Staff Directory

Tracy Quinn

Tracy Quinn serves as President and CEO of Heal the Bay, leading the dynamic team of scientists, policy experts, outreach specialists, and educators in pursuit of its clean water mission. Tracy has dedicated her career to improving water quality in our rivers and ocean and ensuring safe, reliable, and affordable water for all Californians. Tracy started her career as an engineer, designing water infrastructure in Southern California and working with municipal and industrial clients to improve water quality. Most recently, Tracy served as the Director of California Urban Water Policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council where she led efforts to pass and implement climate adaption legislation and improve climate resilience and water affordability throughout California. Tracy received her Bachelors of Science and Masters of Engineering in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Cornell University and is a licensed civil engineer in California.

Email tquinn@healthebay.org

Marslaidh Ryan

Marslaidh (pronounced like parsley) studied Environmental Science at the University of Oregon, Aquarium Science at Saddleback College, and Fisheries and Wildlife Science at Oregon State University. With nearly 20 years of experience in aquarium operations, she has developed expertise in marine science education and exhibit design.

Now in her role as Chief Operations Officer (COO) her primary focus is on the development of staff, emphasizing the growth of leadership qualities, such as communication, empathy, and collaboration. Marslaidh is dedicated to fostering an environment where staff are empowered and supported in their professional development. She is committed to building a positive organizational culture that enhances both team dynamics and operational success at Heal the Bay.

She also finds it rewarding to bring her kids to the Heal the Bay Aquarium at the Santa Monica Pier, where she can share her passion for marine life with them and our guests alike. Marslaidh is deeply motivated by the potential to inspire the next generation, as she believes that engaging young people is essential for building a future of environmental stewardship. This connection to both her family and the mission of Heal the Bay drives her dedication to conservation and education.

Email mryan@healthebay.org

Gabriele Morgan

Gabriele has been the face, voice, and administrative angel of Heal the Bay for nearly 20 years. She can answer any question about the organization and the Bay with ease and keeps the office running smoothly. When not manning her post as velvet rope/bouncer/concierge, she can probably be found in her recording studio.

Email gmorgan@healthebay.org

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Alvin Lam

Alvin graduated from UCLA, but more importantly, unlike Frank Drebin, he doesn’t love swimming in raw sewage. It’s this aversion that led him to Heal the Bay where he helps the team attract lovers of clean water (yes, that was a reference to the 90’s classic, Naked Gun 2 ½).

Email alam@healthebay.org

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Fandi Ma

Fandi Ma holds the role of Associate Data Specialist, focusing on projects related to data integration automation and Salesforce at Heal the Bay. She possesses a strong passion for enhancing data processing efficiency within the organization, driven by her desire to directly contribute to environmental sustainability and the journey towards a more sustainable future. Fandi completed her master’s degree in Analytics from the University of Southern California in December 2022, further equipping her with the skills and knowledge to excel in her role and make a positive impact on Heal the Bay’s mission

Email fma@healthebay.org

Eric Barber

Eric Barber is a Santa Monica native and former Heal the Bay intern. Eric’s passion for the environment led him to UC, San Diego where he received a bachelors degree in Environmental Systems. He then attended the University of Washington where he completed a Masters in Civil Engineering, with a focus in sustainable transportation. As an Associate Data Specialist he focuses on Salesforce management and data integration.

Email ebarber@healthebay.org

Andrea Weaver

Andrea is a mother, advocate, 2nd generation birth worker (Doula), and proudly hails from Oakland, California. Her experience is informed by over a decade of impact, and human-centric work as a consultant, facilitator, and strategist within diversity equity and inclusion tech and nonprofit spaces. As a forever learner and practicing yogi who values family, she enjoys spending her free time exploring the city and spending time in amazing community spaces.

Email aweaver@healthebay.org

Meredith McCarthy

Celebrating 20 years at Heal the Bay!

Meredith operates in the connective tissues of where science and policy meet community. As an avid scuba diver, she has seen firsthand what putting too much in, taking too much out, and ignoring the edge of the ocean has done to our coastal systems. She remains committed to Heal the Bay’s mission of protecting the health of this precious resource and the 11 million people who benefit from it.

