal Management from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom and a Ph.D. in Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

 
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Matthew Bogdanovich, board member

Matt grew up loving winter sports in the north country of New York State. He got his scuba certification when he was thirteen through school and that stuck with him for years. He moved to Hawaii after graduating from the University of Puget Sound in 2008 with a BA in Studio Art with his girlfriend at the time (now his wife). They have worked at Jack’s Diving Locker since 2009 and Matt has pursued all aspects of the business. He is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, PADI Freediver Instructor, USCG Captain, and Charter Operations Manager.

He has served as Treasurer of the Hawaiian Islands Scuba Association (HIRSA) since 2014. He has been involved with the Day Use Mooring program on the Big Island by installing and maintaining moorings for most of his professional scuba career.

 

Doug Harper, Board Member

In Doug’s 20+ years of professional life, he has worked for organizations as diverse as federal and territorial governments, to small non-profits. His experience covers a host of topics related to community and resource resilience, from incorporating fishermen and hunters in conservation, to preparing communities for coastal hazards, and natural resource restoration. Throughout his career, his focus has been on achieving desired outcomes through strong collaboration and mutual respect and understanding. He is currently the Executive Director for Mālama Maunalua. Doug has a BA in Environmental Studies, a Master’s in Environmental Planning, and a J.D., all from the University of Kansas.

 

THE STAFF

Brad Stubbs, Executive Director

Brad Stubbs has 12+ years of experience working with federal, state, and community partners across the Pacific doing marine conservation management, project planning, philanthropy, and fieldwork. He holds a Masters in Business Administration and a B.S. in Oceanography from Hawaii Pacific University. Brad has experience in coastal restoration, scientific diving, coral reef conservation, fisheries management, and grant management.

 

Alyssa Garvin, Administrative Coordinator

Alyssa Garvin has 2+ years of experience working with federal, state, and community partners across the Pacific. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Rochester. Alyssa has experience in social media management, fisheries management, project coordination, and grant management.

 

Victoria Martocci, DMB Project coordinator

Victoria is a trainer, educator, and project coordinator for our Day-Use Mooring Program, where you might see her captaining the mooring repair boat, or even hopping in the water to change out tackle on one of the moorings!

 

Kater hiney, REEF TALKS COORDINATOR

Kater Hiney holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Animal Sciences from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Science from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Previously Kater worked as the Hawaii Day-Use Mooring Buoy Coordinator for Malama Kai Foundation. Kater has been sharing her biological knowledge with students and the public for over 20 years. She is very familiar with a wide array of scientific subjects with her expertise being marine science, seabird biology, and ocean conservation. Currently, Kater is working as an education specialist assisting Malama Kai Foundation facilitating monthly Reef Talks, and working to educate future generations and the public through community grants.

 

ilene Grossman, Ridge to Reef COORDINATOR

Ilene Grossman is the Ridge to Reef Watershed/Ahupua'a Education Program Coordinator. She has been working in the field of Environmental Education for over 30 years with a Master’s Degree in Environmental Education. She has worked with people of all ages exploring the natural world together in various parts of the world.