Email mmccarthy@healthebay.org

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Sheila McSherry

Sheila provides guidance on Heal the Bay’s overall fundraising strategy, including leveraging corporate partnerships and stewarding the organization’s foundation relationships. Before joining Heal the Bay in 2005, she raised money for a public health non-profit in Los Angeles. She is a South Bay native, graduated from U.C. Santa Cruz, and is also a musician. Her favorite beach destination is somewhere along Costa Rica.

Email smcsherry@healthebay.org

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John Seiber

John Seiber brings more than 25 years of non-profit experience to his role as VP, Development.  He began his career at Caring for Babies with AIDS and since has raised nearly $150,000,000 for causes including the environment, children with critical illnesses, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, international children’s well-being, muscular dystrophy, homelessness, and food insecurity.  Heal the Bay is coming home for John who started as a beach cleanup volunteer and led the Development team from 2007 to 2011.

Email jseiber@healthebay.org

Jess Espinoza

Jess Espinoza (she/her/hers) is Heal the Bay’s new Associate Director of Special Events. With almost a decade of environmental nonprofit fundraising experience, she joins us from NRDC where she served as their Assistant Director of Events for 7 years. Jess has worked and volunteered at various local enviro groups including; Sierra Club, Nature for All, SEED Consulting and more. When she is not working, Jess enjoys hiking with her dog, finding cool new restaurants/experiences around the city and struggling to make her patio vegetable garden grow.

Email jespinoza@healthebay.org

Alex Babcock

Alex is a fundraising professional with experience crafting effective strategies that drive sustained revenue growth and donor loyalty. With roots deeply entwined in a love for nature, you’ll likely find Alex knee-deep in the earth in her free time, caring for her garden or playing with her beloved rescue animals. With a lifelong fascination for marine life, and a penchant for whale watching, Alex is fueled by the calming force of the ocean and driven to protect our coastal systems. Alex channels this passion into forging and nurturing corporate partnerships, ensuring synergy between business objectives and Heal the Bay’s clean water mission and other priorities.

Email ababcock@healthebay.org

Garen Pekacheky

Garen serves as the Senior Development Specialist in the Development Department where he is responsible for sustaining the Heal the Bay membership program and assuring that all donors questions and concerns are addressed. Garen was born in Iran and immigrated to the United States early on. Having the opportunity to live in various countries helped Garen understand how the environment, including water quality and availability, can affect public health. This was the leading reason he decided to attend CSULA and get his B.S in Public Health. That, however, was not enough for Garen, who previously worked for LGBTQ advocacy groups, HIV/AIDS organizations and nonprofits which assist with refugee relocation. As a result, Garen attended graduate school in Rome, Italy to study Economic Governance and Policy and gained more in-depth knowledge of environmental science and the importance of maintaining the environment. When he is not working, Garen is traveling around the world.

Email gpekacheky@healthebay.org

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Antonio Esquivel

Antonio was born in Los Angeles and grew up along the California coastline. From a young age, he enjoyed visiting beaches and aquariums where he would explore his passion for marine life and the ocean. He enjoys working with people and sharing this passion with others. Drawing from a background in psychology, he works to connect people with Heal the Bay. As the Senior Development Coordinator, Antonio collaborates with corporate partners and supporters to further the organization’s mission, engaging people in exploring marine pollution through the Suits on the Sand program. In his free time, he enjoys surfing, diving, hiking, and eating ramen.

Email aesquivel@healthebay.org

Laura Rink

Laura Rink, is the Associate Director of Operations for the Heal the Bay Aquarium. In this role, Laura oversees the maintenance of aquarium exhibits, animal care and drives forward sustainability and conservation initiatives related to our local ocean ecosystems. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in Aquatic Biology, Laura has spent the last 15 years working in the aquarium industry at facilities housing diverse collections of aquatic life.  Her previous positions include Curator at the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney, Senior Aquarist at The California Science Center, and Aquarist for the Calvert Marine Museum along the Chesapeake Bay. 

Email lrink@healthebay.org

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Matthew Wiggins

Matthew Wiggins is a recent graduate of Loyola Marymount University and acquired his B.S. in Biology from the Seaver College of Science and Engineering. He worked as an aquarist in the Featherston biology laboratories at LMU and has a specific interest in the care and rehabilitation of all organisms. Matt likes to care for his pet reptiles and do archery. He loves working for Heal the Bay and can’t wait to continue honing his animal husbandry skills.

Email mwiggins@healthebay.org

Kelly Kelly

Kelly is responsible for managing the Education Department programs, where we teach bright-eyed students, campers, and teachers about the local coastal ecology, marine animals, and human impacts and solutions. After graduating from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Human Biology, in 2010, she completed shark research internships in both Florida and Hawaii, but found she loved environmental education, where she can learn, teach, inspire, and work in conservation all at the same time. She has been with Heal the Bay Aquarium for almost 10 years now, where she first started as an intern and naturalist in 2014. She’s also interned at Aquarium of the Pacific, worked at the LA Zoo and the Science Learning Center at CSU Long Beach while working on her master’s in Informal Science Education. When not working, Kelly loves seeing live music, doing DIY home projects, and being a new mom. 

Email kkelly@healthebay.org

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Robert Ramos

Robert Ramos is an aspiring marine biologist from Philadelphia. He discovered his passion for marine science while attending college at Wesleyan University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in both Biology and Environmental Science. Once graduated, Robert found his way out to California by participating in an AmeriCorps internship on Catalina Island building nature trails. Eventually, Robert was welcomed into the Heal the Bay family as the Education and Outreach Coordinator, and then as the Education Manager where he works to educate and inspire young people to become stewards of their environment.

Email rramos@healthebay.org

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Jenna Segal

Jenna earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Northeastern University, and coordinates with educators, event planners and others who wish to use the facilities. She also acts as liaison with various city agencies and Santa Monica Pier neighbors, and oversees the facility’s public hours and retail operations. Originally from Massachusetts, Jenna moved out west to enjoy the sunshine and study marine science. She started her career at Heal the Bay as an Aquarium and MPA Watch volunteer, and officially joined the staff in 2012.

Email jsegal@healthebay.org

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Micah Castrillo

Micah Castrillo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Ecology. Growing up around aquariums, Micah developed a passion for the ocean and marine biology from a young age. She has interned with environmental organizations like NOAA, SAMO, and NPS. Most recently, she worked with CA State Parks, where her primary focus was connecting kids to the outdoors. Micah is dedicated to bringing people closer to nature and fostering a future generation of land stewards. On her off days, she can be found scuba diving off the coast of Catalina, finding a new hiking spot on AllTrails, or making pottery in her cozy corner.

Email mcastrillo@healthebay.org

Cat Baklarz

Cat loves our ocean for its wildlife, wonder, and its importance for the global climate. Through volunteer work with the Los Angeles Maritime Institute, Friends of the Ballona Wetlands, and Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, she has learned that the Los Angeles coastline offers endless opportunities for exploration and many unique challenges for conservation. Cat earned her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from USC and works to help connect visitors at the Santa Monica Aquarium with their environment. She loves kayaking, art, and storytelling.

Email Cbaklarz@healthebay.org

Crystal Sandoval

Crystal is a graduate student in Environmental Education and Communication at Royal Roads University, and is working on her thesis involving embodied learning and developing sense of place and ecological identity while practicing Lua, a Hawaiian martial art. She graduated from UCLA in 2015 with a degree in Linguistics and Anthropology with a minor in Conservation Biology, and spent the next three years on the JET program, teaching English at a high school in Ishikawa, Japan. Crystal has grown up in Los Angeles and hopes to inspire passion in others for marine conservation and to help build healthy relationships with our coastal neighbors. Crystal also uses they/them pronouns, and when they are not practicing martial arts or talking about sea cucumbers, they may be leading games of Dungeons and Dragons.

Email csandoval@healthebay.org

Shihab Chowdhury

Shihab, who prefers to go by “Sun”, is a lifelong learner. He discovered his passion for science as a student at Santa Monica College. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in environmental science (with a focus on plant physiology) from the University of California Santa Cruz, his aspiration for knowledge has grown through volunteering and working in education. Sun’s hobbies include cultivating bonsai trees, writing poetry, slacklining and hopes to inspire a new generation of nature lovers through his work at Heal the Bay Aquarium.

Email schowdhury@healthebay.org

Annie Lopez

Annie graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 2017 with a bachelor’s in Environmental Science. She’s passionate about connecting with others and creating equitable educational opportunities for people to learn more about the environment and how they can become environmental stewards. In her free time, she enjoys going on hikes, watching sunsets at the beach, and spending time with her family.

Email alopez@healthebay.org

Jimmy Chapman

Jimmy specializes in marine mammal training, aquatic systems maintenance, and husbandry of birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Jimmy has a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from California State University, Long Beach, and an Associate of Arts in General Sciences and an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts, with honors, from Santa Monica College.  As Public Programs Coordinator at Heal the Bay Aquarium, Jimmy supports birthday party rentals, special events, public education, and animal care teams. He is a former zookeeper at the Santa Ana Zoo, overseeing animals and exhibits, including Bactrian and Dromedary camels, ocelots, and the Colors of the Amazon Aviary exhibit. From 2004-2020, Chapman held a range of husbandry and education positions, most recently at the Aquarium of the Pacific as Mammalogist III. In this position, he oversaw the Southern Sea otter exhibit and worked with California sea lions, harbor seals, lorikeets, penguins, alcids, shorebirds, and amphibians. Jimmy has been a member of SAG AFTRA One Union since 2000, and volunteers with the Little Lion Foundation’s Long Beach Little Paws Project. He loves gardening, everything Hawaii, and everything Janet Jackson.

Email jchapman@healthebay.org

Destiny Moreno

Destiny graduated from California State University of Long Beach with a B.S. in Marine Biology. She recently returned from a four month stay on Catalina Island where she rigorously studied fish and photosynthesis in brown algae. She has a love for all marine life, and gets very excited about everything marine invertebrate and algae. She is passionate about spreading marine knowledge to kids who do not have the resources readily available to them. In her free time, she spends a lot of time snorkeling, reading, watching movies, and volunteering as an assistant basketball coach at a local middle school.

Email dmoreno@healthebay.org

Emma Butcher

Email ebutcher@healthebay.org

Jillian Marshall

Jillian grew up in Northern Virginia and graduated from James Madison University with a B.A. in English. She has received a Princeton Prize for Race Relations and is passionate about communicating the importance of both environmental conservation and social justice as the co-chair of Heal the Bay’s Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion Commitee. Jillian is a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation (Long Island, NY) and is always looking forward to the next in-person Pow Wow. When she is not enjoying beach yoga or attempting to surf, you can find her reading anything by Octavia Butler or hiking the road less traveled.

Jillian Marshall’s role includes managing Heal the Bay creative communications including graphic design, social media, brand management, event marketing, website administration and message placement.  Jillian brings a portfolio of ad agency, brand marketing, and graphic design to coordinate and organize Heal the Bay’s public facing programs and events.  Jillian also serves as a press liaison.

Email at JMarshall@healthebay.org 

Journalists, please email communications@healthebay.org

Email jmarshall@healthebay.org

Cameron Weeks

Cameron is the Digital & Public Relations Communications Senior Coordinator at Heal the Bay. Cameron supports Heal the Bay’s creative marketing and public relations outreach. She has a background in art and music marketing with an extensive knowledge of creative nonprofit development and digital communications strategy. She is an LA native with a life-long passion for environmental, animal, and human rights advocacy. Cameron holds a BS in Music Technology from The University of the Arts and an MA in Aesthetics & Politics from California Institute of the Arts.

Email cweeks@healthebay.org

Nancy Shrodes

Nancy leads our watershed team and serves as the Watershed Coordinator for the South Santa Monica Bay through LA County’s Safe Clean Water Program. Through her role in this program, she works alongside communities, agencies, cities, and various organizations to achieve better water quality outcomes with stormwater capture projects that have multiple benefits. Protecting public health and the environment go hand in hand, and she’s passionate about working towards sustainable solutions that will make LA more climate resilient. Working at Heal the Bay since 2012, she continues to educate local community members, protect our watersheds, and connect our technical work with our outreach programming. While spearheading our campaigns, Nancy earned her Master’s Degree in Water Resource Engineering at LMU, with a certificate in Sustainability. Having grown up in the South Bay, you can find her spending her free time on the volleyball courts or in the water body surfing.

Email nshrodes@healthebay.org

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Stephanie Gebhardt Rath

Stephanie takes an interdisciplinary approach to solving environmental problems. To her, truly sustainable solutions are equitable for all, dynamic and resilient to change, and based in nature. You may have seen Stephanie previously out on the beach, leading Heal the Bay’s cleanups. Stephanie pursued her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies at Wellesley College and received her Master’s of Science in Regenerative Studies from Cal Poly Pomona’s Lyle Center. As a SoCal native who has lived on both coasts, Stephanie is proud to say the West Coast is the best coast. After graduate school, she took a slight hiatus from the non-profit sector and became an Anheuser-Busch Craft Master Brewer at Golden Road Brewing in Los Angeles, California. What the beer industry and total watershed health have in common is a strong demand for protected water quality and people who care deeply about the purity and consistency of what pours out of their tap. Now, when she’s not working to protect our watersheds, you may find her at the barn with her horses or enjoying a local beer with her wife and pups.

Email sgebhardtrath@healthebay.org

Alexia Skrbic

Alexia was born and raised in Southern California and spent her youth discovering her love for marine biology. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology and Environmental Science from Chapman University and Masters in Marine Conservation from the University of Miami in Florida. She has spent the last decade working in marine science education, working with several conservation organizations on science communication, outreach, and policy, and as a naturalist on a whale watching boat. She continues to share her passion for conservation at Heal the Bay as Senior Watershed Coordinator. In her free time, she enjoys working out, hiking, going to the beach, scuba diving, tidepooling, and traveling.

Email askrbic@healthebay.org

Kayleigh Wade

Kayleigh (she/they) is Heal the Bay’s Senior Manager of Outreach and is proudly from Lynwood, CA. She earned her BA in Chicana/o Studies and LGBTQ Studies from UCLA in 2016. With 10 years of organizing experience, her commitment to social justice has played out in a variety of spaces – from organizing with fellow students at Santa Monica College to prevent the privatization of general education courses, to organizing closely with youth of color on environmental justice issues in Southeast LA, to supporting girl-identified youth at the coolest rock camp of all time, Chicas Rockeras de Sur Este Los Angeles. She is a volunteer with Latino Outdoors and partakes in water recreation with Queer Surf. In their spare time, she likes going to restaurants, reflecting on water justice’s connection to her environmental work, cooking for loved ones, taking up new skills like fly fishing, going on walks around the LA River, and hanging out with her pet babies Penny and Oats.

Email kwade@healthebay.org

Tayler Locke

Tayler is a graduate student at the University of Southern California. Fight On! Born and raised in west Los Angeles, she’s had a deep affinity for coastal living from an early age. Her professional venture into environmental policy and outreach came after a pivot from tech to pursue a path that more closely aligned with her values and academic research— focusing on climate risk communication and the sociological dynamics of environmental NGOs. She quickly found a home at Heal the Bay. An adept communicator, Tayler manages Heal the Bay’s flagship beach programs, heading projects that advance sustainable living, equitable water quality, and conservation sciences. In her free time, she watches Shrek, tends to her onion farm, and forces her introverted partner to do extroverted things with her. She loves singing and dancing but is not very good at either.

Email tlocke@healthebay.org

Gisselle Sainz

Gisselle is an environmental scientist who graduated from UCLA and is currently pursuing an M.S. in Engineering, Sustainability, and Health at the University of San Diego. She is also fascinated by GIS technology and drone piloting, choosing to study it on her free time at local community colleges. The beach is her sanctuary, a place of peace and escape from life’s chaos, fueling her deep commitment to safeguarding our coastlines from pollution and degradation. As a first-generation daughter of Mexican immigrant parents, she hopes to inspire others like her to persevere and achieve the unimaginable, believing that every voice matters in the pursuit of a better world and a universally improved quality of life. In her free time, you can find her enjoying horror movies at her local theater, feeding her nail polish addiction, and treasuring every moment spent with her friends, family, and, of course, her wiener dog, Onyx.

Email gsainz@healthebay.org

Felipe Macchia

Surfing sparked Felipe’s deep connection to the ocean, and ever since, he has been fully dedicated to its conservation and protection. Originally from Brazil, Felipe is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Sustainability at Santa Monica College. His diverse background includes experience in sales and hospitality, but his primary experience is as a Surf Instructor. He loves sharing his passion for surfing with others while emphasizing the importance of preserving the ocean and its ecosystems.

Email fmyahn@healthebay.org

Annelisa Moe

Annelisa helps to keep L.A. water clean and safe by advocating for comprehensive and science-based water quality regulation and enforcement. She currently oversee Heal the Bay’s Water Quality efforts, including science, research, policy, and advocacy, as well as the Beach Report Card, NowCast, and River Report Card programs. Before joining the team at Heal the Bay, she worked with the Regional Water Quality Control Board in both the underground storage tank program and the surface water ambient monitoring program. Annelisa completed her master’s degree in geological sciences at CSU Northridge. In her free time she enjoys caving, canyoneering, and scuba diving.

Email amoe@healthebay.org

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Emily Parker

Emily works to keep our oceans and marine ecosystems healthy and clean by advocating for strong legislation and enforcement both locally and statewide. She focuses on plastic pollution, marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, and climate change related issues. Before arriving at Heal the Bay, Emily earned a M.A.S in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, where she conducted research on sea turtle conservation in El Salvador. When not advocating for ocean rights, Emily can almost always be found on the shore catching a wave or soaking up some LA sunshine.

Email eparker@healthebay.org

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Dr. Tania Pineda-Enriquez

Dr. Pineda-Enriquez was born and raised in Mexico and has been passionate about marine sciences for as long as she can remember. Tania is an evolutionary biologist with a B.S. in Biology from UNAM, a M.S in Marine Biology from UNAM-ICMYL, and a Ph.D. from University of Florida in 2022. She’s fascinated by the diversity of marine invertebrates, especially how brittle stars or ophiuroids from tropical reef habitats across the oceans can help understand global biodiversity patterns, and so far she has named nine species new to science. Tania has been an active member of research labs, have actively mentored students, participated in field expeditions (across Latin America, US, and Thailand) and conducted research in more than eight countries. She now serves as a Water Quality Data Associate with Heal the Bay to provide the public with science-based recommendations about the quality of the water. In her free time, Tania likes to explore nature and travelling with her husband and two kids.

Email tpineda@healthebay.org

Naomi Meurice

Originally hailing from the great state of Iowa, Naomi came to sunny California to complete her BA at Pomona College, where she studied environmental analysis with a focus in biology. She spent some time working as a research coordinator at a cancer center before heading to Heal the Bay, where she is a Water Quality Data Associate Specialist. Naomi works to maintain the weekly Beach and River Report Cards as well as the NowCast models. She is interested in the intersection between the environment and public health, and is always excited to use data to help us understand this connection! Outside of work, you may find her playing soccer, rock climbing, searching for the best restaurants this city has to offer, or making pizza with friends and family.

Email nmeurice@healthebay.org

Zoë Collins

Zoë coordinates Heal the Bay’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) programming. Her work includes overseeing the MPA Watch Community Science Program as well as MPA advocacy, education, and outreach. She graduated from UCLA in 2023 with a B.S. in Marine Biology and has an avid passion for connecting people to their waterways, advocating for environmental conservation, and creating a Los Angeles more resilient to our changing climate. Her research background primarily revolves around marine biogeochemistry with a specific focus on both deep-sea microbial mats and constraining planetary habitability models through aquatic analogs. Outside of her passion for science and the ocean, she loves pottery, writing, and 2000’s rom-coms.

Email zcollins@healthebay.org